Good deal on Cross Pens???

I'm new to even thinking about buying a "good" writing pen. But, I came
across a sale at a local shop on Signature Series Cross Pens. 1/2 price.
The pens look very nice. Some lapis, other things like mother of pearl.
Are these pens nice from a colletor's perspective?

Thanks in advance,

David

Hi David,

Cross makes nice pens, great quality and dependability. They are not exactly
"cute" but they are top quality.

That said, buy what YOU like.

satrap
finally!! The Waterman Sterling LeMan 100!

David, welcome to the wwwopc wide wonderful world of pen collecting, purchasing trading coveting. It's infectious.

Cross are good pens, not the best but well made and solid. In the 70's they were what the snooty Mont Blanc label is today. You asked what is collectable. All, in the eye and pocket of the beholder. One man's meat is another 's poison to coin a phrase. Some even like Bic ink stics !! You have Parker Sheaffer, Pelikan, Pilot/Namiki, Platinum, Sailor, Filcao Delta Montegrapa, Visconti Krone, Bexley (only American these days) Yafa/Monteverde, Conway Stewart etc etc etc old and new just waiting for you.

Check out the sites particularly www.pentrace.com , www.penlovers.com home of the excellent Stylophiles online mag soon to be in print and on the newsstands. Stylus too is a new kid on the block in competition to the veteran PWI pen world international. Good read. If you really find yourself getting hooked a great $30 value for your hard earned mammon is a membership to the venerable PCA pen collectors of america which includes their periodical Pennant and ref CD. See 'em at www.pencollectors.com

Lot of good must have pen books out there. One of my personal favourites for the newbie and experienced alike is Collecting Fountain Pens, A primer for Newer Collectors, by that charming bro and sis team Joel Hamilton and Sherrell Tyree. Available from them for only $15 http://www.ink-pen.com/ The well known and sometimes irascible author of Da Book The Complete guide to Repair and Restoration of Fountain pens is another self production by frank Dubiel who posts here. 20 bucks well spent. Jonathan Steinberg's latest Fountain Pens, their Art and History is one of the best around. Very readable. You have Erano, the Fischer and Stewart Blue Book, Lambrou's tomes and many others. All listed below by Jim.

Jim Mamoulides has amassed a literal bible for pen collectors at his www.penhero.com bookmarks which updates periodically. Armed with these you should be busy for a long time. The newsgroups and pen lists like acp-p and zoss are good places to discuss and learn about all things pen related. Occasional inevitable flame war and OT threads, but all in all a great community

Visit the shows as well as the net. Here you find the faces behind the nics, see and feel the new and old and come away poorer in pocket but pen enriches. Both PT and PL have section listing all the pen shows.

Enjoy the hobby !

In the
"Prometheus7" wrote in message ...
I'm new to even thinking about buying a "good" writing pen. But, I came
across a sale at a local shop on Signature Series Cross Pens. 1/2 price.
The pens look very nice. Some lapis, other things like mother of pearl.
Are these pens nice from a colletor's perspective?

Thanks in advance,

David