(mutiple edits the past couple of hours)
Maybe these aren't as well known as I thought. The International series can be found commonly advertised in the early 60's, usually a B&W ad , and I think it ran from about 1958-63. It is essentially an orphan stepchild of the 61*; the pencil is 61-size and the clips are 61. The ballpoint is unusual in that it has a black jewel, while the pencil has the usual grey one. [There was no 61 ballpoint available until 1961(?) (61 BP not in the Bill Acker's 1960 Parker parts list, but is shown in his 1961 catalog), and I'm not sure how to distinguish a 61 Insignia from an International Insignia**. Are all 61s marked on the cap?] They were available in Flighter finish, gold plate Insignia, and solid 14K Presidential and the box one usually encounters on the 'bay is a clamshell with red satin interior and International printed on the inner lid. Every Flighter I've seen before this set has 2 gold-wash grooves on the cap, similar to some Parker 75 Flighters.
(ad on Amazon) (another ad, for gold pen)Reintroduced about 1968, the International became really skinny.
* The
VIP is another orphan series in that the lustraloy version is basically a 51 Special ball pen and pencil with 61 clips.
** According to the 1961 Parker catalog, the 61 Insignia is GF, while the Int'l Insignia is GP. But what are the engraving patterns?
Edited by matt, 06 October 2012 - 12:27 AM.