On the 24th April, the UK will celebrate National Stationery Day, a day devoted to pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers, and everything else in between!

The aim of National Stationery Day is to get more people putting pen to paper, and writing more often by hand. There’s more to life than a hurried text message or email, why not take the time to send a friend or relative a handwritten card, to show you care.

We have pens to suit every taste and budget, so why not take a look at some of our brands here. Or if you’re looking to buy a gift for someone else, we’ve put together what we think are the best gift ideas.

Celebrate National Stationery Day in style with The Pen Shop!

From now on, every purchase you make with The Pen Shop will be eligible for Simply Free Delivery!

If you’re placing an order online and live in Mainland UK, you’re eligible for free delivery. What’s more, there’s no minimum order value, so whether you’re buying a fountain pen or an ink refill, you won’t pay any postage.

Just add the products you wish to buy to your basket, enter your billing information and shipping information, and under Shipping Method, select free delivery. Simple!

The Prizes:
The winner will receive an Experience Day with the RSC, the RSC’s Complete Works of William Shakespeare, a limited edition RSC 50th Anniversary paper weight, Cross merchandise and tickets to The Heresy of Love at The Swan Theatre, Stratford upon Avon on Thursday 8th March 2012.

There will be five runners up who will each receive tickets to The Heresy of Love on the above date, an RSC Notebook and a Cross Pen.

How To Enter:
Playwright Helen Edmundson was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company to write The Heresy of Love, inspired by the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a poet nun and major Baroque literary figure from Mexico. Helen has written the opening line of the first scene of a new play*.

To enter the competition you should complete the scene in no more than 600 words using the opening line as follows:
“Is she here yet? Has she made it?…”

To submit your entry (typed and double spaced) please email or post by 14th February 2012 to:
nshepherd@cross.com or Nicola Shepherd, Cross, Unit 14 Windmill Trading Estate, Thistle Road, Luton, Beds, LU1 3XJ.

Terms and Conditions
1. Competition closes 14th February 2012.
2. Winners will be notified in writing by 29th February 2012.
3. Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
4. Experience Day must be taken by 31st December 2012.
5. Full terms and conditions including judging criteria can be found at www.cross-pens.eu.
6. This is not a play commissioned by the RSC but is a piece purely for the competition.*

The Caran d’Ache Horlogerie 1010 Limited Edition Fountain pen is the ultimate writing instrument for those who appreciate the fine craftsmanship, expertise and time that goes into the production of pens and watches alike.

Taking its name from ten minutes past ten, the moment where the hands on a watch dial are perfectly balanced, the barrel is designed to resemble watch gears and is made of rhodium-coated silver and polished by hand.

The piston pump is set with a ruby and sapphire crystal dome, further adorning this writing instrument with characteristics commonly seen in high-end wristwatches.

We’re pleased to announce that as of today, we’ve slashed the price from £15,000 to £9,999, a saving of more than £5000!

So why not make someone’s Christmas (and presumably birthday too!), and purchase the ultimate writing instrument today.

This Christmas, we want your shopping experience to be as stress-free as possible, so we’ve put together the following guide on how to get free delivery on selected purchases made with The Pen Shop.

You may have noticed our adverts in the national press, and on each advert you can find a code (it’ll be two letters followed by four numbers.) This code entitles you to free delivery on the item pictured.

HOW TO REDEEM YOUR CODE:

1: Find the relevant item on our website, and add it to your basket.

2: Once in your basket, you’ll notice a Promotional Code box. Here is where you’ll enter the code from the advert. Click ‘Apply Code’.

3: If successful, you’ll receive a confirmation at the top of the page.

4: Continue to check out as normal, entering your billing address. Step 4 of the checkout process is Shipping Method. You will see three options, the first of which is ‘Free Shipping £0.00.’ Click this option, then click ‘Continue’.

5: Enter your payment details.

6: Sit back and wait for your items to arrive! Simple!

Happy shopping!

After what feels like an eternity, Parker Ingenuity is finally here, and we’re thrilled to be amongst the first in the UK to offer you this revolutionary pen.

You may be wondering what’s so special about Ingenuity, and why we’re making such a song and dance about this pen in particular. The answer is simple: Parker Ingenuity is unlike any pen you’ve used before.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, fountain pens are often seen as novelties, a pleasant luxury perhaps, but certainly not an essential every day tool. In the age of word processing, instant messaging, SMS, BBM and countless other baffling acronyms, the once-mighty fountain pen struggles to compete.

This is where Ingenuity comes in. Combining ease, a soft writing feel and stylish, high-end design, Parker has produced a writing instrument which genuinely offers a fifth way of writing. As simple to use and refill as a ball pen, as good-looking as a fountain pen and with ink that doesn’t smudge or fade, Parker Ingenuity is set to revolutionise the way we think about writing instruments.

So, why not take a look at our range, and be amongst the first to experience Parker’s 5^th Dimension.

George Safford Parker started out not as a maker of pens, but rather as a teacher of telegraphy (the long-distance transmission of messages using signalling technology.) To supplement his teaching income, Parker started selling pens for the John Holland Pens Company and soon his students were his main customers.

When the pens he sold malfunctioned, Parker felt obligated to fix them. Soon he became overwhelmed with repair work and decided to invent his own version of the fountain pen. With that, in 1888 in Janesville, Wisconsin, the Parker pen company was born.

The following year, Parker patented his first fountain pen. In 1891 he found an investor, insurance broker W. F. Palmer, for his fledgling company. With an initial investment of $1,000, Palmer bought half of Parker’s shares in both the patents and the business. The Parker pen company was officially open for business, and in 1892 the company was legally incorporated.

The first major breakthrough for the company came in 1894 with the Lucky Curve ink feed system. The feed system was designed to drain the ink back into the reservoir by capillary action when the pen was upright in the pocket of its owner. Parker employed this special technique in most of its top-selling pens until 1928. With the advent of the Lucky Curve system, Parker was now a major player in the fountain pen market.

Unlike most companies, the onset of the First World War did little to slow business for the Parker pen company, partially due to the invention of the Trench Pen. This pen held black pellets in its barrel which, when added to water, would transform into ink. The U.S. War Department awarded Parker a contract for the Trench pen, ensuring the company’s financial success throughout the First World War.

In 1921, Parker introduced the Duofold. Nicknamed the “Big Red”, it embodied the feel of the Roaring Twenties – big, bold and very jazzy. At $7, it was also the most expensive pen on the market. Pleased with their success, Parker guaranteed all Duofolds for 25 years.

Parker’s Duofold family expanded in 1926 and 1927 to include Jade Green, Mandarin Yellow, Lapis Blue and Pearl and Black – all available in a first-of-its-kind durable plastic called Permanite. The new material replaced the traditional vulcanised rubber, which tended to be brittle. Parker employed publicity stunts, such as throwing these new pens over the Grand Canyon and out of an aeroplane at 3,000 feet to prove their durability.

In 1988, in recognition of the company’s 100^th birthday, the world witnessed the relaunch of the Duofold, now renamed the Duofold Centennial. Like its predecessors, the Centennial met with huge success.

Parker established the Platinum Club in 1989 in the U.S. and Australia for Duofold owners, offering elite privileges and complementary services. The following year, Parker enhanced the Duofold collection with the addition of the Parker International fountain pen, a slimmer, shorter version of the Centennial, and the Duofold roller ball. Made from solid blocks of hand-cast acrylic trimmed in 23K gold plate, the Centennial proves impervious to wear due to its diamond-polished lustre.

Today, Parker remains amongst the top writing instrument manufacturers in the world. Their enduring designs, along with constant innovation, have allowed the famous ‘arrow’ clip to adorn the pens of millions of people worldwide.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our brief history of Parker. You can see our range of modern Duofolds here, or why not browse the entire range here.

For years there have been four established ways of writing. The pencil, ball pen, rollerball and fountain pen. Many people prefer the speed of the pencil or the quick-drying ink of the ball pen, yet when it comes to the art of writing, none can match the expressive nature of the fountain pen.

A handwritten letter speaks volumes about the author. The time spent to craft a one-of-a-kind document, the handwriting style saying almost as much as the words themselves.

Sadly, fountain pens are often seen as unnecessary or antiquated, more of a fiddly luxury item for collectors and enthusiasts than an essential daily item. There’s no denying that when it comes to convenience, a ball pen with virtually smudge-proof ink would be the first choice for many, and the reproducible nature of word processors has revolutionised the way businesses communicate – can the once-mighty fountain pen really compete?

For many, their experience of fountain pens began (and ended) at school; fumbling around in pencil cases for that elusive ink cartridge, ink-stained shirt pockets and smudged workbooks – perhaps now we look back at these memories fondly, but it’s easy to see why many people are glad to be rid of the inconvenience. Thankfully, advances in technology have enabled the fountain pen to lose many of these unattractive traits, but for some, the first impression lasts longest.

This autumn will see the release of a new means of writing. A series of pens unlike any other – all the charm of the fountain pen with none of the drawbacks. No more smudged ink (Southpaws rejoice!), no more leaks, scratchy nibs or endless refilling. You don’t need to choose between style and ease-of-use. Now you can have both.

Are you ready for the 5^th Dimension?

For more than 100 years the Montblanc name has stood for the art of writing, while the snow-covered peak of the Mont Blanc mountain has symbolised the high-quality status of the brand.

Montblanc’s classic fountain pen series, the Meisterstück, is perhaps the most widely-recognised fountain pen range in the world. The classic torpedo shape has remained virtually unchanged since it’s creation in 1924, and has since become a cult item – often imitated, but never equalled.

Nowadays Montblanc produces a whole collection of luxury goods, from pens and watches to leather goods and accessories, with each being the culmination of years of passion and expertise.

The Pen Shop began life as T&G Allan in 1858, a stationers, newsagent and bookseller based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Before long, new departments were opened, selling gifts, pens and greetings cards, until finally in 1946 the first Pen Shop was opened.

In 1987, The Pen Shop expanded and became Europe’s largest writing instrument specialist. Now, almost 15 years later, we’re proud to have helped thousands of people find their perfect writing instrument, and to have discovered the art of writing.

It is perhaps fitting, then, that after many years of working together, Montblanc and The Pen Shop are thrilled to announce the opening of our ‘online boutique’, where you can find the whole range of Montblanc products – from pens and pencils to bags and belts. Why not take a look, there’s something for everyone.

We’re sure you’ll love the selection. Not only is it a huge leap forward for us with regard to the range of items on offer, but now everything can be ordered directly through our website – no need to call our Mail Order department.

You can find the boutique by clicking here, or selecting ‘MONTBLANC’ from the menu at the left of our homepage.

We are pleased to announce we’ve slashed the prices on some of our Kingsley items, from pens and notebooks to leather goods. Our popular ‘Mona’ Leather Pen pouches are less than half price, which means there’s never been a better time to snap one up. Available in a range of colours, we’re sure to have one that’s perfect for you.

Also cheaper than half price are our Kingsley Passport holders, the perfect accessory for your holiday this summer. Or how about our Bombay Duck Travel Sets at only £15 (reduced from £32) for a passport cover, luggage tag and matching document wallet.

Also on sale is our fantastic range of Pelikan pens, with 30% off across the entire line.

Don’t forget, you can check out all these deals by visiting the Sale tab at the top of our homepage, where you’ll also find huge savings on Cross, Sheaffer and Waterman.

As for upcoming products, we’re excited to announce we will be stocking the Flex line of stationery from Filofax. Featuring a unique arrangement of pockets into which you can slot your choice of inserts, you can carry as much – or as little – as you like. Available in three sizes and three colours, Flex will be appearing in your local Pen Shop and online very soon.

As always, make sure to come back soon to take advantage of these great deals.