Your pen, an expression of you...

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Welcome to Glenn's Pens

Your pen, an expression of you.

As a fountain pen user for over 50 years, I have seen the "use and toss" approach to pens. Although I actually used a fountain pen in school, as ball point pens became more common, the use and toss approach to pens is an ongoing experience. When so much of what we use is easily replaceable your fountain pen is an important exception.

You will have a passion for your fountain pen. Passiohn is what I found many leaders of pen companies express. So I say, your fountain pen is a personal possession, and it holds a higher level of permanency than many of your other possesions, some of which you won't even have a year from now.

There are so many personal decisions to make in selecting your fountain pen. The overall look, the type of nib, the type of ink-filling system and of course the feel of the pen in your hand. Once the pen is selected other decisions arise. What colour and type of ink? Writing with a fountain pen allows you to create your own distinctive writing style.

I am an avid user of fountain pens, and through my website, Glenn's Pens, I am pleased to share information and my views on fountain pens, inks, stores, pen companies and the pleasure of owning and using a personally selected fountain pen.

I hope you find the information useful.

Your writing experience

Your writing experience is formed from a combination of the pen, the ink and the paper you use. The size and shape of the pen impacts how you hold the pen. How you hold the pen in turn impact how the nib flows across the paper and the stroke the nib creates - the look of your writing.

After you select your pen, you have to select an ink. Fountain pen inks come in a wide range of colours. Some inks provide shading with variation in the colour, others others a more consistent colour tone.

And of course, paper has its own characteristics and is an important part of the writing experience.

Pen Stores

In my earlier travels, I would arrive in a city and start the search through the yellow pages to find the location of a pen store. I collected addresses and published a Directory of Stores. The first list was created some 25 years ago.

Some of the stores I visited would be "great" stores and I have created a list of Great Pen Stores/Stores of Note. I recommend the stores because of the selection, service, product lines and overall atmosphere. I thank those who visit the site and provide recommendations of pen stores they have come across. Send me a note with your thoughts on stores, pens or inks.

Things change, in terms of store locations, and sadly, stores that close. If you come across a store no longer in operation, please send me a note so I can update the listings.

Pen Clubs

Is there a pen club in your city?

In addition to pen stores, which are a great source of information, you may be lucky and live in a city that has a pen club. For example, in Vancouver we are fortunate to have an active pen club. See the Vancouver Pen Club's website for information on the club. The links take you to the Vancouver Club Site.

Vancouver Pen Club Website
Vancouver Pen Club Email - Contact the Club for an invitation to the next meeting.

Vancouver Pen Shop

Long-time retail store, Vancouver Pen, has relocated from their former West Hastings address to 555 Howe Street, in the downtown core of Vancouver, BC Canada. Visiting Vancouver? Always good to visit Vancouver Pen.

» Store Information

Buchann's Stationery

Buchan's Stationery has been in operation since 1957. They have a selection of fountain pens supported by what every fountain pen user needs: ink and paper. Located on the west side, in the Kerrisdale area, this is another store to visit when in Vancouver.

» Stores of Note in Vancouver

Novelli Pen in Rome

Marco and Glenn, 2025 visit to Novelli

Novelli Pen, Rome

Karen and I have been visiting Novelli Pen in Rome for as long as we have been travelling to Rome. A visit to Novelli is always in the plan. Marco has a deep knowledge of the pen industry and his selection of pens and nibs make this worth a trip! If you do not see what you are thinking on in the window or the pen cases, ask.... trays and trays of pens will come out!

» Novelli Pen

Plume et Bille, Paris

We travel to Paris on a regular basis, and a visit to Plume et Bille is always on the agenda. This is an excellent pen store and a store that I always visit when in Paris. This store celebrates the experience of writing.

» Plume et Bille

Stilograph Corsani, Rome

Another store in Rome that is a regular stop is Stilograph Corsani. My first visit was back in the 1990s. This small store packs a punch.

» Corsani Pen

About Pens

Fountain pens are complicated yet simply elegant. Ink requires a reservoir to hold the ink and then a feed mechanism that will be part of the "controlled drip" as the ink leaves the reservoir and then to the nib. If there were no controls, the ink would just gush out creating as mess. I include information about fountains pens under About Pens - about fountain pens.

I also include photos and reviews of my Pens of Note - pens that I particularly enjoy in terms of the writing experience they give.

Waterman Edson, Ruby Red

Pens of Note: Momento Zero Grande Girasole

Select image for link to review

Pens of Note: SCRIBO Feel Verde Prato

Select image for link to review

Pens of Note: Leonardo Cinquantesimo 50th Federico

Select image for link to review

Inks

The selection of ink for your fountain pen is an important and enjoyable part of owning and writing with a fountain pen. Your pen is an expression of you, and your ink you choose makes a big visual statement. I provide Ink Reviews to try to help. Over the past years there has been an explosion of inks with what seems to be endless colour options.