We've been quiet for a few weeks but, not inactive despite work, family, and hobby responsibilities.
First up, our interest in all things VANCO and Japanese pencils has been rekindled. An online auction brought the following mechanical pencil to our collection. Comparing it to images in VANCO catalogues, it might be from 1935. Who would have thought those colors...those incredible psychedelic colors would have made it to a pen...in Japan...in the 1930s. They are original with no color change. The pencil is 4-3/8" long and in excellent condition.
Next up is a red hard rubber Marukin. We've had a number of these beautiful pens in the past. When we showed them to collectors everyone wanted one. This one is unique...well... they all might be. Marukin was a high grade pen maker in the early 1930s in Osaka that specialized in red hard rubber pens. Likely they were sold through better stationary stores...not your corner neighborhood shop.
Several things caught our attention here. The pen has an engraved hanko (personal seal) at the end of the barrel. We've seen hanko built into pens before and all appeared to be either late 1930s or early 1950s models with the hanko enclosed by a blind cap. Why, we asked, would someone want their seal on an expensive pen. The characters on the seal are for the surname SEYA. We've discovered two possibilities. Seya is a ward in Yokohama and also the name of a samurai family from Ibaraki prefecture. Ibaraki is somewhere north of Tokyo. It may be the owner needed to write and stamp important documents on a regular daily basis and did not wish to carry his registered family seal with him.
Looking at the cap gold band we see a V inside of a diamond. This is the hallmark, and trademark, for VANCO. We discovered business relationships between VANCO, the Eto Company, and Shobido silver jewelry shop in Osaka some time ago. And, now Marukin. We have some homework to do.
Another little guy (gal) found at the Ohio pen show is this incredible 1930s celluloid pen with Pilot-type clip marked ROSE. It is marked "ROSE" on the barrel as well. We've seen these obscure celluloid pens before. All had incredible color, nice impressions with the same typestyle, and all looked straight from the factory. Who made it is anyone's guess for now. Nib is a postwar replacement.
