Rare Waterman No. 000 black hard rubber fountain pen, clipless version (earlier and scarcer than the version with a clip), slip cap, barrel imprinted: 'WATERMAN'S IDEAL [with globe emblem] FOUNTAIN PEN, N.Y." Eyedropper-filler. 42mm. Circle-vent nib. In original brown leather "casket" box with white metal clasp. Near mint or better condition, black hard rubber glossy and bright, no marks or blemishes of any kind. The Waterman No. 000 is more commonly known by collectors as the "World's Smallest Pen" or the "Doll Pen", due to its almost impossibly small size and to the apocryphal story that one rests in Queen Mary's doll house in Windsor Castle. Anecdotally, the pen was produced as a sales tool for Waterman's salesmen. The salesmen would visit a druggist, jeweler or other shop owner to try and open a new account. The shopkeeper would inevitably say that they didn't need a new pen line and were happy with what they had. The salesman would offer to show them the "World's Smallest Pen" as long as he was there (often alongside a giant Waterman No. 20). This would extend the interaction, an old salesman's trick, allowing more opportunity for a sale to be made. According to a notice in an old issue of Waterman's in-house newspaper, Pen Prophet , the pens were only available for purchase as a special order item.
Rare Waterman No. 000 black hard rubber fountain pen, clipless version (earlier and scarcer than the version with a clip), slip cap, barrel imprinted: 'WATERMAN'S IDEAL [with globe emblem] FOUNTAIN PEN, N.Y." Eyedropper-filler. 42mm. Circle-vent nib. In original brown leather "casket" box with white metal clasp. Near mint or better condition, black hard rubber glossy and bright, no marks or blemishes of any kind. The Waterman No. 000 is more commonly known by collectors as the "World's Smallest Pen" or the "Doll Pen", due to its almost impossibly small size and to the apocryphal story that one rests in Queen Mary's doll house in Windsor Castle. Anecdotally, the pen was produced as a sales tool for Waterman's salesmen. The salesmen would visit a druggist, jeweler or other shop owner to try and open a new account. The shopkeeper would inevitably say that they didn't need a new pen line and were happy with what they had. The salesman would offer to show them the "World's Smallest Pen" as long as he was there (often alongside a giant Waterman No. 20). This would extend the interaction, an old salesman's trick, allowing more opportunity for a sale to be made. According to a notice in an old issue of Waterman's in-house newspaper, Pen Prophet , the pens were only available for purchase as a special order item.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
