The Fountain Pen: A Collector's Companion [Hardcover]

Alexander Crum Ewing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

Alexander Crum Ewing heads the Collectors Department at Bonhams Auctioneers in London, the world's largest auctioneer of fine and rare vintage fountain pens. Ewing chronicles the development of writing implements; gives a brief history of fountain pens; explores the process of making a pen, from design to consumer; plus offers a full directory of sources. 200+ full-color photos.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Running Pr (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762400080
• ISBN-13: 978-0762400089
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,260,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT a collectors reference, February 2, 2000

By 

Elizabeth Wilde (Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fountain Pen: A Collector's Companion (Hardcover)

Although it's a nice little book with lots of lovely pictures, this is not a useful reference for collectors. It gives some nice background on several (but by no means all) well-known manufacturers, and lists some of their current offerings. But as far as a rundown on many more models, don't look here. Pricing is extremely vague--more like movie ratings, with one to five stars showing the range of prices for current models. The index is terrible--hardly anything there, the table of contents lists only the major sections of the book, not each subdivision of individual manufacturers, and there are no useful running headers or footers to help you know what section you're in when flipping through the book. The pocket size is deceptive in that it really isn't a pocket reference. More of a mini coffee table book. Buy it if you already own a decent reference and like the idea of having a little book with pretty pictures in it.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK FOR BEGINNERS, July 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fountain Pen: A Collector's Companion (Hardcover)

Alexander Ewing is head of the collectibles dept. of Bonhams auctioneers in London and as such is responsible for the pen auctions that are frequently held there. This book is a resource for the collector and connoisseur and concentrates on contemporary pens with over 30 different manufacturers explored.

The book has three main parts :

The story of the fountain pen -

Don't wince, this is not a complete rundown of every scribe from ancient Egypt to the present but is a quick introduction to the genesis of the modern pen. Written in an informal style the reader is able to garner a quick overview of the history of writing instruments and all pertinent details are here in a lucid and enjoyable few chapters.

Different nib styles and sizes are also discussed and advice is given on choosing a first pen.

A fountain pen directory - the main part of the book.

This is where this book really excels. Giving an overview of the current pen companies that most of you will be familiar with, it also includes a list of current pens by these companies with many details on production and models produced. Though the list is not exhaustive - all the really important pens are listed for each company and Crum's skill as a valuer/auctioneer are evident here in the choice of pens he lists.

Two 'boxes' - one of company facts and the other of models produced and their value (given as a guide) are inserted into the main text allowing this book to be also used as a quick glossary. Given that it's pocket sized, it's feasible to bring this book to a pen store and make judicious use of it. The main text is very informative and not overdone. The pen pictures are well photographed and laid out, though detail is not a forte here with a lot of pictures showing the pens capped.

A fountain pen resource -

A bit ambitiously named, there are a few pages given over to clubs, associations, magazines and the better pen stores world-wide which may be of some value.

Conclusion :

If you are a new collector I cannot think of a better book to buy. [we looked at a few and this was, by far, the best - Ed.]. From Aurora to Waterman, most of the companies selling pens into today's market are discussed in an intelligent and enthusiastic way. The book can also be used as a glossary for quick reference. This is a small and inexpensive book. Worth reading if you care about the value of the pens you collect and want to become a more informed collector.

Highly recommended

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Notable for What is MISSING as for What it Contains, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fountain Pen: A Collector's Companion (Hardcover)

This book has very nice pictures of many types of present and historic pens. The background info on fountain pens through the last few centuries was interesting, if somewhat light.

Its real strength was in the 2 to 5 page vignettes on various manufacturers and marketers active today. Each company which is listed is shown by a list of models in production, where the factory is (or factories are), and where in the world they distribute. The legend for "price range" is little off, though, reflecting list price rather than street prices.

The problem, though, is notably how much is left out. While the author never indicates that he planned on a complete or all inclusive guide, there are whole manufacturers left out; and whole models made by some manufacturers left off of the list. That, and when the list of "sources" is provided at the end, I had to wonder why those particular sources were listed and many major distributors were omitted.

I would rather have skipped the pages of brands which are just remarketers of styles which are made by other manufacturers (who were already listed elsewhere in the book - indicated by a "see page x" cross reference), and had a more complete rendering of current types.