Esterbrook Oval Point #802 Pen Nib (Vintage)

The "spoon pen" is a workhorse in the world of dip pen nibs. Designed with a rounded body and typically with large vent holes, these pens were meant to hold lots of ink for everyday writing. They commonly featured rounded nibs, since they were used in offices, schools, and shops, on a variety of paper types.

The Esterbrook Oval Point #802 is an idiosyncratic example of the spoon pen genre, with fins cut through the bowl for added flexibility and an upturned round tip. As a result, the Esterbrook 802 is capable of more line variation than other spoon pens. It's quite pressure- and angle-sensitive and can go from medium-width to broad marks with small changes to your grip.

The Esterbrook 802 also features a lovely design detail: the base is connected to the bowl by a flared column. This type of ornamentation became less common in later Esterbrook models.

Our current stock of Esterbrook 802s were made in the early 1930s. Thanks to the protective coating applied to all dip pens (even new ones produced today), they are in excellent vintage condition. They've been checked for rust and other defects by our experts and are ready to return to service on your desk.

As with any dip pen, you will need to remove the protective coating so that ink will stick to the nib consistently. To remove the coating, simply dip your new pen in ink a couple of times and wipe it off. Repeat until the ink coats the nib completely and doesn't bead up. This process takes about 15 seconds and only needs to be done once, before you use the pen for the first time.

Sold individually. Made in the United States.

About R. Esterbrook & Co.:

Founded in 1856, R. Esterbrook & Co. was the United States' very first manufacturer of steel dip pens. Formerly, these important 19th century tools had to be imported from Europe, but Richard Esterbrook brought expertise and craftspeople from England and opened a factory in Philadelphia.

For over 100 years until the company finally went out of business in 1970, Esterbrook produced the finest steel pens in the country, with a level of quality and a range of shapes that would put contemporary nib manufacturers to shame. Whenever we're able to get our hands on a vintage batch of Esterbrook pens, we're excited to offer them to you. Supplies, of course, are limited.