Parker nib, 14k Gold, England No. 10, Medium
Mabie Todd Swan, Lever-fill, Gold Chased pattern.
*condition; heavy brassing, Parker nib
One of the longest-lived makers of writing equipment, Mabie Todd was a firm whose partners' involvement in gold nib and pencil manufacture dated back to the 1840s; Mabie, Todd & Co. itself was established in 1860 in New York City.
The company was reformed as Mabie Todd & Bard in 1873, and continued to offer a wide range of top quality pens, pencils, and accessories of innovative design. Their first fountain pen, the Calligraphic (or "Calli-graphic"), was introduced at the beginning of 1880, utilizing the patents of pen inventor William W. Stewart. Production of "Swan" fountain pens appears to have begun by 1887; Swan overlay eyedroppers were among the most beautiful and ornate pens of their era. Mabie, Todd & Bard reverted to Mabie, Todd & Co. around 1907, when it was incorporated in the state of New York.