What began as a desire to improve his handwriting led to a rediscovery of the fountain pen. On Saturday, Dec. 13, from 1 – 2:30 p.m., Mitch Cordover will present a special history of fountain pens, how to care for them, and the inks to use.
By Kara Dicker
As a physician, Mitch Cordover was accustomed to the quick-paced environment of Emergency Medicine. His handwriting never caught up. “As a doctor, you have to write so fast,” he recalled. Describing his cursive as nearly “inhumane for others to read,” he made a vow to himself upon retirement. “When I retired, I promised myself to improve my handwriting.”
Mitch picked up a fountain pen, revisiting the very tool he was taught to use in school in the 1950s. “I originally learned to write with fountain pens,” he said. Held at a sloping angle, fountain pens require thought behind each motion, he explained. Some have a flexible nib, allowing for versatility of line weight. “It slows you down. It’s not calligraphy where every letter is a drawing, but there’s a bit of that. It makes writing more enjoyable.”
With the improvement of his handwriting, Mitch eventually found himself writing handwritten letters. “When you write slowly and carefully, it adds a certain gravitas to what you say,” he said. “Sitting down and taking a moment to write is a very satisfying, meditative experience.”
Fountain pens are not just a writing instrument, Mitch has discovered. He is just as intrigued by their history and beauty. “For such a small and easily ignored object, there is such a rich and deep history of pens in their evolution from quills to dip pens to fountains,” he said. Distinguished by an internal ink reservoir (bladder) that eliminated the frequent dripping of earlier quills and other dip pens, fountain pens became popular in the early 1900s and widely accessible thereafter. Many fountain pens feature ornate decorative designs and engravings, elevating them to the level of art objects.
Mitch’s collection of more than 150 fountain pens is a testament to their prevalence in the 20th century and today. “I have pens from the late 1910s, ’20s, and ‘30s,” he said. “I have pens from the Second World War. I also have a collection of modern pens.” Atop his desk, a vintage 1952, gold-nibbed Parker 51 (a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II) shares space beside “an utterly brand new” 2022 Lamy Safari, known for its ruggedness and reliability.
The fountain pen, held at an angle, encourages a slower, more deliberative motion.
Mitch Cordover became a fountain pen enthusiast upon retiring as an Emergency Medicine physician.
By Mid-Century, the ballpoint pen marked a shift in the writing industry. Compared to the fountain pen, they were more convenient. The ink dried faster. But there was a tradeoff when it came to handwriting. The ballpoint pen, Mitch said, “encouraged people to scribble. It seems to me ballpoints encourage haste.”
Mitch is not only a collector and user of fountain pens. As a collector, he said he feels called upon to save them. Beginning with a couple of his own Heritage pens from the ‘30s and ‘40s, Mitch learned how to clean and repair old fountain pens, giving them new life. He said he encourages anyone with an old fountain pen hiding in the back of a drawer to take it out and get it working.
In addition to writing, fountain pens have many uses as an adjunct to the arts. They are employed in illustration, outlining, and special effects with watercolors and oils. And while Mitch does not consider himself a visual artist, he happens to be a kite maker who uses a fountain pen to apply different inks onto fabric for “all kinds of fancy graphics.” Original fountain pen ink, he explained, was made from iron gall, which is highly acidic, and required fountain pen nibs to be gold. Modern ink technology has come a long way since, and Mitch enjoys exploring the vast possibilities of new inks. “I would get intrigued by a certain color, metallic flecks, inks that are waterproof, and inks designed to spread and feather,” he said.
Although the popularity of fountain pens has “waxed and waned over the years,” Mitch said the appeal has never gone away. In fact, he said he believes that fountain pens have found a new kind of panache among the younger generation, citing the popular large pen shows in New York, Washington, D.C., and abroad. Earlier this year, the St. Louis Pen Show attracted thousands of attendees, he noted.
Meanwhile, Mitch encourages everyone to recognize the value and personality unique within their own handwriting. For him, the fountain pen was the perfect instrument. “There’s a type of self-discovery in seeing our own handwriting,” he said.