Gold-plated barrel and cap, spot-hammered and high relief decoration, Lucky Curve 3 nib. Excellent patina, light signs of handling consonant with age. An outstanding example of this rare and historic American pen, widely regarded as the most imaginative and intricate model from the most creative era of pen manufacture. Undoubtedly the most significant Parker pen to come to market in years. The No. 60 "Aztec" was initially offered in 1911 for the then-staggering sum of $20.00, which placed it at the very top of Parker's price list, and helps explain the pen's incredible scarcity. Parker sensed that the "Aztec" might be difficult to sell to customers unaccustomed to the high price point, and thus encouraged retailers to personally demonstrate the pen's wonders to customers: "Everyone who sees the pen with the strange, mythical characters on it becomes interested at once. It's a wonderful pen to have in stock as an advertisement alone or to interest possible buyers" (from a contemporary sales brochure). From Art & Antiques magazine, May 2013: "The Parker "Aztec" pen (actually called the Awanyu model)... could go for $100,000 if one happened to appear on the market in good condition. The concept for the "Aztec" was born when George S. Parker, the company's owner, was traveling in New Mexico and was shown a three-legged Native American motif he called the "Emblem of Mystic Power." Made between 1911 and 1916 in gold or silver with the emblem and Indian chief faces sculpted in high relief, only four to six examples are thought to exist. It's truly a holy grail of pen collecting." Comparable sales: An example of this pen was sold in Bonhams Vintage Pens & Pencils sale, Knightsbridge, Jan. 28, 2000. The estimate was £22,000-28,000; the hammer price was £48,000 ($75,000+). LITERATURE: 1. Parker "Parkergram", August 1911. 2. Parker Pen Co. Sales Catalogues and Price List, circa 1911-12. 3. Don Lavin, "National News" in Pen World, Vol 3 Issue 1, Fall 1989. 4. Don Lavin, "Up Front" in Pen World, Vol 4 issue 4, March/April 1991. 5. Don Lavin, "Up Front" in Pen World, Vol 6 Issue 1, September/October 1992. 6. Stuart Schneider and George Fischler, Fountain Pens and Pencils: The Golden Age of Writing Instruments, p. 98, Schiffer, 1990. 7. Andreas Lambrou, Fountain Pens of the World, pp 56-57, Classic Pens, 1995. 8. Bonhams, "Fine and Rare Vintage Fountain Pens," 2nd October 1998, Lot 442. 9. John Dorfman, "The Write Stuff: Fountain Pens, Classic and Contemporary, Are Making Their Mark on the Market." Art & Antiques, May 2013.
Gold-plated barrel and cap, spot-hammered and high relief decoration, Lucky Curve 3 nib. Excellent patina, light signs of handling consonant with age. An outstanding example of this rare and historic American pen, widely regarded as the most imaginative and intricate model from the most creative era of pen manufacture. Undoubtedly the most significant Parker pen to come to market in years. The No. 60 "Aztec" was initially offered in 1911 for the then-staggering sum of $20.00, which placed it at the very top of Parker's price list, and helps explain the pen's incredible scarcity. Parker sensed that the "Aztec" might be difficult to sell to customers unaccustomed to the high price point, and thus encouraged retailers to personally demonstrate the pen's wonders to customers: "Everyone who sees the pen with the strange, mythical characters on it becomes interested at once. It's a wonderful pen to have in stock as an advertisement alone or to interest possible buyers" (from a contemporary sales brochure). From Art & Antiques magazine, May 2013: "The Parker "Aztec" pen (actually called the Awanyu model)... could go for $100,000 if one happened to appear on the market in good condition. The concept for the "Aztec" was born when George S. Parker, the company's owner, was traveling in New Mexico and was shown a three-legged Native American motif he called the "Emblem of Mystic Power." Made between 1911 and 1916 in gold or silver with the emblem and Indian chief faces sculpted in high relief, only four to six examples are thought to exist. It's truly a holy grail of pen collecting." Comparable sales: An example of this pen was sold in Bonhams Vintage Pens & Pencils sale, Knightsbridge, Jan. 28, 2000. The estimate was £22,000-28,000; the hammer price was £48,000 ($75,000+). LITERATURE: 1. Parker "Parkergram", August 1911. 2. Parker Pen Co. Sales Catalogues and Price List, circa 1911-12. 3. Don Lavin, "National News" in Pen World, Vol 3 Issue 1, Fall 1989. 4. Don Lavin, "Up Front" in Pen World, Vol 4 issue 4, March/April 1991. 5. Don Lavin, "Up Front" in Pen World, Vol 6 Issue 1, September/October 1992. 6. Stuart Schneider and George Fischler, Fountain Pens and Pencils: The Golden Age of Writing Instruments, p. 98, Schiffer, 1990. 7. Andreas Lambrou, Fountain Pens of the World, pp 56-57, Classic Pens, 1995. 8. Bonhams, "Fine and Rare Vintage Fountain Pens," 2nd October 1998, Lot 442. 9. John Dorfman, "The Write Stuff: Fountain Pens, Classic and Contemporary, Are Making Their Mark on the Market." Art & Antiques, May 2013.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
