Pen Profile:
Parker 51
11302: Parker 51: Cedar Blue first-year, smooth sterling silver cap with imprint at top, metal jewels appear to be silver rather than aluminum; good blind cap imprint with 2nd quarter date code, aluminum Speedline filler with diamond at end of plunger. Neatly cut oval depression on hood behind and in line with the nib appears to be an early form of nib position indicator, as later adopted for the 61, but whether factory or aftermarket cannot be determined. Name on barrel, a few pinhead dings to the cap, slight hood shrinkage.
DATE: 1941 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $785
15590: Parker 51 pencil: black Heirloom model, 1/10 16K gold filled cap with grouped parallel lines pattern, geometric band, and rectangular cartouche; trim is solid 14K gold and fully marked.
DATE: c. 1943 • CONDITION: exc • $295
17319: Parker 51: blue Vac-filler, sterling silver cap, gold filled Blue Diamond clip, barrel imprint with 4th quarter date code; a few shallow dings to the cap, date code could be an "8" but would be unusually late production for this configuration.
DATE: 1943 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine • $225
17416: Parker 51 Demi: black Vac-filler, 1/8 14K gold filled cap in fine parallel lines pattern, 12.3 cm long, good barrel imprint with 4th quarter date code, dent on side of cap (see detail), condition otherwise excellent; Vac-filling Demis were produced for a short time and are relatively uncommon, and are shorter and thicker than the later Aerometric filling Demis.
DATE: 1947 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine • $150
17189: Parker 51 demonstrator: transparent Vac-filler, strong barrel imprint with 4th quarter date code, Lustraloy cap, plain arrow clip.
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine • $585
16841: Parker 51 Demi set: early production black Aerometric filler, frosty Lustraloy cap with chrome plated trim, imprint with 4th quarter date code, acrylic connector, sac has been replaced, screw-on filler housing with "PRESS . . 6 TIMES" imprint, one spot of plating loss; matching repeater pencil is like new, has bold 1st quarter 1954 imprint, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: 1948/54 • CONDITION: exc/near mint • NIB: medium fine • $265
15633: Parker 51 Demi: "Forest Green" Aerometric filler, pristine two-tone frosty Lustraloy cap, chrome plated trim, barrel imprint with 3rd quarter date code, new old stock with original barrel sticker, never filled, original sac transparency as new.
DATE: 1950 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: medium • $275
12984: Parker 51 Demi Princess: extremely rare gold filled Aerometric filler, 12.5 cm long, with faceted "jewels" set into the ends and around the upper cap; shallow bumps to side of cap, otherwise excellent.
DATE: c. 1950 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $2250
17306: Parker 51 Special: grey Aerometric filler, polished stainless steel cap, chrome plated trim, black cap jewel, barrel imprint with 1st quarter date code; smooth Octanium alloy nib, excellent sac transparency.
DATE: 1951 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine • $150
16174: Parker 51 repeater pencil: black with frosty Lustraloy cap with polished rim band, 13.2 cm long, uses .9 mm lead; clean barrel imprint with late two-digit 2nd quarter date code; original barrel sticker for 51 Demi, though pencil is full-length.
DATE: 1952 • CONDITION: mint • $80
16171: Parker 51 repeater pencil: Forest Green with frosty Lustraloy cap, imprint with late "53" date code; like new, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: 1953 • CONDITION: near mint • $95
16898: Parker 51 Demi repeater pencil: Forest Green, frosty Lustraloy cap, chrome plated trim, crisp barrel imprint with late "53" date code.
DATE: 1953 • CONDITION: near mint • $95
17213: Parker 51 triple set: black fountain pen, ballpoint, and twist-action pencil, 1/10 12K gold filled caps, converging lines pattern, USA production. Aerometric fountain pen shows more usage, and may be a few years earlier; a few pinprick dings to the cap, new sac has been installed. Ballpoint and pencil are near mint, pencil uses .9 mm lead, ballpoint is the only piece with the "halo" imprint.
DATE: c. 1957 • CONDITION: fine-exc/near mint • NIB: medium • $365
17385: Parker 51 double desk set: classic Midcentury Modern design, laminated teak and brass, Magnetix swivel holders with black Aerometric filling 51 desk pens, both in excellent condition. Some edge bruising to the wood (see details), ensemble shown in late 1950s catalogs as No. 50-262, priced at $55. Base is 35.5 cm (14 inches) wide.
DATE: c. 1959 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium • $295
5828: Parker 51 pencil lead refills: 12 leads in a stoppered glass tube, 8 cm long, made in England, label reads "for Parker '51'/ROTARY PENCIL", with Parker "halo" mark; many available, all "B" hardness.
DATE: c. 1964 • CONDITION: mint • $6
16796: Parker 51: solid 9K gold English Aerometric filler, full London hallmarks, crisp engine turning, no dings, new sac has been installed, matching gold cap jewel, elegant monogram engraved on barrel.
DATE: 1964/5 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine • $1650
17387: Parker 51 ballpoint: grey with bright chrome cap, clip, pearlescent clip jewel; made in USA, uses standard Parker refills. Like new, no sticker or packaging, matches Mark II fountain pen.
DATE: c. 1965 • CONDITION: near mint • $65
17390: Parker 51 pencil: grey with bright chrome cap, clip, pearlescent clip jewel; made in USA, uses .9 mm lead, appears to be new old stock, no sticker or packaging, matches Mark II fountain pen.
DATE: c. 1965 • CONDITION: mint • $60
17388: Parker 51 pencil: green with polished chrome cap, pearlescent clip jewel; made in USA, uses .9 mm lead, new old stock with sticker, no packaging; matches Mark II fountain pen.
DATE: c. 1965 • CONDITION: mint • $75
17322: Parker 51 Special: late production grey Aerometric filler, made in USA, Lustraloy cap with Parker "halo" logo and "51" imprint, chrome clip jewel, perfect sac transparency, acrylic barrel and shell, Octanium nib.
DATE: c. 1966 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine • $165
