Solid Gold Nova

[northlodge]

You might think so after seeing what this example achieved on ebay today:

 

273075003771

 

I had always valued a Nova at a couple of ££ less than a Platignum (i.e about ten pence).

 

The seller does a decent sales job with photos, etc, but with many of his listings these show he has fitted the wrong nib, clip or suchlike, so this is hardly the reason for an inflated price.

 

Should I be searching my rubbish bin for all the ones I have thrown away?

[Cob]

You might think so after seeing what this example achieved on ebay today:

 

273075003771

 

I had always valued a Nova at a couple of ££ less than a Platignum (i.e about ten pence).

 

The seller does a decent sales job with photos, etc, but with many of his listings these show he has fitted the wrong nib, clip or suchlike, so this is hardly the reason for an inflated price.

 

Should I be searching my rubbish bin for all the ones I have thrown away?

I searched under the number but drew a blank; do you have a link?

 

I ask because someone is going to give me a rather attractive pale green marble example in its original box! There is no mention of the brand in Stephen Hull's English Fountain Pen book - can you tell me who made them?

 

Rgds

 

Cob

[northlodge]

when the listing is finished you need to use advance search, and then select completed listings.

[peterg]

Looks a tidy pen to me Paul, wrong nib, but the rest is correct. The sale price is high, but then I've seen plain black Conway Stewart 475's go for between £7 and 130 on E-bay with no obvious reason for the variance.

 

Personally I look very closely over his pens before bidding for the reasons you give.

 

Nova is one of those enigma pens. They have no following (apart from a***k) but they are a decent third tier pen, like the Unique. There seems to be virtually no information about the company either. Were they a manufacturer or third party seller like Stephen's?

[CS388]

It's higher than I would have paid - but, not astronomical.

That said, I'd've thought the incorrect nib would have kept the price down, somewhat?

 

I think it's the trend, just now. I see quite a few old FP's of unknown origin selling for a higher price than I would have predicted - especially if they're a 'pretty colour' (which this one, arguably is).

Back in the day, I bought a few pens, of this calibre from ebay for 99p, being the only bidder.

Now, I've just overpaid for a no-name woodgrain pen that I was keen on, having been outbid on my previous attempts to acquire one.

 

I once had quite a Burnham collection (over ten years ago). They had been very cheap to buy, good pens, easy to fix and handsome writers. I eventually sold them to fund a different collection, got little more than I paid for them. If I had them now, I'd get quite a decent whack!

 

I do think it's a one-way street and I'd be surprised if the prices go back down.

[northlodge]

Here is another rare example:

 

Item: 362284619848

[peterg]

I might bid that much if they promise to only send the box!

[CS388]

Seriously? Is it meant to be curved like that?

 

I know that the seller states it is deliberate - and has another like it - but, it looks like it's had an accident.

Most unpleasant design, imho.

 

Each to their own, I guess.

[peterg]

That cheap plastic could bend under hand pressure in warm to hot conditions (like some UK summers!). I recently sold a Queensway purse pen like it. Actually, it fitted in my palm very well and was pleasant to write with.

[northlodge]

I bet that one has been left on a dash board or window sill a tad too long.