Fountain pens led to writing letters

I received my first fountain pen for Christmas of 2013. I started writing letters as I acquired more pens and equipment. Like my shaving gear I did not want a collection but actual useful tools.

I started adding little illustrations in my letters to my mom and she showed everyone. Soon other letter recipients asked for drawings to be included. My drawing skills are rudimentary but I do enjoy using all the different colors in my pens.

My 8 year old great niece was so tickled with the letters and drawings she wrote a letter to me. AND included illustrations. I was tickled pink. I wrote the following letter back to her. It will give you an idea of the illustrations. Please forgive my handwriting. I am a lefty. I concentrate very hard as I write but it is still poor penmanship.










I even try to make the envelope interesting. I wonder what the USPS thinks of that.




Phil

That is really neat. Letter writing is all but a lost art. I use fountain pens all of the time but just for my note taking. Keep up the letter writing to you niece - it will be something that she remembers later in life. When I was in the Marines my Grandmother wrote me every single week (this was in the 80's). Never failed - even when I got no other mail - I would get a letter from her that just let me know what was going on there and usually included a newspaper clipping of something happening in my home town. Hopefully you niece will have the same memories. BTW - get her a cheap fountain pen to keep her interest and to keep the letters comining!

awesome, PhilNH5! is most of your family still in my area?

I have been very fortunate to be the recipient of several of Phil's illustrated letters and they are fantastic. No wonder his niece enjoys them so much.

Very cool! This post makes me want to get a nice pen and write a letter to somebody. I have a 10 year old nephew that would be a good candidate. I know nothing about fountain pens though. I must say you have piqued my interest.

Very cool! This post makes me want to get a nice pen and write a letter to somebody. I have a 10 year old nephew that would be a good candidate. I know nothing about fountain pens though. I must say you have piqued my interest.

Try a Lamy - cheap, functional, and a good starter. Use the cartidges first and later try the bottled ink. A fine nib on the pen would be a good starter.

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^Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to research them right now.

Very cool! This post makes me want to get a nice pen and write a letter to somebody. I have a 10 year old nephew that would be a good candidate. I know nothing about fountain pens though. I must say you have piqued my interest.

A couple of easy to find ways to check out fountain pen writing on the cheap are the Platinum Preppy and Pilot Varsity disposables. You can even find them in office stores these days.

Thanks Dapper D! I'll definitely check those out. I've had my eye on either the Pilot Metropolitan or the Lamy Safari for an inexpensive first pen.

Thanks Dapper D! I'll definitely check those out. I've had my eye on either the Pilot Metropolitan or the Lamy Safari for an inexpensive first pen.

Also, consider checking out the Nemosine Singularity. There is quite a bit written about them here at DFS under "Writing Instruments."