How much do old pens cost?
Oddly enough, most vintage pens tend to cost less than equivalent modern fountain pens. That is to say, you can buy a Parker Vacumatic in good condition, say, for less than you’d have to pay for a modern Parker Sonnet. For example, of the vintage pens shown on this site, almost all of them cost me less than $100 each; of the modern pens, better than half of the cost more than a C-note There are some general rules that seem to govern values in the market today. As you might guess, name-brand pens tend to cost more than those from more obscure brands, and all things being equal, a larger pen will fetch more than a smaller one. Typically, less ornate pens cost less than filigreed, precious metal, or hand-decorated (e.g., Japanese Maki-e) pens. Collectors prefer to find pens in ready-to-write condition, or at least repairable condition, so pens that are considered difficult to repair may go for a lower price (e.g., Sheaffer Vac-Fil). There are, of course, exceptions to all these rules (or
