The new Parker Vacumatic book by David Shepherd, Geoffrey Parker, and Daniel Zazove is out, and this volume, which completes the trilogy of books on the three greatest Parker pens of the 20th century, is impressive! When I received my copy of the Duofold book, I teased David about doing a third book on the Vacumatic, but he was all deny, deny, deny. That was understandable because it was just after the exhaustive work of having completed the Duofold book, but the pen community should be grateful that the Parker Pen Company persuaded him and the other co-authors to undertake the monumental work of yet a third volume, or rather allowed them the privilege and extreme pleasure of working on yet another book in conjunction with the Parker Archives administered by Dave Ruderman.
I am glad that Parker made the decision to come back to a hardback book and saddle-stitched signatures. This work will surely become the standard reference work on this pen, and will see a lot use and consultation. At over 350 pages, it is a very hefty volume, and it will be able to better stand up to all the constant use through this solid construction. And the beautiful design work by Teresa Shepherd makes the trilogy look all of a piece, placed together side by side on the shelf.
As if all those pictures of the weird and strange variants and prototypes of the pens weren't enough, the book is also profusely illustrated with letters and other correspondence, handwritten notes and journals, advertisements and other ephemera, desk sets and pen boxes with their paper inserts, and many patent illustrations and specifications. And as a bonus for all of those interested in inks, there are 3 or 4 sections on the Parker inks of the period, starting with a fountain pen ink from the eyedropper era, and on through the Duofold, Quink, Parker "51", and Superchrome inks. That was a real treat.
There's even some crossover material for the Duofold and the "51" that was left out of the other two volumes, but which helps to tie this definitive trilogy together.
Way to go, guys!
George Kovalenko.
