I happen to travel to several pen shows each year, every one of them are wonderful and have a special ambiance, each as unique as the hosting city. Certainly the Washington, DC Supershow is different in that it is a major convergence of pen collectors from many parts of the world. The impressive sights and attractions in and around DC are a major attraction with many visitors arriving early and staying a few days after the show to relax and absorb Americana. Conveniently located on the East Coast it is hard to make an excuse to not travel from any part of the globe.

Visitors come from all over the world, I may forget a few, but I believe every continent was covered, except the Antarctic, unless you count the Penquin, Rick Propas.

I believe that Peter Ford and Guido Staltari again take the Long Distance prize travelling from Australia over 31 hours, now that is really some ambition to come to a pen show.

I arrived Thursday afternoon and found the early trading room already filled with about 30 tables and collectors in their traditional posture bending over table tops peering into pen cases.

I’d say that about half were shopping and waiting for more to come and the other half remembered to old advice, “the right time to buy a pen is when you see it.”

The show entrance

Since I have an exhibit table on Saturday and Sunday, I relish the time to visit other sellers and look for my own treasures. Just seeing the great variety or pens and talking to collectors from all over the world is a huge treat. Since it has been a few years since I have finally learned to control my voracious appetite to buy-buy-buy everything in sight that is either a stub, a demonstrator or an attractive mottle, ripple or wood grain hard rubber, the show has become a lot more friendly to my wallet. Furthermore, I greatly appreciate being able to learn from more knowledgeable collectors, trying to listen more than talking, which is very good advice for newbies and oldies alike.

Axel Heubener

Some of the early arrivals were Miroslav Tischler, our roving Pentrace pen show reporter from Zagreb, Croatia, Axel Heubener from Bremen, Germany, a very well know Montblanc collector, from Israel Zilibi and his friend Tsachi Mitsenmacher from the Israel Pen Club, and known as the ultimate Parker 75 collector. Tsachi presented me with a very nice gift book from the Israel Pen Club members. Eizo Fujii from Tokyo, Japan is always smiling and a wonderful experience to be in his company. Eizo tells me that lately there is a trend for Japanese pen customers to ask for broad nibs, stubs and italics. This is unusual since most Japanese like fine nibs, for the simple reason that Japanese letters have many strokes, a broad nib would simply be too bold to use. I asked why this trend, perhaps they now appreciate bolder nibs, the line variance of an italic or stub? Eizo simply tells me it is because of Western influence. Eizo very patiently explains and answers my questions about my new passion for Japanese pens and Japanese arts, and I greatly enjoy his company. I ask him what the Japanese pen collectors call Mr. Nagahara, if he has a nickname. Eizo tells me he has such a name, it is Kamisama. This simply means Pen God. This is because Mr. Nagahara has made a revolution in the pen business not only in Japan, but around the world with the success of his new designed Sailor nibs. Jim Marshall came from England bringing his vintage museum quality ephemera, Peter Ford, Guido from Australia with trays of Aurora pens, Regina Martini also from Germany came with a load of special Pelikans and Limited Editions. Steve and Maryann Zucker of Empire Pens and Penstop had some very unusual items displayed. Some Presidential and U.S. Senate jewelry, leather ring binders used by President Bush, and a very large beautifully embroidered Presidential Seal on a blue cloth that was actually used at his Inauguration.

Tsachi Mitsenmacher (L) and Zilibi Moshe from the Israel Pen Club

Richard Binder walks into the room and without hesitation finds a wall outlet and in 5 minutes he is at work having some serious fun, head down and that critical eye on the pointed end of pens. Many people break for dinner but shortly return as the trading room is open until midnight.

Friday a larger ballroom is opened for trading, with collectors having half tables. About 110 tables are open and the crowd starts to thicken. Now in some parts of the world 110 tables filled with pens is a major event, this is at least 5 to 10,000 pens so this is going to take some time to go from one end to the other, and we love every minute. Groups form when new cases are opened, everyone jostling at tables for best positions to quickly grab pens as they hit first light. Many collectors will bring a nice selection of modest priced pens, either new or vintage, which are sold immediately so the sellers have some play money for their purchases later on Saturday or Sunday. Some very rare vintage pens never hit the tables, they are brought and sold on a pre-arranged basis, sometimes never seen except for buyer and seller. Finally after a full day of pen shopping, gawking, looking, talking and maybe buying everyone gets ready for the big day tomorrow.

Classic Pens

Friday night the hotel lounge and bar is full of people having a great time going to or returning from dinners, the trading room was closed at 6pm so trading resumed on any other flat table surface in the hotel. Show promoter Bob Johnson, his sister Barbara and their crew were scurrying about to finalize last minute details while trying to keep everyone satisfied with their table positions and last minute requests. Amazingly, Bob looked very calm and together, as this is really a major project but his nephew and assistants were swift with every request. As I looked into the ballroom I saw the hotel had contracted to install professional theatre lights all around the room. Usually ballrooms are for weddings and parties, so very bright lighting is not critical. For buying or selling pens, it is a prime concern. There were still some dark spots, but overall, it was terrific on Sat and Sun.

Platinum

Saturday starts with dealer set up at 8:30 to 10, with many early buyers either helping set up or jumping right into the foray. At close to 10am I walked out to the lobby to measure the crowd. Delta, with the Indigenous Peoples Native American pens as the pen show theme pen, was busy handing out shopping bags and ink bottles, Pen World is also handing out bags with magazines, first time exhibitor Patrick Chu displaying his magnificent Chinese Jade Loiminchay pens, Chris Sullivan from Fahrney’s, Scott Woodside from Platinum, Chris Thompson’s Duofolds, Neumann’s pearl pens with his displays lined with miniature penguins, Bert Heiserman’s Pen Haven, and several others. Private Reserve Inks has an ink testing table in the lobby with 23 bottles, dip pens and test pads laid out neat and ready. This is the last time anyone would see a white table cloth under that ink. This ink display is well placed, and as a result Ink Palette and Pendemonium, ink suppliers of choice, had a great show. The new private reserve wall psters were a big hit also, often taken as fast as I put them up. This poster is designed also by Russ Stutler, but I’m sure it didn’t say “steal this poster”, actually I’m pleased people liked the design and they were taken as souveniers. Proceeding down the hall I could see a line of early visitors that stretched completely down the hallway into the lobby, circled and bent around all over the place, and at one time was actually out the front door. I said to myself…this is a good sign. Cloudy and no rain, this will make for a good pen show day. As a matter of fact over 1,000 visitors paid at the door this day, which so far as I know is a record attendance for any pen show on one day.

Testing Private Reserve Inks

G-d bless our Pentracer Will Thorpe. He knows a marketing opportunity as no one else. Will takes a handful of Pentrace ink blotters and slowly walks down the line of waiting visitors, handing out free ink blotters and asks if they know what Pentrace is all about. Will tells me that 6 out of 10 are not familiar with Pentrace. What a nice surprise, this tells me the huge potential for future Pentrace growth, and now at least a few more know and will enjoy Pentrace. The only thing missing was his lariat and Mandarin chaps, so a big thanks to Will for roping in more Pentracer audience.

Nakaya Tamenuri Display

I quickly set up my display and carefully laid out my Nakaya tamenuri pen and the clear prototype Lizard demonstrator. I had made notice that visitors can bring their own Nakaya pens for show and tell and they would receive a beautiful Nakaya poster signed by Mr. Nakata and his associates. Well, they came. Among all the fancy vintage and new pens I had on my table for sale, the Nakaya pen was chosen many times to pick up and test write. The comment made most of the time was the simple beauty of the clean and traditional design, the beauty of the glowing red urushi at the end of cap and barrel, and of course what a wonderful writing experience. I carefully watched like a mother hen to be sure it was handled carefully, only two people tried to post the cap, and I quickly explained this was not necessary. I carefully watched left handed writers and saw how they carefully pushed the nib across the paper. I had a great deal of pleasure to show this pen, and I am very happy to share this with so many people. Everyone also received a Nakaya ink blotter and some visitors received a nice large poster, designed by Russ Stutler. Soon I was honored to see Yoshi Nagahara and Sailor Vice President Michael Masuyama who also come to see this pen.

Chris Thompson

Soon Geoffrey Parker arrived and we had fun explaining the 1941 RAF Presentation Spitfire GEO S PARKER to visitors, and Geoffrey was very kind to autograph brochures and some of the wall posters as gifts. We took turns giving the other breaks so we could each run around the room to shop, and it was great fun seeing Geoffrey’s purchases.

David Isaacson was busy taking pictures of pens for a someday book, and loving every moment shooting some incredible examples of rare pens. Pen repairs on Saturday were performed by Richard Binder with his wife Barbara at his side, his table was never empty, and often people were patiently standing in line waiting to see him.

Roger Cromwell was also repairing pens on the opposite side of the room. Roger seems to have great luck. He showed me an estate sale he recently purchased, some incredibly beautiful Waterman 20s in black chased and wood grain, a Parker Giant and sterling over reds. Fountain Pen Hospital was represented by Ed Fingerman, Steve Wiedelight and Rick Marshall. With their huge display, FPH was a favorite stop being the first table in the door. .

Lominchay

Patrick Chu of Loiminchay features Chinese inspired pen designs with jade dragon clips, quite impressive, I especially like the brilliant vase shaped barrel Mandarin. On display is a magnificent carved inkwell base made from a rare under water stone found only in a certain area of China. The Jade inkwell is a magnificent companion, and the entire ink well must weight over 20 pounds as I could not even lift this from the table.

Cliff Harrington

Cliff Harrington has a terrific Wahl and Waterman collection on display, he even was selling a few. Cliff is very knowledgeable especially on unusual Wahl pens and we will be seeing more of his collection on Pentrace very soon.

Pen Haven

Bert Heiserman of Pen Haven and his associate Louis Wofsy were in matching fountain pen vests and were giving guests appraisals of pens they brought to the show. Bert will have a new open house at his newly expanded pen shop in early Sept, be sure to stop by for a visit with him and his guest of honor Geoffrey Parker.

The Moaks - Mabie in America

David Moak and his wife displayed his new Mabie in America CD book, and had a wide screen desk computer to display his material. Without question the best written material on Mabie Todd and early company history, this is a must have for any pen library. Alan Gross and his wife displayed their new enamel over sterling pens in the fashion of Faberge. In the last few years Alan had gone from selling other pen makers high quality Limited Edition pens to producing and selling his own also and they are quite stunning.

So, Saturday was pretty busy, and very crowded all day. I was also very happy to see many Pentracers. I met Skyp Williams, Jeff Bond, Saul and Joel Goldberg, Mark (Kram), David Kaplan, Maryal and her daughter, Jimmy Tom, Brad Horn, Ron Zorn, Ross McKinney, Adam Frank was able to get a break from work, John Odom, Carol S., of course Will Thorpe and if I forgot anyone I apologize.

Conklin pens were displayed by Rob Rosenberg, and a special Conklin pen presentation was made to long time collector Dick Johnson from Ohio for his many years of sharing his vast pen knowledge with collectors.

Sunday featured seminars by David Moak on Mabie in America, John Mottishaw on nib repairs, Susan Wirth on favorite nibs show and tell, pen digital photography by David isaacson, Frank Dubiel on pen repair, pen restorations by Bert Heiserman, and Barry Gabay was host to a discussion on Design a Pen. On Saturday Deb Kinney held a course on Fountain Pens : a Practical Elegance, which she also teaches at Duke University.

Sunday visitor traffic was a little lighter than Saturday but overall this was one of the best pen shows I ever attended. It was a beautiful blend of vintage and modern, friends from all over the U.S. and overseas so it was a truly an international gathering unlike any other pen show.

Suddenly it was time to pack and dash for my plane. I usually like to stay over Sunday night, as this is a rare opportunity to sit and chat after the show. The pens have been either sold or bought and now the stories that were untold begin to surface. As I leave I see the lounge is already filling with pen friends, the glasses are tinkling and most pen cases are already packed away. Now is the best of times for a casual night of stories and relaxing, no rush for the morning’s pen show, just a dash to the airport tomorrow and counting the days to the next big show of significance where we do this all over again. It will be at the New York Pen Show in Sept.

A big thank you to Bob Johnson, Barbara and their entire staff for a remarkable achievement in producing and maintaining their reputation as hosting the World’s Biggest Penshow.

Text and Photos © 2003 Len Provisor.