Where can I buy vintage pens in Europe?

[Theotime]

Hi there!

 

I'm slowly getting interested in vintage fountain pens. Are there online stores based in Europe that sell them? I know eBay exists, but maybe it'd be more reliable to go with someone who's more specialized in this; there doesn't seem to be physical shops around where I live and people don't sell them at garage sales here.

[Makar Tools]

Hi
I haven't seen any shops selling vintage fountain pens, but I think it's worth going to the shows.
When I go to shows with my fountain pens, there are always plenty of vintage pens exhibitors.
Find the website with the dates of fountain pen shows and see what's coming up soon in your area. There are many pen shows in Germany, Italy, and the UK.
or 

you can check FB groups :L)

[Theotime]

1 hour ago, Makar Tools said:

Hi
I haven't seen any shops selling vintage fountain pens, but I think it's worth going to the shows.
When I go to shows with my fountain pens, there are always plenty of vintage pens exhibitors.
Find the website with the dates of fountain pen shows and see what's coming up soon in your area. There are many pen shows in Germany, Italy, and the UK.
or 

you can check FB groups :L)

I do plan to go to pen shows, but sadly the dates don't seem to work for me so far. Hopefully there will be one at a right time though!

[Penguincollector]

  I think there’s a forum called PenBoard, and there is a store in Vienna that sells vintage pens. Oh, and in France I have heard of Mora Stylos.

[inkstainedruth]

@Theotime Wondering if you can find vintage pens in antiques shops in some places, the way I've sometimes been able to do here in the US; I'm also lucky in that I can sometimes find vintage pens at estate sales, but have to remember that -- unlike some parts of this country -- the greater Pittsburgh, PA area *always* had money (originally the steel industry; and now, more recently, high-tech).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Theotime]

57 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

  I think there’s a forum called PenBoard, and there is a store in Vienna that sells vintage pens. Oh, and in France I have heard of Mora Stylos.

Noted, thanks! Mora doesn't seem to have a lot of pens so far though, but I'll see what they have from time to time.

45 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@Theotime Wondering if you can find vintage pens in antiques shops in some places, the way I've sometimes been able to do here in the US; I'm also lucky in that I can sometimes find vintage pens at estate sales, but have to remember that -- unlike some parts of this country -- the greater Pittsburgh, PA area *always* had money (originally the steel industry; and now, more recently, high-tech).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Doesn't seem to be that many antique shops where I live, sadly. They either closed down or they seem to specialize in furniture or decoration.

[Mark from Yorkshire]

@Theotime it’s a shame that the antique shops in France don’t have more pens. I’ve found a veritable mix in the ones in the uk. Then again it has taught me to be somewhat circumspect. Some are only any good for spares or the value of the components in them.

 

others are actually quite good and actually value for money. Especially if the don’t know what they have.

[inkstainedruth]

@Theotime Sorry.  It was just a thought.  I've never been to France, although my parents had (they took a bus trip around various places in the Chateau Region, and were in Paris for Bastille Day (not sure if that was the same trip for them or two different ones).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Theotime]

3 minutes ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

@Theotime it’s a shame that the antique shops in France don’t have more pens. I’ve found a veritable mix in the ones in the uk. Then again it has taught me to be somewhat circumspect. Some are only any good for spares or the value of the components in them.

 

others are actually quite good and actually value for money. Especially if the don’t know what they have.

 

To be fair, I live near a small city without much to do (other than 2 or 3 touristic things). Anything more "niche" requires to go somewhere else.

 

1 minute ago, inkstainedruth said:

@Theotime Sorry.  It was just a thought.  I've never been to France, although my parents had (they took a bus trip around various places in the Chateau Region, and were in Paris for Bastille Day (not sure if that was the same trip for them or two different ones).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

No worries! I'm sure there are places in France where I could find pens in antique shops, it wasn't a bad idea

[Mark from Yorkshire]

@Theotime where in France are you located roughly out of interest. (I’m just being nosey really). 
 

I was in Montmartre last spring and am planning on returning this year as well. 
 

loved my time in and around paris

[Theotime]

4 minutes ago, Mark from Yorkshire said:

@Theotime where in France are you located roughly out of interest. (I’m just being nosey really). 
 

I was in Montmartre last spring and am planning on returning this year as well. 
 

loved my time in and around paris

Near Narbonne. I guess I could go as far as Perpignan or Béziers, but it'd get annoying as I can't drive.

[inkstainedruth]

@Theotime A while back I was at a pen show and the night of IIRC the dessert party, I was sitting at a table with a guy from southern Indiana and he said he NEVER saw pens for sale at antique shops or estate sales -- and that was the point where I realized that (having grown up in the greater NYC area and now living in the Pittsburgh area) just how fortunate (spoiled) I really am.  And had forgotten about a guy we used to know who ran a little antique shop in the South Hills someplace (south of Pittsburgh) who would go to the weekend antiques show up in Sturbridge, Massachusetts that was held all through the town in peoples' back yards.  He said that he could buy stuff down here inexpensively and sell it up there for a profit -- and vice versa.  It would NOT have occurred to me that in different parts of the US tastes would be so radically different: that not everyone would be interested in/acquiring the same things depending on the region where they lived.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Mark from Yorkshire]

@Theotime Merci 

[Theotime]

2 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@Theotime A while back I was at a pen show and the night of IIRC the dessert party, I was sitting at a table with a guy from southern Indiana and he said he NEVER saw pens for sale at antique shops or estate sales -- and that was the point where I realized that (having grown up in the greater NYC area and now living in the Pittsburgh area) just how fortunate (spoiled) I really am.  And had forgotten about a guy we used to know who ran a little antique shop in the South Hills someplace (south of Pittsburgh) who would go to the weekend antiques show up in Sturbridge, Massachusetts that was held all through the town in peoples' back yards.  He said that he could buy stuff down here inexpensively and sell it up there for a profit -- and vice versa.  It would NOT have occurred to me that in different parts of the US tastes would be so radically different: that not everyone would be interested in/acquiring the same things depending on the region where they lived.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Honestly I think I'd have generaliazed like that as well if I grew up in a major city.

[VacNut]

Mora Stylos is in Paris. 
Julia has a store in Central Madrid. She also repairs and sells parts.

There is also a Vintage Store in Madrid that also does repairs. T T Reparaciones S L.

There is a small store in a tobacca shop in Lisbon off Rossio Square.

There are several collectors around Düsseldorf,  Madrid, and Koln who sell vintage pens. 
Regina has an auction site Martiniauctions in Germany.

There is a Pen Store in Oxford.

Paolo runs Zona900 in Italy.

 

it would be helpful if you could tell us what type of pen you like to collect.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[I-am-not-really-here]

Try these:

 

https://atelier-lesoon.com

https://missing-pen.com

https://www.tenpen.it

 

[Theotime]

6 hours ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

Try these:

 

https://atelier-lesoon.com

https://missing-pen.com

https://www.tenpen.it

 

 

I'll check them out, thanks!

[VacNut]

Many stores and collectors sell quality vintage pens, but are storefronts which require retail prices. If you have a budget, you may consider trusted private sellers who do not rely on pen sales for income.

[Theotime]

16 hours ago, VacNut said:

Mora Stylos is in Paris. 
Julia has a store in Central Madrid. She also repairs and sells parts.

There is also a Vintage Store in Madrid that also does repairs. T T Reparaciones S L.

There is a small store in a tobacca shop in Lisbon off Rossio Square.

There are several collectors around Düsseldorf,  Madrid, and Koln who sell vintage pens. 
Regina has an auction site Martiniauctions in Germany.

There is a Pen Store in Oxford.

Paolo runs Zona900 in Italy.

 

it would be helpful if you could tell us what type of pen you like to collect.

 

Good luck.

 

 

 

Tbf I don't have a specific style in mind. I know I'd like to own an inlaid nib but I don't like the Sheaffer Legacy enough to pay its current price. I also know there are other "variants" I can find if I look for vintage Sheaffer pens (for example, I came across what seems to be a Sheaffer Targa 1006x and I'd like to buy it someday). But there are other kins of pens I'm sure I'd like as well.

 

4 hours ago, VacNut said:

Many stores and collectors sell quality vintage pens, but are storefronts which require retail prices. If you have a budget, you may consider trusted private sellers who do not rely on pen sales for income.

 

I know stores would probably be more expensive than private sellers, but I feel like it'd be less risky that way. I think I can save up enough to pay a little more for that end.

 

(also, I missed your first message earlier, sorry about that ^^')

[VacNut]

Since you are open to many different styles and types, eBay isn’t a bad place for you to inexpensively get better acquainted with vintage pens. You can find pens that are functional but cosmetically imperfect. Get in to it with an open mind. Auction lots are a good way to discover what you appeals to you.

 

Sheaffer pens are a good start as they have currently fallen out of favor, and older collectors are selling their collections.

Sad to say many are being cannibalized for the gold nibs.