Holy Grail Found?

[AnasaziWrites]

I recently bought a jumbled lot of vintage nibs among which were some described as Spencerian #14 (with which I am not familiar, although I use Spencerian #1's a lot). They were, in fact, not Spencerians but rather No. 14  I.B.T and Co. Spencerian Artistic Pens.  I.B.T & Co., I believe, is an old New York company, as I also have a #4 of this company stamped New York. Joe Vitolo wrote an article entitled Dream Nibs some years ago wherein he mentioned the Gillott Principality was stamped and sold with other pen companies names, such as Zanerian Fine Writer (same nib, different name). Pictured below is a Gillott Principality on the left, and the IBT & Co #14 on the right. What do you think? Is it a Principality clone? It was in good company--some Gillott 170, 290, 303, 404, 604EF, 659 were in this lot and some other makers  I've heard of or some not. Anybody familiar with this maker? I've emailed Joe to see if he is familiar with this pen company.

[schin]

Hot DOG!!!
I asked Nicky D and he said these are super rare nibs... even he, the overlord of vintage nibs has only one from a spencerian salesman card. They are Principalities restamped by Perry to make the Spencerian 14s. What a find!

[AnasaziWrites]

Joe Vitolo got back to me and he concurs--an extremely rare restamped Principality, made by Gillott or by agreement Perry. Now, what to do with them. Of course, a neophyte like me shouldn't use them, nor are there enough to properly learn to use such nibs.

Wasn't there a thread last year concerning the proper disposal of vintage nibs? Schin, didn't you have a safe, underground site?

There were some other nibs unknown to me in this lot which I'll ask Nick, king of nibs, about. If anyone is interested, I'll post pictures of these and info about them as I receive it.

[SueL]

That's so cool Michael.

[AndyT]

I'm interested!

It's my hope that you'll try at least one of them.  They've been waiting a very long time to fulfill the final destiny of a steel pen, after all ... it would be a shame to consign the lot to the vault in Area 51.

[AnasaziWrites]

Okay, here are some of the other nibs in this lot with witch I am less familiar (or totally unfamiliar). If anyone knows these nibs, let me know. I'll post what I know from my queries. These are grayscale 1200 dpi flatbed scans, so the edges are fuzzy, but you can blow these scans up to see details. I may get the camera and light tent out to photograph them better when I get time.

The are, left to right,

No. 16 De Haan & Co. Double Spring

No. 5 De Hann's Aluminum

No. 18 Aaron's Chilled Platinum

No. 1 "One Dip" Pen Pat. Sep 20, 1904 Balto MD

No. 4 Spencerian Ladies Extra IBT & Co. New York

No. 5 Arlington Double Action Pen

No. 14 Spencerian Artistic Pen I.B.T & Co. (the Principality clone)

[schin]

I have some of those other nibs... all good stuff. That #14 is something else though. You should display them Mike, or keep em safe.. my uh, underground disposal unit wouldn't know what to do with it either. Though if possible I'd love to borrow one, I think it would be fun to make a blog post about the Principality and its clones.

[sybillevz]

What a find Michael, you're so lucky !!
I admire your wisdom, I couldn't have so much restraint and I'd jump on the opportunity to try these... regardless of the quality of my penmanship  . It's a good thing I might never ever find one !

[Faeleia]

Wahaha!! Congrats Michael!!! You should display it like a museum The lure of using a dream nib may be all fun and amazing until it's worn out, then you may be left bitter about the less amazing ones.. But that's just me..

[AnasaziWrites]

I have some of those other nibs... all good stuff. That #14 is something else though. You should display them Mike, or keep em safe.. my uh, underground disposal unit wouldn't know what to do with it either. Though if possible I'd love to borrow one, I think it would be fun to make a blog post about the Principality and its clones.

Might be interesting. I'd be surprised if there would be any perceptible difference in how they write if the blanks are the same.

[AnasaziWrites]

What a find Michael, you're so lucky !!
I admire your wisdom, I couldn't have so much restraint and I'd jump on the opportunity to try these... regardless of the quality of my penmanship  . It's a good thing I might never ever find one !

I've increased my luckiness by persistence in looking, but this find is, indeed, fortunate. I don't know about the wisdom part, but thanks.

[AnasaziWrites]

Wahaha!! Congrats Michael!!! You should display it like a museum The lure of using a dream nib may be all fun and amazing until it's worn out, then you may be left bitter about the less amazing ones.. But that's just me..

Thanks, Felicia. Oh, wouldn't want to spend my last years old and bitter. Old is okay, but never bitter.
Looking forward to your offhand flourish in the exchange--we'll be on the same list for sure, as I've signed up to be on the whole list.