Waterman 56 Cardinal

Why it exists

By the late 1920s Waterman's hard rubber pens had reached their mature form, and Cardinal — the deep, vivid red — was among the most admired and elusive finishes the company produced. Paired with gold-plated trim, it is one of the most visually iconic Waterman combinations of the period.

Why it matters

The pen dates itself: two barrel imprints — the primary in the central position, a secondary near the barrel end — are a configuration characteristic of Waterman production in this specific late-1920s phase, circa 1925–1929.

Its nib is a document of office history. Manifold nibs were crafted from exceptionally thick gold stock with a short slit and virtually no flex, engineered for manifold writing — pressing through stacks of carbon-copy documents — in the era before typewriters and duplicating machines took over. This one is Canadian-manufactured and bears rare side hallmarks, a feature encountered on only a very small number of period nibs.

Why it is rare

Cardinal pens are rare in any size; large formats are exceptionally scarce. Manifold nibs, worked hard by the clerks and accountants they served, rarely survived intact — and survivors with Canadian side hallmarks are prized. Both barrel imprints remain ultra deep and crisp, and the '56' end imprint retains its original red paint.

How it survived

Near New Old Stock, with two matters disclosed plainly: a fine historical hairline split at the cap-top edge has been professionally stabilized and sealed with transparent celluloid, ensuring full structural integrity; and a small factory surface irregularity beneath the second barrel imprint appears as a delicate raised line — a minor production remnant occasionally seen in early hard rubber. The Manifold nib writes with the firm precision it was designed for; the lever filler works fully and holds ink perfectly. Professionally serviced and in full writing order.