Pen shops in London and Paris?

[pensloth]

Anyone have recommendations or suggestions for shops with good selections that might not be the well-advertised stores?

-PS

[View from the Loft]

Sadly, not for shops in London. But if you in London on a Saturday morning, Henry Simpole has a stall in the Admiral Vernon arcade at Portobello market.

[dapprman]

Also if you're in London on the first Saturday of the month (except October) then there's the London Pen Club - In October we're meeting the next day, before the London Writing Equipment Show.

[SIR]

Mora Stylos - Paris.

[fountainpagan]

IN PARIS

PALAIS DU STYLO

PAPETERIE SAINT SABIN

PLUME ET BILLE

OPERA STYLOS

[FredRydr]

Mora Stylos - Paris.

One day I would like to visit. I meet Andre Mora at pen shows stateside often enough.

[urushi4u]

London is pretty hopeless. There are a few places, considering themselves 'boutique' and charging silly prices (even over the RRP on new pens!). There are also quite a few stalls in the various trendy market areas selling vintage, but they're not exactly fountain pen experts and also are trying to charge twice the going rate. London is bad for pen tourism.

[amk]

Selfridges pen counter is helpful, friendly, has Waterman, Graf von Faber Castell and other brands inc Lamy, and good stationery selection. Nothing you won't have seen before.

[fountainpagan]

In London, you can go and see Henry Simpole, on saturdays, at Admiral Vernon Arcade, Portobello Road. He sells some vintage pens.

[amk]

Jop mentions Harrods - I seem to remember their pen selection featured some fantastic silversmithing from Jack Row. Really beautiful pens, though at a price that exceeds my budget. So that might be a good place to go gongoozling but perhaps leave your credit card at home...

I should add for London, Bermondsey Antiques Market on Friday morning usually turns up various pens; I was offered tons of 45s at £10 each and then a Parker 51 at the same price. I took the bargain! The bacon roll and coffee stand serves an excellent breakfast - you will need to get there early as it's all over by midday. You may find *one* nice pen. Don't forget the inside part of the market as well as the stands outside.

And for Paris, Vanves flea market on Saturday and Sunday mornings, where I have found some lovely pens at good prices (Parker 61 gold filled, Pelikan 100s, Vacumatics, Eversharp Bantam, for 10-20 euros each). It's probably not worth it purely for the pens but it's an interesting market, with a fascinating mix of stuff including old musical instruments, Tibetan antiquities, fine porcelain, and house clearance tat (those are the boxes where I find piston filling Rotrings!)