Waterman · 1920s
Waterman 58 Oversize
Manifold Nib, Gold-Plated Trim — c. 1925–1929
A serious business instrument of the late 1920s — oversize authority, built for the carbon-copy desk.
E3 Rare
€540 Showcase figure — preview build
Available
- Authenticity guaranteed
- Professionally serviced — full writing order
- Insured worldwide shipping, UPS Express
- 14-day examination period
- Year
- c. 1925–1929
- Nib
- 14C · Medium · Manifold
- Material
- Black hard rubber (ebonite)
- Filling system
- Lever filler
- Condition
- Near Mint
- Length
- 15.3 cm / 6.02 in
Heritage & Provenance
The story of this piece
Why it exists
This pen comes from the later phase of No. 58 production — the mature expression of one of the most respected professional writing instruments of the 1920s. Oversize in format, with gold-plated clip, cap ring and lever, it was built to project quiet authority on a desk: a business tool first, an ornament second.
Why it matters
Dating is confirmed by the two-imprint configuration characteristic of later-issue examples, the secondary imprint positioned near the barrel end — circa 1925–1929. The Manifold nib tells the rest of the story: exceptionally thick gold stock, minimal slit, virtually no flex, engineered for pressing legible copies through carbonpaper stacks. Accountants, clerks, and professionals relied on exactly this instrument before typewriters and duplicating machines displaced it.
Why it is rare
Original Manifold nibs are distinctly scarce today — many were lost or damaged through prolonged heavy use — and encountering one in an oversize Waterman is uncommon. Not a pen for expressive flex writing; prized instead for precision, durability, and historical authenticity.
How it survived
Near Mint, with minor wear to the gold-plated trims. The central barrel imprint shows good depth in most letters with perfect general legibility; the secondary imprint is fully deep with perfect legibility; the end imprint shows good depth and perfect legibility. The lever filler works fully and holds ink perfectly. Professionally serviced and in full writing order.
Taken together — oversize format, the scarce Manifold nib, and honest professional-grade preservation — a compelling artefact of late-1920s office culture: a pen defined by purpose, engineering, and enduring functionality.
Condition & Inspection
Inspection report
- Imprints: barrel, central — good depth in most letters, perfect general legibility. Barrel, near the end — fully deep, perfect legibility. End — good depth, perfect legibility.
- Nib: Manifold — rigid by design, for carbon-copy writing.
- Filling system: fully working; holds ink perfectly.
- Overall: Near Mint, with minor wear to the gold-plated trims.
- Professionally serviced and in full writing order.
Condition grades describe preservation state; every piece is additionally serviced and brought to full writing order before it is offered. Inspected by Pen Essence.
Specifications
Measured & recorded
| Brand / Model | Waterman 58 Oversize, Lever Filler, Gold-Plated Trim |
|---|---|
| Year / Period | c. 1925–1929 (two-imprint configuration) |
| Nib | 14C · Medium · Manifold |
| Material / Finish | Black hard rubber |
| Filling system | Lever filler |
| Length (capped) | 15.3 cm / 6.02 in |
| Diameter (cap) | 1.55 cm / 0.61 in |
Rarity
E3 · Rare — on the Pen Essence Curation Scale
The oversize format already places the No. 58 above standard production; the Manifold nib — made in comparatively small numbers for demanding professional use, and often lost to the heavy pressure it was built to endure — makes the combination uncommon and increasingly difficult to find today.
Exceptional · Museum-Grade
Very Rare
Rare This piece
Distinctive
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Collector-Grade
Authenticity & guarantee
We are curators of writing legacy. Each piece is vetted for authenticity and significance before it is offered — authenticity guaranteed, without time limit.
Shipping & packaging
Worldwide via UPS Express — fully insured and tracked, handled with archival care. Typical delivery: 2 days at the fastest, around 7 days to most destinations, up to 14 days at the outside. Details →
Examination period & terms
Every acquisition carries a 14-day examination period. The first substantive enquiry places a 48-hour courtesy hold while we correspond. Full terms →
Correspondence
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One-of-one inventory: the first substantive enquiry places a 48-hour courtesy hold while we correspond. How acquiring works →
Further examination
