Well it is over now and I miss it already. It was a great show, as always and a wonderful opportunity to see a huge number of smaller dealers that only attend this show. The Chicago show has a reputation for being dedicated to vintage pens, and that it is. There are so many vintage pens to look at, touch and feel. Many of the sellers and traders are long time hobbyists ready and willing to share information and just talk pens.

This show has a wonderful auction and again, this year it was a full auction with pens in all price ranges and conditions. Many Peter Pan pens surfaced and the selection and prices were excellent.

Many exciting things were happening throughout the weekend. Sailor Pens, the sponsor of the show and Conway Stewart had a wonderful exhibit of the premium pens for all to see. Although Mr. Nagahara could not attend, they set up a greeting form to send greetings to him in Japan and the list kept growing. I am sure he was pleased and honored to have received such a tribute from his U.S. friends.

Richard Binder was busy all weekend and I don’t think he picked his head up more than a couple of times so he could finish the pens he was asked to Binderize.

We introduced new line of pens at this show, Signum brand, an Italian company with high quality writing instruments in a wide range of prices, starting at $130 for a fountain pen and up to $3,200 for their limited edition which contains 1.02 kt. of full cut diamonds. A stunning, understated pen.

While the shows are exhausting, the best part is the socialization and in Chicago there is plenty of that. So many people to visit with, talk with and see, just at this show. We met Miroslav Tischler for the first time and he is a wonderful man, enjoyed his company and look forward to seeing him again. Len had a table set up and Geoffrey Parker was walking and talking to everyone and showing a 28 second clip of the first Parker airplane at Janesville, with George and Martha Parker. Many of the larger pen dealers set up, Total Office Products, The Great Parker, Bertram’s Inkwell, Fountain Pen Hospital and of course, Penstop. Susan Wirth, was set up and doing her thing the entire weekend. I didn’t pass her tables once without seeing a crowd gathered around it. The trading rooms are open and buzzing from Thursday at noon until closing on Sunday. You can always find someone sitting at their table even late into the evening and deals can be made almost anytime of the day or night.

The show hosts, Don Lavin, Dan Zazove and Michael Fultz put a lot of work and effort into making this show a success year after year and that is not an easy thing to do. I know from personal experience since Steve and I are the hosts of the New York City Pen Show in September. Our hats are off to them once again for doing a great job and satisfying so many different personalities.

We look forward to the next show and to next year’s Chicago Bash, bigger and better, if that is possible, than this year.

Photos from the Chicago Pen Show 2003