Dip Pens & Early Writing Equipment
If not otherwise specified, measurements of dip pens are inclusive of their nibs, and measurements of pens and pencils with extending parts are given at full extension. We can provide nibs upon request for dip pens listed without nibs. For ordinary steel nibs, this will normally be without charge.
Pencil lead links: order lead or learn about sizes and sources
The items below are sorted by maker; click here to sort by date
9539: Addison (?) propelling pencil: unmarked, gold filled, 7.98 cm closed, 10.2 cm long extended, early American manufacture, almost surely by Thomas Addison of New York City; excellent quality, brocade patterning of shaft is light but present, fancy monogram "S. C. W." engraved in metal seal end; some small test marks (see detail), otherwise condition quite clean, noting usual age roughness to steel nozzle tip; uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1845 • CONDITION: fine* • $200 
9552: Aikin Lambert retracting dip pen: 12 cm long retracted, gold filled ferrule, fully marked, with unusual early transparent celluloid taper with inlay work in metal and shell; #2 Aikin Lambert nib is in excellent condition, metal of ferrule shows wear and bumps, taper inlay has losses, and age deterioration visible at taper end (see details).
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: extra-fine semiflex •
$145
4307: American Pencil Co. No. 19 giant dip pen: oversize display piece, 30 cm long; brass plated ferrule, wooden taper w swirled paint decoration (some minor flaking -- see picture); matching "MIDGET" steel nib.
DATE: c.
1900 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: fine semiflex • $150
6725: Asprey combination paper knife and pen knife: ivory, 18.9 cm long, blade marked "ASPREY/166/BOND STREET"; blade has one nick in edge, action is good; ivory has scattered traces of what appears to be the remains of painted decoration.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG • $185
6730: B. & B. dip pen: unusual, aluminum, 15.8 cm long excluding bronze nib, marked " B. & B. ST. PAUL" near nib holder, and "MELLON NATIONAL BANK/PITTSBURGH" on the barrel; inner portion of nib holder rust-eaten, but does not affect function and is not visible with nib in place.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION:
VG-fine* • $70
7829: Conklin paper knife: laminated celluloid, 22.2 cm long, imprinted "COMPLIMENTS OF THE CONKLIN PEN CO."; side panels are the same distinctive mottled green used for Conklin pens, tip of blade has been chipped and smoothed.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $400
8250: De La Rue "Casket Ink" traveling inkwell: unusual oversized version, nickel plated, fully marked on both inside and on outer case, Paris-made, glass well inside; 5.5 cm high, 2.6 cm thick, original inner seal mostly present but not ink-tight; plating dull with wear and some spotting, mechanically sound, will clean up.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G • $200
9588: Fairchild dip pen: fully marked gold filled holder with rare early celluloid taper with inlay work in pearl, abalone, gold, and silver; 12.5 cm long excluding ventless gold #4 Fairchild nib, usual wear to gold filled metal, nib is clean, age warpage to taper with some losses to the inlay work (see details).
DATE: c.
1895 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $195
5701: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: large, heavy sterling silver ringtop, 7 cm long closed, mechanically sound, scattered light marks, uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: G • $180
9526: Gorham (?) penknife-pencil compendium: hand-hammered sterling silver, 5.2 cm long closed, excellent quality, sideways-folding knife blade intact, with slight bend at tip, good snap, silver toothpick also intact, pencil mechanism in good working order, uses .9 mm lead; maker's mark on side quite worn, appears to begin with a "G".
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • $300
9299: H. Thompson quill knife: tapered, flat-sided wood handle, imprinted with Victorian crown and cipher, as well as "H. THOMPSON/9 NASSAU ST."; 17.6 cm long overall, blade sound, tiny chip to tip.
DATE: c. 1860
• CONDITION: fine • $95
9003: Heath magic pencil: short but thick gold filled ringtop, 6 cm long closed, 10.85 cm extended, elegantly engraved monogram in indicia, overall decoration a combination of simple engine turned lines and hand-engraved embellishments. Marked "GWH CO." on the shaft, uses 2.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc
• $125
9295: Hicks magic pencil: oversize gold filled ringtop, 9 cm closed, 15.4 cm extended; uses 2.5 mm lead, marked "W.S. HICKS NEW YORK"; mechanism smooth and positive. Magic pencils of this size are very uncommon.
DATE: c.
1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $295
9547: Hicks magic pencil: sterling silver, with swivel and ring suspension sheath; 8.7 cm long extended, 4.25 cm retracted, uses 1.5 mm (VS) lead; sheath has some extremely shallow bumps, and is engraved lightly "A. L. B.".
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • $95
9525: Hicks magic pencil: large, gold filled, with sheath carrying suspension ring; 11.6 cm long extended, uses 1.5 mm lead, propels and retracts; fully marked, some plating wear and minor bumps, mechanism works perfectly, sheath indicia engraved "K. S/1915".
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: VG • $150
7767: J. Nowill & Sons quill knife: Sheffield-made, 16.6 cm long, molded composition handle, blade markings weak but legible.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: G-VG • $50
9577: John Holland dip pen: rose gold filled body, removable ivory taper, 13.9 cm long extended, excluding nib, 12.2 cm retracted; metal is marked "O" and "4", light bumps to surface but engine turning crisp, ventless gold nib is fully marked, tip is very fine and rather scratchy on rough paper; typical roughness to underneath of front of ferrule where most exposed to ink (see detail), extensive toothmarks to taper.
DATE: c. 1875
• CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $165
8361: Mordan dip pen and pencil combination: early and rare form, 9.9 cm long retracted, London-hallmarked sterling silver, with Bramah holder for cut quills at one end, propelling pencil nozzle at the other; early "MAKERS & PATENTEES" imprint, maker's mark for Mordan and Riddle; crisp fluting, no dings, but pencil mechanism needs repair.
DATE: 1835 • CONDITION: fine* • $800
9546: Mordan magic pencil: small but exquisite, 7.3 cm long extended, 4.7 cm retracted, sterling silver with suspension ring sheath; fully marked, with "STERLING SILVER" imprint with no British hallmarks (typical of export production), uses 1.5 mm (VS) lead; no dings, only tiniest marks to smooth silver sheath.
DATE: c. 1895
• CONDITION: exc • $150
9012: Mordan combination dip pen and pencil: large, heavy, sterling silver two-draw ringtop, with heavy twist-pattern body; 16.9 cm long with pencil extended, 6.65 cm closed, pencil uses VS (1.5 mm) lead; back end of pencil slider has broken off, front end of pen slider fatigued -- operate with care. Elegant presentation inscription, many dings and dents to exterior, but all fully functional.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: G*
• $145
6653: Mordan (?) novelty pencil: sterling silver, in the shape of a Bramah patent key (more on the Bramah lock here); 5.7 cm long retracted, uses VS lead, retracting mechanism fully functional but a bit stiff, scratches on the ring suggest that it was carried on a real keyring; not marked, but a catalogued Mordan design and by all appearances Mordan manufacture.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: G-VG • $500
6293: unmarked magic pencil: scarce oversize ringtop, 13.7 cm long extended, 7.6 cm long closed; bold fluted pattern, top quality, marked "STERLING PAT. APD FOR", uses 2 mm lead; US-made, probably by Fairchild or Johnson.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine • $325
9217: unmarked dip pen and pencil combination: fine barleycorn gold filled, 9.4 cm closed, slide collar pushes out nib carrier, twist-action extends pencil nozzle, uses 1.5 mm (VS) lead; crisp, no brassing, light bump to face of slightly flared end cap, excellent quality and workmanship.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc •
$105
6709: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver, 15.2 cm long excluding plated nib, elaborate high relief repoussé Art Nouveau floral design; unidentified maker's mark on bottom of ferrule, scattered light dings, apparent seal opening on underside of ferrule actually held together by soldered-in liner/nib-holder.
DATE: c. 1900
• CONDITION: G • $465
6705: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver, 16.3 cm long excluding steel nib, deeply hand-chased "Patch" pattern, similar to that found on some very highly valued Waterman fountain pens; marked "STERLING" and "103" (or "108"), initials on the ferrule, as well as a seam opening; ditto at end of taper, where badly dented (see details).
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex • $265
9262: unmarked magic pencil: silver with transparent guilloche enamel, 6.4 cm long closed, 12 cm open, ring marked "STERLING" and "BADEN", probably German manufacture, uses 1.5mm lead, propelling mechanism needs repair.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • $150
7195: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition excellent, wear to plating, ring appears to have Arabic hallmark; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • $275
7194: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition very good with minimal losses, wear to plating; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G-VG • $225
7193: unmarked magic pencil: gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel inlays, 7 cm long retracted, some enamel losses to back of head (see detail); uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG* • $265