On Thursday, May 4th, approximately $40,000 worth of fountain pens (and a few other items) were stolen from my vehicle in Chicago near the Adler Planetarium. A complete list of items and images are provided below. If you happen to come across any of these items, please contact me immediately. There will be a reward for information leading to the recovery of any of the pens listed below.
Aurora 85th Anniversary, medium nib, (don’t recall serial number)
Omas Paragon in Bronze Arco celluloid, medium nib
Montblanc 149, fine nib, gold trim
Montblanc Hemingway Writers Edition, oblique broad nib
Montblanc Charles Dickens Writers Edition, medium nib
Classic Pens LB5 Tensui (blue), chrome trim, medium nib, Serial Number: #00/50
Sailor King of Pen ebonite, King Eagle nib
Nakaya Long Piccolo, medium nib, (had custom lettering on barrel)
Nakaya Naka-ai, XXF nib
Nakaya NeoStandard, medium nib, Color: Araishu (orange), gold trim
Visconti Homo Sapiens Corsani 90th Anniversary, single-tone rhodium-plated broad nib, Serial Number: #49/90
Pelikan M1005 Demonstrator, 3B two-tone nib
Pelikan Silver Screen, EF nib, Serial Number: #260/420
Aurora 88 Nebulosa, Serial Number: #626/888
Aurora 88 Sigaro, Serial Number: #341/888
Aurora 88, black resin, polished, gold trim
Aurora Optima, black resin, chrome trim
Aurora 88 Sole, Serial Number: #170/888
Aurora Optima Rossa
Aurora Optima, black resin, gold trim
Aurora Optima Nero Perla
Aurora Optima, black resin, chrome trim
Aurora Optima, blue Auroloide, gold trim
Aurora Optima, fine flex nib(!), green Auroloide, gold trim
Aurora Optima Monviso, Serial Number: #48/360
Montegrappa Ducale Grande, stub nib, Serial Number: #76/888
Porsche Design P3135 Solid Ti, fine nib
Aurora Optima, blue Auroloide, chrome trim
Aurora Optima, blue Auroloide, gold trim
Pelikan M205 Aquamarine Demonstrator
Pelikan M205 Blue Marble
Pelikan M205 Blue Demonstrator
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNBM-20000 #51 MU, Music nib, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century PNB-10000 #1 C, Coarse nib, black, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century Borgogne PNB-10000 #71 SF, Soft Fine nib
Platinum 3776 Century PNBM-25000R#1 MU, Music nib, black, rhodium trim
Platinum 3776 Century Borgogne PNB-10000 #71 UEF, Ultra Extra Fine nib
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-10000 #51 UEF, Ultra Extra Fine nib, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-10000 #51 EF, Extra Fine nib, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-10000 #51 F, Fine nib, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-10000 #51 C, Coarse nib, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century PNB-15000CR #7 B, Broad nib, black, rhodium trim
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-15000CR #51 M, medium nib, rhodium trim
Platinum 3776 Century Chartres Blue PNB-15000CR #51 F, Fine nib, rhodium trim
Platinum President PTB-20000P #1 UEF, Ultra Extra Fine nib, black, gold trim
Platinum President PTB-20000P #1 F, Fine nib, black, gold trim
Platinum President PTB-20000P #1 B, Broad nib, black, gold trim
Platinum 3776 Century NICE PNB-20000R #5 M, medium nib
Platinum 3777 Century NICE PUR PNB-20000R #4 B, Broad nib
Platinum 3778 Century NICE PUR PNB-20000R #4 M, medium nib
Platinum President PTB-20000P #10 UEF, Ultra Extra Fine nib, burgundy, gold trim
Platinum President PTB-20000P #10 F, Fine nib, burgundy, gold trim
Platinum President PTB-20000P #10 B, Broad nib, burgundy, gold trim
Platinum Izumo PIZ-55000 #27 M, medium nib
Platinum Izumo PIZ-55000 #30 B, Broad nib
Platinum Izumo PIZ-55000 #30 F, Fine nib
Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise
Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise
Pelikan M400 Brown Tortoise
Pelikan M405 Stresemann
Pelikan M405 Stresemann
Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 13 in Boot Brown
Aurora 12 pen hard clam-shell case, black
Markiaro 44 pen brown leather Briefcase
Doonie & Burke Handbag
HP Backpack
Apple MacBook Air 13″
Apple iPhone 5s
Rayban Prescription Sunglasses
Custom molded ear plugs
Sony ear buds
I’m pretty sure that’s everything. All of our belongings were in the vehicle at the time as we were moving from one hotel to another. Thankfully, we’re all OK (me and my family were not present when it happened) and they did leave our luggage and enough inventory for me to have a decent presence at the Chicago Pen Show. It could have been a lot worse.
We’re waiting on the police report to arrive by mail to file a claim with our insurance company. I’m not expecting much from them, because, well, they’re an insurance company.
Again, any help in recovering any of the pens would be greatly appreciated. The first 13 on the list were from my personal collection that I carried every day. Some will be difficult to replace while others had great sentimental value.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Regards,
Daniel Smith
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- My personal EDC pens in a Franklin-Christoph Penvelope 13.
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- Pelikan M1005 demo, 3B two-tone nib
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- Visconti Homo Sapiens Corsani 90th Anniversary
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- Visconti Homo Sapiens Corsani 90th Anniversary
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- Nakaya Naka-ai and Long Piccolo, note the custom character on the barrel of the Long Piccolo.
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- Nakaya Naka-ai and Long Piccolo, note the custom character on the barrel of the Long Piccolo.
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- nakaya neo standard Araishu
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- nakaya neo standard Araishu
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- Sailor King of Pen ebonite, with King Eagle nib
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- Sailor King of Pen ebonite, with King Eagle nib
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- Classic Pens LB5 in blue (ignore the red pen)
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- Montblanc Charles Dickens Writers Edition
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- Monblanc Charles Dickens Writers Edition
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- Montblanc Hemingway Writers Edition with oblique broad nib
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- Montblanc Hemingway Writers Edition with oblique broad nib
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- Omas Paragon
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- Omas Paragon
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- Aurora 85th Anniversary
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- Aurora 85th Anniversary
I’m so sorry. Hope they turn up. I’m sure the pen community will help you get back on your feet but it won’t be the same.
God I wish you the best of luck in finding them, I know how painful it can be sentimentally and monetarily. Personally I would consider the items lost, whatever you get back however is a plus. I had a similar scenario with a bag of mine that had 10 pens a laptop and camera gear, I ended up getting back my camera body, my laptop and a pen, I lost about $25,000 in gear. I wouldn’t say loose all hope because you can certainly get them back, just don’t expect them back. Think of it like lending money, you don’t expect to get it back but if you do it’s a wonderful bonus.
Dan,
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for any sign of your stolen pens showing up online. Sorry about the loss. I hope they find the perp. Best luck to you!
Truly horrible experience. I feel for you.
Wow… that is horrible!
I’ll keep my eyes open.
I’m so sorry to hear this! I’m assuming you’ve asked Ed at Century Pens to keep an eye out? I could see someone going to him to get an assessment and valuation of something they just bought at a flea market or such.
Were the pens ever located?
Unfortunately, they weren’t.
Did insurance end up helping much? I know some of these were from your personal collection but it looks like a lot were part of your business. Losing personal possessions is painful, but losing things you make a living from selling is scary; inventory isn’t cheap.
I’ll try to send some business your way next time I’m looking for a pen or nib work.
I’m practically ill reading the list I’m so sorry it’s really sad and really scary . Will keep an eye out for anything .
Again glad you and family are ok .
Pen loss is like losing a dear friend
I live near Chicago, but if I happen to see the pens, I will contact you, but there is also a possibility that the person bought their own pen, just happens to be one you lost.
They weren’t lost they were stolen. Whoever has one or more of them either stole them or received stolen property.
O my gosh. You have my deepest sympathy. That really sucks. Whoever has the pens has no idea what he has (the sentimental value). I surely hope you can get through this man.
Dear Dan Smith, you will eventually – sooner or later – recover at least some of your lost items. I can only sympathize with you and sincerely wish that the thief with the cruel heart would regret and realize the pain he has inflicted on you with the loss of these precious collections of yours. We really do not deserve to go through such a calamity. Just drop me a note when you hear the good news. I will say a prayer and do some charity on your behalf. God Bless!
This is horrible, I am so sorry this happened, I hold out hope that these will still be recovered.
Any update on this situation? I’m so sorry this happened to you. Reading this list of pens that were stolen makes me absolutely sick. I hope you have recovered some of them by now.
I am so sorry this happend, and will keep my eye open online…wishing you all the best!