Writing Instruments
This category contains tools as varied as the ancient stylus and quill pen through to the fountain pen and typewriter. It can also include related paraphernalia such as inkwells and writing cases.
Ian Fleming’s specially created gold-plated Royal Quiet Delux typewriter which he used to write at least some of his legendary 007 books is a prime example from the top-end of this sector, selling for over £56,000 at a sale held by Christie’s London in 2007.

Desirable Doulton: inkwells and ashtray
28 August 2023The most eagerly contested lot in a recent sale at Potteries Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was a Doulton stoneware Isobath inkwell.

Dip into the Grand Tour with a sarcophagus inkstand
21 August 2023This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

Rare medieval seal matrix bought by the National Trust at auction returns to its original home after 500 years
01 August 2023A rare medieval seal matrix that was found by a metal detectorist in a field and offered at auction will now go on display at its original home.

Chinese jardinière selling for 194-times estimate features in our pick of five auction highlights
26 May 2023ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Chinese blue and white jardinière that sold for 194 times its top estimate.

Edison Electric Pen turned out to be good for tattooing, not so for copying
20 February 2023Thomas Edison’s electric pen might not have flourished as planned for the purpose of duplicating documents but if you have a tattoo you can be thankful.

Top stories this week – including news of an auction record for a Dunhill ‘aquarium’ lighter
08 January 2023The most popular stories on this website over the last week included news of a Dunhill ‘Aviary’ lighter sparking a bidding battle at Chiswick Auctions.

Dunhill ‘Aviary’ lighter sparks a bidding battle at Chiswick Auctions
02 January 2023An auction record was set for an Alfred Dunhill ‘aquarium’ lighter at Chiswick Auctions.

National Trust snaps up Castlereagh’s silver inkstand ahead of exhibition
11 August 2022The National Trust has acquired a silver inkstand used by Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822), the Anglo-Irish politician and statesman.

Qwerty spelt the end for the Niagara
11 April 2022The Blickensderfer Typewriter Co of Stanford, Connecticut, introduced the Niagara ‘index’ typewriter in 1902.

Rare silver inkstand makes its mark among latest London auctions
12 July 2021The overall performance of the latest London sales of Old Master pictures and ‘important’ works of art was fairly mixed but the auction houses did at least welcome the return of some big-ticket items.

Fountain pens: How the East and West signed up to a lucrative deal
08 February 2021The 1920s deal between Ryosuke Namiki and Alfred Dunhill to make luxury pens for the Western market created some of the most collectable fountain pens.

Qwerty minded: typewriters tempt bidders in German sale
27 April 2020Specialist auction house sells early versions hailing from the US

Jackson Type I typewriter, Waterloo officer’s pistols and Lord Mayor’s letter – five auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes
10 April 2020ATG’s selection of hammer highlights this week includes a rare early typewriter that sold above estimate in Germany.

Rare offering of fountain pens draws bidders in Cornwall
09 December 2019In a large collection of fountain pens offered at Cornish auction house Barbara Kirk (15% buyer’s premium) most well-known makers were represented, but among the rarer ones were no fewer than 19 by the Italian manufacturer Omas.

Hammer to go down on 40 years of collecting hole punches at Lichfield auction
19 August 2019Antique stationery fans have plenty of purchasing choices: from writing slopes and desks, to ink stands and stationery boxes. But for the true connoisseur have they thought of collecting hole punches?

Early typewriter pushes all the right buttons at German auction
27 May 2019An example of the first commercially produced typewriter – one of only five in private hands – has sold for €100,000 at auction in Germany.

Young visitor numbers on the rise at Bloomsbury pen fair
24 September 2018The annual London Writing Equipment Show at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury on Sunday October 7 will be a sell-out, says coorganiser Jeremy Collingridge.

William Morris’ pen and paint brush sell for £2200 at Dorset auction
23 July 2018A quill and paint brush belonging to William Morris drew significant interest at Duke’s latest Art and Design sale in Dorchester.

Vintage pens from Switzerland to Japan are scripted for San Francisco auction
14 July 2018US West Coast auction firm PBA Galleries is holding its first sale dedicated to writing instruments in its San Francisco rooms on July 19.

Archibald Knox silver inkwell among early sales at BADA fair
19 March 2018Among the first sales of BADA 2018 was this modernist Archibald Knox silver and pink enamel inkwell sold from the stand of The Peartree Collection for more than £10,000.

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