The Firenze (Florence, Italy) Pen Show 2003

Santa Maria del Fiore

I travel to many pen shows during the year and Firenze (Florence) in Italy as a venue is a beautiful city - especially at night with friends in a tratoria, the shining lights and good vino. The Hotel Jolly is a beautiful building near the River Arno with it’s beautiful bridges and famous buildings that are centuries old.

Mr. Vanzi is the organizer of this pen show and also of the ones in Bologna and Milano.
This show is small and has only about 15 dealers, a friend came from Geneva and myself from Zagreb, Croatia.

Miro Tischler

The people that come to exhibit are all dealers and pen collectors, but it would be nice to see some of the famous Italian pen companies come to exhibit. This would help to attract more people to visit the show and this Hotel.

Many beautiful pens are shown, traded and sold. Many vintage Pelikan, Montblanc, Aurora and other famous Italian pens. I look out in particular for Penkala pens for my research on the old company originated in my home in Zagreb.

A view of the show

One of the best pens at the show was a Montblanc #8 safety and it was sold – and as it was me that sold it, I was very happy! I saw a beautiful Montblanc Rouge et Noir advertising poster from 1910 that was sold for only 150 Euro.

I will come again to Firenze even if one “ball” of lemon ice cream cost 5,20 Euro, at home in Zagreb it is only 0,50 Euro. I like the taste better in Zagreb.

Piazza Duomo

Your Way to Florence – a tour if you did not make the pen show