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Vintage pens, in particular fountain pens, are highly collectible and come in a wide variety of colors and styles, from elaborate jewel-encrusted casings to sleek and simple cigar-shaped designs. There are three main types of vintage pens: 1) dip pens have a nib to dip into an inkwell; 2) fountain pens have a self-contained ink reservoir; and 3) ballpoint pens have a little ball that allows ink to flow out when the pen is put to paper.
The 1920s were a time of innovation and prosperity for pen manufacturers, who started developing plastic pens in a variety of colors and styles. The Sheaffer Balance, released in 1929, started a trend toward streamlined pens. The 1930s saw the introduction of more affordable models, sold in dime stores. The 1940s ushered in ballpoint pens, and a more modern look typified by the famous 'Parker 51', the classic collector pen released by Parker in 1950.
Up until the 1960s, the emphasis in the pen industry was on the development of better-performing and easier-filling pens through innovations in nib and reservoir technology. In the mid-1880s, craftsmen had created the first reliable fountain pen, but it had a long way to go...
By the 1960s, ball point and cartridge technology had made performance a non-issue, and manufacturers like Parker, Sheaffer, Waterman and Montblanc began to focus on fancier material and designs, with a variety of colors, lacquers, and engravings to differentiate their high-end products. Pens became a gift item and fashion statement, and were ultimately produced as limited editions for the collector market.
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by Interviews & Articles
The Pinnacle of Pens: Author Barry Gabay on Writing in Style and the Montblanc 149
In 1908, three guys in Hamburg, Germany, founded what would become Montblanc. In the beginning it was known as the Simplo Filler P… [more]
Vintage Sheaffer, Parker, Wahl, and Waterman Fountain Pens
When I got my first job out of college, I did what a lot of people do: I ran out and bought myself a Montblanc pen and fountain pe… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Parker51.com
Ernesto Soler's extensive homage to one of the most popular pens ever produced, the Parker "51," introduced in 1941… [read review or visit site]
Penhero.com
Jim Mamoulides' vintage and modern pen-cyclopedia. Start at the main gallery, featuring detailed articles (with pho… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations
Discussion Forums
Other Great Reference Sites
Top eBay Auctions
Fountain Pen Montblanc Limited Edition 2010 Elizabeth I - 105728 M Nib
Super Rare Out-of-production David Oscarson Pierrot & Pirrette Fountain Pen
Fountain Pen Montblanc Limited Edition 4810 A.von Humboldt - 101180 M Nib
Fountain Pen Montblanc Alfred Hitchcock Limited Edittion - 106508 M Nib
Rare 18 Carat Two Colour Gold Mont Blanc,solitaire Miesterstuck Ballpoint Pen
Gorgeous Montblanc Patron Of Art Limited Edition Louis Xiv Year 1994
Mint Montblanc Patron Of Art Limited Edition Karl Der Grosse Year 2000
Fountain Pen Montblanc Limited Edition 4810 Gaius Maecenas - 106437 F Nib
Montblanc Writers Limited Edition Alexandre Dumas 1996 Uncorrect Signature Set
Fountain Pen Montblanc Limited Edition 4810 J.p. Morgan - 9981 M Nib
New Montblanc Ramses Ii / Fountain Pen / 20144 / 1995 / M Nib
Wonderful Montblanc Patron Of Art Limited Edition Max Von Oppenheim Year 2009
Wonderful Montblanc Writers Limited Edition Marcel Proust 1999 Fp
Parker Black Giant Fountain Pen - 6-inches Long - Lucky Curve No 12 14k Nib
Danitrio Junikaku Murasaki-dame (purple) Tame-nuri Fountain Pen
Mont Blanc Limited Edition Charles Dickens Fountain Pen
Very Rare 1968 Vintage Sheaffer 18ct Gold Fountain Pen With 14ct Nib (see Pics)
Wonderful Montblanc Writers Limited Edition Carlo Collodi 2011 Fp
Montblanc Pen
Rollerball Pen Montblanc Legrand Nikolai Doue' Vermeil - 22363 (3454)
Montblanc Writers Edition George Bernard Shaw Fountain Pen Box And Pappers..mint
Vintage Wonderful Montblanc 149 Limited Edition Teatro Alla Scala Year 2004
Must De Cartier Vendome Brushed Steel & Gold Ballpoint Pen From 1989
Waterman Serenite Black Fountain Pen Medium Point
1950's Montblanc Masterpiece 149 Silver Rings Celluloid 14c 585 Nib Rare!!
Vintage Parker "51" Pen/pencil In Box--fountain Pen--arrow Clip-never Used
Fountain Pen Cartier Watch Limited Edition Platinum / Lacquer - N.0701/2000 
Montblanc Writers Series George Bernard Shaw
Montblanc Ramses Ll Spec. Edition Ballpoint - Lapis Lazuli - Mint !!
Pen Set Montblanc Limited Edition William Faulkner 2007 Fp+bp+mp - 101186
Edgar Allan Poe Limited Edition Montblanc Fountain Pen
Montblanc Leonard Bernstein Limited Edition, 18k Nib Size: Fine, Fountain Pen
Montblanc Fountain Pen Limited Edition Jonathan Swift, Ink Included New
Fountain Pen Montblanc Limited Edition 4810 Nicolaus Copernicus - 8476 F Nib
Wonderful Montblanc Writers Limited Edition Carlo Collodi 2011 Rollerball
Extremely Rare Fabulous Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 Vermeil 925 Goudron
Wonderful Montblanc Writers Limited Edition Oscar Wilde 1994 Ballpoint
Fountain Pen Cartier Line Pattern Louis Cartier Gold M Nib - St170005
Parker Centennial Duofold, Sterling Silver, C.1988, Mint In Box, New Old Stock
Parker Duofold Centennial Marbled Maroon Fountain Pen 18k Medium Nib Mint Box
Sheaffer Pfm V Black Cap Gold Filled Trim 14k Big Fine Box Usa C.59"new 
The King Of Pen Sailor Flagship Professional Gear 21kt Fountain Pen 
Security-red Mottled Giant Fountain Pen-ca. 1920's-beautiful
Rare Fabulous Ballpoint Montblanc Meisterstuck Tribute To The Montblanc
*clearance Sale* Pelikan M1005 Demo Pen, Box
Krone Amelia Earhart Limited Edition Fountain Pen
Extremely Rare!!! Early Montblanc Gilt Fountain Pen 1910-20
Mont Blanc Ingrid Bergman La Donna Special Edition Rollerball Pen W Box & Coa
Montblanc Meisterstuck Sterling Silver 925 Rollerball Pen
Mont Blanc Montblanc Boheme Sapphire Stone Fountain Pen
Mont Blanc Carlos Collodi Limited Edition Pen
New Sailor Large 1911 The King Of Pen Ebonite 21kt Broad Nib Fountain Pen
Set X 3 Rotring 700 Fountain Pen & Ball Point & Pencil Germany Nos # L499
Vintage Fabulous Rare Limited Edition Omas Amerigo Vespucci Red Briarwood 
Montblanc Meisterstuck No. 149 Fountain Pen
Cartier Set Of Fountain Pen And Ballpoint Blue Laque De Chine Vintage With Box
Montblanc Scott Fitzgerald Fountain Pen Writers Edition Limited Edition New !
Montblanc Meisterstuck No 149 14 K Gold Nib
Vintage Rare Fabulous Cufflinks Montblanc Tzar Nikolai Ii Malachite 
New Sailor King Of Pen Resin Brown Mosaique 21kt Gold Broad Nib Fountain Pen 
Recent News: Pens
Source: Google News
Folks You Should Know: David Fox has collected a century of pens
Kingsport Times News, June 18thDavid, IT systems analyst at Eastman, has a collection of rare and antique pens, some of which he's modified to use with modern refills. With more than 500 antique pens and pencils in his collection, David said he started his pen collection in high...Read more
Interview With Giuseppe Aquila, CEO of Montegrappa Pens on The Evolution Of ...
Pursuitist, June 5thPursuitist: The Icon pen collection includes Muhammed Ali, Joe Frazier, Bruce Lee, Frank Sinatra, among others, and now Elvis — what personality dimensions did these people have in common? Mr. Aquila: They were best in class in their respective fields...Read more
Aaron Sorkin's Office Is Better Than Yours Will Ever Be
LAist, June 4thSorkin applied his own stamp with a collection of black-and-white photographs of great American writers such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Clifford Odets, as well as vintage pen-and-ink sets and other tokens of his craft and framed pictures...Read more
Local Serbian Restaurateur Pays $23500 for Berlin Wall Piece
GlobalAtlanta, May 28thHe once helped authorities seize a fountain pen collection worth $2 million in Charleston, S.C. The highlight was a pen encrusted with 1,400 diamonds in the shape of France's Mont Blanc mountain range. The collector paid $175,000 for it; Mr. Hays...Read more
The elephant in the West Bank
Haaretz, May 26thIn another kind of political culture, a politician like him would have said: “My poor countrymen, I erred. I'm a failure with no talents. From now on I will focus on my pen collection, I'll fly to see cup final matches in Europe and help anyone who...Read more
Just the right touch: A celebration of the fountain pen
News & Observer, May 25thFountain pen collector, Deb Kinney, repairs a fountain pen after finishing work at her Durham home Thursday May 2, 2013. She not only repairs pens as a hobby but has a collection of over 500 pens. CHUCK LIDDY — cliddy@newsobserver.com Buy Photo...Read more