What are your Favourite Collectables?
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As we are living in the age of the disposable pen not many people bother to buy attractive fountain pens for day to day use. The market for collectable pens, however, is growing steadily. In May 2000 Bonhams in their Knightsbridge showroom achieved a world record price for a pen. It was Japanese and from around 1928-1930 and realised a price of £56,500, including the buyers premium.
Quill pens, made from the outer wing feathers of various birds, have been around since the 6th century. They were originally produced for writing on parchment or vellum and they were used into the 19th century. Bronze and brass pens were also around centuries earlier. As paper was beginning to be used there was a desperate search for something harder than those quill tips, with their need for frequent recutting and steel was found to be the answer.