Customer Reviews:
Great resource.......2007-05-07
Of the 15 or so art instruction books I've bought over the last few months, this is one of my favorites. This is ironic, since I originally was turned off somewhat by the subject matter and/or style of many of the works inside (nothing wrong with it, just not my particular cup-o-tea).
However, on deeper consideration I realized that Simmons offers really great instruction on the use of technical pen, so who cares whether one likes the artwork itself. Take for example the "monk" drawing that is depicted on the cover. I don't care for the drawing at all, no matter how it's rendered. However, this drawing is used to demonstrate a couple dozen rendering options, and these renderings are a great teaching tool.
Simmons spends plenty of time on the technical details of using a technical pen for both tight and loose rendering, and that's what makes this book great.
Excellent book.......2006-11-12
Excellent to see a good variety of different techniques. Great step-by-step tutorial. I found new ways to render lots of different textures. A must-have!
Awesome!.......2005-06-24
The book is just plain awesome. Besides taking the time to explain how to care for the technical pen, how to do the different strokes, and what type of beginner mistakes to be aware of, the artwork is the best pen work I've ever seen. If you work with pen and ink, or even if you don't, you will love this book!
highly recommend.......2004-02-11
Very helpful. When I bought this book I hadn't used a technical pen in over 12 years (since high school art class). So, I needed some thorough instruction on techniques and materials. I am glad that this is the book that I got. It covers a wide variety of different strokes and includes many examples of how they can be used. The color stuff is pretty cool too.
I looked at many other books on the technical pen. This is the best one that I found which is devoted to tech pen work. (Other books had chapters devoted to using ink with brushes and metal nibs - which is also cool if your interested). If you are looking for a book full of info on just the tech pen though, then I would highly recommend this one.
It was written in the early 90's, so the one thing I found is that there are some inks available at my local art store that probably didn't exist back in 1990. Therefore, the book doesn't have any information on them.
The author seems to have a preference for the Kohinoor Rapidograph brand pens, which are still widely available today and work great. The early portion of the book has very detailed information on filling, cleaning , and maintaining the pens. It is very helpful and much more detailed then the instructions that the Kohinoor pens come with.
Great choice!
A Must Have!.......2003-05-12
If you love the subject of pen & ink, you'll no doubt love this book. It contains one of the most thorough collection of basic pen strokes, and an impressive variety of styles: from simple portraits to highly elaborate fantasy art. One of my favorite parts is showing how a drawing shall look incorporating a variety of different pen strokes with each of 24 renderings. This chapter concludes with a reproducable sketch that can be used by the student to explore the exercises. A book replete with examples and exercises. Highly recommended!
Book Description
The authoritative and comprehensive text features countries not previously covered in other books, a new chapter on limited editions, and a chapter on materials from 1833 to the present day which defines processes such as lacquering, guilloche engraving and plastic identification. The development of design and logos is illustrated by specially produced line drawings. The text is complimented by many period advertisements.
Fountain Pens of the World provides more information on pens and illustrates more pens than any other book on the subject.
Customer Reviews:
Andy establishes his position as the preeminent authority.......2007-09-03
Andy establishes his position as the preeminent authority of an endangered writing instrument. The chronological and authoritative description of every major manufacturer is interlaced with some of the most beautiful and actual size photography of pens you'll ever see.
This volume is a work of art and effort of a true aficionado, the most comprehensive history of pens you'll ever see is inside this book, the book will become just as coveted as your most treasured pen.
Beautiful heavy stock paper ensures this volume will endure in your collection for decades.
Andy Lambrou's reputation is well deserved, and this is the work of art from the master.
The fountain pen bible.......2004-06-20
This is it. If you buy only one book on fountain pens, or if you are serious about fountain pen collecting, this is THE book to get. Unfortunately, it is Really expensive. Look around for a used copy using the usual suspects on the Web. The photos are great and the captions clearly identify each pen shown. Numerous non-US pen companies are written about and many pens are pictured here and nowhere else (in other standard pen ID books). Highly recommended.
Buying this book enhanced the joy of pen collecting!.......2003-07-08
I have always admired Lambrou's book, 'Fountain Pens of the World', but could not justify the price -- after all the cost of this book could go towards another fountain pen -- I WAS WRONG!!
I wished I bought my copy years ago, it would have saved me so much money in buying pens that were not exactly the model that the seller described (going to a few markets/pen shows and especially on-line auctions).
The history of pens from around the world is well documented. The pen manufacturers are grouped in chapters by country.
Every pen is life size. More than 2,300 pens are shown and the color representation is great. Even a Parker Snake, Aztec, Swastika, Forget-me-not and many, many more I just dream about! Only gripe -- no price list, but Lambrou states that people can abuse the information as the price list is only valid at the time of print.
To date, I 've yet to see any other book as well put together's as this one.
Don't use false economy like I did. Buy this book as soon as you can -- it gives many, many happy hours of pen collecting and reading!
Buying this book saved me making mistakes in collecting!.......2003-07-08
I have always admired Lambrou's book, 'Fountain Pens of the World', but could not justify the price -- after all the cost of this book could go towards another fountain pen -- I WAS WRONG!!
I wished I bought my copy years ago, it would have saved me so much money in buying pens that were not exactly the model that the seller described (going to a few markets/pen shows and especially on-line auctions).
The history of pens from around the world is well documented. The pen manufacturers are grouped in chapters by country.
Every pen is life size. More than 2,300 pens are shown and the color representation is great. Even a Parker Snake, Aztec, Swastika, Forget-me-not and many, many more I just dream about! Only gripe -- no price list, but Lambrou states that people can abuse the information and the price list is only valid at the time of print.
To date, I 've yet to see any other book as well put together's as this one.
Don't use false economy like I did. Buy this book as soon as you can -- it gives many, many happy hours of pen collecting and reading!
The ultimate book on fountain pens.......2000-10-12
My love affair with fountain pens - particularly vintage fountain pens - entered a new stage the day that my copy of Lambrou's Fountain Pens of the World arrived. Covered with a gorgeous dust jacket, weighing in at several pounds and measuring 9" by 12.5", the book made an impression before the first page had even been turned.
This first impression, positive as it was, in no way prepared me for what I was to find inside: over four hundred pages with glorious color plates. Literally thousands of pens - mostly vintage - spectacularly photographed, and presented exactly life size. (Ever wonder whether your newly purchased vacumatic is a sub-deb, debutante, junior, slender, standard, major, oversized, or Maxima? Just lay it over the photographs in Lambrou's book!) Fascinating reproductions of vintage advertisements. Detailed histories - model by model - of all major manufacturers and many lesser-known ones, including Edward Todd, Triad, Diamond Point, Chilton, Stephens, Mentmore, Summit, Wyvern, Burnham, Soennecken, Osmia, Tropen, and so on and so forth, covering the U.S., the U.K., Germany France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Japan. The book is, plain and simple, a work of art and of incredible beauty. I could spend weeks just browsing its pages.
In retrospect, my biggest mistake in fountain pen collecting was to wait for several years before purchasing a copy of Lambrou's Fountain Pens of the World...
Book Description
This informative book is full of wonderful international fountain pens and pencils, showing a great variation in more than 1,300 illustrations. The limited and standard production pens of the famous makers Montblanc, Parker, Pelikan, Sheaffer, and Waterman are presented along with their particular numbering systems. Many smaller companies' pens are also included. Clear drawings and patent applications from 1884-1994 show what is inside the pens and how they work. Many period advertisements for pens put them in their social settings. Current market values are included. This book will be cherished by all pen collectors and enthusiasts.
Customer Reviews:
A good pictorial for the collector.......1998-04-13
Ms Martini, an avid and well known collector has tried to give us a book which is usable and friendly in the amount of color photos - however, there is a paucity of written information and this puts the reader at a loss for learning, further education and good comparisons of writing instruments. This is not a true learning tool but a good shopping guide. The publisher has turned out better books in varied areas so should try to provide a more thorough text in the future - Ms Martini has the skills, knowledge and collection she needs assistance in translation and more word space.
Book Description
A survey of fountain pens in the context of the history of writing and writing instruments if followed by a gallery of 100 pens dating from 1890 to 1997 with full technical information.
Customer Reviews:
A very entertaining book with excellent pictures.......2001-06-19
This book consists of two parts. The first part gives general information about the history and development of the fountain part, plus its side-effects (FP advertising, FP's in arts, influence of FP's on regular life). The second part gives information on 100 pens from the last 100 years. Apart from the excellent photographs, it is very interesting that a lot of Italian/European pens are covered. There are a few inconsistencies in the text, but overall a lot of useful info is given about the covered pens.
It is not a reference book, because of the choices and number of pens covered. However, it is a very beautiful and entertaining book that is very well worth reading. You could even spend an evening just dreaming away with the pictures ...
Broad in scope with great depth and excellent photography........1999-11-07
This book comes has two distinct sections . The first deals with the pen , its history and design(Natch!). It starts with a history of pen technologies used down the ages and takes a look at the pen's role in art and design, and also at the inventors along the way who have brought us the modern fountain pen.
The second part is a selection of pens produced over the last one hundred years and all the major manufacturers as well as some of the long forgotten ones; Nettuno, Ercolessi and Pygmalion to name a few. The interesting thing here is that the pens mentioned are ones off the beaten track and the same old list of names is not replicated here, making this book quite unique. The selection is in chronological order and even a quick read gives a moving picture of pen design over the last century.
The images used in the book are first rate and are interspersed amongst the text , avoiding the boring visuals normally associated with such books.The graphics are also excellent and add to the quality of the book.
Quality is a by-word here , not only are the design and technological aspects of the pen discussed , there is also a wealth of information on pen production dates , company information and marketing and advertising by the different companies.
A technique used in the book to interrupt the narrative , mid-stream by using a different page design to focus on a particular topic discussed in the main narrative can become quite irritating and the book would have been better served by putting these pages at the end of each chapter.
This is a small gripe with what is essentially an excellent book. Eminently enjoyable , unique and with coffee-table quality , this is a must have for any pen collector.
Book Description
Transform your view of the handwritten word with this beautiful illustrated guide to the art of the fountain pen. In an intimate trim size perfect for giftgiving, Fountain Pens traces the history of the development of the pen from early reservoir systems to self-filling pens to modern reproductions. Lavishly illustrated, the book features more than one hundred four-color images, from lush photographic portraits of individual pens to rare vintage advertisements and original patent illustrations.
A celebration of the pen from quill to nib, Fountain Pens will be a valued addition to the libraries of collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Customer Reviews:
Among the Best........2007-01-11
If you own three books on pens, this should be one of them.
Great gift for a pen lover!.......2006-07-14
I purchased this as a Father's Day gift for my dad, who is a fountain pen addict. He loved the book and the history, but especially the pictures of the old ads for some of the classic fountain pens. He continues to talk about the book and for about $20 I found a gift that has become one of his favorites.
Beautiful volume .......2006-03-11
This is a beautiful book. The covers and pages are of high quality papers. Steinberg has written a truly excellent book on history of the fountain pens. Though by no means it is comprehensive and detail but definitely more than adequate for any serious collectors as part of the essential knowledge on fountain pens. The illustrations are well laid out accompanying the story and they are simply superb. A very elegant book and suitable for both beginners and serious collectors. Even good as a gift to introduce someone to pen collecting. I simply love the book and a pleasure to read it.
The best one!.......2002-12-19
I've received the book yesterday. It is not the first related to Fountain Pens that I see, but this one is really nice. It is not written as the others but as a review of the history and the kind of pens. I've read almost a half of it last night!
Book Description
From the flint tool to the stylus, from the quill pen to the fountain pen and felt-tip marker, this book invites one to develop anew or deepen one's love for beautiful old writing instruments. Hundreds of contemporary engravings, illustrations, advertisements, photos, and catalog and brochure excerpts accompany the reader through the written history of the quill pen, pencil fountain pen and paper and their use. Here editors and journalists, salespeople, architects, students, and above all, collectors of historic writing instruments, will find facts about the origin, variations, and further development of one of the most important and personal of our useful tools-the writing instrument. Beginning with the origins of writing, Geyer covers the early writing instruments, steel pens, pencil, fountain pens, ball-point pens, and even the felt-tip marker. The greatest emphasis is on beautiful historical fountain pens. The major brands studied include Conway-Stewart, Cross, Edding, Faber-Castell, Geha, Kaeco, Lamy, Montblanc, Onoto, Parker, Pelikan, Senator, Schwan-Stabilo, Sheaffer, Soennecken, Staedtler,Swan Wahl-Eversharp, Waterman.
Book Description
This wonderful book has become the standard pocket guide in the field. It is just what collectors need for quick and easy reference...and its newly updated prices make it invaluable. Both handy and beautiful, it shows over 500 pens and pencils in nearly full-size color photos and provides short histories of nineteen main manufacturing companies. Concise, helpful information with each photo includes a guide to the price of each pen and pencil.
Customer Reviews:
The best fountain pen book for the size.......2006-12-20
This is by far the best book on the subject for the size. It has great pictures (all colored), concise information, and very informative price guides. It covers lots of different pens from major companies, such as Parker, Sheaffer, Waterman, Wahl-Eversharp, Conklin. It also has some useful information on some obscured old US pen companies (all gone now). I don't understand why people are so excited about the big book "Fountain Pens of the World" by Lambrou. It does have more company information and time-line of products and covers more international companies, but that big book has no price guide at all, and is about 8 times more expensive than this little book. In terms of the coverage of the types of pens in major US companies, the big Lambrou book is quite much inferior to this little book. I just love this little one. But admittedly, you need to have more than one books to do some cross-reference.
Beginner's Guide.......2006-03-11
A small and handy book. There are brief history of the pen companies and short description on pen collecting. The illustrations are nicely done, though the descriptions accompanying them sometimes too short. Good book for beginners. But for serious collcetors, better off with the big version by the same authors.
A valuable guide to carry with you........2002-04-18
This is a valuable and handy pocket (briefcase, etc.) guide to take on a pen expedition. It's a bit big for anything but a large overcoat pocket but is handy when carried in a case. It is mostly a guide to the identification of some of the pens to be found at pen shows and elsewhere. There are brief histories of 18 fountain pen manufacturers but they are short to rudimentary. There is a short but to the point and valuable guide to how to grade a pen.
The rest of the book is devoted to colored photos of various fountain pens. The pictures are very good and the selection of pens shown is very good. The values shown are, like all prices shown in such books, progressively out of date. They are good though to give a relative value for pens.
This is an excellent book for its purpose - to help identify, grade and price used fountain pens. It does its specified purpose well. It's not meant to be an encyclopedia. Such a book would have to be a many volumn set.
Deeply recommended!.......2001-06-18
An outstanding effort. The photographs are superb. Written in an easy language, makes it enjoyable to read to both novice and connoisseur collectors. However, the authors didn't mention some important pens (eg: Parker #14, Parker Duofold mandarin yellow, Parker Duofold Lapis Lazuli). ( My book is the Revised & Expanded 3rd edition, 2000).
The single finest reference on the subject available today........2000-06-06
Now in a completely revised, updated and expanded third edition, Stuart Schneider and George Fischler's The Illustrated Guide To Antique Writing Instruments continues to be the finest single volume identification and reference guide to pens and other writing instruments for collectors and dealers. Beautifully illustrated on every page with full color photographs of antique pens of all makes and categories, this uniquely beautiful and informative price guide is an indispensable reference that is an essential and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, professional, or community library antiques/collectibles reference book collection.
Customer Reviews:
Fountain pens from 1870s through 1950s.......2001-12-04
A beautifully produced small book with more than 100 color photos of fountain pens from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy. Included are pens designed by Waterman, Parker, Montblanc, Shaeffer, Omas, Ancora, and Pelikan.
While the short history of fountain pens and pen manufacturer histories are in English, the photo captions are in both English and Italian. The history of fountain pens and the artisans who developed them is drawn with a broad stroke from Egyptian history to the 1950s, including the 1884 patent by Waterman for the first truly workable ink feed fountain pen, the fountain pen's heyday in the 1920s, and its resurgence over the past few years.
A brief history of several pen manufacturers concludes the book, and includes a look at United States makers Waterman, Parker, Shaeffer, Wahl-Eversharp, and Conklin; German manufacturers Montblanc and Pelikan; English-United States maker Mabie Todd; English designer Conway Stewart; and the Italian firms of Aurora, Omas, Ancora, and Columbus.
A nice reference book and eye candy for the collector and an inexpensive introductory text for those looking at beginning collecting. Nothing in the book talks about how to collect and the like. This is just a pretty book with photos of some exquisitely made fountain pens.
Customer Reviews:
Escellent reference source.......2001-07-14
Excellent reference source for the beginning/intermediate collector. Good value.
Good for 1988 Prices Only!.......2001-02-13
Unlike most books on this subect, this edition has very few color photos and print quality is that of a copy machine. Its only redeming quality is its price listings that are already three years old.
GREAT HISTORY OF PEN COMPANIES ,BUT WEAK IN ORGANIZATION........1999-04-25
GREAT HISTORY OF FOUR PEN COMPANIES AND THEIR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTS. I FIND THE BOOK TO BE DIFFICULT IN TRYING TO FIND THE PRICE . PRICES ARE LISTED IN ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT PLACES THROUGH OUT THE BOOK, SOME LISTED AFTER THE COMPANY SECTION. SOME BY PAGE, NOT NAME. THE COLOR SECTION IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT TRY TO FIND THE MANUFACTURE AND THE PRICE GUIDE--- IT TAKES ALOT OF FLIP-FLOPPIN' BACK AND FORWARD TO FIND ALL THE INFORMATION I NEED. ALOT OF OVER KILL ON ALL THOSE "OLD" ADDS. FROM A CONKLIN TO A EPENCO I RATE THIS A 66.
Useful as a guide as to what is collectable and what is not........1999-01-27
I find this book to be very helpful as one of serveral reference books for buying and selling pens. As with everything, you must learn to use information to your benefit. More color pictures would be nice.
Large in size -- much of it fluff........1998-08-25
Considering the size of this volume, it is amazingly devoid of substance or content. Althought the author has done a creditable job of collecting photos (mostly B&W), and reprinting vintage advertisements, no additional information, which might have added perspective or insight, is provided. How can you date a Parker Vacumatic? What years are indicated by three bands versus one? Which colors or model variations are most common or rarest? These are the types of information that would have made this book useful to both beginning and experienced collectors. Unfortunately, the author provides none of this, and what results is a virtually useless hodgepodge of recycled advertisements.
Book Description
This book takes a detailed look at remarkable writing tools. It outlines seven major manufacturers and their classic model pens in its first section, colourfully illustrated with photos and advertisements. The second part of the book is divided into four sections, each representing a certain period of manufacture. Discussions are included on building your own collection, storage and display, refurbishing and repair, paper and inks, and valuing your pens.
Customer Reviews:
interesting & of moderate quality.......2007-08-20
This book does help identify pens to some extent. It often takes extensive looking to find information the reader doesn't already know.
good for beginners.......2007-01-28
As a beginner collector I found the book very usefull. It helps you organize and plan your collection. But also don't miss Fountain pens of the World by Andreas Lambrou. It's is expensive but it's a "must have".
Make this your First Pen Book........2007-01-11
This is a very informative book and a must have for collectors. It provides a sound foundation on a wide variety of fountain pens, their value and is an invaluable general reference for any collector. I find myself opening it at lease weekly.
I am glad this book exists!.......2005-10-18
This is the book for you, if you are fascinated by fountain pens and all their beauty, and would like to know them better, but did not know where to start. It is very clearly written, thoroughly documented and well-organized, and profusely illustrated. The photographs are excellent and there is a lot of practical information for would-be collectors.
Great Reference and Table book combined........2005-09-07
The history, photos, illustrations, and other content were great - the only deficiency was the lack of estimated prices for the pens.
Books:
- The Ultimate Airbrush Handbook (Crafts Highlights)
- The Wayward Muse
- Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students (Design Briefs)
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Trouble in Paradise (Jesse Stone)
- Typography 27 (Typography)
- Verdura: The Life and Work of a Master Jeweler
- What You Wear Can Change Your Life
- Wide Open: Inspiration & Techniques for Art Journaling on the Edge (Book & Card Kit)
- Wintersmith
Books Index
Books Home
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General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Rendering in Pen and Ink: The Classic Book on Pen and Ink Techniques for Artists, Illustrators, Architects, and Designers (Practical Art Books)
Drawing in Pen & Ink (First Step Series)
Sketching Your Favorite Subjects in Pen & Ink
Painting Weathered Buildings in Pen Ink & Watercolor (Artist's Photo Reference)
Painting With Watercolor, Pen & Ink
