Pen Profiles:
Safety Pens - Moore Safeties - Waterman Safeties
13137: Aikin Lambert Mercantile: rare black chased hard rubber ringtop safety, 9.3 cm long, gold filled trim, identical to a Waterman 42½V but for imprints, nib, and feed; nib has semistub tip. Waterman acquired Aikin Lambert around 1907.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium flex • $245
13010: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: rare early model retracting-nib safety with short cap and slotted sleeve, 14.65 cm long, gold filled high relief floral filigree barrel overlay with monogram engraved in cartouche; #2 nib is extremely flexible but has a hairline from the vent hole (see detail), condition of pen is otherwise notable, hard rubber crisp and glossy, some scratches on barrel from rubbing of sleeve, safety post inside cap missing.
DATE: c. 1902 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: medium fine superflex • $1200
15788: American Fountain Pen Co. sleeve-filler: rare and peculiar, black chased hard rubber, 12.6 cm long, to all external appearances a standard Moore safety, but instead the barrel sleeve must be unscrewed to reveal the opening in the barrel and the pressure bar. Bar is imprinted "LICENSED UNDER/PATENT 781.649" -- Robert A. Hamilton's US patent of 1905. Overall condition would be excellent plus, but for now-repaired cracks in both the sleeve and barrel, surely due to rough handling as they are not in locations normally subject to much stress..
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $365
16657: American Fountain Pen Co. Moore's Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with gold filled overlay, 9.25 cm long, high quality hand-engraved floral scroll decoration, fully marked, only trace plating wear at very edges of ends; #2 American Fountain Pen nib is long-tined and very flexible, safety post inside cap is intact.
DATE: c. 1917 • CONDITION: exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $600
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
15100: Kaweco safety in box: black hard rubber with gold filled overlay, German made, retracting nib, 11 cm long, dents to cap, seal replaced, warranted nib opens with slightest pressure, to be used with a light touch, incipient stress line from vent hole (see detail). In retailer box from the Netherlands.
DATE: c. 1928 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: medium fine superflex • $565
16476: Merkurit (?) Hanseat: black chased hard rubber safety, 10,45 cm long, white casein cap dome, German manufacture; English-made replacement nib is an excellent writer.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $250
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
16722: Montblanc Reflex: black hard rubber safety, 13.5 cm long, subbrand model of distinctive design, small nib with "0" in a diamond imprint, extremely fine and flexible, characteristic notched feed; turning knob is marked "OF", "FÜRSTENBRUNN" imprinted on cap (likely a retail stationer).
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine flex • $450
13632: Montegrappa The Elmo Pen: early production black hard rubber safety, 12.75 cm long, smooth gold filled overlay, #2 Elmo nib, Moore-style one-piece shaft and feed; cap has engraved monogram, dings to crown, cap lip has been replaced. Nib has a crack from the vent hole, usable with a light hand. The Elmo Pen was one of Montegrappa's very first models, and an overlay example is unheard of.
DATE: c. 1922 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
13425: Moore Non-Leakable: black hard rubber retracting-nib safety with smooth gold filled overlay, 12.1 cm long, Moore #2 nib; one shallow ding and some pinprick marks to the cap, small patch of corrosion at front of barrel overlay (see details), safety post inside cap is absent.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: fine stub flex • $650
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
16077: Parker 49: black hard rubber slip-cap eyedropper-filler with gold filled overlay, 12.5 cm long, intact long Lucky Curve spearhead feed, #3 Lucky Curve nib with keyhole vent; elegantly engraved name in barrel cartouche, metal is clean but for erosion of cap vent holes from ink exposure (see details). An rare model, as this overlay is usually found as a Jack-Knife Safety; this also appears to be the smaller and less common lady's version.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: fine semiflex • $950
16000: Viala Valair: miniature French-made hard rubber safety, 8.2 cm long, hallmarked sterling silver line and dot pattern overlay, tiny 14K Viala nib opens easily and should be used with a light touch. Tight hairline to the hard rubber cap lip, dent and tool marks to cap overlay.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: G* • NIB: fine flex • $265
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
16588: Waterman 42: black hard rubber safety with smooth 18K gold filled Italian overlay, 12 cm long, notably fine flexible nib.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine flex • $625
16507: Waterman 42½: Ripple hard rubber retracting-nib safety, 12.2 cm long, unusual but original configuration with woodgrain cap with red end and black turning knob, new old stock from Swiss Waterman distributor, tight-sprung #2 nib with round vent hole.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex • $450
16604: Waterman 44 Aero Pen: rare late black hard rubber safety, gold filled trim, artist's nib is extraordinarily fine-tipped, like a sharp steel dip pen nib; moderate even fading and wear, stable 1mm cap lip hairline below the cap band (see detail).
DATE: c. 1941 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: needlepoint flex • $1200
16621: unmarked traveling inkwell and matchsafe set: high quality English manufacture, red leather covered. Inkwell is missing its pivoting safety hook, a feature not always present on these (the main latch is the push button on the front). Original rubber top seal has been replaced, is spring-loaded.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine* • $120
10895: unmarked miniature safety set in box: beautiful ensemble, German manufacture, purple transparent enamel over silver. Black hard rubber safety pen is 7.2 cm long, fully functional, and appears never to have been used (we have replaced its cork seal and repaired a small crack in the internal spiral). The magic pencil is 5.25 cm long and bears an 835 silver content stamp on its ring; shaft and nozzle are gold-plated, and it uses standard 1.1 mm lead. The enamel is intact on pen and pencil, but is damaged on one side of the matching wax seal (see detail). Box is marked "Joyeria Zerbino", a retailer in Montevideo.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: fine • $795
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
10568: unmarked safety: black hard rubber, small and slender with silver overlay; 9.45 cm long, French made, 18K warranted nib is serviceable but toothy, tipping scant.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: extra-fine semiflex • $225
