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.
Conway Stewart No.475 | Stock number: 5034 |
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Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This Conway Stewart No.475 vintage pen was made in England around 1937. It is in a green marble finish with rolled gold trim. The cap has the original Conway clip. The barrel states “The Conway Pen” “Conway Stewart London” “No. 475” and has the original Conway lever. Its Conway 14ct nib is a medium point – an easy writer. Its overall condition is good as stated in the main listing – it does have some plating wear to the clip and lever and this is reflected in the price. It measures 12.9cm with cap on and 16.1cm with cap on barrel end. 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. | |
Merlin No.33 Wine striated | Stock number: 1024 |
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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, and 14cm with cap on barrel end, it is a good size for the smaller hand. This particular example has a wine striated finish with 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 minor wear to the clip and cap band. I now have only a limited amount of these ex-old factory Merlins left to sell and they have proved to be very popular economy pens. All fountain pens are professionally serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. unless otherwise stated 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. | |
Waterman Lady Patricia Turquoise | Stock number: 5280 |
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Fine to Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage pen, which Waterman called the Lady Patricia, was created in 1930 for the female hand, following the successful sales of the Waterman Patrician range – which was a much larger fountain pen aimed primarily at the male market. The Stationery Trades’ Journal of the time (November 1930) praised its “slender careful lines and smart modish colour” It was marketed as having a “smart, modern, feminine cap clasp – holding the pen securely in place, even in the most crowded handbag.” The first Lady Patricia was presented to Miss Amy Johnson (1903-1941) the English female aviator who carried a Waterman fountain pen during her daring solo flight from England to Australia. It was marketed in a range of colours – this one – one of the rarest – is called “Turquoise” – a beautiful blue and bronze marble. The cap top, clip, single decorated cap band and lever are gold fill. It has a Waterman Ideal Canada No.2 nib with a fine to medium point. This delightful, and quite rare, vintage pen is in good condition with a crisp imprint which states “Waterman’s Fountain Pen, Reg. U.S. Pat. Off Made in U.S.A.” with the Waterman’s “Ideal” lozenge. The American manufacture and Canadian nib is not entirely uncommon. You will note that the cap band is discreetly engraved with the text “A.A.S.C. 1938” which ties in with its illustration in Waterman advertisements of 1937. It is a small pen measuring 11cm with cap on and 13.7cm with cap on barrel end. It is a true reflection of its period and this Lady will not only provide many years of writing pleasure as an everyday writer but will be equally at home in a vintage fountain pen collection. | |
Parker 51 - Navy Grey | Stock number: 5368 |
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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 stylish grey body, a colour Parker termed “Navy Grey” and Parker 1/10 12ct rolled gold cap with its grey cap “jewel”. The colour is a softer grey than appears in the photograph. This classic vintage pen is in good condition with only minor age wear and comes with a medium Parker nib. 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. unless otherwise stated and are 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.
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Swan Minor - SM1/57 | Stock number: 5181 |
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Fine to medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This Swan vintage fountain pen was made in England in 1935 by Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd. – a pen company which originated in America in 1843, opening its UK subsidiary in 1884 in Cheapside in London. At one point Swan pens were advertised as “the pen of the British Empire” as the English subsidiary bought the rights to the European and colonial business in 1915. This particular model is called the Swan Minor No.1 or SM1 and it has a lovely blue, grey and bronze marble finish with chrome trim and a stylish black lever. The colour is slightly darker than it appears in the photographs. Apart from some oxidising on the clip, which is reflected in the price, it is in good condition with a strong imprint stating “Swan Minor Mabie Todd & Co. Ltd. Made in England”. The bottom of the barrel has the Swan numbering of SM1/57 and the top of the cap has the Swan logo. The ball ended clip also carries the Swan name as does the Swan No.1 14ct. fine to medium point nib. A stylish vintage pen in an unusual and rather rare finish to either add to a collection or use as an everyday writer. 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 and filling instructions will be sent with your order. | |
Parker Standard Vacumatic - Golden Pearl | Stock number: 5293 |
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Medium nib, Vacumatic fill system. |
Sold |
This vintage fountain pen was made by Parker in1946 and is an example of the third generation of a very successful Parker model called the “Vacumatic”. Originally launched in 1932 as the “Vacuum Filler”, it was advertised as holding 102% more ink than other pens available at the time. The barrel is used as the ink reservoir rather than an ink sac which increases the ink capacity. Filled by a then new style vacuum pump mechanism on the barrel end, it was also advertised as “revolutionary in principle and perfectly marvellous in performance”. It became an accepted and reliable filling method which was also initially used for the Parker 51. You will see from the photographs that this third generation model has the subsequent streamlined plastic plunger filling system which can be easily operated with one hand. The barrel was designed to be slightly transparent which allowed you to see the volume of ink held within it – this was more so with the earlier models. By this period it was available in a variety of finishes, this particular finish is termed “Golden Pearl Opaque” which whilst making it less easy to see the ink capacity is a very pleasing design. The barrel imprint states “Geo S Parker Parker Vacumatic Made in U.S.A.” with the date stamp of “.6.” standing for the second quarter of 1946. It came in a range of sizes. This, the standard model, measures 13cm (130mm) with cap on and 15.3cm with cap on barrel end. The nib is a Parker USA arrow design with a fine to medium point and a feint date code of “2” – again standing for the second quarter. The cap sports the Parker single jewel top, gold fill arrow clip and two thin cap bands. Condition is good with only minor age wear and slight brassing to trim. An interesting and stylish vintage fountain pen suitable for everyday use or to add to a vintage fountain pen collection. 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. A gift box is available free of charge on request. Filling instructions will be sent with your order.
Source: Parker Vacumatic – Geoffrey Parker, David Shepherd, Dan Zazove – Surrenden Press Limited. | |
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. | |
Silver Overlay Birmingham 1940 | Stock number: 5292 |
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Medium nib, Button fill system. |
Sold |
This elegant silver overlay vintage fountain pen was made in England and overlaid in silver in Birmingham in1940. The assay mark is on the clip, cap and cap crown with full markings at the barrel neck. The chased silver overlay design is very pleasing and typical of the fine metal overlays of the period, produced for the more discerning customer. The chased pattern is pleasantly relieved by the smooth silver at the top of the cap, on the ball ended clip and at the top of the barrel. The personalising lozenge is clear. You will see from the photograph that it has strong hallmarks. Its nib has been changed during its life to an Onoto 14ct medium point – the text on the nib states “De la Rue Onoto 14ct London 22A”. This is not an Onoto pen (which despite the name was an English make) but the nib would appear to be one of which the previous owner was rather fond, to have used it in this quality vintage pen. It has a good balance in the hand, has very little age wear (minor indentations in the cap) and is in good condition overall. It measures 13.5cm with cap on and 16.4cm with cap on barrel end. A stylish, fairly slim and elegant vintage fountain pen which will provide many more years of service either as an everyday writer or as an addition to a collection. 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. | |
Conway Stewart No.286 | Stock number: 5335 |
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Medium nib, Lever fill system. |
Sold |
This Conway Stewart No. 286 was made in England around 1939. The finish is a mix of pale and dark pink marble, normally termed Rose Marble, with rolled gold trim. It has the original Conway clip to the cap with one thin cap band. The body has the original Conway lever and the inscription “The Conway Stewart No.286 Made in England”. The nib is a Conway 14ct medium point. Condition is good with only minor age wear. It measures 12.7cm with cap on and 15.7cm with cap on barrel end. A vintage fountain pen with an attractive finish and the usual good quality Conway nib. A good everyday writer or to add to a vintage fountain pen collection. This vintage pen was not serviced by Vintage Fountain Pens Inc. but has passed our quality tests and will be further bench tested before despatch. Filling instructions will be send with your order and 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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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.