“I enjoy being funny with delicate topics…”
Jerry Seinfeld
This vintage Omas Italiana Paragon is a rare bird. It is highly sought after, largely because the pen was manufactured out of beautiful Arco celluloid. This material is a Holy Grail for pen collectors. Celluloid or cellulose nitrate was developed by the DuPont company in the early 20th century. It an interesting product, produced from simple wood pulp and cotton stabilised by camphor. Sadly celluloid is unstable. When it is not being made into pens, it was a popular choice as an explosive in the mining industry. Whilst these pens may not spontaneously combust, they do sublimate or degas the camphor over time, leading to delamination and decay. Archival advice for celluloid includes the following. Do not handle. Do not expose to liquids. Store at 2 degrees C/20% humidity. Do not expose to light. Do not allow it to touch other objects. It is a high maintenance pen. #thispenselfdestructs #letsmakelemonade
Pen Paint and Scalpel 