Ernest Hemingway Lost Fountain Pens Found!

I finally have confirmation of which fountain Pens Ernest Hemingway actually used! These are a complete surprise! They are not the Fountain Pens that are usually identified with him!

Join me, won't you, as I disclose the lost fountain pens of Ernest Hemingway.

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[sruckel]

WOW!!! What an interesting video. HJ, you are becoming a historian of the first caliber. As a retired bank president, I was not austere, but did have an obligatory desk set. Its sole purpose was to prevent a customer from trying to borrow my Parker Duofold Centennial to sign a loan contract :) Protect the nib is the goal of a fountain pen nerd banker.

[joanhelgeson]

You know, if you feel "nerdy" at least be the very best Nerd you can be!!! I think you are delightful!

[Alliejay-C]

I really love learning things like this! I am also glad this sent you into your library to find clues in his correspondence. It’s such a fun treasure hunt!

[JefferyHall-cttr]

Hi HJ! It's quite satisfying to know that one of the greatest American writers, used some of the GREATEST American pens. I LOVE vintage Parkers and Sheaffer's! The Duofold in every size was THE pen to own during the 1920's and they were hugely popular. That's why so many still survive to this day. Since that was roughly 100 years ago, it's a testament to their construction and popularity. Have a good weekend!

[booradley]

This is my favorite video yet on this channel!!! Love the historical investigation into fountain pens. Keep it up!

[natasharay]

Outstanding! Love your “in the weeds” historical fountain pen curiosity as well as your perfect diction!

[SandandInk]

Thank you! I found this so interesting - to celebrate my birthday last September I drove down to the keys with my 22 year old son - we visited the Hemingway House in Key West - they had copies of his handwritten letters framed on the walls - and we spent so much time intently reading them and commenting on his sharp wit and dry humor- now I need to go back and see f I can determine what pen nib size he used 😜 - never even entered my mind to examine his handwriting style and line weights. Was really struck by his “way with words” even in a casual correspondence with a friend - even now, months later we will talk about some of his phrases and descriptions from those letters. The words stayed in our heads - a testament to his genius

[cremefranglaise]

I absolutely loved this video! Nothing wrong with being nerdy; I would say most historians are when they get to look into topics they enjoy, and I do admit this kind of minutiae is why I love going through historical letters and journals too. Videos like this are why you have such a gem of a channel!

[RainmanP]

Thank you for the look into this little bit of history. I very much appreciate your unique and entertaining approach to fountain pen-related topics!

[thewetpen]

Maybe you know about this one, but it's worth mentioning here, from a 1926 letter to Isabel Simmons Godolphin, in the Post Script, Hemingway writes:

"I left a grand gold mounted waterman fountain pen, large size in my room, No. #344 at the Brevoort. I wonder if you could go over and get it and maybe send it by Hammy before they padlock the Brevoort. Also I may have left other things haven't had the courage to look yet. The pen has a gold band around the part of the cap that screws down, it is a self filler and has a very hard sharp point. Is double size barrel. I know I left it so you might be very nasty to them if they say they haven't got it."

From "Selected Letters 1917-1961, edited by Carlos Baker

[mickiebudny]

Love this video! I went to Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West when I was on my honeymoon. If I had known then what I know now I would have been looking for pens on his desk!

[kristiw.]

YES- investigative pen geekdom! I'm here for the continuing journey.

[michaeldavis]

This may have been simple and nerdy but it was exciting. I agree, on a lot of hobbies, like pens, people like to focus on purchases and reviews but the real fun is all the other stuff, like this. I could endlessly watch videos of pen history and who used them. Incase no one has thanked you today for taking the time to make this content, thanks. 🤙🏻

[brucethelen]

I was given my great grandfathers Parker duofold and I cherish it. I know nothing about it other than it belonged to my father’s grandfather and it’s a Parker duofold. Crazy to hear Hemingway used one also. Love the content and finding out writers that use fountain pens. ✒️📜🕯️🌒

[kurtgeisinger]

Excellent video, HJ. It's always compelling to know what pens writers, like Hemingway, used to compose their timeless manuscripts. You obviously put considerable research into this video. Well done!

[jbkerns]

Arthur Conan Doyle used a Parker Duofold as well.

[traditionallarry]

Thank you HJ for this very informative video, I’m 77 years old and it’s great to hear stories from an earlier time.Thank you again, so glad I found your channel and subscribed when I did.

[JRDiaz-tnkb]

Nice history lesson on one of my favorite authors, being partial to The Old Man And The Sea. At least it was a fountain pen of some sort.

[AndrewWertheimer-xprb]

Enjoying this in Tokyo before heading out to a favorite fountain pen shop in Ginza. Shout of for the historian / journalist / literary scholar's search for footnotes in collected letters. It is funny to imagine if Hemingway's in-laws gave him a desk set sort of a hint to stay at home and write. It is sort of like giving someone a desktop instead of a laptop today :). Have a good week!

[gihanzohdy]

Lovely video, love this forensic approach to discovering what writing instruments important people used. It may be nerdy or far fetched for some, but for me such a subject regails my mind. I consider it to be so personal that it reveals a lot about that person's character.