Somewhat Flexy Lapis Eternal 44

[crescentfiller]

I don't collect Mabie Todd fountain pens, though I do admire their quality and design.

 

While out hunting recently, I acquired this set. I've no idea what I'll do with it, but I couldn't pass it up, given the color and condition, and the fact that it was in the original box.

 

It has crisp imprints with the white still in them, top and bottom.

And the nib has an awful lot of flex!

[Cob]

That's a beautiful set. Tell me, is the nib actually stamped Eternal?

 

 

Cob

[crescentfiller]

Yes, Cob, it is:

 

Swan

Eternal

4

14CT

[PaulS]

wonderful find, congratulations - I don't think many of us could pass it by. I have Eternal nibs in sizes 2, 4 and 6 - and they're all nails - it seems unusual to find one 'somewhat flexy' - presumably not quite so thick perhaps. None of my three are Eternal pens.

[Cob]

Yes, Cob, it is:

 

Swan

Eternal

4

14CT

 

Thanks; you have something exceptional then. I have had at least half a dozen eternals, including 2, 3, 4 and 6. All utterly rigid. I have two or three in my spares box that are really just a waste of space for me, if they were broad I'd convert them to stubs.

 

Meanwhile such lovely examples of MT's lovely Lapis are a joy to behold.

 

Best wishes

 

Cob

 

[eachan]

My goodness, that's a beautiful set! There are so many different varieties of lapis lazuli, but I think the Mabie Todd version has all the rest beat. Such a wonderfully rich and pure blue!

[Greenie]

That is a fantastic set! Great color!

[PaulS]

here is a piece of lapis that came from a boot sale some few years back, it's about 6 inches long - shows they got that beautiful blue spot on for the pen. What the white is I'm not sure - could be quartz - and the stone looks to have a sprinkling of very fine mica/aventurine (?) inclusions, which give a bit of sparkle. I did hear that the best material came from Afghanistan.

[sidthecat]

The star of my husband’s mineral collection is a lapis boulder about the size of a deflated football. A wonderful piece of geology. He turned up his nose at a very nice meteor that day.

[crescentfiller]

The star of my husband’s mineral collection is a lapis boulder about the size of a deflated football. A wonderful piece of geology. He turned up his nose at a very nice meteor that day.

 

I'm not really interested in keeping this lapis set, but I think I'd hang onto that lapis football!

[PaulS]

yes, but wouldn't it hurt your foot?

[inkstainedruth]

The star of my husband’s mineral collection is a lapis boulder about the size of a deflated football. A wonderful piece of geology. He turned up his nose at a very nice meteor that day.

 

Yeah, if I was a geologist I might very well pass over a meteor for a piece of lapis as large as you say....

Back in 1976 I got to go on a trip to Russia with my parents (well, it was still officially the USSR back then). Once of the places we toured was The Hermitage, in Leningrad/St. Petersburg, and I remember that there were rooms where the pillars were veneered in either lapis lazuli or malachite (and at least one I think was BOTH).

I don't normally collect sets -- but if I had run across that Mabie Todd set I would have (assuming I could have afforded it, of course) definitely made an exception....

Hmmmm. I don't think I have *nearly* enough blue pens..... Now all I need to to is buy a winning lottery ticket....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[crescentfiller]

Ruth, I'd be glad to sell you a winning lottery number....

In fact, if you buy the lottery ticket, I'll throw in the set!

 

Best,

Daniel

 

PS Attention Moderator: Fear not! It's just banter and not an actual offer to sell!

[Greenie]

Winning lottery tickets and football sized blue stones are exemt from the rules, so you are quite safe.