World War II and the Fountain Pen, Part II

It is an axiom that technology advances more rapidly in wartime than in times of peace. In the case of military technology, this is certainly true, but advances made for the military often spill over into the civilian world, and the fountain pen was not left behind during World War II.

The Genesis of Book of Books

James Mathew is a cardiologist who lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has presented papers at the Annual Gatherings of the Thoreau Society in Concord and the Annual Conference of the American Literature Association in Boston, Massachusetts.

Globe Trotting, Pen-Style

Italy's to Texas Globe pens

The Pen Is Mightier

Horrified by the war in Ukraine, artisan pen makers across the globe are using their skills to make a difference.

Remembering Paul Rossi: September 24, 1948 - June 19, 2021

Largely considered one of the founding fathers, Paul was an artist's artist

A More Colorful Union

The pen public has questions about the Sailor 50 States fountain pen ink series. Sailor's U.S. distributor, Itoya Profolio, has the answers.

Graf von Faber-Castell Honors the Aztecs

Pen of the Year 2022: Aztecs is inspired by the history, mythology, and precious objects of the ancient Central American civilization.

A Mountain of Enduring Design Excellence

From the Conklin Endura Deco Crest to new pens in the Monteverde Regatta collection, California's Yafa Brands is bursting with creative new designs.

Turning Points: McKenzie Penworks

Tough, sparkling, and unique, Tim McKenzie’s DiamondCast resins are beloved by pen companies and collectors alike.

A Brief History of Fisher Space Pen

The ballpoint used by astronauts is also a fashion icon meant for everyday use. This is the story of how it came to be.

Chawmed, I'm Sure

"With two India-based fountain pen blogs, Chawm Ganguly is bridging the divide between the U.S. and Indian fountain pen communities."

World War II and the Fountain Pen

"From war rationing to active combat duty, fountain pens from the World War II era embody layers of history. Read the story in this first of a four-part series."

The Ethos of Turning Point Pen Co.

"Michael Kahwajy-Hyland has a dynamic vision for the future of artisan pen making."

Classic Antiques and New Mythologies

Taiwan's Laban Pen continues to create beautiful and functional writing instruments. Here, BARRY GABAY tests the Laban Antique and Antique II fountain pens and the new Mythology ink collection.

Defining “Vintage"

Is it time for the pen-collecting community to come together to redefine vintage? In the first of a two-part series, NATHANIEL CERF asks some current pen makers and leading pen dealers what they think.

Crazy about Pens

Crazy Alan's Emporium is a throwback college-town pen and stationery shop.

PW RCA PotY: A Retrospective

In our upcoming April issue, we unveil the nominees for the 2022 Pen World Readers' Choice Awards. To whet your appetite, we present here the past 12 Pen of the Year winners.

Parker Pen's Spin Cycle

Parker Whirl Clean counter displays were ingenious marketing tools that also cleaned pens of ink residue

Lacquer that Bursts with Brilliance

The new S.T. Dupont Starburst Blue and Sunburst Black collections display the French atelier's decades of lacquering expertise.

To Pick Up a Pen

I was so desperate that I almost was willing to give up all of my artisan-designed Montegrappas and Viscontis in return for a lowly Bic ballpoint ($8.79 per dozen).

Appelboom Lands in Beantown

Two storied shop histories—Boston’s Bromfield Pen Shop and the Netherlands’ Appelboom—unite in a new U.S. shop location.

Stylosuite: Serious Nibbage

From flexible to italic, nibmaster Les Sheely's expressive points help users find their own writing style.

Turning Points: McKenzie Penworks

Tough, sparkling, and unique, Tim McKenzie's DiamondCast resins are beloved by pen companies and collectors alike. Tough, sparkling, and unique, Tim McKenzie's DiamondCast resins are beloved by pen companies and collectors alike.

The Imagination and the Grandeur

After 15 years at the helm of Waldmann Pen, Stefan Schnirch is steering his legacy pen brand toward a secure future.

Luxury Brands and Colorverse: Making a Difference

At the 2021 Washington D.C. Fountain Pen SuperShow, South Korea's Colorverse and its U.S. distributor Luxury Brands of America premiered a new D.C. show ink with a special message and purpose.

Trends in 2022

The Tuscany collection of writing instruments from Germany's Waldmann Pen is a timeless design inspired by the graceful shape of Tuscan cypresses.

Going Back to Cali:The Los Angeles International Pen Show returns

February 2021 was a lonely time for Los Angeleno pen collectors as the Los Angeles International Pen Show was forced to cancel due to the pandemic.

Artisanal Expansions from Hardy Penwrights and Kanilea Pen Co.

In this issue, we feature the colorful, sparkling resins of the extremely popular DiamondCast series from McKenzie Penworks.

A Brief History of Fisher Space Pen

The ballpoint used by astronauts is also a fashion icon meant for everyday use. This is the story of how it came to be.

Montblanc Gets Flexible

In addition to a new flexible gold nib, the German brand introduces a series of new calligraphy-themed journals.