The history of the pen

The history of the pen is a long and fascinating one, stretching back thousands of years to the earliest forms of writing. The earliest known writing instrument was the reed pen, which was used in ancient Egypt around 4,000 years ago. These pens were made from thin, hollow reeds and were used to write on papyrus, a type of paper made from the papyrus plant.

As civilization progressed, so did the development of writing instruments. In ancient Greece and Rome, people used a stylus, a thin metal rod, to write on wax tablets. The stylus was also used to engrave letters into metal or stone.

In the 9th century, the quill pen was introduced in Europe. Quill pens were made from the feathers of birds such as geese and swans. The quill pen was the standard writing instrument for several centuries, used by famous historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Dickens.

In the 1820s, a new type of pen was invented: the metal nib pen. This pen had a metal nib, or tip, which was dipped in ink and then used to write. The metal nib pen was an improvement over the quill pen, as it was more durable and could write for longer periods of time without needing to be re-dipped in ink.

In 1827, John Jacob Parker patented the first fountain pen. The fountain pen uses a nib and an ink reservoir to supply ink to the nib, eliminating the need for constant dipping of the nib in an inkwell. However, early fountain pens were not very reliable, and they often leaked or produced inconsistent ink flow.

It wasn't until the late 19th century that the fountain pen was truly perfected. In 1884, Lewis Waterman developed a fountain pen with a feed system that controlled the flow of ink to the nib. This invention made fountain pens more reliable and practical for everyday use.

In the 1940s, the ballpoint pen was invented by Laszlo Biro. The ballpoint pen uses a tiny ball bearing in the tip that spins as the pen is written with, and it draws ink from a reservoir onto the paper. This invention made writing with pens more precise and less messy than fountain pens.

In recent years, rollerball pens, gel pens, and other types of writing instruments have been developed, each with its own unique features and benefits. Today, pens are an essential tool in everyday life, and they are used in a wide range of applications, from writing letters to signing legal documents.

As you can see, the history of the pen is rich with innovation and development, reflecting the human desire to communicate and record ideas and events.

Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond Royale Fountain Pen: This pen is made of white gold and is encrusted with 4810 diamonds and a 6.6-carat solitaire. It is priced at $730,000.

Aurora Diamante Fountain Pen: This pen is made of 18-karat white gold and is encrusted with 30 carats of diamonds. It is priced at $265,000.

Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pen: This pen is made of platinum and is encrusted with 1,888 diamonds. It is priced at $188,000.

Caran d'Ache La Modernista Diamonds: This pen is made of 18-karat white gold and is encrusted with 1,282 diamonds. It is priced at $170,000.

Visconti Homo Sapiens Lava: This pen is made of a solid piece of volcanic lava from Mount Etna and overlaid with 18-karat white gold. It is priced at $48,600.

Omas Phoenix: This pen is made of 18-karat gold and is encrusted with diamonds and emeralds. It is priced at $40,000.

Montegrappa's Elmo Nero: This pen is made of black resin and is encrusted with 18-karat white gold and diamonds. It is priced at $38,000.

S.T. Dupont's Luxury Pen: This pen is made of 18-karat white gold and is encrusted with diamonds and rubies. It is priced at $30,000.

Stipula's Ferrari 250 GTO Limited Edition: This pen is made of 18-karat gold and is inspired by the Ferrari 250 GTO sports car. It is priced at $28,500.

Sheaffer's Sterling Silver and Gold Pen: This pen is made of sterling silver and 18-karat gold and is encrusted with diamonds and sapphires. It is priced at $26,000.

Please note, these prices are subject to change based on market fluctuations and may be different from the current prices, also the ranking and the list might not be official, it's based on my research and information available at my knowledge cutoff date.