Vintage Pens

Photo Credit: THE-ANTIQUE-SHOP-OF-RUMEN

Vintage Pelikan 400NN Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set

Buy It Now Price: $299 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set from the late 1950s or early 1960s has striking brown tortoise-striped barrels contrasting with gold-plated trim.

-The Pelikan 400NN fountain pen measures 5.12 inches (13.0 cm) in length.  Although I do not have the exact measurement for the matching mechanical pencil, we can see from the photo that it is slightly longer than the pen.

-Pelikan was founded in Hanover, Germany in 1832 as a supplier of paints and inks.  However, it was not until the late 1920s that the company began producing fountain pens.  Pelikan’s golden age came in the post-WWII era of the 1950s and 1960s when it produced many memorable, high quality pens.  Pelikan remains a respected pen manufacturer to this day.

–Vintage fountain pen sets are generally undervalued in today’s marketplace.  This allows the knowledgeable writing enthusiast or antiques investor to pick up some truly special pen sets at bargain prices.

-The Pelikan 400 series fountain pen was first produced in 1950 and eventually discontinued in 1956.  A revised version, the Pelikan 400N (the “N” stood for new) was briefly made in 1956.  The type featured here, the Pelikan 400NN, was manufactured from 1956 to 1965.

-This Pelikan 400NN fountain pen comes with its original 14 karat gold EF nib.  Many vintage pen aficionados consider Mid-Century Pelikans to be among the best pen-nib combinations ever made.

-According to the seller, this vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is in working order.  In addition, it appears be in excellent condition, with no visible brassing, cracking or discoloration.

-The 400 series is the iconic vintage Pelikan fountain pen from the historical apogee of the company.  According to specialist collectors’ website The Pelikan’s Perch, the Pelikan 400NN fountain pen (and its derivatives) are the “number one” vintage Pelikan pen for writing devotees.  In their own words, “If you can only have one vintage Pelikan pen, this is probably the one to get.”

-Although the Pelikan brand often sits in the shadows of more recognized luxury pen makers, like Montblanc and Waterman, it really deserves to be acknowledged as a full peer with these venerated competitors.  Because of this, I believe the $300 asking price for this beautiful fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is well justified.

Cons:

-While generally very robust pens, buyers of the Pelikan 400 series have to watch out for cracked barrels and collars.  This is due to a minor design flaw (a shrinking plastic cap over a static metal liner) and material limitations (a brittle, polystyrene collar).  Luckily, this particular Pelikan 400NN pen and pencil set shows no evidence of these issues.

-Although this vintage pen set is in a Pelikan case, I am dubious that it is original.  If the set was still housed in its original case, its value would be slightly higher.

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Photo Credit: mlovesvintage

Vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique Ballpoint Pen, Circa 1970s or 1980s

Asking Price: $181.93 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a vintage 1970s or 1980s S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen made from vermeil – gold plate over solid sterling silver – with a red Chinese lacquer clip.

-This pen measures 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) in length.

-S.T. Dupont is a French luxury goods firm that got its start in 1872 as a maker of high-end leather goods, primarily briefcases.  By the mid 20th century, the company had branched out into other personal accessories, but was best known for its superb quality lighters.

-The streamlined appearance and subtly fluted decoration of this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen make it an iconic vintage piece.

-According to legend, in 1973 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (the widow of assassinated President John F. Kennedy) asked S.T. Dupont to manufacture a pen to match her beloved Dupont lighter.  The company obliged and the result was its immensely popular Classique line of pens.

-S.T. Dupont pens have a reputation for being very robust and reliable – a highly desirable attribute when purchasing a vintage item.

-S.T. Dupont is a luxury goods brand that tends to fly under the radar.  It isn’t nearly as well known as some bigger brands, such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton or Burberry.  But I believe this is ultimately a good thing.  It has allowed S.T. Dupont to stick to doing what it does best – producing high quality lighters, pens and other accessories.

-This vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen is in good condition, with no major visible defects.

-Vintage items from the 1970s and 1980s are rapidly becoming very collectible among antique enthusiasts.  And this elegant S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen, with its solid sterling silver construction and storied history, hits that niche perfectly.

-With an asking price of $182, I believe that this S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen is fairly valued and would make a wonderful addition to any vintage pen collection.  It would also make a unique and unusual gift for that special person in your life.

Cons:

-Photos reveal that some interior parts of the pen have a bit of corrosion.  This is not unusual for a pen that is 30 to 40 years old and could undoubtedly be corrected with a judicious cleaning.

-Some pen collecting enthusiasts might shy away from this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen because it is not a fountain pen.  While some people might prefer one kind of pen over the other, I feel that there is no inherent collecting advantage or disadvantage to either ballpoint or fountain pens.

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Photo Credit: stchel2

Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 Fountain Pen, Circa 1973

Buy It Now Price: $279 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a gorgeous Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen made from exotic brown Suriname toad leather, circa 1973.

-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen measures 5.3 inches (13.4 cm) in length when capped and 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) when posted.

–The Platinum Pen Company was founded in Tokyo in 1919 by Shunichi Nakata.  It is one of the “Big 3” Japanese fountain pen makers, along with Pilot and Sailor.  While these companies are not as well known in the West as some other pen manufacturers, they have inspired an intensely loyal following among fountain pen enthusiasts because of their high quality and reasonable prices.

-This is the only pen I’m aware of that has ever been made from the skin of the Suriname toad (pipa pipa), a non-threatened amphibian native to South America.

-This vintage fountain pen was manufactured with great attention to detail.  In addition to the exotic toad leather covering, the pen sports 18 karat gold plated trim and a burgundy plastic section that is only visible when the pen is posted.  Even the jewel ring on the pen cap has a small toad leather insert instead of just a plain metal end.  This underscores the craftsmanship and thought that went into the Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen.

-The Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen debuted exclusively in Japan in 1973 in a range of different colors.  It retailed for ¥8,000 at the time, which was about $30 at prevailing 1973 exchange rates.  This is the equivalent of around $175 in 2018, after adjusting for inflation.

-Unfortunately, the Suriname toad leather proved so troublesome to work with that production of the pens ceased after a single year, rendering them fairly scarce today.

-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen comes with its original 18 karat solid gold nib.  Solid karat gold nibs are a hallmark of high quality vintage fountain pens and are a step up from the stainless steel or titanium nibs found on less expensive models.

–Vintage fountain pens are significantly undervalued in today’s market.  I believe this is especially true for pens from Japanese makers, which are often overlooked because relatively few of these pens are found in the West.

-This vintage Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 pen comes in its original box, with accompanying Japanese language literature.

-Given the excellent condition, superb craftsmanship and unique materials of this Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen, I feel that the $279 buy-it-now price is easily justified.

Cons:

-I have read that the Suriname toad leather used on this pen is rather thin and can be somewhat fragile.  If you are looking for a daily writer, I think it would be wise to look elsewhere.  But if you are looking to invest in a magnificent, one-of-a-kind fountain pen for your collection, then this Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 is perfect.

-You’ll need to buy a new converter for the pen, which should be quite inexpensive.

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Photo Credit: jay-pens

1960s Sterling Silver Parker 75 Flat Top Fountain Pen

Buy It Now Price: $285 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is an outstanding example of a vintage sterling silver Parker 75 flat top fountain pen and mechanical pencil set with gold-filled trim.

-The Parker 75 was created in response to the widespread adoption of cheaper ballpoint pens by the public in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Some fountain pen makers tried to compete against the new ballpoint invaders on price, by going down-market.  But margins were low and this strategy was not very successful for the fountain pen industry.

-The head of the Parker Pen Company at the time, Kenneth Parker, decided he needed to move up-market to save his company.  This up-market strategy worked and the famous Parker 75, with its iconic sterling silver grid-pattern barrel, was born.  The Parker 75 was immensely popular with the public and was produced in many different varieties over 30 years, from 1964 to 1994.

-The Parker 75 is one of the most collectible vintage fountain pens in existence and high quality specimens are always in strong demand among pen connoisseurs.

-Upon its introduction in 1964, the Parker 75 flat top fountain pen originally retailed for $25, which is equivalent to $198 in 2017 when adjusted for inflation.  Later, in 1968, the price was raised to $30, or $210 today in inflation-adjusted terms.

-The moniker “flat top” refers to the end of the pen cap, where there is a flat, unadorned surface.  The Parker 75 flat top is an early, desirable variety that was produced from 1964 until around 1970 (or possibly 1971).  After 1970, the end of the cap was modified to a raised outer ring with an indented center.  This was done to easily accommodate corporate logos or emblems.

-This vintage Parker 75 flat top pen and pencil set was made in the U.S.  By the late 1980s, all Parker 75 production had been moved to France.

-This Parker 75 flat top fountain pen has a solid 14 karat gold nib with a “fine” size.  Solid karat gold is a premium material used in high quality nibs because of its superior writing characteristics.

-I love the original case that this Parker 75 fountain pen and pencil set comes in.  The heavily textured navy blue and olive green striped fabric exudes classic 1960s styling.

-Many Parker 75s that survive today were well-loved and well-used.  Therefore, they tend to have brassing on the gold-plated/gold-filled trim and dings or dents on the sterling silver barrel.  But this set is nearly pristine.

-It is my opinion that vintage fountain pen and mechanical pencil sets are very investable.  A lot of collectors are interested in fountain pens, but the community is only slowly warming up to the charms of mechanical pencils.  As a result, it is still possible to buy some pretty phenomenal old fountain pen and mechanical pencil sets between $100 and $500.

Cons:

-At first when I found this set on eBay, I thought to myself, “This is a great Parker 75 flat top set, but the price is just too high.”  Then, after doing some research and looking around at comparable pieces online I completely changed my mind.  The $285 asking price is absolutely fair for an early Parker 75 fountain pen and mechanical pencil set in superb condition in its original case.  You would end up paying around $200 for a vintage Parker 75 flat top fountain pen by itself, with no original case or mechanical pencil.

-If you are looking for a pen and pencil set to use on a daily basis, I would steer clear of this one.  Its condition is simply too good to mar through regular use.  You would be better off buying a cheaper, more imperfect Parker 75 if you want an everyday fountain pen.