Legacy GoPens Blog

Handwritten Post - Fountain Pen Rules

It sounds a bit crazy to have rules with fountain pens. They're not really rules. They're just things I like to remember, and things I suggest to people who ask me what they should do as they ventu...

10% Off Sale - Quarterly Vintage Pen Catalog #74

Catalog #74 Sale: We are pleased to announce a sale of 10% off of any item remaining in Catalog #74. There are about 60 items remaining – hopefully one will be just what you’re looking for.  Please...

On Point With GoPens #30

What's so great about those pigmented/carbon inks? Inks like Platinum Carbon Black and Sailor Kiwa Guro Pigmented Nano Black are nice inks because they are so dark and intense, especially fo...

Handwritten Post - The Random Scrawl of Ballpoints

I admit, I still like a lot of ballpoints, and I carry several with me most of the time. Dr. Roe is right though: the feeling of writing with a smooth, well-ground flexible gold nib is unreal. The ...

Extraordinary Pens - John Holland 52 Pull-Filler

This 1906 John Holland has an unusual filling mechanism. A model 52 "Pull-Filler" in gold-fill Repousse on BHR. Circles of high repousse roses on an etched "bark" background. Exquisitely beautiful!...

On Point With GoPens #29

Do water-resistant inks damage pens? It can happen. Iron-gall/permanent inks are acidic and can corrode the metal parts of your pen, especially if they are constantly exposed to the ink. Thi...

Handwritten Post - A Companion

I'm not sure if I just tell myself this because it's how I justify the amount of pens I have, but there is a lot of truth to this. Leave it to Andreas Ambrou to say something so spectacular about s...

Extraordinary Pens - A.A. Waterman Twist-Filler

We are often asked for an attractive pen with a flexible nib, not just a user-grade pen. This 1905 A.A. Waterman is a #3 Twist-fill Cone Cap in a Gold-filled Filigree overlay on black hard rubber. ...

On Point With GoPens #28

How do I know if an ink will fade? If an ink is not labelled as light-fast, fade-resistant, or iron-gall, it will likely fade over time - and faster when exposed to sunlight/light. If you ne...

Handwritten Post - The Write Angle

I enjoy using a variety of nibs, depending on the ink I feel like using, or on what I feel like writing. Round nibs tend to be smoother and easier to use, but a crisp italic can offer some spectacu...