batcap
Hero Member
The top pic is a bunch of pens I paid about $135 for at auction, including tax and buyer's fee.
This was mostly in $5 lots with two $35 dollar lots.
Picture 2 is the cream of this crop. The top pen is a Maker:Marlen Model:Buccus from Italy. This model is retired. The fountain pen nib on the right in pic three is from this pen. It's White and Yellow 18K gold. I'm expecting $100+ for this one on ebay. You shouldn't expect to find these too often at yard sales/etc, but the rest of the pens have been around long enough for them to show up anywhere. This was the first $35 lot
Pen 2 is an Eversharp Skyline from the 1940's. It has a 14K nib, it's the one on the left in Pic 3.
Pen 3 is a fairly early Parker model 51 fountain pen, all model 51's are highly collectible. Do an ebay search to see what I mean. The color of the barrel is Cordovan Brown, comparatively rare.
Pen 4 is another Marlen from the same series as the first pen, called Pappus, this one is a ball point. The pocket clips and rings on both pens are marked 925. I do not believe you will find a Marlen on ebay for less than $30. I paid $35 for this one too.
Pen 5 is a 1930's Parker Duofold. This one is in rough shape, no cap, but the orange color is much sought after. I don't think I'll lose my $5 investment.
Pen 6 is a 1940's Parker Vaccumatic in the Debutante size. You can't tell from this picture, but if you hold it up to the light you can see into the barrel to check how much ink is left inside. The model is very collectible, but the debutante size will knock some dollars off it.
The bottom pen is another Parker 51, with a newer style filling system. This one seems to be in useable shape; when you squeeze the bladder you can hear the air whistle a bit at the nib.
I didn't know or care about vintage pens until I bought one for $5 and sold it for $70. At that point I started researching, and there is a strong collector market on ebay. You don't have know all about pens, you just have to be aware of them. Research the ones you run across (hurrah for the smartphone!), and you'll soon know what to look for.
This was mostly in $5 lots with two $35 dollar lots.
Picture 2 is the cream of this crop. The top pen is a Maker:Marlen Model:Buccus from Italy. This model is retired. The fountain pen nib on the right in pic three is from this pen. It's White and Yellow 18K gold. I'm expecting $100+ for this one on ebay. You shouldn't expect to find these too often at yard sales/etc, but the rest of the pens have been around long enough for them to show up anywhere. This was the first $35 lot
Pen 2 is an Eversharp Skyline from the 1940's. It has a 14K nib, it's the one on the left in Pic 3.
Pen 3 is a fairly early Parker model 51 fountain pen, all model 51's are highly collectible. Do an ebay search to see what I mean. The color of the barrel is Cordovan Brown, comparatively rare.
Pen 4 is another Marlen from the same series as the first pen, called Pappus, this one is a ball point. The pocket clips and rings on both pens are marked 925. I do not believe you will find a Marlen on ebay for less than $30. I paid $35 for this one too.
Pen 5 is a 1930's Parker Duofold. This one is in rough shape, no cap, but the orange color is much sought after. I don't think I'll lose my $5 investment.
Pen 6 is a 1940's Parker Vaccumatic in the Debutante size. You can't tell from this picture, but if you hold it up to the light you can see into the barrel to check how much ink is left inside. The model is very collectible, but the debutante size will knock some dollars off it.
The bottom pen is another Parker 51, with a newer style filling system. This one seems to be in useable shape; when you squeeze the bladder you can hear the air whistle a bit at the nib.
I didn't know or care about vintage pens until I bought one for $5 and sold it for $70. At that point I started researching, and there is a strong collector market on ebay. You don't have know all about pens, you just have to be aware of them. Research the ones you run across (hurrah for the smartphone!), and you'll soon know what to look for.
