The items below are listed alphabetically by maker, with featured items grouped at the top.
The combination of a dip pen and pencil in portable form enjoyed considerable popularity throughout the Victorian era. This selection of solid gold examples showcases some of the best British makers of the era.
14385: Butler retracting dip pen and pencil combination: solid gold (surely 15K) fine barleycorn pattern, 9.6 cm long retracted, moonstone seal, pencil nozzle uses "M' lead; weight is 17.4 grams.
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: fine-exc • SOLD
14383: Mordan reversing dip pen and pencil combination: unusual form, 11.65 cm long closed, hand engraved solid gold (surely 15K), chalcedony seal, pencil nozzle uses thick 2 mm "W' lead, partial seam opening on upper part of nib holder (see detail), still holds nib securely; another seam opening on socket end of reversible plug opposite nib holder. Marked only with the Mordan arrow logo; weight is 16.3 grams.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: VG* • SOLD
14377: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: large and spectacularly crisp, solid gold (probably 15K) line and dot pattern, 9.6 cm long retracted, shield-shaped bloodstone seal, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead; weight is 17.4 grams.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: near mint • SOLD
14378: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: large and deeply fluted, solid gold (probably 15K) line and dot pattern, 9.4 cm long retracted, shield-shaped bloodstone seal, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead; weight is 20.6 grams.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • SOLD
14376: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: reeded solid gold, 9.1 cm long retracted, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead; weight is 12.5 grams.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $375
14375: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: reeded solid gold, 9.2 cm long retracted, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead; weight is 15.2 grams.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: exc • $485
14384: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: smooth solid gold, 8.5 cm long retracted, pencil nozzle uses 2 mm "W' lead; weight is 18.3 grams.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • SOLD
14380: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: fine quality English manufacture, 9 cm long retracted, hand engraved solid gold, shield-shaped bloodstone seal, pencil nozzle intact but does not propel lead; weight is 13.7 grams.
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $275
14379: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: high quality English manufacture, 9.75 cm long retracted, hand engraved solid gold (probably 14/15K), moonstone seal, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead, lower part of nib holder bent slightly away from the upper, holds nib somewhat loosely, shallow ding just above sliders; weight is 17.3 grams.
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: fine • $485
13977: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: high quality English manufacture, 8.8 cm long retracted, hand engraved solid gold (probably 14/15K), chalcedony seal, pencil nozzle uses "M' lead; partial seam opening on upper part of nib holder (see detail), still holds nib securely; weight is 11.3 grams.
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: fine* • $350
14381: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: excellent quality English manufacture, 9.3 cm long retracted, hand engraved solid gold, shield-shaped chalcedony seal, pencil nozzle uses "VS" lead; weight is 16.2 grams.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: VG-fine • SOLD
Latest featured items here
14357: Ancora Cielo demonstrator in box: limited edition of 500, large transparent pale blue piston-filler, 14.4 cm long, gold-plated sterling silver vermeil trim, 18K gold nib; original packaging includes inner and outer boxes, certificate, and pin. Nib has been adjusted and smoothed.
DATE: 1998 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: fine • $500
14351: Ancora Cielo demonstrator in box: limited edition of 200, large transparent red piston-filler, 14.7 cm long, gold-plated sterling silver vermeil trim, 18K gold nib; original packaging including instructions, pin, and outer sleeve. Nib has been adjusted and smoothed.
DATE: 1999 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: fine semiflex • $595
14350: Ancora Cielo demonstrator in box: limited edition of 33, large transparent piston-filler, 14.7 cm long, gold-plated sterling silver vermeil trim, 18K gold nib; has been filled, light traces of blue ink visible in a few places. Original packaging includes certificate and outer sleeve, inner box exterior has become sticky but interior is fine. Nib has been adjusted and smoothed.
DATE: 2000 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium • $450
14368: Inkograph stylographic pen: large gold pearl and black marbled flat-top lever-filler, 12.9 cm long, gold filled trim, intact weighted needle, crisp barrel imprint, excellent color. While hard rubber Inkographs are relatively common, examples in celluloid are very hard to find.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: medium fine • $275
14346: Jessap penner: portable brass writing compendium, 13.5 cm tall, Sheffield manufacture, marked "JES/SAP" on the bottom of the inkwell base; screw-off top to carry quills. This design was made from the 18th century up into the beginning of the 19th, making individual specimens difficult to date. Typical dings, tapering top has a hole in the side and a seam split at the base (see details).
DATE: c. 1800 • CONDITION: fair-G • $450
14354: Mabie Todd Swan Eternal 44: black veined pearl lever-filler, 13.65 cm long, gold filled trim, made in USA; outstanding color, with surface pearlescence characteristic of a celluloid pen untouched for decades. Like new with silver infill still present in barrel end model number imprint and no brassing, but there are a couple of small tool marks on the section (see details). Sac has been removed to preserve color, replacement can be installed upon request at no additional charge.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: exc-near mint* • NIB: medium fine semiflex • $395
14370: Namiki Elite: large sterling silver cartridge-filler, 14.25 cm long, fine grid pattern, large inlaid 18K gold nib with November 1997 date code; converter included.
DATE: 1997 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • NIB: medium • $495
14369: New Banker combination: oversize flat-top lever-filler, 14.8 cm long, caramel swirl celluloid with red cap crown, tinted cap lip; an economy pen with gold plated trim, two-tone plated stainless steel nib, no inner cap, in notably pristine condition with plating almost entirely intact and only one spot of pitting to the nib (see detail). Pencil end uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1932 • CONDITION: exc-near mint* • NIB: fine • SOLD
14387: Parker Duofold Senior: green and brown pearl Vac-filler with black stripes, 13.5 cm long, Blue Diamond clip and geometric patterned cap band are gold filled over sterling silver, "V" imprint two-tone nib; barrel imprint is strong but anomalous as the date code is "0" -- perhaps a 1940 barrel reused under wartime production constraints.
DATE: c. 1942 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: extra-fine • $250
14372: Pelikan K800 in box: transparent green "Green Ocean" Collector's Edition oversize ballpoint pen, 14.2 cm long with point extended, twist-action mechanism, gold plated trim, marked "GERMANY", with signed 1994-dated certification of number of limited edition (648 pens for North America, 850 total worldwide), number does not match number on pen.
DATE: c. 1993 • CONDITION: mint • $350
14371: Pelikan K800 in box: transparent green "Green Ocean" Collector's Edition oversize ballpoint pen, 14.2 cm long with point extended, twist-action mechanism, gold plated trim, marked "GERMANY", with signed 1994-dated certification of number of limited edition (648 pens for North America, 850 total worldwide), matches number on pen.
DATE: c. 1993 • CONDITION: mint • $375
14366: Sheaffer Lifetime Balance pencil: oversize in Roseglow, 14.1 cm long, gold filled trim, uses 1.1 mm lead; "Roseglow" is the scarcest standard production color in the oversize Balance series, and pencils are significantly less common than the pens.
DATE: c. 1937 • CONDITION: fine • $265
14367: Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal pencil: black and pearl, gold filled trim, 13.6 cm long, roller clip, uses 1.1 mm lead, matches oversize Gold Seal Signature "Deco Band" fountain pen.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine • $120
14340: Waterman 0514 Chased Filigree: black hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 13.5 cm long, gold filled relief work scroll pattern barrel overlay, #4 New York nib, feed with patent date imprint. Overlay metal crisp, only trace plating wear around cap crown rim, shallow ding in barrel cartouche, pinhead ding to side of cap top (see details). An unusually clean example of a scarce and short-lived pattern.
DATE: c. 1908 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex • $1200
14361: Waterman 000 "World's Smallest": extremely rare miniature black hard rubber safety, 5.15 cm long, fully functional with retracting 14K gold nib; crisp glossy unfaded surfaces, bold barrel imprint. The usual form of Waterman's "World's Smallest" is a slip-cap eyedropper, which was described in internal company literature as a trade stimulator and novelty for dealers and salesmen. These pens, not intended for public sale, are rare enough, but the safety version is easily ten times rarer and to our knowledge is entirely undocumented in extant company publications. This is the first example we have offered for sale in over 25 years.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine • $4500
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