Specializing American and European writing instruments, and rare limited editions
Your source for Pelikan, Montblanc, Montegrappa, Omas, Aurora and other fine pens

It's About Service
 This page augments my eBay store and auction listings by providing you, my customer (or prosepective customer), with useful information about pens in general, and my recommendations for best buys.

I value your business, and believe that you deserve more than an invoice, so I hope you find this page informative. Please feel free to ask questions about any topic, or let me know if there is a particular pen you're seeking. Service, after all, does not begin or end with a transaction.

About Me
 I sell pens for a living and collect and enjoy them as a hobby. I do most of my selling on eBay where I operate an eBay store called Excecutive Write Place, and also through auctions.

The basis of a buyer-seller relationship is trust, which comes from open communications. To establish that trust with you I am going to share my frank opinions of what I consider to be best values. There are four brands that I have strongly held opinions about -

  1. Montegrappa - no other brand comes close to Montegrappa. Their tagline, A Privilege of a Lifetime, is one of the most appropriate in the industry. They stand out for design, quality and durability, and holding their value. My favorite model is the Symphony, which has classic looks and outstanding performance.
  2. Pelikan - for the money are the best quality and most durable. The best value is the M-series.
  3. Aurora - stands out in design and durability. The Optima is my favorite model, which comes in solid sterling, beautiful Auroloid Marbleized and Doué models.
  4. Montblanc - world-wide recognition, the largest variety of styles, and a continuous evolution of contemporary design. Their limited editions are much prized by collectors. My favotite model is the Boheme fountain pen, which is characterized by superior craftsmanship and the safety feature.
News - I am currently selling a 3-piece Montblanc Dickens Limited Edition. If you're interested contact me, and let's make a deal!

Useful Information
 Regardless of whether you are a collector or just want a nice pen, the following collection of resources will be useful.

Inks and Refills

Any of the major manufacturer inks are safe, but the following are among the better ones on the market - J. Herbin, Waterman, Pelikan, and Private Reserve.

For ballpoints and rollerballs a convenient source of refills is Joon's Refill Directory, which covers every manufacturer from Aurora to Yard-O-Led. This is an excellent source for hard-to-find refills, such as Montegrappa and Montblanc Mozart pens.

Nibs and General Repairs

If you need a nib repaired you should check out Classic Fountain Pens, Inc. For an example of the miracles they can perform, check out their before and after page. They also have highly informative articles, and a page of advice on general pen maintenance.

Penopoly also does fountain pen repairs, and they also have an excellent reputation for working magic.

Note - I have no affiliation with the above sources except as a satisfied customer.

General Resources

The Internet is rich with resources - rich sources of useful information include:
  • Pen Lovers, which contains a wealth of information, links, and an excellent on-line magazine titled Stylophiles.
  • Jansen Lam's Fountain Pen Directory, which lists most of the manufacturers, past and present, in a nicely formatted set of pages.
There are a few books that I also recommend. No serious collector should be without a copy of Andreas Lambrou's Fountain Pens of the World. Yes, the book is expensive, but can you afford to be without it if you are actively building a collection? This is especially true if you do a lot of transactions on eBay, because this book will help you to authenticate what you're bidding on, as well as give you some indication of the pen's value.

Other books that I recommend are Fountain Pens: Past & Present and Fountain Pens: Collectible for general knowledge.

If you collect or are interested in vintage pens, you will want to read one or more of the following books:

A handy book to carry to swap meets, garage sales and antique shops is Identifying Fountain Pens: The New Compact Study Guide and Identifier - don't leave home without it.

How to Buy Pens on eBay - and Not Get Ripped Off
 Step 1 - Read and heed eBay's Safe Trading advice. By following their simple steps you will eliminate most of the risks and pitfalls of buying products you cannot physically see or touch from people you don't know.

If you are buying Montblanc pens, know how to spot fakes - and there are many of them floating about on eBay. Insist on knowing the pen's serial number before you bid. This number is engraved on the upper ring and clip assembly of all modern Montblanc pens, except for the following - Noblesse and Generation models do not have serial numbers, and limited editions have the progressive number (xxx/xxxx denoting pen number xxx of xxxx made) on the body of the pen. There are other signs to look for, and the best way to check is to investigate the pen or ask someone to authenticate it for you.

I'm here to serve you, so please feel free to email me if you have questions, requests, or need advice about a pen on which you're bidding or considereing (even if it isn't from me) - and don't forget to visit my eBay store, Excecutive Write Place, and my current auctions.