Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Pink Sands

The Esterbrook Pen Company has introduced beautiful pens and accessories during the last two years.  A number of Esties, JRs, and new writing and journaling accessories have been released one after another. Have you tried their custom nibs? The Journaler is an excellent recreation of a vintage Esterbrook nib. Have you seen the new Bee Page Holder in Brushed Rose? Do you have Patience on your table?

By now, the Esterbrook Pen Company has introduced a number of Estie pen models in two sizes (regular, oversize) and various materials. In November 2021, Esterbrook delighted fountain pen lovers and fans with the release of their first limited edition pink fountain pen called Pink Sands. The all-pink fountain pen is inspired by the pink beaches in Greece, Indonesia, and the Bahamas, and it is a gorgeous coral pink with the proprietary all-pink nib designed in collaboration with Hinze Pen Co.

The Estie Pink Sands in the red Esterbrook box. 

During its first run, 50 Estie Pink Sands fountain pens in palladium trims were sold out in less than 24 hours. Since then, many Esterbrook fans expressed their desire to own one of the rare all-pink Estie. As a second and final limited edition run, Esterbrook has reissued the Pink Sands in gold trims this time. The final run will have 150 pens that are available only through Esterbrook. 

Estie Pink Sands has a unique vibrant color that is a mix of pinks and corals. It comes in a coral pink barrel and cap that sometimes look like red-orange.  

The limited edition Estie Pink Sands in gold trims.

Uncapping the Estie Pink Sands reveals its beautiful pink nib.

The Estie Pink Sands is a light pen even with a full converter. It's easy and comfortable to use for long periods of writing. While some pens need their caps posted for comfortable writing, Pink Sands can be used without posting the cap. I do not usually post my pens because it makes writing uncomfortable for me—the pens become too long and top-heavy. Thankfully, Estie fountain pens can be used comfortably without the need to post the cap. 

The Estie fountain pens also have the cushion cap closure feature that prevents the nib from drying as it provides a secondary seal that ensures the nib does not dry while the pen is capped. 

Pink Sands Estie's cap, section + converter, and barrel.

My Estie Pink Sands is fitted with the unique and one-of-a-kind pink nib made by Hinze Pen Co. I chose a medium nib this time, and I love writing with it. It's wet and has written smoothly out of the box. Estie Pink Sands is also available with standard Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, or 1.1 Stub nibs. They are also available with the custom Gena Salorino “Journaler” nib, or the Scribe nib by Joshua Lax.

Why 1858? In its rebirth, the Esterbrook Pen Company holds dear the history and story of how the iconic company started. 1858 was the year that entrepreneur Richard Esterbrook established his pen company under the trademark Esterbrook Pen Company, which became one of the biggest and most beloved pen makers in the world. 

The Estie Pink Sands is fitted with a pink nib especially made by Hinze Pen Co. My pen has a smooth medium nib and it writes well every time I use it.

The Estie Pink Sands has Esterbrook's cushion cap closure that provides a secondary seal to ensure that the nib does not dry up. The cap is also engraved with the Esterbrook logo. 

The pattern on the Pink Sands barrel is beautiful. The translucence reflects light beautifully with exceptional gloss and shine.

Now here is something I wish all fountain pen manufacturers would do. The metal threads in the barrel and section of the Pink Sands ensure durability and longevity. The barrel and section will stay in place and won't unscrew unnecessarily.  

Pink Sands is only one of the many beautiful Estie fountain pens that the Esterbrook Pen Company has released in the previous two years. Among these beautiful pens is the Lilac Estie released in 2020 and the Frontier Green Estie that was released in May 2021. 

Three beautiful Esties in Esterbrook's antique brass Patience Tortoise Pen Holder.

Oversize, regular, and small: Rocky Top Estie OS, Pink Sands Estie, and Esterbrook JR.

The Estie Pink Sands is a standard-sized fountain pen, sharing almost the same length as the Laban 325 Snow. It's longer than a TWSBI ECO, Lamy Safari, and Pilot Prera. It's a well-balanced pen that is comfortable to use.

To test how this beautiful pink fountain pen writes, I filled it with Robert Oster Hot Pink, a safe ink for the pink nib. The pen wrote smoothly out of the box. The medium nib wrote smoothly, there were no hard starts, and I had no trouble writing at all. I'm so happy that I chose a Medium nib for my Pink Sands because I can use it for regular writing and drawing. Pink Sands is such an enjoyable pen. It's beautiful, classy, versatile, and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

Jesse's Poem is a perfect poem to try writing with Pink Sands.

In the previous two years, Esterbrook has kept the tradition of providing good quality specialized nibs through the Esterbrook Custom Nib Program to highlight exceptional American nibmeisters. Gena Salorino of the Custom Nib Studio in Los Angeles has created the Journaler, the first edition nib in the series. The second nib in the series was the Scribe, done by JJ Lax. 

The third nib in the series is the Needlepoint, done by Pen Realm's Kirk Speer. Esterbrook has sent me one to try and I fitted it with Pink Sands. The Needlepoint is a modified #6 Fine nib, and it is a true Fine nib but I am surprised at how wet it writes. It's also very timely as I have been using more of my Medium and Fine nibs lately. I enjoyed writing with it and it matched my writing style for now.

The Needlepoint writes wet and smooth, I enjoyed writing with it.

The Needlepoint was modified from a Fine nib.

Pink Sands Estie is truly the right pen for the way I write!

I do not have many pink fountain pens and I am very happy to add one to my collection. I love the Pink Sands Estie and  I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know Esterbrook fountain pens. It's a beautiful pen and well-built for long-term use. The Pink Sands is on its final run and only a few pens remain. Make sure you get it before it's gone. Get one for your collection!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Pink Sands Estie for review purposes. The Pink Sands Estie fountain pen and the entire Esterbrook collection is available at Esterbrookpens.com. 

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Gold Rush Frontier Green

Haven't you noticed? So many beautiful things have been coming out of the Esterbrook Pen Company! It's like Santa's Workshop! Last year, they released the amazing Estie Premier (Rocky Top and Peacock) and threw in some nice accessories, too! Have you seen the Ester Book? What about the Esterbrook vintage logo stamp? Love them!

Last month, the Esterbrook Pen Company has again surprised fans and the fountain pen world when they launched a new limited edition pen series to celebrate America's Gold Rush and honor Esterbrook’s own history. The Gold Rush series is a trio of Esterbrook Esties reimagined in limited edition gilded colors, beginning with the release of the Prospector Black and the Purple Dreamer. Now, a few weeks later comes the third pen in the series, the Gold Rush Frontier Green Estie. 

I love the presentation boxes of these limited edition Esterbrook fountain pens. They are bold and expressive, fully celebrating the theme of the series.

Esties in the Gold Rush series are presented in bigger red cloth-covered boxes with a roll of limited edition Esterbrook washi tape and Eternity cloth.

The Esterbrook Pen Company celebrates the California Gold Rush, a significant event that shaped American history and was just coming to a close when Richard Esterbrook was setting up his shop on the US east coast in 1858. San Francisco became the central metropolis of the new frontier as the discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley ten years earlier stoked the American dream, leading one of the first major gold rushes since the time of the Roman Empire.

The rivers of California had plans for this sleepy part of the country and the glistening waters drew industrialists, laborers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers to sift them for ore and to secure their fortunes. This sense of making one’s own way was not lost on Richard Esterbrook, who was himself trying to make a better life for himself and his family by seeking prosperity on the United States east coast.

These significant events in history are the inspiration for the gilded colors of the Gold Rush pens. These pens are truly special because the pen blanks for the Gold Rush are made from proprietary material created by McKenzie Penworks. The sparkly, glittery, shimmering shine you see on the Frontier Green is from DiamondCast™. These sparkly, glittery blanks are created with real gem-quality diamonds that are ethically sourced as reclaimed chips direct from diamond cutters.

The Gold Rush pens are made from pen blanks by McKenzie Penworks. Estie Frontier Green is a glittery green that evokes the color of rivers in California during the Gold Rush.

The material for the Frontier Green pen is translucent, making it more unique.

The Esterbrook Gold Rush Frontier Green shares the same specifications with other Esterbrook Estie fountain pens: 

• Length, capped: 5.9 in | 15 cm
• Length, uncapped: 5 in | 12.7 cm
• Length, cap posted: 6.7 in | 17 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.4 in | 8.6 cm
• Length, cap: 2.75 inches | 6.9 cm
• Diameter, barrel: 0.5 in | 1.27 cm
• Diameter, section: 0.4 in | 1 cm
• Weight, capped: 24 g | 0.85 oz
• Nibs available: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Stub 1.1, Custom Gena/Journaler, Scribe Nib
• Also offered as a rollerball pen, and for the first time as a ballpoint pen

The Frontier Green Estie can be filled with ink using standard ink cartridges or bottled ink using the Esterbrook ink converter, both are included in each purchase.

The Frontier Green Estie's cap, section + converter, and barrel.

The Frontier Green Estie has a cushion cap closure that provides a secondary seal to ensure that the nib is always wet. The cap is also engraved with the Esterbrook logo. The Estie's narrow clip complements the clean design of the pen. 

My Frontier Green Estie is fitted with the newly-launched Esterbrook Scribe nib which is an architect nib. This is the first time I have tried an architect nib and it's fun! I love writing with it especially the thick cross stokes.

The Gold Rush Esties are available as Standard and Oversized gold-trimmed fountain pens with standard Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, or 1.1 Stub nibs. They are also available with the custom Gena Salorino “Journaler” nib, or Scribe nib for an additional cost.

The Scribe nib is an architect nib and it is new to me, but it's so cool! (I will do a separate review for this nib!)

The Frontier Green's sparkly and glittery green and gold barrel. I love the gold sparkle!

The metal threads in the barrel and section of the Estie ensure durability and longevity. The barrel and section will stay in place and won't unscrew unnecessarily. Metal threads also don't break apart easily.

I got a regular size Frontier Green Estie which is a comfortable size for my hand. It's my second regular size Estie, the first one is the Estie Lilac from last year. 

Oversize, regular size, and small. These pens are the Rocky Top Estie OS, Estie Lilac, Frontier Green Estie, and the Esterbrook JR.

The Frontier Green Estie is a full-length fountain pen, sharing almost the same length as the Laban 325 Lagoon, though it is lighter. It's also longer than a TWSBI ECO, Lamy Safari, or the Leonardo Momento Zero. It's a well-balanced pen that is comfortable to use.

The Frontier Green Estie shares the same length as the Laban Lagoon, and longer than the TWSBI ECO and Lamy Safari.

Uncapped, all pens have almost the same length.

To test the Esterbrook Scribe, I filled the Frontier Green Estie with Evergreen ink from Esterbrook. It was my first time writing with an architect nib and I was surprised at the shape of the nib. I am more used to using stubs, italics, and regular broad nibs, which are all the opposite shapes of an architect nib. I got used to it after writing a whole page of text and I love the thick cross strokes and thin upstrokes. It's new to me, but it's cool and I'll be using it more! I'll try using it to do some shape art. When I tried the nib, it wrote smoothly, I did not experience any hard starts or skipping. By experience, the Estie is such an enjoyable pen, and it's comfortable to use for long periods of writing. The Frontier Green Estie is also a beautiful pen, very elegant and classy.

I'm excited to try using the Scribe nib in doing shape art.

The Estie's section is easy to hold and comfortable for writing.

I am very happy with the Frontier Green Estie, and I feel giddy whenever I hold it because of the glittery, sparkly DiamondCast™. I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know this excellent brand and this limited edition series celebrating important events and places. It's a beautiful pen and well-built for long-term use. The Gold Rush Esties are available only in very limited quantities globally and they will be gone soon! Get one for your collection! 

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Gold Rush Frontier Green Estie for review purposes. The entire Gold Rush series and Esterbrook collection are available at Esterbrookpens.com where the pens retail for around US$350 (regular Estie, EF-stub 1.1) to US$395 (OS Estie, EF-stub 1.1). The special nibs (custom Gena or Scribe) are an additional US$50 and US$60, respectively, for either regular or OS Estie.

In the Philippines, Esterbrook pens are available at Scribeph.com.

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Rocky Top Oversize

For most of us, 2020 was such a challenging year. The pandemic has put a lot of things on hold, but not for the Esterbrook Pen Company. While the world fought the coronavirus, Esterbrook launched new pens, worked with US makers, and introduced a number of pen accessories. One such collaboration with US maker McKenzie Penworks produced unique, stunning, and limited edition fountain pens using an exclusive DiamondCast™ material. Two new limited edition pens from this collaboration were launched in December last year, the Peacock and Rocky Top Esties, both available as a rollerball, and standard or oversize fountain pens. Here is the Rocky Top Estie Oversize (OS), this blog's first fountain pen review for March. 

The Rocky Top Estie got its inspiration from the Thunderhead Mountain located in the Southeastern United States. Rising along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, Thunderhead Mountain is crossed by the Appalachian Trail. On the western part of the summit is the Rocky Top knob, a popular hiking destination. Tennessee orange daisies dot the landscape and the striations of the rocks glisten in stripes of gold, silver, and orange ochres. These are the colors and textures that find their way into this limited edition Estie.

But did you know how special the Rocky Top is? McKenzie Penworks who made the Rocky Top pen blanks added real diamonds to the mix! The sparkly, glittery, shimmering shine you see on the Rocky Top is from the diamond dust particles in the DiamondCast™. Now when I write with my Rocky Top OS, I know I'm writing with diamonds!

The Rocky Top is inspired by a popular hiking destination in Thunderhead Mountain. 

The Rocky Top Estie includes a DiamondCast™ certificate of authenticity.

The Rocky Top Estie Oversize fountain pen has the same design and style as a standard size Estie Lilac that I reviewed in September last year. It's the same clean, precise, and minimalist design that we have enjoyed since the Estie model was launched, but the Oversize model is bigger and longer. However, it's still comfortable to use and the size gives a solid feel in the hand. 

Esterbrook Estie Rocky Top Oversize

The Estie Rocky Top Oversize has the following measurements and specifications:

• Length, capped: 6.1 in | 15.5 cm
• Length, uncapped: 5.3 in | 13.4 cm
• Length, cap posted: 7.3 in | 18.5 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.6 in | 8.9 cm
• Length, section to nib: 2.25 in | 5.7 cm
• Length, cap: 2.8 inches | 7.1 cm
• Full pen weight: 33 g | 1.1 oz
• Body material: Exclusive Diamondcast Alumilite
• Color: Gold, silver, and orange with diamond shimmer/glitter
• Trim: Gold
• Cap: Screw-on with cushion cap closure; could be posted but not a perfect fit
• Clip material: Gold-plated steel 
• Nib: Gold-plated No. 6 JoWo German steel in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, 1.1 Stub, or the Esterbrook Journaler available as a US$50 upcharge
• Filling mechanism: Standard international cartridge or converter (supplied with purchase)

The Rocky Top's gold, silver, and orange pattern with diamond dust is truly mesmerizing.

The Oversize Estie does not have a ring in the barrel found in the standard Estie, but they use the same section and cartridge/converter size.

The Rocky Top Estie OS is fitted with gold-plated steel No. 6 JoWo nib. My pen has a smooth and wet broad nib, but I swapped it with the 1.1 stub from my Estie Lilac so I can use it for italic calligraphy. The stub nib writes well every time I use it as the cushion cap closure ensures it writes wet all the time.

The Estie Rocky Top OS has a cushion cap closure that provides a secondary seal to ensure that the nib is always wet. The cap is also engraved with the Esterbrook logo. The Estie's narrow clip complements the clean design of the pen. 

The Rocky Top barrel up close. Love the sparkle! The first time I saw this pen, I rubbed my fingers on the barrel to check if the diamond dust will fall off. It didn't. It won't.

The metal threads in the barrel and section of the Rocky Top ensure durability and longevity. The barrel and section will stay in place and won't unscrew unnecessarily.  

When I received the Rocky Top, the size of the Estie Oversize surprised me. When I opened the box, I knew it's a big pen as it almost filled the standard Esterbrook pen box. It is a huge pen! I thought the standard Estie is already big, but the Oversize is huge! It is also thicker in diameter than the standard pen. Side by side, the Estie Lilac looks small, but the Oversize dwarfs the JR even more. 

The Rocky Top Oversize is a huge pen, but still comfortable to use.

Before the Rocky Top Oversize, the Edison Collier was my big pen. It was longer and thicker than most of my pens. The Oversize changed that, as it is now the longest and thickest pen in my collection. 

From Top: Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Arancio, Bexley Intrepid Yellow, Rocky Top OS, Edison Collier Antique Marble, and Lamy Al-Star.

Uncapped, the Rocky Top is almost the same length as the Bexley Intrepid.

My Rocky Top came with a broad nib, and it wrote wet and smooth out of the box. I filled it with my favorite orange ink, Rober Oster Orange Zest for a perfect pen and ink match. I wanted to do italic calligraphy for this review so I swapped the broad nib with the stub from my Estie Lilac and wrote this beautiful, moving poem by American author and poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox. The Rocky Top OS is a comfortable pen to use, it is well balanced and feels extra solid in the hand.  

The Rocky Top Estie OS is an excellent pen for regular and long periods of writing. Does well for italic writing, too! Also in this photo is the Ester Book holder, designed to hold the pages of journals, based on the shape of a vintage Esterbrook nib with a modern purpose. 

I am very happy with the Estie Rocky Top Oversize fountain pen it makes me giddy whenever I hold it to write. I recommend it to anyone who wants to experience this excellent pen brand and the DiamondCast™ material. It's a gorgeous pen, and it's designed well for long-term use. Do you want to write with diamonds? Get an Estie Rocky Top!

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Rocky Top Estie for review purposes. The entire Esterbrook collection including the Rocky Top and Peacock Estie fountain pens are available at Esterbrookpens.com where each retails for around US$395. Aside from the Estie collection, the following collections are also available: JR Pocket Pen, Camden, Sparkle, Phaeton, and Popeye.

In the Philippines, Esterbrook pens are available at Scribeph.com.

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)

Fountain Pen Review: Esterbrook Estie Lilac

I'm a fan of modern fountain pens. I like their contemporary designs, and I love that most of these pens are available in a variety of materials, colors, and nibs. I like vintage fountain pens, too, and I love my Esties (our nickname for Esterbrook fountain pens) and their colors and interchangeable nibs. I rarely use them, though, because I don't want to break them, and their filling mechanism intimidates me. However, in 2018, Kenro Industries gave the Esterbrook Pen Company its rebirth, and Esterbrook fans their new Esties. I knew then that I can write with Esties again without the fear of breaking them. 

The Esterbrook Pen Company has now introduced a number of new pen models, and one of them is the Estie, a beloved nickname for Esterbrook and a fitting tribute to the brand and its history. The Estie model is available in stunning vintage-style acrylics. One of the modern Esties, the Lilac was launched in mid-2020, inspired by large lilac blooms that scent the air with trailing waves of lingering fragrance. The Estie Lilac is a well-crafted and fountain pen, and just like my vintage Esties, it's made to last for a long time.

New Esterbrook box. The makers retained the look of the red Esterbrook presentation box from the old design. The new one is bigger, though.

Esterbrook has a long history. At its peak, the company was the largest pen manufacturer in the United States. US presidents signed legislation with their Esterbrook pens. Donald Duck was brought to life with an Esterbrook, and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz used an Estie for all his comics. It was one of the most famous pen brands in America for a long time. The brand was revived in 2014, but many Esterbrook fans were unhappy about the pens from this period, and the revival was unsuccessful. In 2018, the Esterbrook Pen Company was given its rebirth led by Joel Blumberg, Kenro's founder and president, and all became well again. Fans love the new pens!

Esterbrook Estie Lilac

The Estie follows the traditional cigar-shaped design. The pens are made from stunning acrylics including the purple Lilac, the most recently launched Maraschino (red), Ebony (black), Tortoise (brown), Honeycomb (orange), Cobalt (blue), and Evergreen (green). The pens are available in either gold or silver trims. Three models, Lilac, Honeycomb, and Ebony are also offered as an oversized pen, but only the Lilac is offered in slim size with silver trim.

The Estie Lilac is made from blended and turned acrylic made with a mix of colors and a highly polished finish. The cracked ice design/pattern is stunning and the gloss is amazing. 

The Esterbrook Estie Lilac fountain pen has the following measurements:

• Length, capped: 5.9 in | 15 cm
• Length, uncapped: 5.5 in | 13.9 cm
• Length, cap posted: 6.7 in | 17 cm
• Length, barrel only: 3.4 in | 8.6 cm
• Length, section to nib: 2.2 in | 5.6 cm 
• Length, cap: 2.75 inches | 6.9 cm
• Diameter, barrel: 0.5 in | 1.27 cm
• Diameter, section: 0.4 in | 1 cm
• Weight, capped: 24 g | 0.85 oz

The Estie is a light pen even with a full converter. It's easy and comfortable to use even for long periods of writing. While some pens need their caps posted for comfortable writing, the Estie can be used without the cap posted. I do not usually post my pens because this practice makes writing uncomfortable—the pens become too long and top-heavy. Thankfully, the Estie can be used comfortably without the need to post the cap. 

The new Esterbrook fountain pens also have the cushion cap closure feature that prevents the nib from drying. The cushion cap closure provides a secondary seal that ensures the nib does not dry while the cap is on. 

The Estie's barrel, section + converter, and cap.

The Estie can be filled with ink using cartridges or converters. A short international cartridge and a converter are included in the box with each pen purchase, and it's a nice touch that Esterbrook's logo is printed on the converter. This prevents any mix-up and helps me use the correct converter for each fountain pen.

The Estie's cap has a cushion cap closure to prevent the nib from drying out when closed. The sleek clip slides easily to a shirt pocket, or pen holder. 

The Esterbrook logo is engraved on the cap and filled with gold. I'm glad that Kenro retained the original Esterbook logo design.

The Estie Lilac's barrel is just stunning. The acrylic's translucence reflects light beautifully and has exceptional gloss and shine.

Metal threads in the section and barrel are another very thoughtful addition to this pen's design. This ensures durability and prevents any loosening and breakage.

The Esterbrook Estie Lilac is fitted with a #6 nib specially manufactured by Jowo in Germany. It is available in various nib sizes: extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. The markings on the nib include the Esterbrook logo, "1858," and "1.1" (nid width). 

Why 1858? Even in its rebirth, the Esterbrook Pen Company holds dear the history and story of how the iconic company started. 1858 was the year that entrepreneur Richard Esterbrook established his pen company under the trademark Esterbrook Pen Company, which became one of the biggest and most beloved pen makers in the world. 

The No. 6 Jowo stub nib on the Estie Lilac wrote smoothly out of the box.

The Estie Lilac is a full-length fountain pen, sharing almost the same length as the Laban 325 Wisteria, though it is lighter. It's also longer than a TWSBI ECO or a Lamy Safari. It's a well-balanced pen that is comfortable to use.

The Estie Lilac shares the same length as the Laban Wisteria, and is longer than a TWSBI ECO and Lamy Safari.

Uncapped, all pens have the same length.

To test how this beautiful purple fountain pen writes, I filled it with an old favorite, J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune, a matching purple ink. The pen wrote smoothly out of the box. The #6 stub nib wrote smoothly, there were no hard starts or writing skips, no inky blobs, and I had no trouble writing at all. I'm so happy that I can use this pen for regular writing, italic calligraphy, and ink art, too! The Estie Lilac is such an enjoyable pen. It's elegant, classy, versatile, and one that can be used for long periods of writing without any discomfort.

The Estie Lilac's wet and smooth stub (1.1) nib is such a joy to write with. I'm glad that I can use it for regular writing and some italic calligraphy.

This pen can do ink art, too!

As I mentioned above, the Esterbrook Pen Company has a long history. At its peak, the company was the largest pen manufacturer in the United States. US presidents signed legislation with their Esterbrook pens. Donald Duck was brought to life with an Esterbrook, and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz used an Estie for all his comics. Millions of students grew up learning how to write using Esterbrook pens. Now that the Esterbrook Pen Company is reborn, more people will be able to enjoy the brand and continue the history of one of America's most iconic pen brand.

I am very happy with the Estie Lilac fountain pen, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to explore and know this excellent brand. It's a beautiful pen and well-built for long-term use. Get one for your collection.

Rants of The Archer thanks the Esterbrook Pen Company and Kenro Industries for providing the Estie Lilac for review purposes. The Estie Lilac fountain pen and the entire Esterbrook collection is available at Esterbrookpens.com where it retails for around US$195. Aside from the Estie collection, the following collections are also available: JR Pocket Pen, Camden, Sparkle, Phaeton, and Popeye. 

To learn more about the Esterbrook Pen Company, where to buy their pens, and for other details on purchasing their pens, visit their website at https://www.esterbrookpens.com/ or follow them on social media:

• Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/esterbrook_official/)
• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/esterbrookpens)