Recently in Pens Category

Related articles

• 10 of the Coolest Luxury Designer Pens (amog.com)
• Faber-Castell 2012 Pen of the Year gets the 'Midas' touch (bornrich.com)

What? A Tuesday pen? You're first asking yourself, "Why is Kent writing about pens?" If you know the answer to that, you'll wonder, "Why is this entry appearing on Tuesday instead of Monday?" The answer to both of those questions is the spectacular pen from Graf von Faber-Castell at the left.

I received my Early Spring catalog from Fahrneys Pens today, and the Graf von Faber-Castell was on the cover. It took my breath away -- twice. Once because of how astonishingly beautiful it is. Once because of the list price: $3995. I wish I could afford to add it to my collection, but I'll have to satisfy myself with looking at the picture and, maybe, seeing it in the display case the next time I'm in DC.

Here's the catalog description:

For its 250th Jubilee, Graf von Faber-Castell presents perhaps its most beautiful and astonishing Pen of the Year thus far, the 2011 limited edition in sumptuous jade. Extraordinary skill is required to transform the extremely hard gemstone - a fact that has inspired and challenged craftsmen through the ages. The Pen of the Year 2011 uses Russian jade, or nephrite. The emerald-colored stones are delicately mottled; their deep green exhibits unusual shadings. The jade is found in Siberia, but the exact location has always been the dealers' best-kept secret. Even today, the hunt for jade is something of an adventure! Numerous processes are required before the jade can be set into the Pen of the Year. From the first slice of the raw stone to the final polish, the craftsman must recognize the unique nuances that bring out the jade's natural gleam. Only very experienced jewelers can achieve this. Only a genuine artist can master the cuts typical of jade as he chisels out a masterpiece in stone. The jade pieces are set into the platinum-plated, hexagonal barrel to turn each pen into a very special treasure. An elaborately faceted stone on the end of the cap is the pens' crowning glory. The luxurious jade fountain pen has a bicolor 18K gold nib carefully 'run in' by hand. The platinum-plated end cap protects the knob for the piston filling mechanism. Each individually numbered pen comes in an exclusive wood case with a high-gloss, jade green lid. The certificate bears the personal signature of Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell, attesting to the limited edition of this jubilee issue, the Pen of the Year 2011. As Faber-Castell was founded in the year 1761, no more than 1,761 of the pens will be produced.

I know I said last December that I'd written the final episode, but I just got a Fahrney's catalog and the Platinum Modern Maki-e is too beautiful to ignore -- especially since it's less than $200. Normally a maki-e pen cost $500 or more, and some of the most beautiful ones cost close to $2000. This is one I could actually imagine owning at some point, although I'll probably buy myself a Namiki Falcon 2 first.

As you can see from the photo, it also comes as a rollerball. The finish is either a crane (on the right) or a phoenix (on the left). It's tempting to get one of each, and it would cost less than getting just one of the usual maki-e pens.

Here's some of Fahrney's blurb about the Platinum Modern Maki-e:

This new collection from Platinum is created in the Modern Maki-e method where the base design is screen printed over black lacquer, then individually hand-painted and hand-polished by a Maki-e artist. The sleek pens feature traditional, Japanese motifs: a very detailed and beautiful scene of two cranes flying below Mt. Fuji, and a mythical golden phoenix. The artwork is slightly raised on the surface to give the designs texture and depth. Available as a fountain pen with a firm 18K gold nib and very smooth stroke and a matching capped rollerball. The appealing Modern Maki-e pens have elegant clips and gold-plated appointments and will elevate your everyday writing enjoyment. At these prices, you can't go wrong! Cartridge/converter fill.

In September I mentioned that I like fountain pens. Karina (of Aspiring Ecologist) suggested that I post a pen of the week. I took her up on her suggestion and made my first Monday pen post on the 21st of September. For the last three months I've been featuring another pen from my collection every Monday. ¹ There are still two or three that I could write about, an inexpensive Waterman, a Stipula with a titanium nib and a clear reservoir section, and a sterling silver Levenger that I mentioned in passing once before. But to write about any of those, I'd have to get out my camera and take my own photograph. I've decided not to bother with that. They're nice pens, but they're not that special.

So my Monday pen series is coming to a close. If I see particularly striking pens in my Fahrney's catalog or elsewhere, I'll mention them. But pen posts will be very infrequent from now on.

Climategate, the enviornment, academics (including tuition increases), and the like should provide me with plenty of material.

Frankly, I've been a little disappointed in this one. It's a beautiful pen. Its triangular shape keeps it where it is when I lay it down on the desk, the color is striking, and it writes smoothly. I bought it when I was in Cape Town last spring working on white proteas. I walked past the pen store early in my visit and saw it in the window. I walked by again a couple of days before I left, walked in to take a closer look, and left with a Lalex Forme Triangle and a box of cartridges.¹

It has a firm stainless-steel nib, and I expected to use it a lot as my meeting pen when I returned to the States, but that's not how it worked out.

I had it in my shirt pocket on the flight from Cape Town through Dakar to Atlanta. Somewhere between Cape Town and Atlanta the cap unscrewed. I now have a nice ink spot in the pocket of the shirt I was wearing that day.² OK. Well, that can happen to any pen once, I figured. I'll just make sure I have the cap screwed on more securely the next time. I put it in my pocket one day soon after that before I went in to work, and I made sure the cap was screwed on securely. By the time I arrived at my office, it had jiggled loose. Fortunately, this time I noticed before I had an ink stain on my shirt. I should probably give it another chance, but I've hardly used it since then. Maybe I just have a bad example, but I'll think carefully before adding another Lalex to my collection. Too bad because as you can see it is a very striking pen.

Interestingly, this is one that Fahrney's doesn't carry. But you can find it at Airline International. Here's what they have to say about it.

The design for this collection is inspired by 3 of the simplest, and at the same time more symbolic forms: circle, triangle and square, and is the result of an in depth study that Lalex 1938 carried out defying all laws of mathematics and solid geometry, and achieving truly amazing results. In pearlised resin, with aluminum trim, the "Forme" collection is available as fountain pen with iridium-tipped stainless steel nibs, capped rollerball, ball pen and mechanical pencil available in the "viaggio" (travel) and "scrivania" (desk) style.

This pen surprises people. Yes, it's a fountain pen. Yes, it's retractable. It's another Japanese pen, a Namiki in fact. It's my Namiki Vanishing Point fountain pen. It's the pen I have in my shirt pocket most of the time (along with my Rotring mechanical pencil). It has a sturdy, fine nib that makes a very precise line. It's great for grading papers. (I use bright blue ink most of the time, but sometimes I'll use red.) The precise line makes it possible for me to insert notes in between lines or in the margin and keep them reasonably legible.¹

And there's the novelty value.

Any time I hand this pen to someone who's asked to borrow it, they're first surprised because it seems to be upside down. Normally the clip is attached at the same end as the clicker. They're thinking to themselves, "Boy, Holsinger even has wierd pens." Then they click the clicker, and a fountain pen nib emerges. "He's even stranger than I thought." Few people write with a fountain pen any more, so it's always kind of fun watching them be so careful with it. And to be honest, this pen is a little tricky. Because its nib is so fine and so firm, it scratches the paper easily. I don't lend it to people when they're trying to sign their name to an important document for that reason.

Here's some of what Fahrney's has to say about it:

---

For years Fahrney's has recommended the Vanishing Point retractable fountain pen for convenience and value. The patented design allows the nib to retract completely into the barrel after use, protecting the nib and preventing leaks. Of course you get the Vanishing Point firm 18K gold nib (we think the fine point is one of the clearest writing nibs on the market). Choose from the new yellow, black, blue, green or red finish with rhodium or gold accents. Or try the unique Carbonesque finish with the look of lacquered carbon fiber in black or blue with rhodium. Two metallic finishes are also available in brushed chrome or gunmetal both with rhodium trim. uses cartridges or converter.

---

Of course, I use the converter. My only complaint is that the clip isn't as sturdy as it might be. Of course, I also use this pen a lot, so maybe it's just wear and tear. But I had to replace my first one after about 3-4 years, and I may have to replace my current one before 2010 is out.

The pens at the left are from the Aurora Afrika series. My Aurora Afrika fountain pen is one of my favorites. It's one of my evening pens. (You've met the Pelikans, the 400 and the Niagara Falls. This completes my set of evening pens.) The ballpoint has the same striking design, but when I use a ballpoint, I use a simple, inexpensive Bic or something like that. I don't see the point of investing as much as you have to invest in a pen like an Aurora Afrika simply to have a ballpoint. Having a fine fountain pen is the whole point, so far as I am concerned.¹

The beautiful colors in the resin body speak for themselves, but one of the things I most enjoy about my Afrika is its nib. It took me 6-9 months to get it broken in. It was scratchy until either it adjusted to me, I adjusted to it, or both, but now it leaves a beautiful, wide line. And what makes it even more interesting is that my Afrika has a medium italic nib. Even though my penmanship is far from beautiful, when I write with my Afrika, the line has delightful variations in width and tone. It gives a dull, pedestrian (though legible) line a little spark and verve.

Here's the Fahrney's blurb.

Aurora presents Afrika - the first in a limited, numbered series celebrating the continents of the world. Aurora has captured the life, color and emotion of this adventurous land in the Afrika design. The resin barrel and cap in warm earthtones are hand-turned by a master craftsman and adorned with a matte gold clip and trim. The barrel ring depicts six African tribal shields. The black crown has a semi-precious agate stone set on the top as a symbol of harmony and peace.

Fahrney's no longer mentions the availability of the medium italic nib. I wonder if that means it's no longer available.

I have a couple of pens that I can't find online images for. I've mentioned the silver Levenger pen that a student of mine gave me almost 15 years ago. I haven't mentioned a Stipula with a partially transparent barrel showing the ink reservoir. I'll keep looking for images of them, and if I can't find ones on-line, I'll eventually pull out my camera and take my own photos.

In the meantime, here's a more recent addition to my collection. In fact, it's the one I'll be writing with tonight -- a Pelikan Niagara Falls. I've only had it for 3-4 years, so it's less familiar than my Pelikan 400, which I've had almost as long as that silver Levenger.

The pelican clip and the striped body mark this pen immediately as a Pelikan, but its body is metal rather than resin. That "heft" gives it a nice hand feel. Unfortunately, the ink doesn't flow as smoothly as it does in my 400. Whether that's because I'm still breaking it in¹ or because there's something different about the nib or the feed, I don't know. But the difference is clear enough that if I had to make a choice and carry only one of my Pelikans with me, the choice would be easy. It would be the 400.

Here's some of what Fahrney's has to say about it:

For its new Wonders of Nature special edition series, Pelikan has created a writing instrument as beautiful as one of the planet's most awesome spectacles - Niagara Falls. Created at the end of the last ice age, this natural wonder borders the U.S. and Canada and is the most powerful waterfall in North America. The falling water is artfully portrayed on the pen using palladium-plated metal that is elaborately inlaid with cobalt blue resin. The result is stunning, set off by the silver clip and rings which sparkle like sunlit drops of water. The Niagara Falls plunger-fill fountain pen has Pelikan's 18K gold and rhodium nib, formed and polished by a master's hand.

My Graf von Faber Castell is another of the pens I regularly carry with me. It's one of three morning pens in my journal rotation. My other morning pens are the Namiki Falcon I wrote about last week, and another of the pens I haven't mentioned yet.¹ My evening pens are my Pelikan 400 and two other pens I haven't written about yet.

Mine has a indigo blue body, but other than that, it's identical to the one pictured above. I fight with this one a little. Even though I fill it every time before I use it, it often seems that the ink stops flowing smoothly after I've filled a page or two. I have to stop writing and manually feed the nib by rotating the converter. Other than that it's a very nice pen. The nib is firm, and it leaves a beautiful line. It's enough of a defect that I wouldn't call it my favorite, but it's still a part of my morning rotation. Clearly I like it pretty well. It feels solid and well-engineered, like a well-made German automobile. Here's part of Fahrney's blurb:

Don't let the graceful lines and elegant looks fool you - these German-made pens are built for precision and performance. The Graf von Faber-Castell Guilloche fountain pen has a unique design that distinguishes it from the ordinary. As the name implies, the finish is characterized with guilloche patterns etched into the colorful resin barrels. The fluted metal caps, curved, spring-loaded clips and tapered grips are silver-plated and coated with rhodium to prevent tarnishing. The Guilloche fountain pen has a superior, two-tone 18K gold nib