Musings on Ink Pens

I was reading an autobiography about George Washington and how much of his time was spent holding pens writing letters, particularly in the war years.  In those days, using pens and writing skills were underscored as very desirable necessities of a good education.  But it is something that seems to be going by the wayside.

For sure my writing is nowhere near as beautiful as my grandmother's was.  She grew up without computers and they didn't even use typewriters much except in business.  She tells me that rarely in her youth would anyone have a typewriter at home.  So, they used pens, ink, and stationary to record their thoughts and communicate with friends across the miles.

There is not way that this is intended to be a rant dissing the amazing technology that we have to instantly communicate across the globe today.  I love it!  Clearly, right now I'm using a keyboard to write this post without pens.  It would just be wonderful if we didn't have to lose the whole pens and ink thing, you know.

Favorite Pens

As a celebratory gift I was given a beautiful set on Mont Blanc fountain pens.  They are sleek and black with the white cap and easy to hold and use.  However, I must admit that being unaccustomed to using these sort of pens, I find them messy and cumbersome.  Just when I get into the flow of things, I've got to reload the ink from an inkwell.  Then there's blotter paper that is a must with these kind of pens.  I learned the hard way, of course, as this is not something my generation was taught in school.  The hard way means my ink smeared all over the paper because I didn't allow it adequate time to dry.

Today, the pens I typically turn to are the roller ball style with ink that dries quickly.  I prefer these over the old style ballpoint for some reason although I'm not altogether sure why.

Collecting Pens

A friend of mine actually collects pens.  Their view is that pens, particularly fountain pens, are a work of art and status symbol.  This is likely a holdover thought from days gone by when only the wealthy elite could afford pens and were taught writing and reading, thus making the use of pens a necessary part of their everyday life.

There is no doubt that collecting and selling these beautiful pens has evolved into quite a business, for some very profitable.  I do think one of the great things about collecting pens is that they are something that you don't just have to put away in a display case, but you can actually make use of it should you desire.

Pen Spinning Stunts!!!!

For those who are collectors, the rise of the Internet has surely made it easier to locate and price these treasured pens.