Fountain Pens

A fountain pen writes with liquid ink that flows from a reservoir through the nib to the paper. The pen holds its ink in one of three ways: a disposable cartridge, a converter that fits where a cartridge would and draws ink from a bottle, or a built-in piston or other filler. Not every cartridge fits every pen, so it helps to match the cartridge to the maker. Nibs come in widths such as fine and medium, and a finer nib makes a thinner line. The two German makers here are Kaweco and Lamy, both with roots in Heidelberg. The pen and pencil guide explains filling, nibs and why a pen can leak on a flight.

Building a fountain pen gift set

A fountain pen gift set needs three things: the pen, a spare pack of ink, and paper to write on. Start with a Lamy Safari fountain pen or a Kaweco Steel Sport. Add cartridges from the same maker, such as Kaweco Paradise Blue cartridges for a Kaweco pen. Finish with a notebook from notebooks and journals, and match the nib to the paper as the pen guide explains.

Is a fountain pen a good gift?

A fountain pen is a good gift for someone who writes by hand often, such as a journal keeper, a student or a letter writer. It is refillable, so one pen can last for years with new cartridges. The shop is at 263 Josephine Street in Cherry Creek, Denver, and products ship nationwide from theambrosianpantry.com.

Related: the guide to using a fountain pen.