Having long been fond of the 1930'-1940's Sheaffer Balance, i've accumulated more than a few of the darn things over the years. I suspect that after Parker Vacumatic, the Sheaffer Balance is the series most prevalent in my own collection. Grabbing the funky ones is my goal these days.

Autograph is a term used by Sheaffer for some of their pens to feature solid gold trim, usually with a wider-than-non-Autograph cap-band as part of the package. Collectors today often use the term in general for any gold-trimmed Sheaffer, at least in casual chat.

I own and have owned a moderate bunch of these during the past 9 years.

But, this one- purchased from an advanced collector at the Ohio Show, constitued a "Happy David" find, though it was no give away. Ah well, ya sells some to buys some, as they say.

Autograph most commonly is seen on black pens. Marine Green marbled Balances do crop up as Autograph. I've owned couple pens and sets in that color, but never have i seen an Autograph 3-piece set like the one below. Indeed, that which makes the set a "three piece" i've never seen in solid gold trim in ANY color before, though of course others might have had better fortune in that regard. If you are not familiar with that Third Piece even as a non Autograph, you now will meet a nifty member of the Balance menagerie

Check this one out

regards

david

David;

You got the set - cool. Too bad it wasn't in the original octagon box!

Roger W.

Strangely enough, i don't feel sad about that

david

I believe I saw this at Novak's table (ironic name, eh?) in DC, but it was waaay too pricey for me. Here's a related set David Nishimura posted a little while back:

Nishimura's 6-piece Autograph Set

--Daniel