Sooo, you have a close friend or loved one who has the dreaded Fountain Pen Collector Syndrome. He or she collects fountain pens, and has been known, on occasion, to rapturously babble on about tine spread, flow, buttery smooth steel, or other such confusing nonsense. Your collector friend waxes poetic about new additions to the collection, and you think to yourself – you really need Another Pen??
With the traditional winter holidays of all kinds and denominations upon us, gift giving comes to the forefront of our thoughts. What to buy? Gift cards? Sweaters? Something overcomplicated and electronic? And for the pen people in your life, good heavens – one quick Google search and you realize you are in over your head with options. Well, let me help…..
I will confess that as a pen person married to another pen person, gift giving has been simplified in many ways. We have a system that works pretty darn well. Brian shops on Ebay, sends me links to several auctions, and I bid. I sometimes ask for more auctions, either to confuse him, or because I was outbid. He also shops other vendor tables at open shows, tells me who has a pen he likes, and I go do some wheeling and dealing.
But, what if you are not comfortable purchasing a fountain pen? If you are a non-collecting spouse or partner, what are your other options? Over the years, my parents, for example, would have loved to have purchased a pen for me, but they had no idea what to buy, what to pay, or anything about the entire process of choosing a pen. Options, then? Lots of them!!
All pen users need ink. As long as the ink is safe for fountain pens, you are pretty safe with that choice. Now all you have to do is pick – color, brand, price, uh-oh, it’s getting complicated again. If you know that your giftee likes green ink, for example, sneak a peak at his or her collection, and either buy another bottle, as a backup, or branch out to another brand in a similar color, but perhaps slightly lighter or darker. One of Brian’s favorite inks is Noodler’s Ottoman Azure. There are a number of similar other colors by different brands, that would also work well. His all time Number 1 favorite ink color is the old version of Montblanc Bordeaux ink. The color and the exact bottle have been discontinued, or reissued, in a slightly bigger bottle, with a different name. If I come across a bottle of the older Bordeaux, you bet I’m going to grab that!! In fact, I ran across a bottle of Bordeaux in Detroit, and probably embarrassed myself by snagging it so quickly lol.
One newish item that we ran across not too long ago, is the Ink Journal. It helps keep track of the ink by color, brand, characteristics, and many other types of details. At $9.99, it won’t break the bank, but might be that something cool/useful combination gift you have been looking for.
Paper is a good choice as well. Journals, nice notecards, personalized notepads all make great gifts. Pen users do exactly that, use their fountain pens. If someone likes to journal, Exacompta, Rhodia and Quo Vadis make several nice types of journals in different sizes, colors, and designs. Something personalized, or with an image of a fountain pen is always appreciated, and notecards are perfect for dropping a quick line to someone. Fountain pen people love to write to each other!
Pen flush is a great idea, since what goes in, must come out at some point – in fountain pens this refers to the ink of course. Super easy to use, good on both vintage and modern pens, and fits in the toe of a stocking. Your pen lover might need someplace to store those lovely pens – what about a leather case like this, or a pen case? Depending on your budget, you’ve got loads of choices.
Is your fountain pen person a DIY-er? How about repair supplies? Simichrome or Micro-Mesh for polishing (please read the instructions first), talc, shellac, silicone grease? A really nice assortment can be had for very little money, and your recipient will be thrilled.
Ephemera, such as vintage ads are a really cool and colorful way to say I love you to a fountain pen addict. Some ads are large, some very small, many are very colorful, and would look great framed on the wall of an office. Magazine subscriptions are a great idea as well. The Pennant, part of the perks of membership in the Pen Collectors of America, is a wonderful magazine published 3x per year. Pen World, another magazine dedicated to fountain pens, is also a great idea, and is published 6 times a year. Books on the subject of fountain pens are also available – more than you could imagine. Topics range from very specific repair guides, to one main collecting brand, to books that address all sorts of pens from all brands, and many countries.
This holiday season, the pen collector in your life will be utterly thrilled that you gave his or her hobby such consideration. A pen would often be a first choice to receive, but may not be practical, within the budget of the giver, or may just pose too many complications. There are many many options for accessories and add-ons, that won’t break the bank that will make the pen collector in your life very very happy. And while you may not entirely understand the gasp & joyous glow that occurs when a bottle of Parker Penman Sapphire is unwrapped, just go with it. When receiving hobby-related gifts, it IS truly the thought that counts. We know you don’t completely understand us and our addiction to shiny pointy pretty things, but we do see that you love us anyway….
Lisa & Brian