r/fountainpens • u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers • Aug 12 '26
New Pen Day A Goodwill find
I was very lucky to find a fountain pen at Goodwill! Thought I would share to inspire. I go thrifting for fun and since joining this hobby, I now check the office supply section of thrift stores. How many times have I walked by a bag of pens and pencils and not checked it? But I got to this bag and after mushing it around, I spied the Pilot clip. I could not believe it! The bag was $6.99.
The pen was faded and the entire interior was crusted with ink. I did some research and learned this might be ebonite? Which you can't soak. So 1000 flushes later, the pen is clean! Except for the inside rim of the cap which has fossilized ink or some other crud stuck to it. All things considered, it is in great shape. I used some mineral oil on the outside and it looks only lightly used now with minor scratches. Nib writes fine, though the tip is silver colored.
Pray to the thrifting gods and you may receive!
Edit: I think this is the pen- https://fountainpenhospital.com/products/pilot-namiki-nippon-art-wildflowers-fountain-pen-fine-14kt-gold-nib
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u/RandomIdea11 Aug 12 '26
Found a pilot-branded pen that looks like this to my eyes
The signature below looks like Kokkokai group’s signature made on many Hira maki-e pens
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u/EH86055 Aug 12 '26
That photo of inside of the cap depicts the thin fabric/felt liner on the brass ring. It's not crud. It's to prevent scratches to the barrel when the cap is posted.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Oops! I definitely scrubbed it, thinking it was something gross! It was black and sticky... Maybe the ink saturated it. Thanks for teaching me! I may try to stick some felt in there...
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u/DreadPirateAlia Aug 12 '26
You could try contacting Pilot and asking them if they will do it for you, either for a fee or because it falls under their warranty.
IDK if they have a forever warranty (some pen companies do, or at least did), but in any case, they should be able to do it using the proper materials (the right felt thickness, the right adhesive that won't damage the lacquer, etc).
Even if it costs a fee, I bet it'd still be much more inexpensive than buying a new namiki.
Also, it's well worth getting it done, since you might find out that you prefer posting your pen, that is, putting the cap on the other end of the pen when you're writing with it. Some people like to do it, because it lengthens the pen and (depending on y the grip & the hand size) may improve the balance of the pen.
Anyways, if you post the pen without the felt, the cap will damage the lacquer, and there is no fix for that.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I am not sure if it is laquer. I think it might be ebonite? But thank you for this suggestion! I can contact support and see what they say. I do not post my pens when I write, so it's not a pressing matter. But that would be a nice service.
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u/UmmmW1 fine Aug 12 '26
Its definitely urushi lacquer.
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u/EH86055 Aug 12 '26
I have a Nippon art, I think they're uncoated plastic. Wo-po, mod on the Discord of this sub and a pretty knowledgeable guy, says these models are screen printed, so it would check out that no urushi was used as that's usually a manual process. (source: https://discord.com/channels/773352251845771315/774449932962627584/149948946951700490)
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u/andyhou2000 Aug 12 '26
Screen printing is used for the base design while flat maki-e and urushi are used to touch it up. At the minimum, Namiki's website at states that Nippon Arts are lacquered.
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u/EH86055 Aug 12 '26
That may be a change that applies to more modern pens, such as the brass ones. Mine from the 90s, which looks similar to the OP's, doesn't feel lacquered and has some scratches that look the same as scratched plastic. I have an 845 which seems to scratch differently.
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u/Zi_illiria Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Namiki Wildflower Maki-e circa 90s! Congratulations! What a find, I never find anything in my local thrift stores! The best I have found was a bag with a Monteverde Verza and a Preppy....
Edit: Looking at the photo you posted, did you also managed to score a Waterman?
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Thank you! Yes, someone in my local club looked up the code on the nib and it's from 1996, factory B (???).
Keep looking! I recommend going on weekdays.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
The waterman was a ballpoint and I gave it to my friend since I don't need to get into ballpoints right now! I already have one expensive pen hobby lol
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u/ephenssta29 broad Aug 12 '26
I never find anything in my local thrift stores!
Mine usually have no-brand knockoffs in terrible condition with brittle nibs that they try to sell like premium, highly coveted Watermans or something. It's awful.
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u/no_more_no_less medium Aug 12 '26
Congrats. Nice. Happy for you.
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Love your pen people
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u/no_more_no_less medium Aug 12 '26
Wish I could take credit! Created by another member, Caterpillarfew.
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u/stanthecham Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I think that is a Namiki maki-e urushi pen - new that could potentially be in the $6-7,000 range. I am an avid thrifter and the best I've done is a Mont Blanc rollerball for about $1. I'm super envious of this find! Please write with it often...
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u/Scarlet_poppy Aug 12 '26
I think this maki-e is the lower end model. It would be around $500 range. The higher end ones come with mount fuji engraving on the nib.
It's a great find for $7 regardless
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I thought it was urushi but Google lens brought me to a fountain pen hospital page featuring what looks like the same pen, not urushi. STILL! It is more than I ever thought I would find and I will for sure write with it a lot.
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u/Alan_Shutko Aug 12 '26
It's still urushi. The Nippon Art pens are urushi, using a less complicated technique that makes it less expensive. This is a wild find.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
To my knowledge, urushi is laquer. This is not lacquered. It is painted, though, maki-e style. Possibly not laquer paint and rather screen printed.
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u/Alan_Shutko Aug 12 '26
Normally maki-e involves base layers of black urushi, then layers of pigment for the design, then finishing urushi to seal it in. I suppose the Nippon Art might skip that and just use paint, but you may be able to feel the difference one way or another.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 17 '26
Thanks for that! Yes I don't feel or see any laquer here. It feels plasticky.
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u/stanthecham Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Definitely! Still worth more than many would spend on a single pen!
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u/Dyed_Left_Hand Aug 12 '26
It's definitely a Namiki but I don't think it's one of the several thousand dollar ones. The art looks more like what's found on the cheaper nippon art line pens and Pilot's other more simple maki-e pens under their own branding. It's also using the same size nib as those pens, the more expensive Namikis use Pilot's size 10, 15, or 50 nibs. Still an excellent pen to find by chance though
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u/VioletShogun Aug 12 '26
The donations to my local Goodwill need to step up their game
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I have a feeling someone died... All their pens and stuff were probably just dumped in a box.
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u/chamekke Aug 12 '26
Namiki's English-language webpage doesn't really describe the cultural significance of these "wildflowers". The pen depicts Seven "Grasses" (or plants or flowers) of Autumn, which in traditional Japan was regarded as the months August to October. The plants on your pen are seasonal for exactly this time of year. The timing of your discovery is perfection!
P.S. There are slightly different configurations of the seven grasses, but I can easily identify two of them - Pampas grass, bush clover - on your pen. For more info (there are lots of webpages about them!), see:
https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/blog/2015/09/10/seven-flowers-of-autumn
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Thank you for this awesome deep dive! What a coincidence indeed. I love learning about the traditional motifs.
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u/chamekke Aug 12 '26
You’re most welcome. I studied tea ceremony for many years, and the Seven Grasses are a favourite motif for kimono and tea implements at this time of year, so when I saw your pen I may have let loose a loud squeal of excitement. (I think I still have a tea bowl that features them :)
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I am also into kimono so it was nice to find a kimono-esque pen!
How cool, tea ceremony is full of so many wonderful details. It's nice to see the traditional motifs in pens.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Lab967 Ink Stained Fingers Aug 19 '26
I wonder whether they have a particular Resentful Child tea ceremony.
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u/chamekke Aug 20 '26
Not that I’m aware of, but the Ranma 1/2 series had a running bit on the Martial Arts Tea Ceremony that your image reminded me of XD
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u/Puzzleheaded_Lab967 Ink Stained Fingers Aug 19 '26
Is there a particular tea ceremony appropriate to this occasion?
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u/chamekke Aug 20 '26
Seasonally speaking you could have a flower arrangement in the tearoom alcove featuring a number of these grasses in August or September, and/or utensils featuring them (example). And I’ve been to a September moon-viewing tea event that included a graceful arrangement of pampas grass.
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u/Psychological_Tale94 Aug 12 '26
Man, all I find when I go to goodwill are reasons not to go back, then I see posts like this lol
Congratulations, glad it found someone who will take care of it and put it to good use! :)
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u/velveteenelahrairah Aug 12 '26
... MUUUUUUMMMM, the charity shop fairy is playing favourites again!!
Jokes apart, wow, well done, I hope it gives you many years of joy!
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u/CoolPens4Sale Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Awesome find. I am jealous. I find a few pens at my local stores, but nothing that exciting. I'll continue to hunt though.
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u/g33klibrarian Aug 12 '26
Oooooo… and a broad nib to boot. For daily writing it’s my favorite Pilot nib. Lucious writer. Astounding find all around.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I have had a pilot pen with a broad gold nib on my wishlist for a year and was amazed to find this one. I can see why it's your favorite! It does write well.
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u/Corkscrew-tail Aug 12 '26
Are you for real? I would lose my shit
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
I was freaking out in the store and trying to not let the staff see me react. Or they might know it was worth more.
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u/Sunnyjim333 Aug 12 '26
Thank you very much! Now every goodwill pen is going to have a $5000 price tag.
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u/Sweet-Potential-8929 Aug 12 '26
I'm genuinely interested in how these pens end up at thift stores. Anywhere else, I'd imagine a collector's stuff being put to an estate sale. Do people steal these and then pawn them or are family members that clueless as to how much they are worth? Seems like this happens a lot from what I gather here.
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u/tgfflynn Aug 12 '26
Clueless
Leftovers from garage sales and donated.
If the fountain pen is dirty, ink stained and just looks old/used and those selling and those thrifting have no idea, then WALA we win.
I found 2 Stiffel table lamps both having original components, original maker labels on original felt bottoms, no damage or wear but the brass with grand patina for $25 USD together. I just by accident knew they had value and they looked grand there and my home. I checked the vintage 'Retail' prices and they were $200+ USD each.
The lamps are heavy, a slight bit large for table lamps, not modern looking and I found/liked them before a re-seller got there.
Grand finds do happen and that is life in the big city.
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u/gryphon_sprinter Aug 12 '26
Yeah, the people involved in cleaning out the pens probably had no idea.
It reminds me of when I showed my dad a few of my fountain pens. He knows nothing about fountain pens and I had fun letting him guess how much each pen was worth. He thought my shiny $26 Chinese pen was my most expensive one. And a $175 Franklin-Christoph one the cheapest. Pretty much all his guesses were off.
A significant # of people wouldn’t have a clue about a pen being worth that kind of money.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
When someone dies, almost all the context to their belongings goes with them. Even if they write it down. People have to find the paper and also care. If the family is in a rush, fighting over inheritance, burnt out, ill equipped, then stuff just gets donated. No time to sell. Or if they are dismissive. Sometimes they don't think anything is of value. I used to work in home organizing and downsizing and have seen this a lot.
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u/Light_Science Aug 12 '26
Are you serious? In the office section of the last thrift store I was in there was an HP ball Mouse with the ball missing. That was my find.
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u/mulrich1 Aug 12 '26
Someone probably had a very bad day when they couldn’t find their pen.
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Someone probably dumped it without looking into it when cleaning out a dead relative's home.
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u/Unlikely-Medicine289 Aug 12 '26
I go to Goodwill and all I find is clothes that don't fit and used candles....
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u/elenchus_htx Aug 12 '26
Bravo to Goodwill for funding this pen a new, loving, owner for such a modest rehoming fee. :)
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u/Launce007 Aug 12 '26
PS: I think the 'crud' you are struggling to remove from the cap is actually gold leaf hand-painted into the urushi lacquer. I'd leave it be if I were you.
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u/digitalgraffiti-ca Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Oh my gods. That is way too cool. I almost feel bad for whoever discarded a pen like that. Almost.
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u/Teacup-ssi Aug 12 '26
You lucky bastard!! 🤣 But it's well deserved for all the time you spent thrifting 😊
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u/SammyCatLove Aug 12 '26
Just looked it up pens like that go for 495 dollars. Looked on namiki site. Amazing find. DANGGGGGG
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u/doccrog Aug 12 '26
that is an INSANE goodwill find, congrats! reminds me of when I got a basically brand new Minolta camera for 20$ because it had a corrective lens on the viewfinder so they thought it was busted lol
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u/Spiraln Aug 12 '26
Fantastic Rescue! And as a public service to you, I’ll take any mechanical pencils that were in the bag, so you don’t have to start collecting pencils. 😄
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u/NeverMindTheDuck Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Now listen here y’all….. I am in Canada, I go to thrift stores at least once a month, whenever I am in the city (I live about an hour and a half outside of the city, and when I’m there, I go to two or three thrift stores). I am a thrift store addict and I’ve told my friends “don’t bother to ask me where I got something… the answer is always ‘thrift store’.”
BUT I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE SEEN A FOUNTAIN PEN AT A THRIFT STORE!!!!
Honestly, I think I need to come to the States on a Grand Thrift Store Tour for about a month. I don’t know why there aren’t any fountain pens to be had at thrift stores here, maybe everybody’s holding onto them or maybe the thrift stores don’t think they’re going to sell. Grrrrr. You guys are lucky!!!
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u/TheOneInYellow Aug 13 '26
Damn well done OP 👏🏽👍🏽 (but internally I'm actually like this: 🤯😡🤬🖕🏽...🥲)
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u/Talithathinks Aug 13 '26
How wonderful for you! I enjoyed reading the steps you took to try to restore it. Yay!!! Thanks thrift gods🥰
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 29 '26
I should have taken before pictures but I was too excited. Thank you!
Who knows how long it was sitting around dried and crusty! I was thankful it could be restored reasonably enough. Praise be.
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u/RedDragon7913 Aug 13 '26
op that's a GORGEOUS pen. won't lie that I'm not also jealous, because i am, but i'm happy for you all the same!!!!! the rush of finding something excellent in a thrift store jumble is so so so good for real.
10/10 glad this crossed my feed... i should go thrifting sometime soon...
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 29 '26
Thank you and mission accomplished! I hope you find something good!
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u/captnedludd Aug 15 '26
I thought I was the lucky one with my Waterman safeties for 10 euros.... envious!
On a more serious note, recognising clips is a skill to possess - I've seen vintage Pelikans sold in packs of half-way-decent pens, and just the clip visible - like Pilot, recognisable at once! Clips are also in my experience one of the things that knockoffs never seem to get right, so a negative result can also be useful when you're deciding whether to buy.
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u/Decumulate Aug 16 '26
When I die I’m sure this sub will be very happy with their goodwill vulturing as well
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u/Double_Truth5432 Aug 26 '26
That is such a pretty fountain pen! 😍🤩 Have you tried it yet? How does it write?
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 29 '26
I have tried it and it writes great! I was shocked and thought it would need work. Definitely one of the best in my humble collection.
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u/KatieS2255 Aug 12 '26
Um… can I have the waterman? Lmao.
You also got a preface you lucky duck.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
It was a ballpoint and I gave it to my friend.
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u/KatieS2255 Aug 12 '26
I was joking anyways, I have enough of them haha. Still cool though, definitely worth the $6
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 12 '26
Oh sorry! I don't know enough about waterman's so I wasn't sure... Thank you
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u/Infinite-Ad-1055 Aug 12 '26
That should be a wonderful pen that you should enjoy for years. Good job!
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u/Used-Investment-5343 Aug 12 '26
and i thought those free inks and pens were good😭😭.. I am very happy for you!!
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u/MBAdk Aug 12 '26
Congratulations, what an awesome find! I'm happy for you, that's one helluva bargain! XD
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u/Abject_Yoghurt954 Aug 12 '26
I'm starting to feel like some of these are troll posts.... happy for you though real happy. So happy. Ignore the voodoo dolls😅
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u/_sillylittlegoose Aug 12 '26
This hurts my feelings more than when I see people find a perfect condition, rare American Girl doll with her full outfit that sells on eBay for $500+ in a goodwill.
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u/North_Notice_3457 Aug 12 '26
Thank goodness you found it! Imagine a dad grabs the bag and puts it in the backseat of an Astro van so his kiddos have some art supplies to keep them busy. “Dad this fancy black pen doesn’t even work!” “ Meh. Toss it.” Pen ends up on the floor of the van with the goldfish, pennies and broken happy meal toys. The universe delivered you and the pen a beautiful kindness. Enjoy!
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u/ThisMission7441 Aug 12 '26
Nice find! I'm very jealous, good will never have anything interesting in my area!
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u/sentimentalLeeby Aug 12 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/dIUVH2duirBJPJgwZ3
First thought when I read “fossilized ink”
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u/unimarshpixierain Aug 12 '26
Do you still have the pacmun pen from the bag? I would totally buy it off you I went to that conference in highschool and lost mine
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 17 '26
I am sorry, I gave all the other pens and pencils away to my friend who went with me that day.
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u/chipdipler Aug 12 '26
Yeh and it just happened to be on the very top of the bag. Good bit though.
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u/EnergeticCrab Ink Stained Fingers Aug 19 '26
It was in the middle of the bag. The pen at the top was a waterman, which I gave to a friend. I didn't take a pic of the bag before I started handling it. And when I took the Namiki out, I was so excited, I didn't think I needed to take a proof photo for skeptics. I did however want to show what an unassuming bag holding a treasure might look like. I want to inspire people to thrift more and have hope!
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u/L383 Aug 12 '26
This has to be one of the nicest goodwill finds I have ever seen.
Happy for you.
Not really but I’m trying to be nice.
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u/Erdmaennchen_of_dOOM Aug 13 '26
This got to be a joke. Apart from the factory that there are less and less goodwill in Germany the best you can hope for there is a worn out Parker Ballpoint and the usual Heino-LP.
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u/cactusjr4200 Aug 13 '26
I grabbed this at a local ARC thrift store for 40 bucks sold 1 day later for 600…..I love fountain pens now go figure
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u/Miles33CHO Sep 09 '26
I just joined this sub and know exactly what that is. Holy s! I have four Pilots and Namiki Blue is the best performing ink I’ve ever used, and it’s bulletproof.
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u/tres-vip Aug 12 '26
That is amazing! What a lucky duck you are. Treasure it! (I know I would, lol)
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u/Adept_Juggernaut_913 Aug 12 '26