Best wishes to all for the holidays and for a safe and prosperous New Year.
11986: Astoria miniature safety: black hard rubber ringtop with Italian 18K gold filled filigree overlay, 7.8 cm long, Astoria-marked 14K nib; true filigree work in this case, with beaded wire, excellent quality, must be examined closely for full appreciation. Seals have not been replaced, not ink-tight.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: fine semiflex • $1250
15543: Conway Stewart 550 Dinkie set in box: gold-veined red pearl miniature lever-filler, 10.3 cm long, gold plated trim, matching twist-action 25 pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Nib opens with only slight pressure, not for the heavy-handed. Lovely material is casein-based, should be kept away from water.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $225
15931: Eversharp Bantam set in box: green swirled pearl miniature bulb-filler, 9.8 cm long, gold filled cap band, gold plated clip, translucent barrel, 14K gold "0" size nib, matching twist-action pencil uses 1.1 mm lead. Pen has original price sticker on cap, only traces of sticker on pencil barrel. Fancy patterned foil box has pencil dedication on inside of lid.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine flex • $165
16464: Eversharp Bantam set in box: red candycane stripe bulb-filler, 9.9 cm long, gold plated trim, perfect transparency, plated steel nib shows some typical wear; matching pencil uses 1.1 mm lead, like new noting scratch on barrel by imprint.
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: medium • $150
16251: Montblanc Monte Rosa: miniature black hard rubber safety, 8.4 cm long, engine turned silver overlay with partial 900 mark, red casein cap crown, warranted 14K semistub nib has a crack from the vent hole but is completely usable; unmarked, but clearly of Montblanc manufacture.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium flex • $1200
16252: Osmia safety: miniature in smooth black hard rubber, 8.5 cm long, warranted semistub nib, cap imprinted "CUTINO CO./GERMANY"; excellent condition but for chip and crack to cap crown emblem (see detail).
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium flex • $600
15145: Parker Vest Pocket Duofold Deluxe: scarce miniature ringtop button-filler, jade celluloid, 9 cm long, gold filled trim, triple cap band, clean condition with better than average color, sharp imprints; nib has the very beginning of a stress line from the vent hole, should be stable with normal use.
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium fine • $250
16517: Viala Lilliput: miniature black hard rubber ringtop safety, engine-turned 18K solid gold overlay, 8.4 cm long, French made with full hallmarks, 18K Viala-marked nib; tiny, but fully functional.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium • $365
9970: unmarked safety: miniature black hard rubber retracting-nib German safety, 8.35 cm long, engine-turned silver overlay marked only "900" at the center of the cap crown; despite size, a fully functional pen, cork has been replaced, 14K gold warranted nib has considerably flex, but due to dimensions line width variation is limited.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine flex • $365
