Vintage Pens

Photo Credit: mlovesvintage

Vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique Ballpoint Pen, Circa 1970s or 1980s

Asking Price: $181.93

Pros:

-Here is a vintage 1970s or 1980s S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen made from vermeil - gold plate over solid sterling silver - with a red Chinese lacquer clip.

-This pen measures 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) in length.

-S.T. Dupont is a French luxury goods firm that got its start in 1872 as a maker of high-end leather goods, primarily briefcases.  By the mid 20th century, the company had branched out into other personal accessories, but was best known for its superb quality lighters.

-The streamlined appearance and subtly fluted decoration of this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen make it an iconic vintage piece.

-According to legend, in 1973 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (the widow of assassinated President John F. Kennedy) asked S.T. Dupont to manufacture a pen to match her beloved Dupont lighter.  The company obliged and the result was its immensely popular Classique line of pens.

-S.T. Dupont pens have a reputation for being very robust and reliable - a highly desirable attribute when purchasing a vintage item.

-S.T. Dupont is a luxury goods brand that tends to fly under the radar.  It isn't nearly as well known as some bigger brands, such as Cartier, Louis Vuitton or Burberry.  But I believe this is ultimately a good thing.  It has allowed S.T. Dupont to stick to doing what it does best - producing high quality lighters, pens and other accessories.

-This vermeil S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen is in good condition, with no major visible defects.

-Vintage items from the 1970s and 1980s are rapidly becoming very collectible among antique enthusiasts.  And this elegant S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen, with its solid sterling silver construction and storied history, hits that niche perfectly.

-With an asking price of $182, I believe that this S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen is fairly valued and would make a wonderful addition to any vintage pen collection.  It would also make a unique and unusual gift for that special person in your life.

S.T. Dupont Classique Ballpoint Pens For Sale

Cons:

-Photos reveal that some interior parts of the pen have a bit of corrosion.  This is not unusual for a pen that is 30 to 40 years old and could undoubtedly be corrected with a judicious cleaning.

-Some pen collecting enthusiasts might shy away from this sterling silver S.T. Dupont Classique ballpoint pen because it is not a fountain pen.  While some people might prefer one kind of pen over the other, I feel that there is no inherent collecting advantage or disadvantage to either ballpoint or fountain pens.

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Photo Credit: stchel2

Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 Fountain Pen, Circa 1973

Buy It Now Price: $279 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a gorgeous Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen made from exotic brown Suriname toad leather, circa 1973.

-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen measures 5.3 inches (13.4 cm) in length when capped and 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) when posted.

-The Platinum Pen Company was founded in Tokyo in 1919 by Shunichi Nakata.  It is one of the "Big 3" Japanese fountain pen makers, along with Pilot and Sailor.  While these companies are not as well known in the West as some other pen manufacturers, they have inspired an intensely loyal following among fountain pen enthusiasts because of their high quality and reasonable prices.

-This is the only pen I'm aware of that has ever been made from the skin of the Suriname toad (pipa pipa), a non-threatened amphibian native to South America.

-This vintage fountain pen was manufactured with great attention to detail.  In addition to the exotic toad leather covering, the pen sports 18 karat gold plated trim and a burgundy plastic section that is only visible when the pen is posted.  Even the jewel ring on the pen cap has a small toad leather insert instead of just a plain metal end.  This underscores the craftsmanship and thought that went into the Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen.

-The Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen debuted exclusively in Japan in 1973 in a range of different colors.  It retailed for ¥8,000 at the time, which was about $30 at prevailing 1973 exchange rates.  This is the equivalent of around $175 in 2018, after adjusting for inflation.

-Unfortunately, the Suriname toad leather proved so troublesome to work with that production of the pens ceased after a single year, rendering them fairly scarce today.

-This Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 fountain pen comes with its original 18 karat solid gold nib.  Solid karat gold nibs are a hallmark of high quality vintage fountain pens and are a step up from the stainless steel or titanium nibs found on less expensive models.

-Vintage fountain pens are significantly undervalued in today's market.  I believe this is especially true for pens from Japanese makers, which are often overlooked because relatively few of these pens are found in the West.

-This vintage Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 pen comes in its original box, with accompanying Japanese language literature.

-Given the excellent condition, superb craftsmanship and unique materials of this Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 vintage fountain pen, I feel that the $279 buy-it-now price is easily justified.

Vintage Japanese Platinum Fountain Pens For Sale

Cons:

-I have read that the Suriname toad leather used on this pen is rather thin and can be somewhat fragile.  If you are looking for a daily writer, I think it would be wise to look elsewhere.  But if you are looking to invest in a magnificent, one-of-a-kind fountain pen for your collection, then this Japanese Platinum Amazonas PAM-8000 is perfect.

-You'll need to buy a new converter for the pen, which should be quite inexpensive.

Read more fascinating Antique Sage spotlight posts here.

-or-

Read in-depth Antique Sage investment guides here.

Photo Credit: jay-pens

1960s Sterling Silver Parker 75 Flat Top Fountain Pen

Buy It Now Price: $285 (price as of 2017; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This is an outstanding example of a vintage sterling silver Parker 75 flat top fountain pen and mechanical pencil set with gold-filled trim.

-The Parker 75 was created in response to the widespread adoption of cheaper ballpoint pens by the public in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Some fountain pen makers tried to compete against the new ballpoint invaders on price, by going down-market.  But margins were low and this strategy was not very successful for the fountain pen industry.

-The head of the Parker Pen Company at the time, Kenneth Parker, decided he needed to move up-market to save his company.  This up-market strategy worked and the famous Parker 75, with its iconic sterling silver grid-pattern barrel, was born.  The Parker 75 was immensely popular with the public and was produced in many different varieties over 30 years, from 1964 to 1994.

-The Parker 75 is one of the most collectible vintage fountain pens in existence and high quality specimens are always in strong demand among pen connoisseurs.

-Upon its introduction in 1964, the Parker 75 flat top fountain pen originally retailed for $25, which is equivalent to $198 in 2017 when adjusted for inflation.  Later, in 1968, the price was raised to $30, or $210 today in inflation-adjusted terms.

-The moniker "flat top" refers to the end of the pen cap, where there is a flat, unadorned surface.  The Parker 75 flat top is an early, desirable variety that was produced from 1964 until around 1970 (or possibly 1971).  After 1970, the end of the cap was modified to a raised outer ring with an indented center.  This was done to easily accommodate corporate logos or emblems.

-This vintage Parker 75 flat top pen and pencil set was made in the U.S.  By the late 1980s, all Parker 75 production had been moved to France.

-This Parker 75 flat top fountain pen has a solid 14 karat gold nib with a "fine" size.  Solid karat gold is a premium material used in high quality nibs because of its superior writing characteristics.

-I love the original case that this Parker 75 fountain pen and pencil set comes in.  The heavily textured navy blue and olive green striped fabric exudes classic 1960s styling.

-Many Parker 75s that survive today were well-loved and well-used.  Therefore, they tend to have brassing on the gold-plated/gold-filled trim and dings or dents on the sterling silver barrel.  But this set is nearly pristine.

-It is my opinion that vintage fountain pen and mechanical pencil sets are very investable.  A lot of collectors are interested in fountain pens, but the community is only slowly warming up to the charms of mechanical pencils.  As a result, it is still possible to buy some pretty phenomenal old fountain pen and mechanical pencil sets between $100 and $500.

Vintage Parker Fountain Pens For Sale

Cons:

-At first when I found this set on eBay, I thought to myself, "This is a great Parker 75 flat top set, but the price is just too high."  Then, after doing some research and looking around at comparable pieces online I completely changed my mind.  The $285 asking price is absolutely fair for an early Parker 75 fountain pen and mechanical pencil set in superb condition in its original case.  You would end up paying around $200 for a vintage Parker 75 flat top fountain pen by itself, with no original case or mechanical pencil.

-If you are looking for a pen and pencil set to use on a daily basis, I would steer clear of this one.  Its condition is simply too good to mar through regular use.  You would be better off buying a cheaper, more imperfect Parker 75 if you want an everyday fountain pen.

Photo Credit: PalsterPro

1950s Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set

Asking Price: $90

Pros:

-Mid Century elegance is on full display with this vintage Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen and mechanical pencil set, produced sometime between 1952 and 1959.

-The Sheaffer Snorkel line of fountain pens took their named from the pen's long, thin ink refill tube.  Vintage Sheaffer Snorkels are considered to be very robust pens and work wonderfully as daily writers if you are so inclined.

-The body of both pieces is made from jet black resin accented with gold-filled trim.  This gives a streamlined, understated look that conveys the best aspects of Mid Century design.

-The Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman was a mid-range pen in the Snorkel line.  Even so, it still sold for the not insubstantial sum of $15.50 in 1956, which is equivalent to about $139 in 2017 dollars.  The Statesman pen and pencil set was even more expensive; it would have cost you $22.75 in 1956, or around $205 today.

-This Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman pen and pencil set has the classic White Dot of excellence near the top of the cap.  After its introduction in the 1920s and through the 1930s, the Sheaffer White Dot meant that the pen had a lifetime warranty.  However, in the 1940s, Sheaffer changed it to a marketing symbol that indicated a "symbol of satisfaction" or a "mark of luxury".

-This Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen has a palladium-silver (F4) nib.  Most nibs on high quality vintage fountain pens are made from 14 or 18 karat gold.  Palladium-silver alloy nibs were a reaction by the 1940s fountain pen industry to wartime rationing.  By the 1950s, these special alloy nibs were used in some mid-range models to reduce costs.  Of course, right now palladium is just as expensive as platinum!  What a difference 60 years makes!

-Vintage fountain pens are eminently accessible to the antique collector or investor working on a tight budget.  Many different excellent models can be found in the $100 range, or even a little bit lower.

-This vintage Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman fountain pen and mechanical pencil set comes with its original box, which is always a nice bonus.  Considering its great condition and classic styling, I would say this set is well priced at $90.

Other Vintage Sheaffer Fountain Pens For Sale

Cons:

-The seller does not disclose if this fountain pen and mechanical pencil set has been serviced recently.  I think the safe assumption is that is hasn't.  Therefore, a prudent buyer would set aside funds to replace the rubber ink sac and seals in the pen, which are prone to degrade over long periods of time.  In addition, new leads should be sourced for the pencil.  This would drive up the total cost of the set.

-The Sheaffer Snorkel Statesman was, ultimately, a mid range pen.  The highest end model in the Snorkel line, the Masterpiece, had either a 9 or 14 karat solid gold cap and body, coupled with a solid 14 karat gold nib.  The Snorkel Masterpiece is a much more desirable fountain pen than the Statesman, all else being equal.  Of course, it also costs a lot more money as well, provided you can find one.

-If you purchase this beautiful pen and pencil set, you are left with the conundrum of whether to use it on a regular basis or stash it away to keep it pristine.  If you choose to use it, you may end up reducing its value slightly over time due to wear and tear.