Covent Garden market

During my lunch hour I wandered over to the Jubilee Market at Covent Garden. I used to go there quite often in my lunch hour, but as I’ve changed jobs I’m no longer within short walking distance. So my trips there only average about once every six months. On a Monday they have an antiques market. More of a house clearance / flea market actually. There are no specialist pen sellers. There used to be one about five years back, but not any more. The collection she had were not the best quality anyway, and quite expensive. Still it did give you the opportunity to browse some fountain pens in the flesh, a rare joy in the days of the internet. There are however a few pens to be found on the general stalls. Don’t expect to find anything fantastic, I’m sure the specialists get a look at anything before it ends up here. But there are one or two more modern and slightly battered pens to pique your interest. I have bought a few pens from here, and passed on a couple that in hindsight I should have had. Ones that have made it home with me were an Eversharp demi-Skyline set in green moiré. Nice looking and boxed, but the nib was XXF and pretty scratchy. I also got a couple of Parker 51 Vacumactics, £15 for the pair. The body was blown on one, from a poorly replaced diaphragm I guess, but it did have a great gold-filled blue diamond cap which was well worth the £7.50. Today I found a teal Parker 51 special with a good broad nib and a great condition transitional Esterbrook in green for £5, my first Estie. The amusing chat with the stallholder was worth the trip alone.

Parker "51" prices on ebay

In the Summer of 2006, I studied the prices of Parker "51"s that were sold on ebay, databasing over 350 sales. Here's the results. They hopefully provide an indication to what you can expect to pay, that is, what is probably the "right price" or what the pen you own is worth. Note, the data only includes pens that have Parker 51 in the listing title.

"51" Grading
Pens are graded according to five levels:

• Poor – Damaged, or serious dings etc
• Okay – Your standard, used Parker "51" shows scratches and some dents
• Good – Reasonable condition. A much cleaner example, with little or no dents
• Excellent – The kind where the cap still resembles a 'frosty' lustralloy
• Mint – Immaculate, usually unused and usually boxed

"51"s with gold-filled caps

• Poor: Average price £17, Minimum £13, Maximum £22
• Okay: Average price £22, Minimum £14, Maximum £31
• Good:Average price £33, Minimum £17, Maximum £67
• Excellent: Average price £55, Minimum £36, Maximum £86
• Mint: Average price £95, Minimum £87, Maximum £102
• Average price overall = £39

"51"s with steel caps

• Poor: Average price £16, Minimum £11, Maximum £21
• Okay: Average price £21, Minimum £13, Maximum £34
• Good: Average price £27, Minimum £16, Maximum £46
• Excellent: Average price £33, Minimum £21, Maximum £60
• Mint: Average price £64, Minimum £56, Maximum £69
• Average price overall = £28

Average prices of "51"s by colour

• Black: Gold cap £41, Steel cap £27, Average £33
• Burgundy: Gold cap £39, Steel cap £33, Average £35
• Teal: Gold cap £42, Steel cap £38, Average £35
• Grey: Gold cap £22, Steel cap £25, Average £25

Prices are generally similar across the colour ranges, but grey seems to be least popular. £25–£30 can buy a good/excellent example. It was noticable that quite a few of the more excellent/mint examples were in burgundy. I wonder if people simply didn't like this colour and consequently didn't use them much originally. Or, whether you just see a lot more of them with gold-filled caps given as special presents, and consequently not used as much as maybe a 'standard' black pen would be.

I've left out the rarer colours, as there wasn't really enough data.

A few other comments
Known traders on ebay (those who sell lots of pens and are recognised for quality) only achieved the same prices as other more casual ebayers. Except, for the higher value, excellent and mint examples. I guess these guys build trust in the quality of their product, and buyers trust that their mint pens really are mint - and will thus pay the money. They also present the product much better, further building trust in what you're purchasing.

Presenting the pen well will add 20–40% to the price.

A box can add 30–50% to the value.

The most expensive pen sold was a pretty standard black "51" from 1952 with a 1/10 12ct rolled gold cap. The key factors were it was absolutely immaculate, included the box and original instructions and was extremely well photographed from all angles. It was also from a well known pen trader on ebay.

Click here for a list of Parker 51s currently for sale over on ebay.

Selling pens on ebay

I've seen fountain pens sell on ebay for less than £10, then reappear a week later and sell for £50 – the price difference simply down to a better description and better photos. This is common to a lot of stuff sold on there. However, with a little effort, you can gain the true price for your pen. Small things that haven't taken much effort could add £10 to the price. Even as simple as reading the pen name inscribed on the side of the pen and putting it in the listing can help add £££s.

Parker Vacumatic Debutante

Preparing to sell your pen
First, spend a little time researching the pen. Small facts can make a lot of difference. Start by trying to identify what kind of pen you have. That way, you'll be half-way there to finding out how much its worth and how much time it is worth investing to sell it.

Popular pens that sell well include most pre-1970 Parker pens, in particular:

• 51 – One of the most collected pens. The most sought after have gold filled caps.
• 61 – Similar to the 51, with a gold arrow inlaid into the pen close to the nib. Becoming more collectable of late.
• Post-war Duofolds – The larger the better, Senior and Maxima fetch good prices.
• Vacumatic – A quite beautiful pen made from laminated hoops of different colours.

Identifying your pen
The first and most obvious method is to check the pen itself. Most clips contain the manufacturer's name, and it is quite common for the pen model to be marked on the barrell. Also, compare your pen to pictures on the web and on ebay.

Listing and describing pens

The title
There's a lot of pens on ebay, so many collectors search for specific terms, such as 'Parker 51', 'Duofold' or 'fountain pen'. It is also what will draw attention to your item in the listings.

Think about the main features of the pen. Include the maufacturer and the name of the pen. Is it boxed? Is it a set, that is, does it come with a matching ballpoint pen or pencil? What colour is it? Are any parts gold-plated ('gold-filled')? Plus, don't forget to include the text 'fountain pen'! Personally, I prefer to keep titles simple and include the best description of the item possible.

Some examples:

Parker 51 fountain pen, black with rolled gold cap
Parker Duofold, boxed fountain pen and pencil set

The description
Break the description into little chunks each with their own sub-title. This makes it easier for the potential buyer to see the important information, rather than getting bored wading through great long paragraphs of text. It will also help you make sure you include all the information. Suitable sub-titles and information to include:

Summary

• Repeat the manufacturer name and pen model
• Include all of the text that is inscribed on the pen – including any numbers.
• Country manufactured (if known).
• Capped size (meaure the length of the pen with the cap in the stored position covering the nib)
• Filling method (if know)
• Condition
• Check for cracks, chips and scratches. Is there just minor wear, or something more serious? But don't always dismiss a pen if it looks used. Whilst pens in good condition are more valuable, if the pen is rare or collectable even those with scratches will sell well.
• The nib
• What markings are on the nib?
• The cap
• Describe any features of the cap, such as a 'jewel' in the end.
• Check carefully, by holding the pen close to a light, to see if there are any hair line cracks in the lip of the cap.
• What metal does the clip look like?
• If the fittings look gold, has it rubbed off anywhere ('brassing')?

Writing sample
If you have some ink, dip the nib only, write a sentence or two and photograph it. If you don't have any ink, try soaking the end in water. If a pen has been stored a while, there can be dried ink that will allow you to write. Some types of nib can add a substantial amount to the price, and buyers will be able to detect this through the writing sample.

Images
Good images can really help add value to your listing. If possible, try and include a shot of the pen with the cap, one without and a close-up of the nib and include that writing sample too. If it's a broad nib or writes in an italic style this too can add £££s.

And, finally...

Two things: 1) Be honest with your listing. If you are simply guessing at information, say so; and 2) don't try repair the pen if you don't know what you're doing. If you do want to clean it, use water on the nib with a soft cloth to remove dried ink, a duster with some furniture polish on the barrel and cap, and a soft jewellery cloth only on the metal trim.

Now sit back and enjoy the auction.

Vintage fountain pen prices on ebay

This article was first published in the Summer of 2006....so the prices reflect that time. But I've not seen any dramatic changes since then.

The price of vintage, English Parker Duofolds – May 2006




For a little bit of fun, I've been analysing the sales of vintage pens on ebay. All of the completed sales are analysed and databased according to pen type and what I think the overall condition of the pen is. I only include the sales of sinngle pens, and don't include sets in my database.

Note, these prices are a guide only and you shouldn't put too much faith in them....


Grading
The grading applied varies by pen. Some are easier to grade than others. For example, the condition of a "51" is easier to establish due to having a metal cap which shows how well the pen has been cared for, compared to say a Parker Duofold.

The grade might not be how the actual pen is in reality, but this is how the pen looked in the photographs and the descriptions (not that I've been led by sales hype quotes of 'Near mint, excellent etc'). I feel this is how the purchaser will assess the pen, so is a reasonable way of grading for these purposes.

Duofold gradings
Its a bit harder to tell the condition of a Parker Duofold for sale just from photographs. So, for these prices I've used just three grade levels:

Poor – Damaged, chipped, burnt or heavily scratched examples.
Good – Reasonable examples falling into the ok to good level.
Excellent – Clean and bright, excellent and mint examples.

Average prices of Duofold Aerometric by size

• Junior: Poor £8 Good £14 Excellent £15
  
• Demi: Poor £13 Good £20 Excellent £40
  
• Standard: Poor £12 Good £20 Excellent £60
  
• Senior: Poor ** Good £28 Excellent £80
  
• Maxima: Poor £17 Good £56 Excellent £69
  
  * This table shows average prices only
  ** Not enough sales to get an average price
  

Average prices of Duofold by filler type
(Standard size Duofolds only)

• NS (Marble): Poor £43 Good £49 Excellent £97
  
• NS (New style): Poor £22 Good £27 Excellent £88
  
• AF (Aluminium): Poor £23 Good £27 Excellent £52
  
• Aerometric: Poor £12 Good £20 Excellent £60
  

The New Style Duofold is the earliest version of the English manufactured Duofolds. It has a blind cap with a tassie and a brass 'button' filling mechanism.

NS (Marble) represents the marble coloured varieties of the New Style Duofold. These are extremely collectable, and are quite rare. Consequently, even examples without a nib can fetch good prices - as long as the body and cap are in good condition.