The third annual New York City Pen Show took place at the Helmsley Hotel on the third weekend of September 2003. The organization of the show was again in the very capable hands of Maryann and Steve Zucker and, as usual, it was very generously sponsored by Krone. Participants to deal and trade came from coast to coast, also from Europe and South America, and even as far away as Australia. Local New Yorkers came in to browse and buy at noon on Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Maryann and Steve or their assistants greeted everyone at the registration booth, and everyone received a keepsake “NYC Pen Show” baseball cap courtesy of Krone and a bottle of ink courtesy of Marlen Pens.

There were numerous other freebees to be had here and there, most notably samples of two new magazine publications. One was the printed version of the old on-line “Stylophiles” which was distributed as a sample issue by Dean Tweeddale. The other publication was the premier issue of the new “Stylus”, a sister magazine to the prestigious “International Watch” magazine, offered at the show by publisher Gary George and editor, Jon Messer. My wife, not a pen fan, was delighted with the style of “Stylus” which she found quite informative and to the point, so much so that she proceeded immediately to purchase several items featured in the magazine. My wife’s patient dealers were the guys from Fountain Pen Hospital.

It was such a reassuring pleasure to see and interchange with old friends that we know would always be there to make the show a public success and to give each other the warm feeling of being an intimate family member. Bert Heiserman of Pen Haven and his lovely new bride Alice come to mind. Also Susan Wirth with her marvelous display of inks and pens and her advise on how to write well. The welcomed sight of Richard Binder and his wife Barbara repairing old pens and grinding nibs right there live at the show. One must mention Gary Lehrer with his exquisite vintage pens. The Lou and Howard Kaplan of Florida, father and son, an institution in themselves, comprehensive in scope and knowledge courteously answering questions, any questions. The boys next door from Berliner Pen bringing their good neighbor cheer. The Beltway insiders from Bertram’s Inkwell. The refreshing energy of youth displayed by David Isaacson talking faster than anyone but never uttering a word without applicable use, a true teacher while lecturing. And the Columbus Pen Club folks inviting us to their show come November 7 & 8.

Guido Staltari, Flowing Colors and Bill and Barbara Newman of Pastime Antiques were our dealer friends from Australia. Other international friends were Mauricio Fauvich from Argentina and Carlos Almeida from Brazil who also came to deal and trade, and Andre Mora and Eric LeCour of France. Among international collectors we saw Alfonso Mur of Spain and Roberto Cafaro of Brazil and Luiz Leite of Portugal.

Unfortunately, some old friends from home and abroad could not make it for the show this year and we missed them.

Finally a word about the hotel location for the show: 42nd Street in the middle of Manhattan. What a better excuse to come to the Big Apple and have all that the old lady has to offer day and night? Can’t wait to do it all again next year for the 2004 NYC Pen Show.