Fountain pens may be obsolete artifacts that have been replaced by ballpoints, but collectors are willing to pay as much as $50,000 for the best examples.
Vintage fountain pens can be found at antiques shops and shows across the country, Bruce E. Johnson wrote in Country Living, a Hearst magazine, and dealers who buy entire estates sometimes discover a valuable pen or two long forgotten in a desk drawer.Collectors who wish to be rewarded in the marketplace must learn to distinguish a common Duofold pen worth less than $50 from a rare Parker Swastika worth $15,000. Collectors have demonstrated a willingness to pay as much as $50,000 for a rare Parker Aztec or $35,000 for a Waterman Snake.
Lewis Edson Waterman developed the first practical fountain pen in 1884. Although fountain pens - writing instruments designed to carry their own supply of ink - had existed since the early 1700s, pioneer models were plagued by a well-earned reputation for spitting blobs of ink onto vital documents.
Waterman's modifications, which consisted of making parallel fissures in the channel that carried ink from the pen's well to nib, or writing tip, resulted in a more reliable writing tool and inspired a minor revolution in written communications.
From about 1900 until the 1950s - when the now ubiquitous disposable ballpoint rendered its predecessors all but obsolete - a fountain pen could be found in nearly every desk drawer and businessman's briefcase.
Advancements by Waterman, Parker and others led to the manufacture of a wide variety of styles, colors and models designed to appeal to just about every taste. The fanciest pens, embellished with silver, gold, even precious stones, rivaled jewelry in their opulence.
By the mid-20th century, more than 200 pen companies had sprung up. Firms such as Parker, Sheaffer, Astoria, Holland and Wahl-Eversharp became household names. All told, these companies produced thousands of models of fountain pens.
Today vintage models have found new life in the world of antiques and collectibles. Most enthusiasts begin collecting by buying names they recognize. Pens manufactured by major companies tend to be more valuable than comparable pens by less-known firms. Some advanced collectors develop an affection for rare pens designed by more obscure firms, such as Swan, Security, Boston and Conklin.
Colorful or decorative pens attract a larger following than plain ones. The addition of inlay, precious stones or rare metals enhances the beauty and increases the value of a pen. An artful combination of size, decoration, color and shape - along with quality workmanship - will set a fine pen apart from an ordinary one. If a particular model was produced in various sizes, the larger ones tend to command higher prices.
"Many of the smaller-sized pens are currently undervalued," said Glen Bowen, author of several books on pen collection and publisher of the magazine Pen World International. "As it becomes harder to find the larger pens, interest in the smaller pens should increase."
The history of a pen also can affect its value. If the pen marked an important technological development, such as a new filler system, or if it was once owned by a well-known statesman, author or celebrity, the value can increase significantly.
The most critical factor influencing the value of any pen is its condition. Unless it is an extremely rare example, a worn, cracked, faded or broken pen will have little value.