Are vintage nib prices going a little crazy these days, or is it me?

[AAAndrew]

I've only been buying vintage nibs for a matter of months, but in that very short time it seems like there's a bit of a surge going on. The latest was a box of 104 Spencerian 1's that went for $531.99.  It's not all nibs, just the big name ones. Anything with Gillott or Blanzy Poure seem to get a premium regardless of the nature of the nib.

There are still good values out there if you look. For example I just picked up a lot of 78 Eagle E840 "Modern Writing" nibs, mild flex and very smooth on lots of different papers, for $15. A good deal! (It didn't hurt that there were four Spencerian No1's lurking in the pile either)

So, am I just getting pickier and so finding the prices high, or is there really something going on? Just curious to see if it's just me.

[AndyT]

It's been going that way for a while, if you ask me.  Finite supply, sharp increase in demand and so forth.  My rule of thumb is still that I won't pay more than £10 for a gross, unless it's something I know to be outstanding.

[AnasaziWrites]

It's not just you. I, also, am finding the well known good nibs are being aggressively bought, driving up prices. The winner of the Spencerian #1's you mention stacked up a couple of bids higher than $531, which indicates he would have paid a higher price if needed to win. Part of it is individuals buying big lots of these nibs and then reselling them one or a few at a time at higher prices, sometimes much higher prices.
I'm all for capitalism, and for people making a business out of nib sales, but it does make it more expensive for those of us actually using the nibs. It certainly has priced me out of Gillott 604ef's at $25-30 per nib. Millions of these were made, and even a hundred years later, there are a bunch of them out there. I'll continue the search, but eBay is not the place to find them at a reasonable price anymore.

[Jamie]

As an alternative online source, you may want to check etsy. There are a few vintage nib sellers on there. I haven't checked their prices as a group in a while so I don't know if they've increased alongside eBay.

[schin]

I think a lot of it is word of mouth and curiosity too. As we know there has been something like a renaissance for pointed pen lately. A student usually starts out with cheaper materials and modern nibs like Nikko G, but once they really get into it, they are more willing to spend money to experiment. Then they begin hearing about vintage nibs and how much better they are (which to an extent is true) and get curious about these rarities. So they see a popular calligrapher's work and see that s/he is using a special vintage nib and of course they want to try it too. It is very hard to resist the lure, and when they see one of those popular nibs for sale on ebay, why not.. they try it.. and get hooked! And it's downhill from there! At least that's what happened to me!

[AnasaziWrites]

As an alternative online source, you may want to check etsy. There are a few vintage nib sellers on there. I haven't checked their prices as a group in a while so I don't know if they've increased alongside eBay.

I've followed etsy for a while, and some people there are also trying to advance prices. Unlike eBay, I don't know if they are succeeding in selling at these levels.
A Spencerian #1 for $22.50 (includes shipping)?
Three Perry 104's for $48 (including shipping)?
a Leonardt Principal for $9.80 (including shipping)?

And another thing to watch for--condition. Some of the sellers don't seem to realize that condition matters. Rusty nibs, sprung tines, etc. Yikes.

[Heebs]

Shopping smart is the key, there's no doubt this trend will continue and although most people will likely never get to try a Spencerian 1 or Gillott 604ef there are always those willing to pay top dollar.

I've got about a gross of Spencerian 1's left and never paid more than what a modern Principal goes for. I've even picked up 20 of them on etsy for about $10, just have to keep an eye out and have patience. And really there are so many alternatives out there but as Schin mentioned, people will get caught up in the big names that get thrown around. I bought a gross of some unknown nib on ebay (I can't even remember the name) for $12 that performs nearly as well as the Spencerian 1 (slightly scratchy but no where near as much as a modern Principal or 303).

[AAAndrew]

There are a lot of really nice nibs out there, but the big name nibs have been described so that their characteristics are fairly well known. (Your mileage may vary as it also depends on your personal experience, hand, pressure, style, etc...)  The real discovery is when you find one that works quite well for you and yet isn't really well known.

I wonder if the spike in popularity of "modern calligraphy" is driving up the prices? Did I read somewhere recently that IAMPETH membership has grown rapidly in recent years, mainly, they think, because of the popularity of this style of flourished writing on social media sites? More calligraphers means more demand, which means higher prices. How long it may last, is the real question.

[AmyNeub]

I need to get organized and go to estate sales. There has to be boxes of nibs out there still...