The Evolution of Writing Implements – Why Every Autograph Collector Should Understand Pens

One of the most valuable skills an autograph collector can develop has very little to do with handwriting.

Before examining the signature itself, the first question you should ask is:

What was used to write it?

Knowing when different writing instruments came into common use can often help you estimate when an item was signed and, in many cases, expose a forgery before you have even analysed the handwriting.

A signature supposedly written in 1935 with a modern marker pen, or a photograph claimed to have been signed in the 1950s using a metallic paint marker, should immediately raise serious doubts.

Understanding how different pens leave ink on paper is one of the foundations of autograph authentication, and it is the kind of knowledge every serious collector should acquire.

The Pencil

The modern pencil dates back to the sixteenth century, following the discovery of a large deposit of pure graphite at Borrowdale in Cumbria, England.

Early graphite sticks were wrapped in string or sheepskin to make them easier to hold, but by the late eighteenth century manufacturers had begun enclosing the graphite in wooden casings, creating the familiar pencil we know today.

Borrowdale remains closely associated with the history of the pencil, and the nearby Pencil Museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.

From an autograph collector’s perspective, pencil signatures present both advantages and challenges.

Unlike ink, graphite does not produce the tiny blobs or pools that can appear where a pen first touches the paper or lifts away, making pencil an attractive medium for some forgers attempting to copy a signature.

On the other hand, graphite is remarkably stable. Contrary to popular belief, a genuine pencil signature will not simply fade away with age, and collectors need not worry about displaying pencil-signed items behind UV-protective glass for that reason alone.

Dip Pens and Fountain Pens

Before modern pens became commonplace, most writing was carried out using dip pens. These required the writer to repeatedly dip a metal nib into an ink bottle, making writing slower and less convenient.

During the nineteenth century the fountain pen transformed writing by incorporating an internal ink reservoir, allowing continuous writing without constant dipping.

As nib design and ink flow improved, fountain pens quickly became the standard writing instrument for business, education and personal correspondence, remaining popular well into the twentieth century and continuing to be used today.

I can still remember dip pens being found in British schools during the 1960s. Although we rarely wrote with them, they remained in classroom desks complete with inkwells. Most of the nibs however had long since been bent after generations of schoolchildren found that they made surprisingly effective darts!

The Ballpoint Pen

Few inventions changed everyday writing as dramatically as the ballpoint pen.

Although several inventors experimented with the concept, Hungarian journalist László Bíró perfected the practical design during the 1930s by using a tiny rotating ball to transfer quick-drying ink onto the paper. His surname became so closely associated with the invention that many people still refer to any ballpoint pen as a “Biro”.

Commercial production began during the 1940s, and the ballpoint rapidly proved cleaner, more reliable and far less prone to leaking than fountain pens. British aircrew were among its earliest enthusiastic users during the Second World War because the pens continued to function reliably at high altitude.

The man who turned the ballpoint into a worldwide commercial success, however, was Marcel Bich, founder of Bic. Today, Bic remains the world’s largest manufacturer of ballpoint pens.

For autograph collectors, knowing when ballpoints became widely available is important.

One interesting example is Oliver Hardy, who purchased a ballpoint pen at the Ideal Home Exhibition in London in 1947. From that point onwards he signed most items using a ballpoint, while Stan Laurel largely continued using his preferred fountain pen.

These small historical details can sometimes help authenticate a signature or identify one that simply does not fit the period.

Felt-Tip Marker Pens

The felt-tip marker appeared during the 1950s, replacing the traditional metal nib with a porous felt tip supplied by an internal ink reservoir.

The earliest examples were intended primarily for industrial marking and labelling rather than autograph signing.

The type of marker familiar to collectors today did not become widely available until around 1962–63.

The original Sharpie that we all know today was introduced in 1964, although the ink formulation differed from that used today.

Interestingly, black was initially the only colour available from Sharpie. Additional colours followed later, although some other manufacturers had already experimented with coloured markers. In my experience, however, many of those early coloured inks lacked the strength and consistency we expect today.

Fibre-Tip Pens

The fibre-tip pen evolved during the late 1960s.

Although often confused with felt-tip pens, fibre-tip pens use a synthetic fibre nib that provides a finer writing point and more consistent ink flow.

For autograph collectors, fibre-tip pens generally produce neater signatures on album pages, while felt-tip markers remain the preferred choice for glossy photographs.

Under magnification, however, both produce very similar characteristics.

Metallic Marker Pens

Metallic marker pens became increasingly popular during the late twentieth century, with Sharpie introducing its metallic range in 2002, although other manufacturers had produced similar products slightly earlier.

These pens contain metallic pigments suspended within the ink, producing reflective gold, silver and bronze finishes.

Collectors should be aware that metallic inks behave very differently from standard marker inks.

If a dedication is professionally removed, the metallic particles can often leave permanent traces on the surface of the photograph, making alterations easier to detect.

Paint Pens

Paint pens first became widely available during the early 1980s.

Rather than using conventional ink, they contain quick-drying acrylic paint, producing bold, opaque signatures that stand out particularly well on dark backgrounds.

Paint pens have become extremely popular with modern “in-person” collectors, especially at organised signing events where there is sufficient time for the paint to dry.

They are far less practical in crowded public situations because drying times are significantly longer than those of conventional marker pens.

A Useful Clue to Spotting Fakes

One observation worth remembering concerns multi-signed photographs and posters.

If a seller claims an item was signed “in person” by numerous celebrities but every signature has been written using metallic marker or paint pen, and the item is in perfect condition, then caution is advised. You can easily find these multi signed posters etc available for sale at a number of online websites. They look fabulous as they are often signed in various multi colour pens, sometimes with a quote from the film as well. But they are very likely fake, and designed to be attractive to the buyer and offered at a very attractive price as well, so beware!

Experienced in-person collectors generally avoid these pens whenever possible because they dry slowly, can smudge easily and sometimes refuse to write immediately when handed to the celebrity.

While there are genuine exceptions, supposedly in-person signed items completed entirely in different colour metallic or paint pens should always be examined with particular care. They may look great but they are more than often forged, so do be very careful.

Other Types of Pen

Modern writing instruments include rollerballs, gel pens, fineliners and numerous hybrid designs.

Although each has its own characteristics, they are essentially developments of the writing instruments already discussed, differing mainly in their ink formulations and nib construction.

For most autograph collectors, understanding the major categories—pencil, fountain pen, ballpoint, felt-tip, fibre-tip, metallic marker and paint pen—will provide the knowledge needed to assess the vast majority of signed items encountered on the market.

Final Thoughts

Understanding writing instruments is one of the simplest ways to improve your ability to identify genuine signatures and recognise obvious mistakes made by forgers. The pen often tells part of the story before the handwriting does!

By learning when different writing instruments became available, how they behave on paper and how they appear under magnification, you gain another valuable tool that can help separate genuine signatures from modern reproductions.

No single characteristic will authenticate an autograph, but a knowledge of writing implements forms an essential part of every collector’s toolkit.

You may also wish to read the accompanying article on Autopen Signatures, which explores another important area of autograph authentication.

Quick Reference Guide Pencil – 1500s | Fountain Pen – 1800s | Ballpoint – 1940s | Sharpie – 1964 | Paint Pens – 1980s

About the Author

Garry King has been collecting autographs for more than forty years and has worked full-time in the autograph and signed memorabilia industry for over thirty-five years. He is the owner of Autografica.co.uk and has written extensively on autograph authentication. His expertise has been featured on television and radio throughout the UK, as well as in numerous newspapers and specialist magazines.

A brief history of pens, pencils and markers.