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It may be a little ironic that I'm sitting here typing away on my PC about National Handwriting Day, a day - which as the name suggests - is about recognising the importance of the handwritten word. The handwritten word, not the digital word. But such is the modern world; you wouldn't be able to read this now if I had handwritten it in my notebook (unless I hopped back to the '90s to find my old scanner). Nevertheless, however I write this, I LOVE the handwritten word. I work for one of the best pen shops on the planet, so of course I do! There is just something about holding one of my favourite pens (note the plural - I couldn't possibly choose just one); the satisfaction a good pen brings; and even better when that pen actually improves my handwriting.

So when is National Handwriting Day? It's 23rd January, a great time of year to come up with some new goals. If you are making some, why not hand write them? It's not too late to start your 2025 diary or journal either, another great way of incorporating pen and paper into your daily routine and getting some handwriting practice in. You can also add a little flair to your handwriting with calligraphy. It can sound a little daunting but mastering the 'art of beautiful writing' really just takes practice (and the right pen of course). You can transform your diary entries and everyday notes, quite literally with the flick of a pen, but also going further you can create beautiful bespoke cards for your friends and family and you can go on even further to sell your work for weddings and other events.

Personally, I'd like to see more hand written letters. I remember the last time I received a hand written letter - it must've been 20 odd years ago now. A friend of mine was in South Africa for a few months and wrote to me near the end of her time there telling me all about it, with little illustrations here and there. I still have that letter now and recall the thrill of receiving my own letter in the post as a teenager - my own first bit of post that was actually exciting, not just another exam date or result. Another letter we have as a keepsake was received by my husband from his grandfather just before he passed, and is still one of our most treasured items at home.

So, whether you use a pen and paper daily already, or whether you can't remember the last time you put pen to paper, I hope this inspires you to get writing. Whether writing up your to-do list by hand instead of on your phone, or you go the whole hog and give calligraphy go, have fun and happy writing!

Germany is known all around the world for their quality manufacturing. For many historic reasons, the country has a strong education system, with an emphasis on technical and practical training. Companies have long been encouraged to keep a strong and well-skilled workforce, and compete hard with each other, and between cities and regions, to make the best goods.

The result is a reputation for making the best things in a lot of categories, and while very good arguments can be made for other countries too, it’s easy to argue that Germany makes the best pens in the world.

Montblanc

There are many luxury brands making fountain pens, and they’re not usually all that well-loved by real fountain pen fans. But Montblanc is different - they started with pens, and pens are their history. They have branched out into other luxury goods now, like leather goods, fragrances and watches, but their pens are still the core of their business. They were one of the main innovators in the development of the piston-filled fountain pen. And they continue to use the highest quality materials and German craftsmanship to make some of the best pens available anywhere. The Meisterstück is the pinnacle of their traditionally-styled pens, while the Starwalker range is Montblanc at their more contemporary.

Kaweco

Kaweco has a long history of making some cleverly-designed pens in Germany, tracing their story back to 1883. But the original company went out of business. Happily for those of us who love fountain pens, pen enthusiast Michael Gutberlet bought the rights to the brand, and began making pens based on their classic designs. The Sport range is the most popular, handy little fountain pens that can slip easily into a pocket, but when the cap is posted on the back of the pen, become full-sized pens in use.

Pelikan

Outside Germany, Pelikan is best known for their luxury Souverän fountain pens, considered by most fountain pen fans to be as good as any available, with their top quality piston-filling mechanisms.

But to many Germans, they’re just as well known for their basic school supplies. They apply the same manufacturing experience to even quite basic pens, pencils and art materials. Plenty of them are available outside Germany too, including a selection of stylishly designed fountain pens that kids will love, and they’re built to stand up to school use.

Faber-Castell and Graf von Faber-Castell

One of the longest-standing stationery brands in Germany, Faber-Castell has passed through many generations of family ownership, and their head office is a real German castle. Their origins are in pencils, but they make some very well-loved fountain pens too, including their design classics, the Ambition and e-motion.

At the luxury end of the market, their Graf von Faber-Castell pens use everything they’ve learned about quality manufacturing and artisan craftsmanship to make the very best writing instruments they can. Their simple styling and ‘trumpet’ cap means they’re understated, but stand out to those in the know.

Innovations in fountain pens have come from all over the world, but it’s certainly fair to say that many of the biggest names in fountain pen history were in the USA. Through the 1940s and 50s, and well after, Parker and Sheaffer, along with many others, were competing hard to make the very best fountain pens, as well as making the most solid and reliable pens at reasonable prices. While many of the big names have changed ownership and moved outside the US, or gone out of business entirely, Parker is still American, now being part of the Newell group.

Some of the earliest innovations in ink feeds came from Waterman, who are mainly associated with France now, but were originally an American company, and are now also owned by Newell, though they remain quite strongly French.

Conklin made a name for themselves with the Crescent Filler, which Mark Twain loved so much that he endorsed the pens. Ownership has changed, but Conklin is still run from the USA (by YAFA, who will come up again later), and still makes crescent-filler pens.

Esterbrook was another great American pen brand, best known for their reliable pens with interchangeable nib units, which they offered in a huge range of types. As with Conklin, the modern Esterbrook isn’t the same company, but it’s now run by Kenro Industries, in the US, by pen enthusiasts who loved the original Esterbrook.

The very recognisable designs of Cross pens have a strong association with America, not just because it’s an American company, but because they’re often known as the ‘pen of presidents’, being the writing instrument of choice for most US Presidents. They’ve been used by many other world leaders too, including here in the UK.

Ferris Wheel Press stand out from most of the others, as a relatively new company - they don’t have a long heritage to fall back on, but they get by very nicely on their own style. With a bit of a retro feel, their inspiration comes from fairgrounds and state fairs, with a bit of a hipster twist of letterpress printing. It’s a lovely style, which has found them a lot of fans.

Monteverde was established in 1999, but their parent company, YAFA, goes back to 1978. They pride themselves on making pens that are “affordable luxury” - really nice build quality, but without too much ‘fanciness’. We’ve found them to be a real hit at pen shows, when people can actually touch the pens and feel the quality.

Parker is one of the biggest names in pens, from the early days of fountain pens. Many of the innovations used in fountain pens now, and even in many rollerball and fineliner pens, originally came from Parker. Their Lucky Curve feed reduced ink leaks. The Parker 51’s ‘collector’ helped keep ink flow consistent, and reduced drying out in use. The Aerometric filling system was not just quick and easy to use, it avoided, or at least greatly reduced, the risk of pens leaking during aeroplane flights. And outside fountain pens, their standard ballpoint refill has become one of the most common types of refill in the world.

US flag photo by Mike Mozart

We could talk all day about our favourite fountain pens. And sometimes we do. Yes, we’re a lot of fun at parties. Though, come to think of it, we don’t seem to get invited to many these days.

But what about your favourite fountain pens? 

There are advent calendars... and then there is the Cult Pens Premium Advent Calendar. This is for the dedicated festive superfans, those for whom Christmas is the pinnacle of annual celebrations. It's not a budget item, so we quite forgive you for wanting to know what's in it.

So, in no particular order, let's do this...

Countdown to Christmas with the Cult Pens Advent Calendar.

Now look, usually these things are supposed to contain surprises, and if you know what's in it, it's not really a surprise is it? But we know that some of you aren't comfortable with the unexpected, and we're nothing if not mindful of our lovely customers.

So, if you really want to know, here goes (in no particular order)...

We know that Cult Pens customers love Japanese pens and stationery. From timeless writing instruments made by Sailor, Pilot and Platinum, beautiful inks, quality papers and journals from Midori MD, and pen cases from Lihit Lab. There are also great ‘everyday’ pens from the likes of Pentel, Zebra and Uni-ball. Oh, and how can I forget the delightful little paper clips from Ohto that we attach to the invoice in all our customer orders?

You may be lucky enough to have a trip to Japan booked, in which case this short guide will help you find some ‘bucket list’ stationery stores. 

Benu was founded in 2016 when Alex Semanin and Kate Dmitrieva got together to make pens and accessories “for those who prefer bold, bright colours and new designs that are playful, stylish and fun”. A quick look at their range looks very much like they have succeeded - their pens are definitely bold, bright and fun, with vivid colours, glitter and flakes of gold embedded in them.

They both had backgrounds in watches, jewellery and home decor, but making fountain pens was more appealing to them.

Retro 51 pens are quite retro in style. There’s a bit of a hint in the name, really. The name isn’t a hint to when they were founded, though, that was in 1990. The aim was always to make pens ‘like they used to’, with nostalgic styling and build quality.

And the pens from their early days, which you can see in their archive of old catalogues, were, well, nice enough. But, to be honest, they looked like many other pens. But that changed in 1997.

Back in the 1840s, Richard Cross, a jeweller from Birmingham, left the UK for Providence, Rhode Island, USA, where he founded the A.T. Cross Pencil Company in 1846. His company continued to hone their craft over five generations of the Cross family.

Their expansion into fountain pens began in 1876 with a ‘Stylographic’ pen, most similar to what would now be called a metal-tipped technical pen, but with a more smoothly rounded tip for writing. A tiny wire inside a tubular tip controls the ink flow, and the Cross design was very successful, and used by all workers in the US Post Office.