what is the rarest pen?

[penwala]

I m curious - what is the rarest pen? I am not talking about the one made 400 years ago for some king and now it is sitting in the museum, but rather something that was made within last 50 yrs or so...

[framebaer]

I m curious - what is the rarest pen? I am not talking about the one made 400 years ago for some king and now it is sitting in the museum, but rather something that was made within last 50 yrs or so...

 

This is a hard question to answer. There probably is not a single "rarest pen" but rather there are many examples of pens where there exists only 1 or 2 examples. For example the 1 or 2 mandarin duofolds with black veining, the "Tree Trunk" Waterman silver overlay-- again only 2-3 examples. I'm sure more knowledgeable collectors could add lots more examples.

 

Then there is the whole issue of prototypes made by various manufactuerers, again usually only a couple examples known to exist.

 

Put them all together and you end up with a surprising number of "rarest pens"

[sheafferkid]

Sheaffer's made back in 1940-1941 a solid platinum "Masterpiece" model. The pen cost $200 and the pencil cost $125. That would be approximately $2,952.66 and $1,845.41, respectively. I don't know the rarity of this pen, but they would be extremely uncommon. If someone has one, could I please see a picture!!!

 

Evan

[jd50ae]

_{Forgive me, I can't help myself.......}................

Anything from the BENZ collection...........

[burmeseboyz]

:bunny01:_{Forgive me, I can't help myself.......}................

Anything from the BENZ collection...........

 

Haha yeah, the white tortoise pelikan m400. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PEN!!!! It was USED BY JESUS TO BEAT UP HITLER'S DOG!! Only serious collectors please. This pen is very special! NOT FOR JUST COLLECTION!! Locked away in vault for 50 years and kept 50 meters from any INK!!

 

Sorry, but his stuff is really funny. Even if I did not know anything about pens, I wouldn't do business with him because he totally sounds like a crook. At least make some effort to trick people... subtly.

 

But I don't think there is a holy grail for pen collectors. There are many pens that collectors covet but I think there's more of a range.

[Splicer]

There are a number of penmakers that make pens one at a time, not as part of a series or production run. I think by definition, the entire set of unique pens, whether there was ever only one or only one remains, would share the title of "rarest."

[Lloyd]

Additionally, provenance can play a powerful role in rarity. The pens F. Kafka owned and used would undoubtedly be more limited (rarer) than MB Kafka limited editions (not too rare).

[RLTodd]

I think you have to define it more closely. Some pens were made to be rare jewelry items, others were made in quantity but tossed out with the spring cleaning.

[QM2]

There probably is not a single "rarest pen" but rather there are many examples of pens where there exists only 1 or 2 examples. For example the 1 or 2 mandarin duofolds with black veining, the "Tree Trunk" Waterman silver overlay-- again only 2-3 examples.

 

 

Is this the "tree trunk" pen you are speaking of? Looks like it's for sale.

http://www.tarzoom.com/antiques/pens.html

 

QM2

[Richard]

There are any number of "rarest" pens; "rarest" must by definition mean "there is no pen that is rarer than this one," and it follows that any pen of which there is only one known example fits the class. I therefore state that I have the world's rarest pen; this is a Parker Falcon 50 prototype of which only a single example exists. (They made only one.)

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/falcon50.jpg

[EventHorizon]

Richard, I think it's safe to say, nice pen

[Shangas]

There are any number of "rarest" pens; "rarest" must by definition mean "there is no pen that is rarer than this one," and it follows that any pen of which there is only one known example fits the class. I therefore state that I have the world's rarest pen; this is a Parker Falcon 50 prototype of which only a single example exists. (They made only one.)

 

http://www.richardspens.com/images/collection/zoomed/falcon50.jpg

 

Dhat'z puuuurdy!! :blink:

 

How did you come by that darling, Richard? And how much did it cost you? It looks amazing...

[Benjamin McFerret]

Ovbiously, there are numerous one-of-a-kind pens but I'll argue that the Montegrappa Peace of garbage Pen is the rarest since it was made for sale rather than a prototype, there is only one made, and (as far as I know) has not been sold to a collector.

 

Ben (who really does know the difference between peace and piece)

[Richard]

How did you come by that darling, Richard? And how much did it cost you? It looks amazing...

I bought it from someone who got it at the Parker plant in Janesville. I don't honestly remember what I paid for it, but I do remember the unbelieving look in the eyes of Susan Wirth when she saw it. She hadn't known anything like it existed.

[acfrery]

One of the pens that seems really rare is the Aurora Ethiopia. The following image is from this article.

 

http://www.stylophilesonline.com/archive/jan03/05vint2.jpg

Edited June 1, 2007 by acfrery

[Roger W.]

Evan;

 

I've heard that a platinum "In Honor of" pen was for sale in 1980 for $10,000. I've never seen one. Below is the only In Honor of pen that I am aware of. I would say it is rarer than a Parker Aztec but, the Aztec would bring more money so rare doesn't equal $$$.

 

http://www.sheafferflattops.com/images/InHonorofCap.jpg

1940 inscripted In Honor of 14K cap

 

Something can be rare but not desirable. A one of a kind Wearever does not have the cache of Richard's Falcon 50. So rarest pen really isn't a complete question without a bit more meat of what someone is trying to get at. I think the question is more in line with rarest most desirable - but that would still be hard to define.

 

Roger W.

 

[sheafferkid]

Thanks Roger! BTW, I learned more info on the platinum Masterpiece on your website! Good articles! Now, I notice that on that pen, the barrel is black. Were these not "Honor Masterpieces" with solid gold cap and barrel? Yes, the rarest pen question is quite a broad one. Well, it would be amazing to even lay eyes on one of these fantastic Sheaffer's Honor pens indeed!

 

Evan