Why is it special to collect old fountains? The craftsmanship of the vintage fountain pen creates the essence of perfect beauty and exquisite artistic value. Owning and using this type of pen revealed that the writer distinguished the taste. Today, the fountain pen is the status symbol of the ultimate writing experience. Transcend time!
Would a house that a famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed and built build out when it is pulled out and placed in the middle of a moving home park? The answer will resonate! why? Careful attention to the careful details of Wright in creating a structurally unique and classic design is now a masterpiece of the field of architecture. The same theory is for admitting and collecting that you are fascinated and passionate.
As with collectives, you need to make sure that all parts (cap ring, end piece etc) exist in the fountain pen. Damage to the cap and barrel will affect the value, but it will cost but it can be repaired to a professional. Be careful when looking for parts other than the original, especially the pen tip. Barrel stamping should normally match the stamp of the pen tip.
The properties that makes fountain pen valuable and makes you think later are as follows.
1. Rarity - Perhaps the rarest finding is a pen you might ask but probably never to see. Sheaffer made a rare pen decorated with a beautiful, highly stylized Art Nouveau whirlpool.
2. Size - The most desirable pen in collecting terms is a complicatedly designed large pen. There are several pens based on their beauty. Although not so large, it is also desirable.
3. Skill - Japanese hand-painted decorative pen, which is known as a complex hand-carved, cupid, trunk pattern or Maki's work, is typically the center of any pen collection.
4. Complexity of artwork - Filigree pens made by most companies were based on flower motifs, original designs were not special shapes, but a pivot line. Since around 1903, the design was standardized in a pattern resembling a sieve of bamboo, paisley or leaf design.
5. Presence of jewelry on design - A brass pen made in the late 1930s and a pen with diamonds carved around the crown were produced and presented to the head of state. You will not be able to find these pens in the market.
If you want to research and study some of the occasionally discovered collections from antique shops, pen shows, or swap meetings, there are some books you might find helpful:
o Fountain Pen: Their History and Art, Jonathan Steinberg
o Fountain Pen: History and design by Giorgio Dragoni and Gluseppe Fichera
o Fountain Pen: Past and Present, Identity and Value Guidelines, Paul Erano
o Collectible fountain pen by Juan Manuel Manuel Clark
o Illustration guide of antique writing instrument by Stuart Schneider and George Fischler
One of the largest and oldest collector organizations in the United States is PCA (American pen collector). This organization maintains pen integrity, promotes the use of fountain pens, encourages and promotes effective education, and defines pen collection as an international hobby. The British writing institute association concentrates on the preservation, research, collection of all kinds of writing instruments. Fountain pens are just a part of the concerns of this group. There are many other domestic, regional and local clubs holding regularly scheduled meetings for pen enthusiasts.
We have abundant information at various levels and tell us the principles of collecting various writing instruments and ink reservoirs. The above information is a feast of resources available to begin a journey to the fascinating world to collect fountain pens. Spend a pleasant time and enjoy not only the historical meaning but also the advantageous benefits that such collections can bring.
