Fountain pens are not a refuge for the enemies of progress. They are alive and well in the digital age; in fact, the market for fountain pens was a billion dollars in 2016. Aparita Bhandari explores the passion for pens in her documentary, “Down The Rabbit Hole.” More: http://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/sunday-edition/segment/15548258

My fascination with exotic nibs, or nibs that were different from your regular ‘M’ that was and is marketed by most manufacturers began back in 1984 when I discovered the Rotring Artpen. These were offered individually as well as a set. I actually saw an ad for it somewhere and went over to my pen…

The United States of America celebrates National Handwriting Day today. It was originally established by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association in 1977. Not many people would have heard of this holiday since it wasn’t proclaimed as a national holiday by US Congress. Their objective is to promote the use of pens, pencils and writing paper. January…

Karen Trefzger writes in detail of the enjoyment of writing letters by hand. As she says: “A phone call is nice; email is OK too because it’s the way of the world and staying connected is the most important thing. But an old-fashioned letter can truly be a work of art and a voice for…

  1 There is no risk of lead poisoning if you stab yourself (or someone else) with a pencil because it contains no lead—just a mixture of clay and graphite. Still, pencil wounds carry a risk of infection for the stabees, lawsuits for stabbers. 2 And bad juju for anyone linked to Watergate: In his…

Correction fluids have improbably outlasted the typewriter and survived the rise of the digital office. Christmastime is when the pens in my house get their biggest workout of the year. Like many Americans above grammar-school age, I seldom write by hand anymore, outside of barely legible grocery lists. But the end of the year brings…