John Holland No 3

[indyestatesale]

Hi. I'm brand new to this forum. Researching items from my father's estate one by one. Today I came across this old fountain pen and it seems to be quite rare. This seems to be where the experts can be found. Anyone want to help me out with any historical information and estimated value on this gem?

 

Any input will be greatly appreciated!

indyestatesale 

[Bo Bo Olson]

If you nudge it towards Andrew, he should know.

I don't know much....having no real old nibs.

 

I see it as a celluloid barrel pen........but both my 1894-5 Montgomery Ward and 1902 Sears replicas shows similar pen bodies as pearl....now I don't know if that was genuine mother of pearl or celluloid called pearl. The front of the body as gold filled.

Prices with 10 or 16 K nibs as we call them now, was called pens back then. from $0.95 out to 1.80 in 10K....in 16 K, $1.05-2.05

1894/5 was in 10 or 14 K....

 

If no RG/GF stamp on the front...rolled gold/Gold Filled, then brass/bronze.

What is really nice is you have a excellent condition case from that era. Silk plush box in 1902 was a whole twenty five cents or 5 beers.....1894/5 a whole $0.75.

 

 

[ruby.monkey]

It's a dip nib and holder, not a fountain pen. Here's one for sale on eBay.

[Bo Bo Olson]

 

That's a great find on Ebay .

 

I'd thought there would be a 10-14-16 K marking on gold nibs, but that's only an ignorant guess. I know they were sold as that, but not if so marked.

 

If a gold nib, do look to see if there is some tipping, then real pure iridium, then also called a Diamond Point. That wouldn't have been wasted on steel/bronze nibs.

 

Much of the iridium on earth was deposited in a 1-2 inch layer from the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. 

It was then strip mined in Italy in about the 1880-1900 era, and later in Turkey.

 

Later tipping were other rare earth compounds, that weren't so rare as iridium.

[mizgeorge]

Erm, look at the OP name. Same as the ebay seller...

[Penguincollector]

I found this blurb of interesting information on Worthpoint, a site that tracks auctions: 

 

John Holland Dip Pen

[ruby.monkey]

On 2/13/2023 at 3:31 PM, mizgeorge said:

Erm, look at the OP name. Same as the ebay seller...

Er... I knew that.