Writing Instruments

The best-selling book in Australian history, with more than 30 million copies purchased is 'The Thorn Birds', a novel by Colleen McCullough published in 1977.

The latest Homes & Interiors sale at Sworders included an extraordinary and highly personal relic from the Waterloo battlefield: a silver-mounted inkwell made from the ear of a war horse.

A fine example of early 18th century Ottoman metalwork sold for many times its estimate at Stockholms Auktionsverk (20% buyer’s premium) on February 20.

Texting and Zooming have practically taken over our busy lives and taking time out to write a card, let alone a letter, seems like too much of a stretch. Yet UK Pen Shows, which runs dedicated fairs at five UK locations, is thriving.

Knowledgeable bidders generated high prices for early typewriters at German technology specialist’s latest sale

The writing was on the wall for the Waverley not long after it entered the market in 1895.

The sale at Moore Allen & Innocent on October 11-12 includes a series of personal items relating to William Duke of Clarence, later William IV (1765-1837).

The most eagerly contested lot in a recent sale at Potteries Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) was a Doulton stoneware Isobath inkwell.

This 19th century carved Siena marble inkstand is fashioned in the form of an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

Thomas Edison’s electric pen might not have flourished as planned for the purpose of duplicating documents but if you have a tattoo you can be thankful.

An auction record was set for an Alfred Dunhill ‘aquarium’ lighter at Chiswick Auctions.

The Blickensderfer Typewriter Co of Stanford, Connecticut, introduced the Niagara ‘index’ typewriter in 1902.

The overall performance of the latest London sales of Old Master pictures and ‘important’ works of art was fairly mixed but the auction houses did at least welcome the return of some big-ticket items.