I like to read. I suspect that you probably do, too. Here you will find some of my recommendations. Also, at the end of each Extra Fine Points article, Don Fluckinger offers a suggestion for further reading. Click on a link to buy a book directly from Amazon.com. When you buy a book in this way, we receive a small percentage of the sale price. By partnering with Amazon.com, we can offer most of these books at prices lower than we would otherwise have to charge. (There are a few books listed here that Amazon doesn’t have; for those, the links will take you to appropriate dealers.)

Here’s what’s here:

• My Pick of the Month: something I have and like — and think you might like
• Books for the Pen Collector: reference books
• Books for the Pen User: books about handwriting, writing etiquette, and drawing with pen and ink
• Books for the Book Lover in You: mostly collections of letters with social or historical interest

Calligraphy For Dummies, by Jim Bennett   I really hate the idea of admitting I’m a dummy, but when it comes to calligraphy skills I’m in the –300th percentile. Bennett’s way of teaching isn’t condescending despite the book’s title, and he really will guide a newbie or a not-so-proficient non-newbie to being able to do some lovely work. Work with Jim, and you’ll be ready to advance to Bickham and Spencer before you know it.

No pen collector should be without a good reference library. When I’m asked what reference books a new (or not so new) collector should have, I tend to recommend the same ones over and over again. These are the books I have in my own library and use daily.

	FOUNTAIN PENS THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO REPAIR AND RESTORATION, by Frank Dubiel   Affectionately known as “Da Book,” Frank’s magnum opus is the one indispensable book for every fountain pen collector. If you repair pens, or collect pens, or use pens, or just want to know how they work, you need this book. It’s the only book we sell right here on our site. Price: $20.00 (Add to shopping basket)
	Fountain Pens of the World, by Andreas Lambrou   FPOTW: Probably the best-known book in the hobby. It’s filled with an incredible amount of text and pictures, and it is irreplaceable; Andy himself told me that to compile it again would be impossible. As a collector of American pens, I frequently use this book in conjunction with FP:US&UK, described below. Printed from new plates on better paper than before, the 2005 edition has wonderfully clear print and tremendously improved color accuracy, brilliance, and depth in the photos.
	Parker “51”, by David and Mark Shepherd   Whether you collect the Parker “51” or not, you need this book. Heck, if you even know what a “51” is, you probably need it. This is a wonderful book, describing the pen’s amazing design, its evolution and marketing, and more. Profusely illustrated with superb photos by Mark Shepherd, vintage ads and other ephemera, and more.
	Mabie in America (Third Edition), by David L. Moak   The first edition was very good, and the second was better. The third and final (says the author) edition of David Moak’s book Mabie in America, now published as a 9"×12" hardback book of more than 250 pages, is definitive. Expanded and updated to include even more information (and corrections), and lavishly enhanced by more than 750 illustrations, this monumental single-manufacturer volume is a must-have for any pen collector. Published by the author and available directly from his Web site, www.mabie-todd.com.
	The Chronicle of the Fountain Pen: Stories Within a Story, by João P. Martins, Luiz Leite, & António Gagean   Instead of discussing this manufacturer and then that manufacturer and then the other, this thoroughly fascinating book approaches pens in a radical new way, placing this pen and that pen and the other together year by year and setting them in the twin contexts of each other and of their times. Lavishly illustrated and diligently researched. Not to be missed!
	Fountain Pens and Pencils : The Golden Age of Writing Instruments, by George Fischler and Stuart Schneider   This is it. The Authority. The “Blue Book.” If you are permitted only one fountain-pen reference book, this is the one. It’s massive and compendious, with more pictures than you’ll know what to do with and lots of additional information besides.
	The Book of Fountain Pens and Pencils, by George Fischler and Stuart Schneider   This is the rest of it. The “Brown Book.” Here are a wealth of photos showing more pens and pencils. Many lesser-known brands are illustrated, and there are additional pens from major makers. Curl up with a good book!
	The Illustrated Guide to Antique Writing Instruments, 3rd Edition, by Stuart Schneider and George Fischler   This is a pocket- or purse-size book. It's not a subset of the Blue Book, and you should think of it as a useful supplement to that behemoth. I consider it a field guide, and I take it along when I head for the fleas and antique malls.

	Fountain Pens : United States of America and United Kingdom, by Andreas Lambrou   In Fountain Pens of the World, Andy gives an exhaustive overview of pens from everywhere. In FP:US&UK, he concentrates on pens from the major U.S. and U.K. makers. With added and updated historical information and superb photography, this is a book I turn to constantly, if for no other immediate reason than that I just like to look at the pictures.
	Fountain Pens : Past and Present (revised edition)   Paul’s approach to writing a collector’s book is a little different; he engages you with narrative, teaching and entertaining you at the same time. There’s a good serving of history here, and plenty of wisdom for beginning and advanced collectors, plus superb photography of pens, ephemera, and other related materials.
	Pens and Pencils, A Collector’s Handbook, by Regina Martini   This is only a paperback, but what a big glossy paperback it is! The author starts with a little history, but the meat of the book is over 100 pages of photos. The price guide, like every other printed guide, is already out of date; but it provides good information about relative values, and there are hundreds of American and European writing instruments listed. Regina Martini is not just about Pelikan!
	Collectible Fountain Pens, by Juan Manuel Clark   It’s small, only about 6" square, but it’s fat — and this book is packed with hundreds of excellent photos and tons of useful information. it might make a good “field guide” to carry in your purse, briefcase, or wherever else you stash the reference book you always need with you just in case you stumble across the buy of a lifetime!
	Fountain Pens : Their History and Art, by Jonathan Steinberg   This is a book to drool over. It’s not all that big, but it is full of superb photos and fascinating text illustrating the fountain pen’s descent from the earliest reed pens together with many of the world’s greatest pens. The photos of advertisements and other ephemera alone are worth the price of admission!
	Fountain Pens: History and Design, by Giorgio Dragoni   This book is just plain luscious. The fact that it happens to be chock-full of useful and fascinating information seems almost superfluous. Organized chronologically, it features an astonishing variety of the world’s significant pens. Only a Philistine would do without it.
	Fountain Pens : Parker Sheaffer Wahl-Eversharp Waterman, by Glen Bowen   If there were no other reason to recommend this book, I’d recommend it simply because so many non-pen people seem to use it as their authority. But there is useful information, and there are useful pictures, too. Probably better bought used than new, however, and you can pretty much ignore the ancient pricing information.
	Pens & Writing Equipment: A Collector’s Guide, by Jim Marshall   Part of British publisher Miller’s Collector’s Guide Series, this little book is an ideal introduction to the great panoply of collectible pens and writing-related items. The author doesn’t treat things in great depth, but I like this book, and I haul it out now and again as an enjoyable refresher. Nice clear pictures.
	Pen, Ink, & Evidence: A Study of Writing and Writing Materials for the Penman, Collector, and Document Detective, by Joe Nickell   Want to know what the Romans wrote with? How to make oak gall ink? How pens work? These subjects and many, many more are covered in Joe Nickell’s fascinating tome. I have this book in hardcover, but it’s also available as a trade paperback. Either way, it’s a worthwhile addition to any pen afficionado’s library.
	Vintage Pen Literature Reprints by Bill Acker   Finding vintage pen catalogs and other literature is difficult, and what you do find is often in poor condition so that you really wouldn’t want to handle it a lot. There’s a better way. Bill Acker is well known for the superb quality of his reprints. I find myself buying more and more of these documents, and I think it’s about time I shared the wealth.
	The Technical Pen, by Gary Simmons   Not every pen collector is interested in stylographic pens, but I am; and if you are, you need this book. This is the closest thing to a “Bible” i’ve found on these very different but also very practical writing instruments — and it’s filled not only wtih techie stuff but also a thoroughgoing discussion of how to draw with them.
	Collecting Writing Instruments: From the Flint Tool to the Stylus : From the Quill Pen to the Fountain Pen and Felt-Tip Marker, by Dietmar Geyer   This is something a little different for the collector’s library. The author explores millennia of writing-instrument history, larding the narrative with lots of contemporary engravings, photos, ads, and more. This coffee-table-sized book is a delightful and educational read.

Writing isn’t a lost art. It’s simply been mislaid. It’s being rediscovered, and here are some books that will help you to your own discoveries.

	The Italic Way to Beautiful Handwriting, Cursive and Calligraphic, by Fred Eager   (This gem isn’t currently in print, but you can get it from any of several Amazon affiliated sellers.) 300 years ago, handwriting masters taught their students by providing printed sheets on which the students traced the letters to train their hands to the forms. The method is so effective that it’s used today by handwriting repair expert Kate Gladstone — and if you want to learn italic calligraphy there just might not be a better self-teaching textbook anywhere.
	Handwriting in America: A Cultural History, by Tamara Plakins Thornton   Handwriting is a skill that is so universal these days that we are often unaware that things were not always so. Tamara Thornton’s scholarly but fascinating and eminently readable treatise begins with the time when even people who could read books fluently often couldn’t write — or even read handwritten script, and travels down through time to the present and beyond. Will your grandchildren’s grandchildren even know what handwriting is? It’s something to think about. And read about.
	Spencerian Penmanship, by Platt Rogers Spencer   Don’t try to use this book to teach a child to write. 19th-century techniques just don’t work these days. On the other hand, if you’re already a fountain pen user and want to wow your friends and neighbors with gorgeous vintage-style handwriting, here’s the book you need, written by the man who created American Round Hand. This package includes the theory book and five copy books for practicing. You’ll need a lot of practice…
	The Universal Penman, Engraved by George Bickham   It’s nice to imitate copperplate with a pen, but the engraved illustrations in Bickham’s magnum opus will show you what real copperplate is all about. Drool all you like — then get out your superflex super-needlepoint pen and try to copy this stuff. Yoda said, “There is no try. Do, or do not.” I did not.
	George Bickham’s Penmanship Made Easy (Young Clerks Assistant), by George Bickham   Penmanship made easy? No, not really. Bickham’s book is essentially a collection of exmplaria — from the 18th century, when he was writing. As such, it’s a fascinating historical entertainment, and for those who are already practiced calligraphers it offers suggestions for some new (old) styles. Anybody got exemplaria to send me?
	An Elegant Hand: the Golden Age of American Penmanship and Calligraphy, by William E. Henning   My handwriting is atrocious — but I throw in a few flourishes to make it look better than it really is. The real masters of American penmanship date back to the early part of the 19th century, and their work is spellbinding in its beauty. Henning makes no attempt to teach you anything here; this is a book about those masters, and it is profusely illustrated with glorious examples of calligraphy, chirography, and flourishing. Any budding calligrapher, or anyone who just loves beautiful writing, needs this book!
	The Art of the Handwritten Note: A Guide to Reclaiming Civilized Communication, by Margaret Shepherd   In this age of cellphones and email, it’s about time we writers started reclaiming our space. This book is an essential aid that will teach you how to write a proper note for any occasion.
	The Right Word!: How to Say What You Really Mean, by Jan Venolia   One of the author’s Right! series, this volume will help you to choose the words that say what you want to say. Is a dictionary germane to using words correctly, or is it relevant? This book is full of confusing and troublesome words, showing you with examples and humor how and when and why to use them. Writing well can be a tortuous task, but it should never be torturous!
	Rendering in Pen and Ink, by Arthur L. Guptill   Ever wish you could draw like Leonardo da Vinci? All it takes is talent, practice, pen and ink, and some education. You’ll have to furnish the talent, practice, and pen and ink, but this big fat paperback is the place to get the beginning of your education. First published in 1937, this is a classic in the field. I keep going back to it.
	A Gentleman Pens a Note, by John Bridges   Every man knows how to write a note, right? Wrong. This book, one of the GentleManners series, offers guidance with considerate correspondence for all occasions. It shows how to write and what to say — and what not to say — by means of over 40 examples.
	The Handcrafted Letter, by Diane Maurer-Mathison   Here is the book you need to tweak your inspiration bone. The author suggests how to write various kinds of letters and then develops great craft projects to beautify them. Decorative borders, shaped cards, leaf printing, and much more.
	Teach Yourself Better Handwriting, 2nd Edition by Rosemary Sassoon et al.   With the desire to write good notes and letters comes the desire to write more attractively. Loaded with illustrations of good and bad penmanship, this is a “teach yourself” guide that won’t try to make you a Spencerian calligrapher, but rather will help you to find your best hand. (Newly released — image at left shows 1st Edition.)

As a writer, I’m also a reader. Not everything I read is about pens, but much of it is related somehow. These are books that I love, some new and some old, and I recommend them to your attention.

	The Shirley Letters: From the Calfornia Mines, 1851-1852, by Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe   More a historical treatise than letters as we know them today, this book does actually contain 23 epistles written from the California gold fields by Louise Clappe to her sister back east in Massachusetts. Later collected and published in book form under the pseudonym “Dame Shirley,” the letters are fascinating.
	Letters from Father Christmas, by J. R. R. Tolkien   Beginning in the early 1920s when his children were very young, Tolkien every year wrote replies to the letters they dispatched to the North Pole at Christmastime. This book is beautiful, filled with his marvelous imaginative prose and his glorious calligraphy and artwork. Get it to read to your own children, get it to read for yourself. It is one of the great literary treasures of our time.
	From Foxholes and Flight Decks: Letters Home from World War II, by Rod Gragg   This book is irresistibly compelling, and deeply moving. Compilations of letters are always intriguing, but Gragg delivers an emotional impact way beyond the usual. He includes twenty letters, each one as a removable document in facsimile form with the look and feel of the original, giving you the opportunity to read the thoughts, hopes, and fears of front-line fighting men living in harm’s way almost as if you were there beside the folks back home.
	You Know Me Al: A Busher’s Letters, by Ring Lardner   Ring Lardner was a brilliant humorist, and this epistolary novel is priceless for its humor and its insight into the Great American Pastime and 1914 America. As the story opens, the book’s letter-writer is departing from a team in Terre Haute, Indiana. My wife’s great-uncle Paul Frisz was a well-known authority on the game and, during the 1950s, owned the Terre Haute Phillies.
	The Groucho Letters: Letters from and to Groucho Marx, by Groucho Marx   If you’re too young to know anything about Groucho except his famous line as Captain Spaulding, “One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas, and how he got into my pajamas I'll never know,” it’s not too late to remedy the deficiency in your education. Sometimes angry, sometimes just friendly notes, these letters are unfailingly amusing. This guy knew how to write a letter, you bet your life!
	War Letters : Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars, edited by Andrew Carroll   Peek into America’s past, from the Civil War to Bosnia, through the eyes of the people who lived it. These letters are all real, and they are powerful, often poignant, and truly memorable. Written by ordinary citizens, soldiers, war correspondents, presidents, and more.
	The Complete Henry Root Letters, by William Donaldson   In the late 1970s, Donaldson adopted the persona of Henry Root, a semi-retired wet fish merchant, and began writing letters to prominent British citizens and officials, offering outlandish suggestions and proposals. These tongue-in-cheek letters, and the often deadly serious responses they elicited, will have you rolling.

© 2008 Richard F. Binder

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