Buying pens at auction

Pens do turn up now and then at local auctions, mixed in among all the other stuff.  Those with sufficient time and patience can occasionally find some excellent deals there.  Most of us, however, find it uneconomical to prospect through so much ore for so few gems.  The main venues for pens at auction are currently on-line auctions, pen show auctions, and a handful of general auction houses that run specialist sales.

The chief on-line auction venue for pens is eBay, whose volume in the Writing Instrument area is truly enormous.  Much of this is new stuff, however, along with loads and loads of hopeless junk.  With so many uninformed bidders and descriptions that are usually less that comprehensive, it is no surprise that prices on vintage items can be all over the place.  Better pens often go high, especially considering that most are in less than great condition and often sold as found. Note that slick presentation isn't a good guide to the trustworthiness of the seller: don't get suckered into paying a big premium for artfully composed photos (or even videos), highflown descriptions, and writing samples that exaggerate a nib's capabilities (made by using pressure that cannot be sustained without eventual damage). Buyer beware: many pens on eBay are misrepresented as to rarity, identity, and condition.  We have seen and heard about many pens listed as in excellent working condition that proved on receipt to be extensively damaged and/or missing parts.  Unfortunately, eBay's system of rating sellers by feedback isn't much help, as there are many sellers who consistently misrepresent their wares yet maintain a 100% feedback rating by willingly taking back their items if challenged. Be particularly cautious in dealing with sellers who claim to be selling items from their own personal collection. For your amusement, you may wish to look at our eBay Glossary, a bit of humor originally published in The PENnant.

Pen show auctions once were a standard feature of US shows (schedule). Some shows still have auctions, which are generally held on Saturday afternoons.  In most cases the catalog is more of a checklist, and there is rarely any formal provision for telephone or absentee bids.  Inspection is often rather chaotic, although there is usually enough time for the typical collector to inspect the lots likely to be of personal interest.  Inspection is vital, since items are sold as-is (the catalog will usually attempt to describe each lot, but some flaws and defects will invariably sneak by unmentioned).  It is also important to remember that most show auctions require immediate payment in cash or travelers cheques.  Be prepared!  There are usually good deals to be had at pen show auctions, though results can be unpredictable.

Various general auction houses have held pen sales from time to time, but few have stuck with it.  At present, Bonhams is the main venue for all-pens sales, both vintage and modern.