My apologies for slow posting rate (and email responses) of late. This week I traveled to Lancaster, PA along with Paul Erano who I'd invited down from Albany to participate in the purchase of a massive personal pen collection of mostly modern pens. Paul and I have partnered on several collections , and he has far greater familiarity with modern pens than I have. It sounded as though there were more than enough pens for both of us, and I value Paul's input in helping construct a fair offer, as I tend to aim low if I know nothing about any given modern pen.
After posting online after the Philadelphia Pen Show how I arrived relatively late Friday to the show only to find a table holder next to me had arrived with his personal collection of modern pens (his first show visit and with goal to sell), a collection that covered an entire table and had sold in twenty minutes to a dealer, i was contacted by email by a collector who held the similar goal to move an entire collection in one fell swoop. We spoke at length by phone. The collection sounded like one of high quality. Built from the 1980's until now, reportedly there were many high quality Italian, German, British, American and Japanese pens, along with a number of good vintage pens. I was... intrigued. We had a long chat about the nature of full-collection purchases, the economics of it, what's necessary to allow such a purchase. We seemed to be of like minds regarding this. All good.
Paul had been planning to visit Manhattan anyway, to hang out for day or two and to check out my new apartment. We decided to integrate his visit to Manhattan with a trip out to Lancaster, PA to inspect and perhaps purchase this collection.
The trip was successful. We had a fine visit with the owner of the collection, and as often is the case when penfolk gather, he had an interesting story regarding his life and his pen collecting. We spent a couple hours of the day simply discussing life, the economy, politics, health, philosophy of collecting, etc. A grand day.
We cranked through more than 300 pens, most mint-in-box. Sorting, compiling information, estimating prices.... the day was exhausting. Paul and I arrived at an estimated purchase price. Our estimate was about 10% different from the owner's goal for his nice collection. We quickly reached a happy compromise. How we managed to squeeze 300+ pens into my Honda? Well, that's part of the video tale.
Boxed pens included Omas, Delta, Aurora, Krone, Marlen, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman, Conway-Stewart, Pelikan, Pilot, Namilki, Sailor, Platinum, Dani, Laban (some key models). Trays of vintage pens were more humble than the modern stock, but still were decent.
I've posted four high definition videos, with more to follow.
The first four videos present our trip and an introduction to the collection. Details and images are shown of 70 of the 300 pens, these 70 all Italian pens, mostly from 1980's-1990's. This is tip of the iceberg. I'll shoot shorter videos of the other pens in coming days.
Paul and I philosophize (or is that ruminate) about the challenges and charm of buying big collections.
This is the most significant modern collection either of us has acquired.
If you take the media links directly to Youtube, I suspect the images will be larger and will allow adjustment of video quality to the speed of your net connection. But, they can be watched right here at Fountain Pen Board.
Video 1: Our preparation to travel to Lancaster and our return home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my3SjAQ-lsc&context=C31a4bd9ADOEgsToPDskJ4V7aS2uw1NHS2ldPLfStX
Video 2: Examination of half the Italian fountain pens. Dining room table is full. Philosophizing about the collection purchase process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwYa0UrTU4&context=C34318d9ADOEgsToPDskIxcVZ0ZR3_eD3QxOTUQbbp
Video 3. Last of the first half of the Italian pens. Paul leaves for Albany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF537iaikGY&context=C3b2f452ADOEgsToPDskLy-0sO8kVET5dWzD4pXtLx
Video 4: The second half of the Italian pens. 70 of the 300 pens now shown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lgkmOfYeXs&context=C378003cADOEgsToPDskLlEYy1AcFw77Cs2ds1B9ts
During the next few days I will post brief videos showing other pens from this collection: Pelikan-- including the complete(?) "cities" series--, Pilot, Namiki, Platinum, Sailor, Dani, Sheaffer, Parker, Waterman, Conway-Stewart and more.
Stay tuned.
Comments and questions are invited.
regards
David