Parker · 1921–1936 · Button and lever filler
Permanite flat-top, late 1920s
The Duofold made Parker. District manager Lewis Tebbel pushed a bright red, oversize pen past doubtful bosses in 1921, and it became an overnight hit that buyers nicknamed Big Red. The first ones were red hard rubber. From about 1925 Parker switched to a DuPont celluloid it called Permanite, and it sold the new material as unbreakable with ads showing pens dropped from tall buildings. A 1928 Senior is the full-size flat-top in Permanite, and that year the cap band was split into two narrow bands. It's a button filler. Take off the blind cap and press the button, and a bar squeezes the rubber sac inside. Red is the classic, and Mandarin Yellow, added in 1927, is the rare one. It didn't sell, and Tony Fischier reckons there are 500 Big Reds for every yellow. Parker streamlined the line in 1929, so 1928 flat-tops are the last of the original shape.
The rubber sac behind the button perishes with age, so an unrestored pen won't fill until it's resacked. Cap lips can split from years of posting, and polishing wears away the barrel imprint collectors use to date these.
Buying guide
Our pick is rgbpd1's Jade Green Senior titled working at $163 delivered, about half what most Seniors ask. There are 26 for sale and most ask $270–490 delivered, mostly Big Red and Jade Green pens, with two Mandarin Yellow ones at $922 and $1,418. Ask whether the sac has been replaced, since an unrestored button filler won't fill until it's resacked, and look closely at the cap lip for hairline splits. A 1928 flat-top has two narrow cap bands, so count them in the photos if you want that year.
$50.00est. delivered
The lowest current price on a complete Senior at about $50 delivered, in Pearl and Black with a 14K fine nib. It had 3 bids and eight days left at capture, so it will climb, and we'd stop around $165 delivered, since a Jade Green Senior titled working asks $163.
Parker Duofold Senior Fountain Pen in Pearl and Black - 14k Fine Nib
$162.70est. delivered
Titled working, in Jade Green with a 14K fine nib, at $163 delivered, well under the $270–490 band. Ask when it was resacked, and check the cap lip for splits in the photos.
Parker Vintage Senior Jade Green Pen working-Duofold l4k fine point
$312.34est. delivered
A Jade Green Streamline Senior titled works, with an extra-fine nib, at $312 delivered, inside the band. Pick this one if you want a pen to write with, and ask when the sac was replaced.
Parker Vintage Duofold Senior Streamline Pen- jade green-extra-fine point-works
$921.98est. delivered
Mandarin Yellow is the rare Duofold color, and one collector reckons there are 500 Big Reds for every yellow. This 1928 Senior asks $922 delivered, about $500 less than the other one here, so check the photos for even color and a clean cap lip.
RARE 1928 Parker Duofold Senior Mandarin Yellow 14K Gold Nib Fountain Pen
$149.34est. delivered
Sold as is, a Black and Pearl Streamline Senior with a 14K medium nib at $149 delivered, well under the band. Budget for a resac at least, and check the cap lip for splits.
Parker Duofold Streamline Senior 5.1" M 14k Nib Black Pearl Fountain Pen - AS-IS
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$50.00est. delivered
$40.00 + $10.00 shipping
Auction · 3 bids · ends in 8d 5h
Good buy
Pearl and Black, 14K fine nib. Auction with 3 bids and eight days left.
Seller: gopens_com
100% positive
Used$162.70est. delivered
$145.00 + $17.70 shipping
Buy It Now$145.00
Good buy
Jade Green, titled working, 14K fine nib.
Seller: rgbpd1
99.9% positive
Used$312.34est. delivered
$295.34 + $17.00 shipping
Buy It Now$295.34
Good buy
Jade Green Streamline, titled works, extra-fine nib.
Seller: rgbpd1
99.9% positive
Used$921.98est. delivered
$899.99 + $21.99 shipping
Buy It Now$899.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Mandarin Yellow, titled 1928. The rare Duofold color.
Seller: amstel2679
99.6% positive
For parts$149.34est. delivered
$139.99 + $9.35 shipping
Buy It Now$139.99
Project piece
Sold as is. Streamline in Black and Pearl, 14K medium nib.
Seller: that_canon_guy
100% positive
Used$303.50est. delivered
$295.00 + $8.50 shipping
Buy It Now$295.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Big Red. The title praises the nib but says nothing about the sac.
Seller: artz9
99.8% positive
Used$342.72est. delivered
$315.77 + $26.95 shipping
Buy It Now$315.77
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Big Red. Ships from Canada with $27 shipping.
Seller: sjacobi_64
99.5% positive
Used$1,418.15est. delivered
$1,409.50 + $8.65 shipping
Buy It Now$1,409.50
Priced high
About $500 more than the other Mandarin Yellow Senior here.
Seller: mngator
98.5% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA pen that’s sat in a drawer for decades wants a flush before it sees ink. A bulb syringe, pen flush and a bottle of well-behaved ink cover most of it. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
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Sheaffer · 1929–1942
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Pre-war and wartime
$110–$190 typical ask
Parker · 1941–1948
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$100–$210 typical ask
Parker · 1948–1969
AerometricAero-metric filler, 1948 to 1969
Post-war golden age
$130–$270 typical ask
Parker · 1937–1948
VacumaticMid-size Vacumatic, 1937 to 1948
Pre-war and wartime
$140–$240 typical ask
Parker · 1964–1994
Cartridge and converterSterling silver crosshatch, 1964 to 1994
Post-war golden age
$140–$210 typical ask
Parker · 1964–2007
Cartridge and converterBrushed stainless steel, from 1964
Post-war golden age
$55–$90 typical ask