You can feel the hand engraving on this one before you ever ink it. Pansy Panel was cut by hand, and no two engravers worked the florals the same way, so two pens in the same pattern can look very different side by side. The depth and the art really do come through under your fingers. This one has deep, crisp cuts and fantastic yellow-gold color, with the lever plated in 18kt to match.

The Canada 2 is a spectacular nib, amazing snapback and hairlines. Unflexed it writes a fine line; under moderate pressure it swells past 7x to a 5B, and the small format keeps your fingers close to the page, which adds precision to flourishing and calligraphy work.

The model number reads right to left: 2 for the nib size, 5 for lever-filler, 5 for full overlay, with the leading 0 marking that overlay gold-filled; ½ is slender and V is vest-pocket. That makes the 0552½ V the smallest standard overlay 52 Waterman sold, and Pansy Panel itself ran in the 1910s catalogs.

Graded B, near mint, with a period owner's J.M. personalization disclosed as found. The ebonite and overlay have already been through discoloration restoration; final lever service fits a silicone sac, which clears it for any ink you want to run.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm White with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Waterman's

• Model: 0552.5V

• Production Year: 1920

• Material: Gold Metal Overlay

• Trim Color: Gold

• Nib Size: 2

• Nib Material: 14k gold

• Nib Grind: FM

• Nib Flexibility: 310 g

• Line Variation: 0.30 - 1.85 (7.4x)

• Pen Length: 95.24

• Pen Grip Section: 6.63

• Restorer: Heron's Mooncake

• Restoration Grade: B