RARE Antique HM Smith & Co 14K No. 5 Gold Dip Pen Nib

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RARE Antique HM Smith & Co Nib Fine Victorian 14K No. 5 Gold Dip Pen Nib - Circa 1880's A bit of history from "The Fountain Pen Network" website: Horace M. Smith had a pen shop on Nassau Street in Manhattan. He had been selling gold and steel dip pens along with mechanical pencils since the Civil war. In his 1880 Census records he put down that he was a pen manufacturer, however he had no known pen or pencil patents of his own...he originally made gold nibs himself, but later when fountain pens came out, he would license other makers designs and have them made with his name on them. In a few cases, he became an agent for a pen maker and sold those pens in his store.Such was the case with Wirt pens. In 1886 Smith was the New York Agent for the Paul Wirt Pen, which was based in Bloomsburg, PA.On November 29, 1886. Mark Twain entered Smith's shop and bought several Wirt pens from H M Smith. Twain was pleased with the service that Smith showed him and was totally delighted with the Wirt pen. Smith was probably connected with Fairchild, Bagley, Foley and the rest who evolved out of Levi Brown's first gold pen enterprise. The Smith gold dip pens are quite flexible and...an absolute dream to write with. Condition as shown in photo (mother of pearl MOP dip pen not included in this auction). We are listing fine antiques and collectible read more

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