Buyers Guide > Collecting Pens - Vintage to Modern
Fountain pen collecting is a hobby enjoyed all around the world becuse of their aesthetic beauty, historical interest and value. Some pens are even considered works of art. Pen collecting does not have to be an expensive hobby, as many vintage pens can be found for as little as a few pounds. On the other hand high end modern pens can be sold for thousands of pounds, many of which are offered as limited editions. The world record price for a fountain pen is the £183,000 paid at Bonhams in London for a 1928 Dunhill-Namiki ‘No 50 Giant’, which is 10 inches long and decorated with hand-lacquered dragons. |
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The first big surge in pen collecting was in the 1920s when manufacturers first developed the coloured plastics that turned the fountain pen into the fashion object it is today. The second surge was in the ‘80s during the Thatcher years when there was a big demand for ‘power accessories’. Many experts now think we are entering another boom phase for pen collecting.
Collectible pens can be purchased for several pounds up to hundred of thousands of pounds, but most are in the three to four figure range. Collecting Modern pens is easier than vintage pens, although vintage pens offer more historical interest and variety. The value of a pen is predominantly determined by its rarity, the rarer the pen the more valuable it is. Condition is also important, with vintage pens in average condition hardly moving at all.
Traditional Pen stores are good for modern pens, but there are few that sell vintage pens. Older pens are available from online dealers such as E-Bay, and other collectors who can be reached through online forums, pen shows and clubs. E-Bay makes hard to find items more available, but items can be badly photographed and described. The London Pen Show, renamed the ‘London Writing Equipment Show’, is a great opportunity for new buyers to question dealers and handle the pens.
Pens rise in value over time, although some brands and models appreciate more quickly. A Montblanc Hemingway, issued in an edition of 20,000 in 1992, had a retail price of £380 which rose to £900 by 1998 and today is worth £1800. Jeremy Collingridge, a spokesman for the Writing Equipment Show, tips the more stylish products from Montblanc, Parker, Waterman, Conway Stewart, Montegrappa, Delta and Stipula.
