I stumbled on a few interesting pen nib boxes early in 2018. Finding the artwork on the boxes so varied and interesting, I began to add a few to my collection of writing equipment. The history of the nib as well as the sheer volume in terms of the available variety of nibs & boxes just kind of grew on me.
NOTE: You can click on the image to view it in full size.
Sir Josiah Mason's - John Bull | A box of Sir Josiah Mason John Bull dip pen nibs no 332 fine. The box has all its original 18 nibs inside and both the nibs and the box are in absolutely excellent condition. It measures 64mm x 48mm x 9mm.
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John Heath's - Rapid Writer
| A box of John Heaths Rapid Writer 511F nibs. Both the box and the nibs are in excellent unused condition. The box has its original 12 nibs inside, they are in excellent condition too. It measures 55mm x 43mm x 12mm.
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Perry & Co. - Albert Pen | A full box of Perry's 335 Medium Albert pens. The box has its original nibs inside and both the nibs and the box are in excellent condition It measures 50mm x 27mm x 19mm.
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Perry & Co. - Glideaway Pen | A box of Perry's Glideaway new metal nibs no 403 . The box has nibs inside and both the nibs and the box are in excellent condition (some minor handwriting on one side of box). It measures 49mm x 28mm x 17mm.
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John Heath's - Rapid Writer | A box of John Heaths Rapid Writer 511F nibs. Both the box and the nibs are in excellent unused condition. The box has its original 12 nibs inside, they are in excellent condition too. It measures 55mm x 43mm x 12mm.
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John Heath's - Ye Runnymede | A box of John Heath’s “Ye Runnymede”, No. 1879 nibs. One end flap of box is loose. Box has a number of unused nibs inside. These are a little stained but will clean up. Box measures 55mm x 43mm x 12mm.
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John Heath's - Midland Counties
| A box of John Heath’s Midland Counties nibs. Most of the original unused nibs are inside, along with an advertising leaflet. Nickel coating on nibs is a little discoloured but will clean up ok. Box measures 55mm x 43mm x 12mm. | Enter your text here |
C. Brandauer - Celebrated Black J | A box of Brandauer #251 M. Black J nibs. Both the box and the nibs are in excellent unused condition. The box contains 9 original nibs, all unused, and in excellent condition. Box also contains original Brandauer advertising leaflet. Box measures 45mm x 35mm x 12mm.
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Perry & Co. - The "Queen Mary" Pen
| A full box of Perry & Co. “Queen Mary” nibs. All 18 of the original unused nibs are inside, along with an advertising leaflet. According to the box, there were only 20,000 boxes of these boxes of nibs (No. 1914) created as a special edition that were sold for the benefit of Queen Mary’s Work for Women Fund. Box measures 35mm x 45mm x 12mm. | Enter your text here |
Hinks, Wells, & Co. - Pencil Pen
| An unopened, sealed, box of Hinks, Wells, & Co “Pencil Pen” nibs. All original unused nibs are inside. Box measures 55mm x 43mm x 12mm.
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J.C. & S. Music - Quill Pens
| A box of J.C. & S. real quill pen nibs. Originally a box of 50, there are about half of the quills still remaining. Both the box and the nibs are in very good condition. Box measures 40mm x 35mm x 12mm. “These pens being both firm and flexible are adapted to all hands; they are also especially suitable for copying”. |
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MacNiven & Cameron - Waverley Pen
| A box of Macniven and Cameron Waverley Pen nibs. Both the box and the nibs are in very good unused condition. The box contains a half dozen original nibs, all unused, and in excellent condition. Box also contains original Cameron Pen advertising. Box measures 63mm x 45mm x 11mm. |
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Mudie's - Squeezer
| This was part of lot when purchased. In rough shape and no Squeezer nibs in it at all but I liked the artwork so didn’t discard it. | Enter your text here |
R. Esterbrook - 314 Relief
| A little rough and only 3 pens left but still a nice little box. It measures 75mm x 50 mm x 25mm.
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MacNiven & Cameron - Waverley Pen | An almost full tin box containing 1 gross of Macniven and Cameron Waverly Pen nibs. Both the box and the nibs are in very good condition. Box measures 65mm x 40mm x 25mm.
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C. Brandauer - Circular Pointed Pens - Assorted Sample Box | A box of Brandauer Circular Pointed Assorted Sample Box nibs. The box contains a dozen or so different Brandauer nibs in excellent unused condition. Box measures 50mm x 40mm x 15mm.
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A. Sommerville & Co. | A close to full box of French nibs by A. Sommerville of Birmingham for the French market. Excellent condition. Close to the original 144 nibs. It measures 65mm x 55 mm x 22mm.
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D. Leonardt & Co. - Hemispherical Pointed Pens | A close to full box of nibs by D. Leonardt of Birmingham, made for the French market. Excellent condition. Close to the original 144 nibs, plus advertising leaflet. Stamped “No. 505” on side of box. It measures 75mm x 50 mm x 25mm.
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Baignol & Farjon | A full, sealed box of French nibs by Baignol & Farjon. Excellent condition. 36 nibs. It measures 51mm x 35 mm x 17mm.
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C. Brandauer - Queen's Own Pen | An unopened, sealed, box of C. Brandauer & Co “Queen’s Own” nibs. One gross of original unused nibs are inside. Box measures 60mm x 43mm x 22mm.
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Nihonji Pen | A partial box pens presumably made for the Japanese market by a pen maker in Birmingham. Excellent condition. Approx. 2 dozen pen nibs in box. Box measures 80mm x 55 mm x 30mm. Writing on box - Nihonji Pen, Made in Birmingham, Aluminium Coated. The Japanese characters on the top and sides translate to “Japan Shaped Pen” and “Special Aluminium Plating” respectively. | Enter your text here |
Geo. W. Hughes - The Devil's Own Pen | An unopened, sealed, box containing 1 gross of Geo. W. Hughes “The Devil’s Own Pen” nibs. Box is quite large, measuring 105mm x 70mm x 20mm. Writing on the box - “The Devil’s Own Pen” Geo. W. Hughes Birmingham No. 384 D.O.F.
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Government of Canada - Ball Point | Box of nibs. Marked “Government of Canada”; made in England but maker is not shown. Originally contained 1/2 of one gross & most of the original unused nibs are inside. Box measures 70mm x 48mm x 20mm. Each nib is stamped Government of Canada Ball Point.
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Blanzy, Poure & Cie. - Arabic? | An open, but full, box of nibs made by Blanzy, Poure, & Cie. in Paris, France. Excellent condition. . Not sure what the language is - perhaps arabic? Was not able to obtain a translation. Box measures 66mm x 45 mm x 22mm.
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Hinks, Wells & Co. - Rob Roy Pen | A partial box of Rob Roy pen nibs made by Hinks, Wells & Co. in Birmingham. Excellent condition. Majority of original “One Gross” pen nibs still in box. Box measures 80mm x 55 mm x 30mm.
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Baignol & Farjon - Nostradamus | An unopened, sealed, box of Baignol & Farjon nibs. 100 unused nibs inside box. Box measures 54mm x 38mm x 19mm. Made in France.
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Blanzy, Conte, Gilbert - Sergent Major | An unopened, sealed, box of Blanzy-Conte-Gilbert “Sergent Major - Batailles De Fleurus” nibs. 100 unused nibs inside box. Box measures 65mm x 45mm x 16mm. Made in France.
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Blanzy, Conte, Gilbert - Sergent Major | An unopened, sealed, box of Blanzy-Conte-Gilbert “Sergent Major - Batailles De Fleurus” nibs. 100 unused nibs inside box. Box measures 65mm x 45mm x 16mm. Made in France. (This is a second box of these that I purchased as it was in better conditin than the first). | Enter your text here |
Blanzy, Poure & Cie. | An open, but full (or near ful), box of nibs made by Blanzy, Poure, & Cie. in Paris, France. Excellent condition. . Box measures 80mm x 54mm x 27mm. One Gross.
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John Mitchell | White metal tin box of John Mitchell of Birmingham nibs. The lid of the box states 'Pen Maker to the King' and it has the original John Mitchell bronze tone number 475 nibs inside. Box contains 12 nibs which is likely the original amount. Both the nibs and the box are in excellent condition and the box measures 47mm x 25mm x 10mm. Early 1900’s. | Enter your text here |
Perry & Co. | Box containing 19 of the original gross nibs, No. 603. "Perryan Art Series Crow Quill Pen for Mapping, Drawing, etc." Nibs are gilt.
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Perry & Co. | A full box of Perry & Co. “Baron Von Humboldt” nibs. Box of 100 original unused nibs are inside, along with an advertising leaflet. According to the box, this nib design was invented by J. Alexandre and approved by Baron Von Humboldt. Box measures 35mm x 45mm x 12mm. Advertising leaflet identifies Perry & Co. as the manufacturer. These likely date to the 1850’s as the Baron died in 1859 and the box image is of him as an older man. | Enter your text here |
Macniven & Cameron | An almost full box containing Macniven and Cameron “The Hindoo Pen” nibs, as well as the original advertising insert. Box, insert, and nibs are all in very good condition. Box measures 62mm x 50mm x 11mm.
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Mumm & Zaum | Box of Christian IX pen nibs. The box has a registered design lozenge on the side that dates the design to 1877. The box has 7 nibs inside and both the nibs and the box are in excellent condition. It measures 67mm x 45mm x 22mm. Christian IX was King of Denmark from 1863 to 1906. The inside of the lid has a trademark notice written in Danish.
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Francis Mordan | Extremely rare steel nib made by Francis Mordan. Mordan exclusively made gold nibs as late as 1867 based upon adverts that I have found so this must be dated somewhat later. Francis died in 1868 so it may be that the company began making them following his death. Appears to be unused. Has the distinctive F. Mordan “sword” cut into the nib. | Enter your text here |
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