I have loved writing supplies for as long as I can remember. Shopping for school supplies was almost better than Christmas. Almost. (I even still do back-to-school supplies for mom.) I loved picking out just the right pens and pencils and zipper pouches to put them in. One year, we did some of our back-to-school shopping at Breuningers, a German department store, and I remember picking out this sketching kit with pencils, an eraser, a ruler, and a few other drawing tools. I loved the set so much that I wanted to just open it up and look at it. Using it seemed like a luxury I wasn’t going to indulge in until I had admired it enough. All of this to say that writing supplies are my jam and I have enjoyed diving deeper into the world of pens and pencils over the past couple of years. Recently, I’ve acquired several antique travel dip pens & pencils and they are so clever and unique that I thought I would share them!
First of all, I just love that these travel dip pens and pencils are made out of beautiful materials like sterling silver, silver plate, brass, and bone. I get why we used plastic refillable pencils these days. It’s certainly more affordable and less of an issue if one is misplaced, but I love the idea of a pen or pencil being something that is valued and elevated, almost like a piece of jewelry.
In fact, “fob-style” antique dip pens and pencils often had a ring at the end of them, so they could be worn around the neck or from a clip around the waist. Travel dip pens are pencils are Almost always capped or retractable in order to protect the point (and the wearer from ink and accidental stabbing!)
I find the combination travel dip pens and pencils to be especially clever. There is a sliding collar that you push to reveal the pencil or the dip pen, depending on which end you want to use.
(You can see my sketchbook tours HERE.)
While these are everyday items, I can see how they would’ve appealed to artists specifically. You can do an initial sketch in pencil and then go over it in ink, all with one tool.
Most of the ones I own are made out of silver, silver plate, or brass, but I do have one bone and brass combination travel dip pen and pencil that is such a special piece!
It has a cap that screws onto the end that is not in use. The brass pencil tip has such a pretty shape.
All of the travel dip pens accommodate a variety of nibs, so I’ve had a good time testing them out and playing with different marks, fonts, and flourishes. I am still so far from being an expert with a dip pen, but I keep playing with it here and there.
I use them for sketching, drawing, and calligraphy, but I also just use them for fun when I’m writing in my journal, taking notes, or even writing checks. Because…why not enjoy them? I can make a boring task a little bit more fun by using antique travel dip pens and pencils.
Oh, so many nibs and so little time…
I got the majority of my antique travel dip pens and pencils from my friend Julia of Ponder & Purchase, but I have bought a few on eBay and Etsy and when I was in Europe as well. They almost always seem to come from the UK. I think British people are my people because of their love of making & saving fine writing tools and art supplies. I don’t know what happens to all of the vintage and antique writing and art supplies in the US, but they seem to be a bit thinner on this side of the pond. Don’t worry, I’m doing my part to balance things out. (Writing that actually made me laugh.)
Prices for travel dip pens and pencils can vary greatly depending on the material, condition, and even just the seller and what kind of deal they got when purchasing it. I pay an average of $20-30 for most of the pens and pencils I’ve purchased, but I have gone higher for ones that are particularly special or made out of sterling silver.
I used to be so annoyed by rows and rows of glass cases at an antique store. It’s just such a pain to flag down someone with a key to take a closer look at something. But now, I linger over the cases, looking for the little treasures like pens, pencils, sewing supplies, and drafting tools. I also used to think spending more than a few dollars on a pen or pencil would be absolutely crazy, but I recognized that they are my “jewelry.” If I want to splurge on gold or silver, I want it to be in the form of something I can create with. But, that’s just me…
And I never claimed to be normal.
Oh this reminds me of my Mom. She was British and used a fountain pen with turquoise ink to write letter back home. She had an odd small pen or two but what I have of hers now is a silver chatelaine with different tools. She collected the pieces from antique store when she started repairing Edwardian christening gowns. I think there’s a pencil, tiny notebook, a needle case, and magnifying glass.
I need to unearth them to wear as jewelry, what a fun idea.
You are very normal Marian. Using really nice or even pretty tools for any task is always more fun. Besides getting those jobs done efficiently, there is the added pleasure of appreciating the workmanship of the tools. —It’s a win-win !
I would love for you to do a tutorial of how a dip pen works. I think I understand the basic premise, but I have been know to be wrong once or twice! They are beautiful tools.
Thanks to you, I bought a new fountain pen by Asvine from Amazon. It’s completely black including the nib with a nice grippy texture on the shaft. Best of all, the ink color I got was sepia brown, like the old time script you see on wedding licenses and deeds. Now when I write with it, it’s like going back in time. Just think…time traveling through a fountain pen!
I love doing calligraphy and I am self-taught and first learned using an old fashioned India ink writing tool with a nib. Now I prefer the control of a calligraphy marker over the old style pens but boy, are they sure pretty! I am a huge fan of stationary and office supplies. Ever since I was a child I found buying these items make me feel so special and fancy!
just wondering — is it difficult to find replacement lead for the pencils? Seems like what is currently available for mechanical pencils all have leads that are quite a bit thinner
You can actually find lead in all sorts of thicknesses, like for clutch pencils. You can even find vintage boxes of lead. So, no, it’s not an issue. You just need to figure out the right size.
The Legendary Lead Company specializes in leads for antique pencils. Jonathan is the foremost expert on vintage mechanical pencils and stocks huge amounts of vintage lead to fit any pencil you can find.
https://www.legendaryleadcompany.com/
No connection, just a friend and admirer of his scholarship.
Yes Marian I too love shopping for back to school supplies even to this day. Every year I find new items. I cover spiral notebooks with my pretty papers and embellish with assorted ribbons. Then I stamp each page with my rubber stamps and inks. My friends love receiving them as gifts along with young children. I have used them for all the different classes I have taken over the years. Your collection of pens & nibs is really unique.
Your collection of pens are lovely. Those nibs in the last picture are works of art in themselves. I have a few myself that I treasure. There is just something special about old art, writing and sewing supplies.
I am a bit curious about those “sipper” pouches???? OR…. “zipper” pouches!!!! lolo…..Of course you are more up on new things then I and maybe it is “sipper” pouches?????
Ha!! Yes, that was meant to be zipper. 🙂
They are all so pretty. I have always liked stationary and writing tools. As an elementary aged child, I had a pencil collection that I really loved. I saved my spending money and used it to buy pretty pencils. I don’t know what happened to my collection. Maybe it is still in my parents’ house somewhere.
When my daughter was young I worked part time in an art supply store…you can imagine how much fun that was! Just handling the items was a delight. The drafting materials, of course, were plain and utilitarian…not like the beauties you have. People long ago would decorate and make beautiful the most useful objects. How wonderful to be surrounded by such loveliness all the time.
I agree about the travel pens and pencils. I have a few as well. I’m quite intrigued by the bone one. I’d be curious about what else is on there besides “Patent”, like if there’s a number or date. I’d be happy to see if I could find more information.
Most of my expertise is in the history of US steel dip pens, not necessarily the holders. And you’re right when you say, “So many nibs, and so little time.” My collection is more for research so I’m looking for a broad selection of brands and styles, rather than large amounts of any one type. I have over 1000 different types, and I know I’ve only scratched the surface.
BTW, “J” pens, and those gold-plated shoulder nibs (Hinks and Wells?) are some of my favorites. If you ever have any questions about US-made pens, feel free to contact me or check out my website where I post some of my rough research findings.