Books



Parker Jotter: History of an Icon

Author: Stephen Hull

Book Details
Size:  8 1/4" x 11 3/4"
Illustrations:  Black and white
Pages:  200 plus index
Binding: Spiral Bound

Price: £55.00

Book Description

This book includes over 80 monographs, accompanying illustrations and many pages of summary tables on the companies involved in the birth, rapid development and gradual decline of the industry in England and also includes details of the many American and some European pen manufacturers that established footholds in England, often briefly, during the years 1875 to 1975.  The sheer scope of the work is evidenced in the index - over 450 companies and more than 350 men (and a dozen or so women) involved in the design, manufacture, sale and repair of nearly 700 different fountain pens, stylos, ballpens and pencils are listed; over 3000 references in all!  

Based on the results of many years of diligent research in the stationery trade press and into patents, this book is a must for anyone with an interest in the English fountain pen industry and includes details of companies and products that many, even those diehard pen collectors (and dealers) will not have come across before.

 

The Engliosh Fountain Pen History, 1875 to 1975

Authors: David Shepherd, Graham Hogg, Geoggrey Parker, Dan Zazove

Book Details
ISBN:  0-9546875-4-X
Size:  8 1/2" x 11 1/4"
Illustrations:  Hundreds, black and white and colour
Pages:  330
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £40.00

Book Description
The definitive book on the Parker Jotter.  A chromicle of the history and development of the Jotter from its inception.  Almost every type and variation of the Jotter is described and illustrated including photographs of previously unseen Jotters and ephemera.  This book also includes details of the promotion and marketing of the Jotter worldwide.  

 

Fountain Pens for the Million: A History of Conway Stewart, 1905-2005s

Authors: Stephen Hull

Book Details
ISBN:  9780956344410
Size:  8 3/4" x 11 1/4"
Illustrations:  >700
Pages:  300
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £65.00

Book Description
This book is the second in a series which will cover some ofthe most important English pen manufacturers and their products. It covers 100 (effectively 80) years existence of one of the best known and best loved of the English pen makers who were founded in 1905, went into liquidation in 1975, and re-surfaced in 1994.

In 300 pages and 140 sections, over 10 chapters, this work contains much hitherto unpublished material, such as who (including one English and at least two US pen manufacturers) made Conway Stewart's pens during the early years, how the company struggled to make pens during WW2 and why the company went bust in 1975 .

As well as being a volume of history, it is also a reference book, with 30 pages of appendices providing great detail, for example, on the hundreds of known pen and pencil model numbers and the specifications of the many Dinkie models made during the 50 years of the pen's existence.

There are more than 700 full-colour llustrations (most at actual size) of pens, pencils, ink pencils and other items, as well as dozens of adverts and leaflets, shots of the factories and personnel and some personal reminiscences of relatives of the founders and former directors and employees.

 

Fountain Pens

Authors: Peter Twydle

Book Details
ISBN:  9781847971142
Size:  7 3/4" x 10"
Illustrations:  256 colour photos
Pages:  160
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £19.95

Book Description
Fountain Pens provides a comprehensive history of the fountain open, tracing its develpoment from reed and quill pens to the stylish and elegant writing implements that we know today, and introduces the reader to the major manufacturers. The book is lavisly illustrated in colour throughout with useful advice on how to build a collection and where best to look for fountain pens, from car boot sales to the internet.

Topics covered:· How fountain pens work· Related terminology· Manufacturers from around the world· Limited editions· Caring for fountain pens· Finding the right pen for you.

 

Parker 51

Authors: David and Mark Shepherd, in collaboration with Parker

Book Details
Size:  8 5/8" x 11 1/4"
Illustrations:  Hundreds of colour photos
Pages:  170
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £35.00

Book Description
The Definitive book on the Parker 51, the world's most successful fountain pen.

Topics covered:· Chronicle of the history and development of thje Parker 51 from its inception; Descriptions of every type and variation of the Parker 51; Photographs of perviously unpublished pens and Parker 51 ephemera; Details of the promotion and marketing of the Parker 51 whuich made it the most wanted pen in the world.

 

Parker Duofold

Authors: David Shepherd and Dan Zazove, in collaboration with Parker

Book Details
Size:  8 3/8" x 11"
Illustrations:  Hundreds of colour photos
Pages:  362
Binding: Soft Cover

Price: £40.00

Book Description
The Definitive book on the Parker Duofold "rivals the beauty of the Scarlet Tanager".

Topics covered:· Chronicle of the history and development of thje Parker Duofold from its inception; Descriptions of every type and variation of the Parker Duofold; Photographs of perviously unpublished pens and Parker Duofold ephemera; Details of the promotion and marketing of the Parker Duofold.

 

Parker Vacumatic

Authors: Geoffrey Parker, David Shepherd and Dan Zazove, in collaboration with Parker

Book Details
Size:  8 5/8" x 11 1/4"
Illustrations:  Hundreds of colour photos
Pages:  342
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £40.00

Book Description
The Definitive book on the Parker Vacumatic "the pen with 120% more ink capacity".

Topics covered:· Chronicle of the history and development of thje Parker Vacumatic from its inception; almost every type and variation of the Vacumatic is described and illustrated; Photographs of perviously unpublished pens and Parker Vacumatic ephemera; Details of the promotion and marketing of the Parker Vacumatic worldwide.

 

The Chronicle of the Fountain Pen

Author: Joao P. Martins, Luiz Leite& António Gagean

Book Details
ISBN:  0764326165
Size:  9" x 12"
Illustrations:  606 colour photos
Pages:  320
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £79.00

Book Description
A beautifully illustrated, well-researched presentation of the evolution of fountain pens, showing how political and social events influenced their designs, the trends in their evolution process, and competition, fights, and mergers among manufacturers. This guide shows more than 3000 fountain pens, in 606 full colour photographs, with competing models side-by-side to reveal their similarities and differences. At the end of each chronological organised chapter, a timeline shows the main events in the world together with the models introduced by each manufacturer.
Other books have addressed the history and development of fountain pens, typically, looking at the evolution of individual manufacturers. That approach, however, leaves out two important aspects: the interaction between manufacturers and influences world events had on their designs.
The whole history of the fountain pen is told as a sequence of small stories about the main events. Many of the pens shown here have not previously been published in other books.

 

The Incredible Ballpoint Pen

Authors: Henry Gostony & Stuart Schneider

A Comprehensive History & Price Guide

Book Details
ISBN:  0764304372
Size:  8 1/2" x 11"
Illustrations:  469 color photos
Pages:  160
Binding: Soft Cover

Price: £24.00

Book Description
The Incredible Ball Point Pen tells the story of the ball point pen's painful development, its cacophonous launching, the public hysteria accompanying its debut, and its outrageous and scandalous promotion. It recounts the fabulous riches which followed, the public's rapid and total disillusionment with the product, the collapse of the market, scientific breakthroughs in the 1950s, the industry's resurrection, myriad improvements occurring from 1950 to 1959, and the modern period from 1960 on. This is the most exhaustive work available on early ball point brands, manufacturers, and models. It includes over 400 photos of pens, copies of original ads, patents, documentation, and a comprehensive spotter and price guide. All who appreciate the ball point pen as a collectible and investment and who wish to further their knowledge about this fascinating topic will certainly want this book.

 

Collecting Writing Instruments

Authors: Dietmar Geyer

Book Details
ISBN:  0887402720
Size:  9" x 12"
Illustrations:  Hundreds of illustrations
Pages:  176
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £39.00

Book Description
From the flint tool to the stylus, from the quill pen to the fountain pen and felt-tip marker, this book invites one to develop anew or deepen one's love for beautiful old writing instruments. Hundreds of contemporary engravings, illustrations, advertisements, photos, and catalog and brochure excerpts accompany the reader through the written history of the quill pen, pencil fountain pen and paper and their use. Here editors and journalists, salespeople, architects, students, and above all, collectors of historic writing instruments, will find facts about the origin, variations, and further development of one of the most important and personal of our useful tools-the writing instrument. Beginning with the origins of writing, Geyer covers the early writing instruments, steel pens, pencil, fountain pens, ball-point pens, and even the felt-tip marker. The greatest emphasis is on beautiful historical fountain pens. The major brands studied include Conway-Stewart, Cross, Edding, Faber-Castell, Geha, Kaeco, Lamy, Montblanc, Onoto, Parker, Pelikan, Senator, Schwan-Stabilo, Sheaffer, Soennecken, Staedtler,Swan Wahl-Eversharp, Waterman.

 

Fountain Pen and Pencils

Authors: George Fischler & Stuart Schneider

Revised 2nd Edition
The Golden Age of Writing Instruments

Book Details
ISBN:  0764304917
Size:  9'' x 12''
Illustrations:  970 color photos
Pages:  320
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £69.00

Book Description
This book is for all people using, owning, or collecting fountain pens and their matching pencils. It will introduce the beginning pen collector to the hobby and answer questions asked by advanced pen collectors about the earliest and rarest of pens. With over 1,000 fountain pens illustrated in full color, full- or nearly full-sized photographs, it will help identify pens and provide the opportunity to examine many of the pens that were produced. George Fischler and Stuart Schneider are well-respected leaders in the antique pen world. They bring their love and knowledge of these works of art to this book. The examples they present represent the whole range of the history and production of fountain pens, from the earliest to the present and from the most common to the rarest. L.E. Waterman, Parker, Swan, Sheaffer, Wahl-Eversharp, Mont Blanc, Crocker, Chilton, Moore, A.A. Waterman and many other companies are included in this comprehensive, heavily illustrated history. In addition to photographs of the pens, a large representation of the company's advertising has been gathered and reproduced in Fountain Pens and Pencils. A must for collectors, dealers, and all those who appreciate the ingenuity and creativity of industry.

Pen & Pencils

Authors: Regina Martini , Photography by Harald Grotowsky

Revised 3rd Edition

Book Details
ISBN:  0764312146
Size:  8 1/2" x 11"
Illustrations:  1300 illus.
Pages:  148
Binding: Soft Cover

Price: £19.00

Book Description
This informative book is full of wonderful international fountain pens and pencils, showing a great variation in more than 1,300 illustrations. The limited and standard production pens of the famous makers Montblanc, Parker, Pelikan, Sheaffer, and Waterman are presented along with their particular numbering systems. Many smaller companies' pens are also included. Clear drawings and patent applications from 1884-1994 show what is inside the pens and how they work. Many period advertisements for pens put them in their social settings. Current market values are included. This book will be cherished by all pen collectors and enthusiasts.

 

The Book of Fountain Pens and Pencils

Authors: Stuart Schneider & George Fischler

Book Details
ISBN:  0887403948
Size:  9" x 12"
Illustrations:  700+ pens & pencils
Pages:  276
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £59.00

Book Description
The Book of Fountain Pens and Pencils illustrates and describes over 700 never before illustrated pens and pencils. This companion book to Fountain Pens and Pencils: The Golden Age of Writing Instruments will excite collectors and dealers, while expanding their knowledge of this rapidly growing field of collectibles. In addition, sections of this book deal with pen company advertising, pen repair, decoration, and valuation. Hundreds of manufacturers are represented in full color, life-sized photographs. A value guide is included.

 

The Collector's World of Inkwells

Authors: Jean & Franklin Hunting

Book Details
ISBN:  0764311026
Size:  8 1/2" x 11"
Illustrations:  1017 color photos
Pages:  288
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £55.00

Book Description
Packed with over 1,000 photographs of inkwells and inkstands, circa 1750 to 1920, by makers in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including Tiffany, Wedgwood, Quimper, Staffordshire, Sandwich and Vaseline glass, majolica, art pottery, fai**ence, milk glass, and Delft. Examples made from porcelain, sterling silver, pewter, cast iron, brass, wood, and other natural materials, and some adorned with precious and semi-precious stones are featured as well, along with combination pieces appealing to collectors of paperweights, candle holders, and desk accessories. With detailed descriptions, a historical perspective, tables on United States patents and designs, an up-to-date price guide, and an index, this book is a necessary source of information for collectors and dealers of writing instruments.

 

The Illustrated Guide to Antique Writing Instruments

Authors: Stuart Schneider & George Fischler

Revised and Expanded 3rd Edition

Book Details
ISBN:  0764309803
Size:  6" x 9"
Illustrations:  556 color photos
Pages:  160
Binding: Soft Cover

Price: £16.00

Book Description
This wonderful book has become the standard pocket guide in the field. It is just what collectors need for quick and easy reference...and its newly updated prices make it invaluable. Both handy and beautiful, it shows over 500 pens and pencils in nearly full-size color photos and provides short histories of nineteen main manufacturing companies. Concise, helpful information with each photo includes a guide to the price of each pen and pencil.

 

Victorian Pencils

Authors: Deb Crosby

Tools to Jewels

Book Details
ISBN:  0764304135
Size:  8 1/2" x 11"
Illustrations:  706 color photos
Pages:  224
Binding: Hard Cover

Price: £49.00

Book Description
A groundbreaking study of the development of mechanical and metal cased pencils in the nineteenth century. Illustrated with over 700 photographs, the book provides examples of the extraordinary variety of propelling pencils that were created between 1800 and 1920. Readers will be struck by the ingenuity of the inventors and creators of this (until now) forgotten form of decorative art. From metal cased pencils that are elegantly practical, to "magic" pencils that are more whimsical than functional, this book follows the progress of the mechanical pencil as it evolves from a usable tool to something more akin to jewelry. This history of mechanical pencils also includes definitions of terms, descriptions of various mechanisms, ornamentation and surface decoration, and the multitude of combinations created by nineteenth century pencil-case makers. Value ranges are also included.