How to Collect Fountain Pens

Fountain pens are symbols of beauty, quality and refinement. They date back to the Middle Ages and continue to be adored today. Compared to modern pens, fountain pens have more energy and expression. It takes the right of amount attention to detail, sensitivity and control to perfect the art of writing with fountain pens.

Because of their antiquity and charm, many people start fountain pen collections. Collecting fountain pens is an enjoyable hobby and simple to start.

Do Your Research

For starters, it is important to look into the history of fountain pens, understand their composition, and learn to distinguish different types of pens. Once the basic knowledge is there, you can decide what type of fountain pen to collect.

Choose a Type

Choosing a specific type of fountain pen can make your collection more refined. This will say something about you as a collector and the collection you own.

Some people only collect antique fountain pens while others do a combination of old and new. Next, you should move on to choosing brands. Fountain pen brands range from low to high quality, which determines the cost. Some of the most top quality brands include Montblanc and Michel Perchin. More affordable brands that still retain quality include Parker and Waterman. It takes some research to determine which brands you are comfortable collecting.

Collectors usually like to narrow down their collection to very specific types of fountain pens. You can choose collector's editions, specific models of a certain brand and so on. Other factors to consider when narrowing it down include shape, materials, type of ink reservoir. Some fountain pens are made of rare materials that are worth collecting.

Cost

How much are you willing to spend on your collection? Cost is an important factor, especially for beginners. You may want to start low and build up as you gain more experience and knowledge.

Start Shopping

Once you have mapped out what you are looking for, you can start shopping. It is important to understand that most of what you learn about fountain pens will begin once you start collecting. Some places to shop for fountain pens are the Internet and small local pen shops.

When shopping on the Internet, it is crucial that you have attention to detail and are cautious. While shopping on auction sites, you need to get to know the vendors and ask questions. There are also pen vendors who have independent sites. Regardless of whom you’re buying from, you need to ask questions so that you are not misguided. Many pens are marketed as certain brands, but are actually cheap pens sold for ridiculously low prices.

You can also go to local pen shops or "writing instrument" shops where you can find new and old fountain pens. Here, you also have access to an experienced seller who can help you with any questions.

Storage

Collectors can be very particular about where they store fountain pens. You can get glass storage cabinets, old pen displays, decorative boxes and so on. You may want to display your collection in the living room or you may want to keep your pens private. Regardless of your decision, it is important to preserve any collection by storing everything in the right place.

Expand Your Knowledge

As a fountain pen collector, it is important to continue learning about the trade. One way to stay in touch is to go to pen shows, find organizations and search for other collectors on the Internet. When you have a network of collectors, you can ask questions and explore your curiosities. This is a helpful way of expanding your knowledge and improving your collection.

Fountain Pen Resources

Antique Fountain Pens History of the Fountain Pen Inventor of the Fountain Pen Fountain Pen Repair How to Choose a Fountain Pen How to Collect Fountain Pens How to Fill a Fountain Pen