Like a tie, shirt, shoes, or trousers, a pen can tell a lot about its owner. They say ‘fine dress helps to impress’. So it’s also fair to say ‘fine pen makes the man’! And if you happen to be the owner of a Parker pen, it will tell others that you are definitely a man of wealth and taste.

Parker pens are manufactured by the Parker Pen Company, founded in 1891 by George Stafford Parker in Janesville, Wisconsin. And for over a hundred years Parker has been one of the leading manufacturer of the best pens in the world. Parker pens have gained the legendary status and are considered to be among the most admired and desired products of modern civilization. They have become a symbol of luxury, success, progress and prestige. Probably that’s is why Parker pens have been often selected to sign important historical documents such as, for example, the World War II armistices. Also a great many famous actors, singers, politicians and businessmen prefer Parker as a writing instrument.

Practically every model of Parker pens is a special event in the history of writing, but the most well known are: Parker Duofold (1921), Parker Vacumatic (1932), Parker 51 (1941), Parker Jotter (1954) and Parker Sonnet (1993).

The Parker Duofold is one of the most recognizable and enduring fountain pen designs ever. The company started manufacturing it in 1921. Despite its high price, the pen was a phenomenal success and put the company squarely into the front rank of fountain pen manufacturers. Now the Parker Duofold is a real treasure for every pens collector.

The Parker Vacumatic featured a brand new filling mechanism – a diaphragm expanding into the barrel of the pen. It was launched in 1933, displacing the Duofold as the top-of-the-line product. The pen was originally named the Golden Arrow, a reference to the new arrow clip which would go on to become a Parker trademark, appearing on almost all subsequent Parker pens.

The Parker 51 is a well-known pen, that was introduced in 1941. Its body and inner cap was made of a new plastic called Lucite, just coming into use for airplane canopies, what solved the corrosion problem. The pen and the ink were both named "51" to mark 1939, the company's 51st year of existence, during which development was completed.

The Parker Jotter is the first and bestselling retracting refillable ballpoint pen of the company. Just like many other ballpoint pens, it can be turned into gel pen if its cartridge is changed. The Jotter is distinguished by a button and cap made of stainless steel, chrome or another metal, a stylized arrow-shaped clip, a smooth styrene or metal barrel and a metal nozzle. Since 1954, over 750 million have been sold worldwide.

Parker Sonnet. There are Parker Sonnet fountain pens as well as Parker Sonnet rollerball pens. Sonnet fountain pens have several variants: some have solid 18kt gold nibs, some have gold plated trim, some have caps and shafts made with sterling silver and others with stainless steel, some are coated with lacquers or paints or other substances, and some are silver plated. A true variety for a true collector!