The items below are listed alphabetically by maker, with featured items grouped at the top.
In belated celebration of the USA's 250th, here is a group of early pencils and pen-pencil combinations of distinctly American design, all pre-Civil War.
17074: Bagley dip pen and pencil combination: early gold filled telescoping holder with reversible plug by an important pioneer penmaker, 8.6 cm long closed, marked "BAGLEY'S PAT. 1850" (US6981), also fainter imprints on plug end. Pencil nozzle uses 1.1 mm lead, ventless gold Bagley's nib has shoulder damage and is missing tipping. Outer barrel cartouche has had a personalized engraving removed, the polishing going all the way through the thick top gold layer. Despite this, most surfaces clean and even crisp, including the crown with its clear faceted seal stone.
DATE: c. 1855 • CONDITION: G* • SOLD
17075: Fairchild dip pen and pencil combination: classic early American design, engine turned silver, 10.65 cm closed, 18.8 cm fully extended, including large #7 ventless gold nib; telescoping body with reversible pen holder and pencil insert, uses 1.1 mm lead; scattered shallow bumps, fully marked.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: VG • NIB: extra-fine flex • SOLD
17068: unmarked extending pencil: early slide-action in silver, American-made with characteristic steel nozzle tip insert, hand engraved shaft decoration; 7.9 cm long closed, plain metal seal crown, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1845 • CONDITION: VG-fine • SOLD
17067: unmarked extending pencil: early slide-action, gold filled, American-made with characteristic steel nozzle tip insert, sliding ring fitting, 8.1 cm long closed, pink faceted seal "stone", uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: VG • SOLD
17083: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: unusually large, early American manufacture, excellent quality, heavy gold filled hexagonal shaft with crisp engine turned panels, 10.45 cm long retracted, sliding ring fitting, characteristic nozzle with inset steel tip, uses 1.05 mm lead; elegant presentation engraving, "JC to AC", fitted with a brass nib, overall condition excellent but for a single ding (see details).
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $275
17078: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: large, early American manufacture, excellent quality, heavy gold filled hexagonal shaft with crisp geometric engine turning of unusual design, 10.1 cm long retracted, sliding ring fitting, characteristic nozzle with inset steel tip, uses 1.05 mm lead; elegant presentation engraving, "JC to AC", fitted with a brass nib, surfaces clean with little wear, noting ding towards front.
DATE: c. 1855 • CONDITION: fine • $265
17089: unmarked retracting dip pen and pencil combination: unusually large, early American manufacture, excellent quality, gold filled hexagonal body with hand engraved panels, 10.5 cm long retracted, pencil end uses 1.0 mm lead; fitted with a brass nib, overall condition excellent but for a test cut across a barrel panel (see details).
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine* • $175
17095: unmarked dip pen and pencil combination: classic early American design, engine turned silver, 8.8 cm closed, 13.1 cm fully extended, excluding brass nib; telescoping body with reversible pen holder and pencil insert, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: VG-fine • SOLD
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17423: Boston eyedropper-filler: black hard rubber ringtop, gold filled cap and barrel, 9.6 cm long, very high quality engraving of flowers and scrolling leaves, elegant monogram on barrel; #2 Boston Safety nib is smooth with plenty of flex.
DATE: c. 1915 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: medium fine flex • $425
17430: Conklin 2: black hard rubber screw-cap crescent-filler with sinuous Art Nouveau gold filled filigree overlay, 13.7 cm long; early "PAT. PENDING" clip imprint, #2 Conklin nib opens wide at a touch. Name engraved on cap cartouche, some surface marks on nib imprint, tiny nick from side of vent hole.
DATE: c. 1916 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $865
17401: Conklin Endura: black and gold ringtop lever-filler, 11.2 cm long, gold filled trim, good imprints, fine color; Endura nib has restrained flexibility, naturally writes an elegantly shaded line.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $175
17424: Eversharp pencil: rare early production model with trowel clip, predating Wahl's takeover; 13.1 cm long, nickel plated/nickel silver, smooth pattern; marked "PATENTED" and "EVER SHARP", uses 1.1 mm lead; crown has shallow rim bumps, a few pinhead marks to the front end of the barrel, mechanism fully functional.
DATE: c. 1916 • CONDITION: VG • $150
17399: Hartline Blotter Pen: unfinished oversize model in black and pearl celluloid, 13.9 cm long, miniature roller blotter under cap blind cap. End tab rotates to compress sac, which appears to be hardened and which we have not removed or replaced. Lacks nib, feed, clip, and inner cap. Hartlines of any kind are rare, very large examples are virtually unheard of.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: near mint* • $375
17415: Parker VP holy water sprinkler: black with frosty Lustraloy cap, gold plated trim, made in USA, filling unit intact; scarce special production item, name on barrel.
DATE: c. 1963 • CONDITION: near mint • $385
17366: Parker 75 set in box: sterling silver grid pattern, gold plated trim, made in USA, marked "STERLING CAP & BARREL"; section with angle indicator, no "0"; nib has a ball-shaped tip but writes a finer line that one would expect. With slender metal squeeze converter, matching Classic .9mm twist-action pencil and button-actuated Classic ballpoint.
DATE: c. 1976 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: medium fine • $485
17400: Sheaffer Lifetime desk set: black lever-filler desk pen, White Dot, Lifetime nib writes a pleasant and shaded line; Art Deco base is chrome with leaping stags design.
DATE: c. 1933 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine • $225
17428: Sheaffer Targa ballpoint: sterling silver, 13.3 cm long, gold plated trim, White Dot, twist-action to extend and retract tip; new old stock but without packaging.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: mint • $95
17429: Sheaffer Targa ballpoint: sterling silver, 13.3 cm long, chrome plated trim, White Dot, twist-action to extend and retract tip; new old stock but without packaging, some light tarnish easily polished off if desired.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: mint • $95
17433: Wahl lever-filler: gold filled "all metal barrel" pen, 12.6 cm long, "Check" pattern, long-tined #3 nib, made in Canada. Springy action, wide line width variation.
DATE: c. 1921 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $295
17434: Wahl-Eversharp Gold Seal: oversize black and pearl "Deco Band" lever-filler, 13.7 cm long, gold filled trim, Gold Seal manifold nib with Personal Point screw-in system, early production with shorter roller clip marked "WAHL PEN". Excellent color, tiny stress marks at front corners of lever slot (see detail), a smooth and precise writer.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine firm • $785
17419: Wahl-Eversharp Equi-Poised: scarce "truncated Balance" green and bronze lever-filler, 12.75 cm long, gold filled trim, Gold Seal, Personal Point screw-in nib unit with Gold Seal Signature nib, elegantly hand-engraved name on barrel, sealed cap lip hairlines (see details). This slightly modified variation of the original Equi-Poised was produced for a very short time due to litigation pressure from Sheaffer. Nib will open with pressure, stublike tip writes a shaded line even without pressure.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium flex • $265
17431: Waterman Patrician set: classic Art Deco oversize lever-filler in Nacre (black and pearl), 13.75 cm long, chrome plated trim, with matching 1.1 mm pencil; nib is fully marked but unusual with round vent hole, appears to have been skilfully retipped and is a notably calligraphic writer. Pencil shows less usage than the pen, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium stub flex • $950
17410: unmarked quill cutter: ebony and nickel silver, probably English manufacture, 10.15 cm long, slide-out auxiliary blade intact, one tight crack to wood (see detail) but all parts fully functional.
DATE: c. 1830 • CONDITION: fine* • $285
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