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Pens

It has come to this: my obsession with pens requires its own page.

nothing if not efficient
(pictured: Visconti Van Gogh Midi with PR Tanzanite)

I don’t quite know when it began. From a very early age, I was fascinated with “office supplies”, the generic category that encompassed paper products, pens, and the like. As a child, I learned calligraphy, so I must have owned my first fountain pen then. It didn’t turn into a full-blown obsession until 2003, and I’m still not sure why.

The fountain pens I currently own are, in order of usage:

  1. Lamy 2000 with a Binderized extra-fine nib
  2. Namiki Vanishing Point, purple 2008 limited edition
  3. Sheaffer Prelude, luminous purple with nickel-plate trim
  4. Pelikan M 400, white tortie
  5. Lamy Studio, limited edition violet
  6. Lamy AL-Star, purple
  7. Lamy Logo, stainless steel
  8. Waterman Carène, purple and silver
  9. Faber-Castell Ambition Birnbaum
  10. Visconti Van Gogh Midi
  11. Retro 51 Tornado
  12. Sensa Meridian
  13. Rotring Core
  14. Monteverde Olympia
  15. Waterman Philéas
  16. Recife Baby Press Constellation (needs repair)

If I could ever justify the expense, I would complete my collection with Jules, the most beautiful pen I have ever seen.

Despite all this, I am not a snob about writing instruments; I appreciate any pen that provides a compelling tactile experience. I love to talk pens with anyone, so ask me anything!

Useful Links

Inexpensive Fountain Pen Favorites

Awesome (and Alphabetized) Ink

  • Diamine Imperial Purple: vibrant violet
  • Diamine Monaco Red: blood-red with a brown tinge
  • Diamine Woodland Green: slightly darker than medium
  • Levenger Amethyst: the prototypical amethyst purple
  • Noodler’s Air Corp Blue-Black: more of a teal-black, thick and wet
  • Private Reserve American Blue: just like the blue in the flag
  • Private Reserve Avocado: medium brownish green
  • Private Reserve Burgundy Mist: syrah, really
  • Private Reserve Ebony Purple: just as it sounds, lush and dark
  • Private Reserve Tanzanite: deep bluish purple
  • Rotring Ultramarine: bluish purple, brighter than PR Tanzanite
  • Pelikan Blue-Black: blacker than blue
  • Visconti Black: velvet and fast-drying
  • Waterman Blue-Black: bluer than black

Non-Fountain Goodness