Our Sold Archive provides information to budding vintage fountain pen/writing equipment collectors and social history students.
Each fountain pen or piece of writing equipment forms part of the collective history of its period and has a history unique to that particular item. In the 1930’s a silver banded fountain pen (right) was purchased by estate workers, with no doubt hard earned wages, and inscribed to present as a silver wedding gift to the land owner. It was reported recently that, in the days before the National Health Service, when health care had to be paid for, a man pawned his fountain pen to raise funds to enable his wife to be released from hospital. A recently sold writing cabinet was originally a presentation piece to recognise 40 years of loyal service in a period when jobs were for “life”. Just three examples which only scratch the surface of the lifetime of memories held within each item. A treasure trove of history that no new fountain pen could convey.
Below, and on following pages, are all the pens in our Sold Archive, displayed in a random order. If you wish to search the sold archive, then the Search Catalogue page gives you an opportunity to do so. On other pages you can find the desktop items part of our Sold Archive, as well as lists of our current stock of pens and desktop items.
Merlin No.33 - Brown marble with black stripe. | Stock number: 1013 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This Merlin No.33 vintage pen was made in Germany around 1950. It is a very serviceable economy line button filling pen. Being 12cm (4½ inches) long with the cap on it is a good size for the smaller hand. This particular example has a brown marble finish with a black stripe and a gold tone clip. Whilst it is a vintage pen it has not previously seen much use and therefore the fine-medium Merlin 14ct gold nib will smooth to suit your hand. Condition is good with only minor age wear to the trim. It measures 11.8cm with cap on and 14cm with cap on barrel end. A good economy vintage pen for everyday use. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. Filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
Waterman 52v set | Stock number: 5056 |
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Fine-medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This delightful vintage pen and pencil set was made by Waterman’s around 1925 in a “Ripple” finish which was particularly popular at the time - and remains so today. Both the fountain pen and the pencil have a ring top. Advertisements of the time stated “These types are appropriate for women and conveniently carried on silk guards”, however they were also used by men to hang, for example, from their watch chain. A slim ribbon, chain or handbag clip will suffice today. Alternatively it could be held in a pen case or used as a desk pen. It has one broad gold fill cap band (some plating wear)and a warranted 14k No.3 nib which is more of a fine than a medium point. The model number (52v) is stated on the barrel end. The pencil which, as with the pen, is in working order and recently serviced, has “Waterman’s” “Pat. Applied for” around the top with a slim gold fill band. It takes a 1.2mm diameter lead (Yard O’Led for example). There is some variation between the depth of colour of the pen and pencil – obviously one has been used more than the other over the years. The length of the pen is 11cm/pencil 10cm not including ring top. Suitable to add to a collection or for everyday use, they are in good condition and a fine set reminiscent of the 1920’s. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. Filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
Parker Duofold | Stock number: 5144 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This Parker Duofold vintage fountain pen was made in England at the Newhaven factory around 1941 and is a classic Parker fountain pen of the period. The finish is in a pleasing light and dark green pearl with gold fill trim. It has a barrel imprint which is unique to the Newhaven factory stating: “Parker Duofold – Geo. S. Parker – Reg. TM.” The Parker fine to medium point nib states “Parker Duofold Pen 14k N” and is a pleasing writer. The Parker cap has two thin gold fill cap bands and sports a Parker ball ended clip. This vintage pen is a button filler – you undo the cap at the end of the barrel to reveal a button – depress the button and you deflate the sac – let go of the button and the ink fills the sac – easy. It is in good condition with only minor age wear. It measures 12.5cm with cap on and 15.1cm with cap on barrel end. The barrel imprint is good. It is a pleasant vintage pen in a rare colour from a first class manufacturer – ideal to add to a collection or for everyday use. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request | |
Conway Stewart No.388 Green Marble | Stock number: 5263 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This Conway Stewart No. 388 was made in England around 1939. The finish is a mix of pale and dark green marble with rolled gold trim. It has the original Conway clip to the cap with two thin and one slightly wider cap band. The body has the original Conway lever and the inscription “Conway Stewart 388 - Made in England”. The nib is a Conway 14ct fine to medium point and it is a pleasing writer. Condition is good with only minor age wear as can be seen from the photograph. It measures 12.6cm with cap on and15.8cm with cap on barrel end. A classic vintage fountain pen with an attractive finish and an ideal pen to use as an everyday writer. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless otherwise stated and are bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. Filling instructions will be sent with your order. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Parker Moderne Moss Agate | Stock number: 5373 |
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Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This stylish and unusual button filling vintage fountain pen was made by the Parker Pen Company, Canadian plant in the 1930’s. Called the “Moderne” it is fitted with a thin gold plated clip screw and gold fill trim on the cap clip and single cap band. It was available in a range of colours and designs, this particular design in autumn colours is called Moss Agate. The Moderne is a small fountain pen measuring 11.4cm with cap on and 13.9cm with cap on barrel end. The barrel imprint on this particular example is rather unusual stating “Geo S. Parker – Fountain Pen – Made in Canada” - Patented. It is fitted with a Parker nib which states “Parker Fountain Pen – 2 Canada B” which has a medium point. Condition is good with some age wear (it has been a well loved pen) and brassing to the gold fill trim but this is reflected in the price. It has retained its colour well. An attractive vintage fountain pen suitable for everyday use. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless stated otherwise and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request and filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
Parker 51 - Teal Blue | Stock number: 4194 |
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Medium nib, Aerometric fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage pen was made in England by Parker in the early 50’s. Its aerodynamic design has made it a classic and the plaudits it has received over the years both in terms of design and reliability are well deserved. Its contribution to design is evidenced by its display in the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and has been marketed as “51…the world’s most wanted pen”. This particular model has a blue/green body, a colour Parker termed "Teal Blue" and a Parker rolled gold cap. The body is in good condition with only minor age wear. The Parker 51 nib is a medium smooth writer and has a 1952 date mark. The rolled gold cap is in fair to good condition with two minor dings to the rear of the cap (illustrated in the photograph) and a slightly darker than usual end jewel. However these points are reflected in the price and do not detract from the overall good condition of this classic vintage pen. The aerometric filling system is often termed "squeezebox" and is a very simple method of filling the pen with ink by unscrewing the barrel to expose a metal shell covering the ink sac - just press the metal bar and release up to five times and this vintage pen is ready to use. Parker 51’s are not only a collector’s item but also an excellent everyday workhorse. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
National Security No.222 | Stock number: 5203 |
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Medium to Broad nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage fountain pen was made by National Security, an English manufacturer, in approximately 1945. It has a black chased finish to the cap and body and gold plated trim on the clip, lever and one thin cap band. The barrel states: “National Security – No.222 – Made in England”. It has a “Warranted 14ct first quality” nib with a medium to broad slightly oblique point. There is some age wear to the lever plating and a dullness on the cap band hence I have listed it as being in fair to good condition and priced it accordingly. National Security pens are not that common and this, with its medium to broad nib is a pleasing vintage pen to use. It measures 13.2cm with cap on and 16cm with cap on barrel end. An ideal pen for everyday use or to add to a vintage pen collection. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request.
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Parker 51 - Jet Black with Rolled Gold Cap | Stock number: 5466 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Aerometric fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage pen was made in England by Parker around 1955. Its aerodynamic design has made it a classic and the plaudits it has received over the years both in terms of design and reliability are well deserved. Its contribution to design is evidenced by its display in the Design Museum in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and it has been marketed as “51…the world’s most wanted pen”. This particular model has a jet black body and a rolled gold cap. The pen and rolled gold slip on cap are in very good condition overall with only minor age wear. The cap end “jewel” is a good colour. The Parker 51 nib has a fine to medium point. It measures 13.7cm with cap on and 15.2cm with cap on barrel end. The aerometric filling system is often termed "squeezebox" and is a very simple method of filling the pen with ink by unscrewing the barrel to expose a metal shell covering the ink sac - just press the metal bar and release up to five times and this vintage pen is ready to use. Parker 51’s are not only a collector’s item but also an excellent everyday workhorse. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Sheaffer PFM III - Green | Stock number: 5273 |
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Medium nib, Snorkel fill system. |
Sold |
This fountain pen was manufactured by the Sheaffer plant in Australia between 1959 to 1963. Regarded by some as “the best fountain pen ever” this Sheaffer is called the PFM (Pen For Men) due to its large size and (then) new bold styling. It was advertised as “the complete pen for today’s active man”. These days it is equally popular and appropriate for females who prefer a larger size fountain pen. This model, the PFM III, has a plastic barrel and cap. The cap has a wide gold fill band and clip with the Sheaffer white dot. The colour is a strong green which offsets the gold fill trim very nicely. The (at the time) newly designed Sheaffer 14ct gold inlaid nib states “Sheaffer’s 14kt Aust.” and has a medium point. The “clean” filling method is via a “snorkel” (named after the tube-breathing submarines of the Second World War) which extends from the nib end of the pen, combined with a piston fill. It is in good condition with minor age wear overall. It measures 13.5cm with cap on and 14.4cm with cap on barrel end. A classic vintage pen in good order to either add to a collection or use as an everyday workhorse. It comes complete with a copy of the original filling instructions. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless stated otherwise and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request. | |
Swan Snakeskin Blue SM205/83 | Stock number: 5426 |
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Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This unusual vintage fountain pen was made in England by Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd. under the “Swan” brand name around 1938. It is unusual in that whilst it is a plastic body its finish is in a pattern called “blue snakeskin”. There were a series of snakeskin finishes - the others being green, ruby and silver grey and they are not that easy to find these days in good, and working, order. The design is complemented by having a black lever and rolled gold trim for the “Swan” clip. The barrel imprint states “Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd., Swan Self Filler – Made in England” – with the “Swan” emblem. The bottom of the barrel has the model number SM205/83. The nib is a “Swan No.2” - 14ct. with a medium point with some flex. The “Swan” emblem is on the cap top. It measures 15.5cm with cap on barrel end and 12.5cm with cap on. Condition is good with minimal age wear however there is a slight kink in the barrel - which is visible in the montage and this is reflected in the price. Despite this it is an unusual and attractive vintage fountain pen to either add to a collection or use as an everyday writer. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless stated otherwise and bench tested prior to offering for sale. A further inspection is carried out before despatch. A gift box is available free of charge on request and filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
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If you would like us to try to source another copy of a previously sold item, please stating the stock number of the item in question, which you will see above its picture on the right.