Andreas Lambrou Books are They actually Worth Buying?

[top pen]

I've been tempted many a time by them but the barrier of entry is kind of high. Primerially I focus UK and USA pens so I imagine maybe I would be Ok with just the Fountain Pens: United States of America and United Kingdom book. However I wouldn't mind the Fountain pens of the world book as well. Both books on amazon would total £170 which seems artificially high (or to put in pen terms 5 Parker 51's worth). Are they actually worth buying when so much info online these days? Or are they an invaluable pen encyclopedia?

[FredRydr]

It is a generalist book that covers many brands, and is well-illustrated. If there is no book that is specific to your brand interest, then I recommend you acquire Fountain Pens of the World.

A pile of new copies of Fountain Pens of the World were selling for $95 each at the DC Pen Show in August. That is the same price I offered and sold my copy in this forum last summer. https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/25203-FS-Fountain-Pens-of-the-World-by-Andreas-Lambrou-signed-by-author-excellent?

Abebooks is only one source for used copies of Lambrou books: https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=Andreas+Lambrou&sortby=17&n=200000169&cm_sp=pan-_-srp-_-loc

[penwash]

I only have one copy of his books, the Fountain Pens of Japan.

It's a very well illustrated and the info is hard to get outside of the body of knowledge between the authors. So I think it's worth it.

I assume the other books were made using the same process and with the same standard.

If you want to think about it in terms of pen, I thin it's worth about 1 Parker Vacumatic Azure Major in good restored condition with excellent barrel transparency. :)

By the way, where can you get 5 Parker 51 for 170 GBP ? About 40 USD each? That's very low.

[manoeuver]

yes.

[top pen]

I only have one copy of his books, the Fountain Pens of Japan.
By the way, where can you get 5 Parker 51 for 170 GBP ? About 40 USD each? That's very low.

Not that I've been all that interested as I try to look for pens I can add value too. But on Ebay UK lately each week there's at least 1 or 2 that go below £40. Generic terms such Vintage Parker pen etc brings up more that go below. It's not really worth bothering with if you are in the hoping to add value to pens however never the less you can get nice pens at a steal.

[christof]

I have all the books of Andreas Lambrou. These are just great books.
Of course I have also all the Parker Books, the Waterman‘s, Pelikan, Kaweco and MB books. I have never regretted buying these.
I am still looking for a Penkala copy...
c.

[Jon Szanto]

Worth is a very personal term. It is a valuable and enjoyable book for me and many others. Only you can determine it's worth to you.

[Robert]

Drop (f/k/a Massdrop) sells the Lambrou books from time to time. In June, 2015, I picked up autographed copies of two of his books (*Fountain Pens of Japan* and the book featuring U.S./U.K. pens). Cost including shipping was $124.90, which I think was a very good price. Since then Drop has offered these books two or three times.

[Deb]

I have two, USA and UK, and Vintage and Modern. Both were a good read. When I first had them I consulted them a lot, less so now that I have other books that cover the same areas better. I would love to have Fountain Pens of Japan as nothing else covers that area so well but it has become extremely expensive.

[guyy]

Drop have recently announced that they won't be selling writing tools or paraphernalia any more.

[catbert]

I also got the Lambrou books from (Mass)drop. Sorry to hear they're getting out of this niche.

The books are good to dip into, a little dry for extended reading, not quite as comprehensive as I'd hoped in some areas, but well worth what I paid.

[Fermata]

I feel sorry for those people who are looking for the out of print copies of these reference books, they fetch big money compared to the purchase price. The Duofold book has been on amazon at 800% of the published price.

[Fermata]

Just seen the Hull Mabie Todd book on ebay, £450!

[top pen]

Just seen the Hull Mabie Todd book on ebay, £450!

I do wonder about these sellers who price things this high. Is it that they don't really want to sell it and price it to point where it would be too much to turn down. Or do they take a decade approach and minus £2/month until the price is down to an very optimistic but slightly more rational price. Exhausting every possible sale price between £450 and £210

[Jon Szanto]

Just seen the Hull Mabie Todd book on ebay, £450!

I do wonder about these sellers who price things this high. Is it that they don't really want to sell it and price it to point where it would be too much to turn down. Or do they take a decade approach and minus £2/month until the price is down to an very optimistic but slightly more rational price. Exhausting every possible sale price between £450 and £210

There's also the situation of "I don't really have to sell this, but if someone wants to pay this much for it, fine".

[FredRydr]

Just seen the Hull Mabie Todd book on ebay, £450!
Wasn't that just published? Perhaps you get a free Princess Diana Beanie Baby with it.

[Fermata]

Just seen the Hull Mabie Todd book on ebay, £450!
Wasn't that just published? Perhaps you get a free Princess Diana Beanie Baby with it.


Published in September and the slip case edition is sold out, list price was £65 for a Limited run of 72.

I didnt understand your reference to the Dianna Beanie Baby, didnt even know such a thing existed, looked it up - $37,000 for a Beanie Baby!

Still have some of them in the loft I think. The shops I had to go round looking for beanie babies, then Furbys, then be the first to buy the Harry Potter first editions, and so it goes on.

[BoBo Olson]

In spite of having 10 meg of copied pen info I didn't know my A from my elbow until I got the '89 book....some said it's better than the later edition.
I only use it for the German pens...in it costs too much to mail an American pen across the Pond. From Europe to the Us it's about 1/3 the cost.
Don't know how England goes now with the Brexit**....but there are British made Parker and Sheaffer pens with semi-flex nibs.

** mail will be slow....they are letting new drivers, drive the huge trucks with no experience on even the middle sized ones. If you can back up a big truck one time in 4 you can get a driver's job in GB. They tossed all their truck drivers out of the country in they were foreigners and the Army only had 342 or so.
Slaughterhouse and silos have no capacity to deliver, to supermarkets or mills...nor be delivered.

[Mık Joger]

Before buying a book, the first thing I do is read the synopsis and reviews to decide if it's worth purchasing. A good book is sure to have numerous positive reviews. I also enjoy writing reviews myself after reading a book, perhaps due to my experience working at https://www.phdresearchproposal.org/ and my passion for writing. I, too, would be glad if my review of a book influenced someone's decision to buy it.

[Motomachi10]

IMO they are worth it to a pen collector.