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Victorian dip pens and pencils have long been an area of special interest to us. This is one of the best selections we have been able to offer in some time. The quality of workmanship on some of these just can't be found nowadays.
15801: E. S. Johnson dip pen in box: unmarked gold filled ferrule, wooden taper, 14.4 cm long excluding ventless gold #5 Johnson nib; nib is excellent, engine turning of holder is crisp, noting one small nick to side, some nibbles to edge of taper.
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $265
15794: Edward Todd dip pen: unmarked gold plated holder, shallow chevron pattern, unusual milk glass twisted taper, overall length 16.25 cm excluding ventless gold Edward Todd #3 nib. Holder plating mostly worn away, nib imprint is worn but mostly legible, appears to be early, nib is functionally excellent.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine flex • $175
15796: Fairchild (?) retracting dip pen: rare twist-action model, 13.1 cm long retracted, clean and crisp gold filled engine turned barrel, unusually bold patterning; wooden taper is turned to extend and retract the nib. Repaired hairline crack in taper, bumps to nib holder, solid gold #4 nib is an E. S. Johnson (Fairchild and Johnson later merged). Unmarked, but we have had very similar Fairchild-marked examples.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $285
15795: Foley dip pen in box: unmarked gold filled ferrule with pearl taper, 15.2 cm long excluding nib; nib is a ventless gold Foley #5 dated 1877, very easy-opening and flexible. Metal of holder is crisp and as new, box shows stains and age, one hook catch broken.
DATE: c. 1877 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
15790: Gorham dip pen: large with bold "pineapple" pattern, 16.1 cm long excluding plated nib; fully and strongly marked, unusual form, scattered shallow nicks around gripping area.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG • $295
14161: John Holland dip pen: #8 ventless gold nib, #8 holder is fully marked, with 1871 patent date, wooden taper removable for storage or transport. 17.6 cm long overall, nib is smooth and opens up wide with minimal pressure; some surface digs and straightening marks to the right tine, very small incipient stress crack at end of slit.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $175
15802: Knapp dip pen and pencil combination: classic early Mabie-style lobed gold filled telescoping holder, 9.65 cm long closed, 14.35 cm extended with pencil nozzle included; uses 1.5 mm lead, nozzle extends by twisting barrel segments, gold ventless nib is a Knapp #4, holder is otherwise unmarked, clean condition noting small test mark at front end of barrel cartouche. John H. Knapp was an early partner of John Mabie, some years prior to the formation of Mabie, Todd & Co..
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
15789: Kurtz and Monaghan dip pen: large pen with unmarked gold filled ferrule, rosewood (?) taper, 20 cm long including big ventless gold #7 nib. The nib is as big as many #10 nibs by other makers, and is wonderfully flexible; its previous owner had it retipped, but the tipping on one side has broken off and will need to be replaced if the pen is to be used. The firm of Kurtz and Monaghan was bought by Edward Todd when he left Mabie Todd.
DATE: c. 1869 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • SOLD
15797: Mabie Todd dip pen: sterling silver, 16.1 cm long excluding ventless gold #5 Mabie Todd nib; unusual and attractive pattern combining flowing scrollwork and twisted flutes. Maker's mark is worn but identifiable, overall fine condition but for nicks at the very end of the taper. Nib is solidly made with a semistub tip and lively spring action, in excellent condition.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $295
15800: Mabie Todd dip pen: noteworthy large and crisply engraved sterling silver holder, 16 cm long excluding #5 Mabie Todd ventless gold nib; rare to find engraving so sharp and pristine, ferrule is marked "STERLING" with the Mabie Todd "M" cartouche, nib is very springy and easy flexing.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: extra-fine flex • $385
15793: Mabie Todd (?) dip pen: sterling silver, 16.1 cm long excluding plated nib, scrolling deep fluted twist relief pattern, excellent quality, marked only "STERLING" but in same distinctive serif typeface used by Mabie Todd.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $250
15791: Mordan dip pen and pencil set in box: sterling silver, cable twist pattern with smooth baluster finial tapers, pen is 18 cm long, takes standard nibs, pencil is 19 cm long, uses 1.5 mm VS lead. Both pieces fully marked, pen holder has additional fine twisted wire ornamentation. Box marked with retailer name of Howell and James of London.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $595
15792: Tiffany dip pen: beautiful sterling silver holder, 16.7 cm long excluding nib, with finely-chased floral repousse decoration with acanthus-bordered rings; fully marked, top-quality work, not to be confused with run-of-the-mill Tiffany-marked pens made by lesser subcontractors. Nib is gold, an excellent Edward Todd #4 with great flexibility.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $1100
15836: A. A. Waterman (?) eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber slip-cap with full Art Nouveau fine silver filigree overlay, 13.1 cm long, marked only "30" at the end of the barrel and "STERLING" on the overlay, narrow feed of distinctive inner construction, all suggesting A. A. Waterman manufacture. Initials scratched onto barrel cartouche, pitting at top of cap surely from original manufacturing method of electrodeposition. Nib tipping is somewhat scant but a good writer, boldly calligraphic.
DATE: c. 1903 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: broad italic flex • $375
15833: Fisher dip pen: unmarked gold filled holder with removable wooden taper, 14.7 cm long excluding nib; unusual imprint of two crossed quills and letters standing for "Paragon Gold Quill-Pens", trademarked on Nov 11, 1873.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine flex • $225
15838: John Holland dip pen in box: gold filled #3-size holder with twist-pattern mother of pearl taper, fully marked, 13.6 cm long excluding nib. Tiny hairline at mouth of holder (see detail) does not affect function, holds nib securely. Nib is imprinted "Wright & Spencer" -- the mark Holland used for their 10K gold nibs.
DATE: c. 1879 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $165
15821: MacKinnon stylographic pen in box: unusually long model in smooth black hard rubber, 15.6 cm long, gold filled cap overlay and end cap, hard rubber glossy black, some scuffs and scratches but imprints clean: "D. MACKINNON, PAT. MAR. 21 '76." with January 21, 1879 date on cone; weighted and sprung needle intact, some brassing to end cap -- a fine early example of one of the first mass-produced fountain pens. Box is original, December 5, 1879 written in ink on lining, dropper is a modern replacement.
DATE: c. 1879 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $295
15799: Parker Black Giant: iconic oversize black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 15.5 cm long, full length model with clip, the best-preserved example that we have had in over 20 years. Cap top milling is excellent as is the barrel imprint, intact Lucky Curve feed, moderate even fading to hard rubber. Clip plating is spotty -- very possibly gold-plated by a jeweler and could be readily replated if desired.
DATE: c. 1918 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine stub flex • $2500
15823: Parker Duofold Senior: classic orange oversize button-filler, 13.9 cm long, gold filled trim, intact Lucky Curve feed, original large Duofold nib, good clean banner imprint; some brassing to clip, cap lip cracks have been repaired virtually invisibly.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine firm • $350
15824: Parker Vacumatic: early full-sized Deluxe line model in red pearl laminate, 12.8 cm long, gold filled trim, striped section and end jewels, imprint worn but legible, early date code but last digit obscured, lockdown filler, fine barrel transparency, early two-tone Arrow nib without date code, advertised as two-way (writes extra-fine upside-down). Name on barrel, tool marks to section and blind cap (see details). A well-used but sound early Vac.
DATE: c. 1934 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium • $185
15820: Parker The Mysterious Yangtze: privately printed hardbound travelog by company founder George S. Parker, nice clean copy, signed by the author, 14 x 19 cm, shadow on back cover, some page edges not cleanly cut (see details).
DATE: 1937 • CONDITION: fine • $125
15825: Parker Vacumatic Debutante: early wartime silver pearl laminate model with multiple distinctive features; 11.9 cm long, chrome plated trim, two-tone arrow nib, striped cap jewel, clip with high Blue Diamond, black plastic filler unit; crisp barrel imprint with 2nd quarter date code, fine transparency, initials "H. A. M." Many Parkers made in 1942 had anomalous features as the factory pivoted to war production.
DATE: 1942 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: fine semiflex • $225
15819: Parker 51: early Aerometric in black with Lustraloy cap, chrome plated trim, barrel imprint with 4th quarter date code, filler housing with "PRESS . . . 6 TIMES" imprint, new sac and breather tube, acrylic connector, minor scuffs to cap and one shallow ding.
DATE: 1948 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • SOLD
15837: Waterman 13: scarce #3-size black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 13.3 cm long, contemporary slip-on clip; strong imprints, but nib is an old replacement: a #2 with New York imprint that is a notable writer. Fading to the hard rubber, even wear, a good usable classic.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
15840: Waterman pencil: black hard rubber ringtop with gold filled "Filigree" overlay, 9.8 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, propel only, early model without eraser, top piece plain hard rubber without overlay, initials "MEK" engraved on barrel.
DATE: c. 1926 • CONDITION: fine* • $85
15842: Waterman pencil: black hard rubber with sterling silver "Filigree" overlay, 13 cm long; uses 1.1 mm lead, propel-only mechanism, no eraser under top; initials "FEB" engraved on top, "XMAS 1926" on barrel; matches 452 or 452˝ pen, fine overall appearance but some shallow bumps and fine stress cracks to the overlay.
DATE: c. 1926 • CONDITION: G* • $120
15831: unmarked dip pen: sterling silver with Bramah clamp quill nib holder, London hallmark with date code for 1823-4; extremely refined workmanship, 16.1 cm long excluding quill slip, finely and elaboratedly engine turned with a notably refined finial. Surfaces are crisp with almost no signs of wear, extraordinary for a functional item of this age.
DATE: c. 1823 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $650
15839: unmarked glass dip pen: hollow glass handle with printed paper advertisement sealed inside; 13.7 cm long, tip slightly chipped and resmoothed, writes nicely as long as you keep the flat spot away from the paper.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium fine • $45
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