parkerpens.net / parkercollector.com [source]
Parker · 1964-1994
Parker 75
Variants
| Model | Material | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisele | Sterling silver crosshatch pattern | Most common and iconic | |
| Grain d'Orge (Barleycorn) | Sterling silver barleycorn pattern | ||
| Spanish Treasure | Sterling silver from 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet shipwreck | $500-2000+ | Made from recovered silver. Certificate of authenticity. |
| Bicentennial | 1976 US Bicentennial commemorative | ||
| Moon Dust / Apollo 15 | Gold and moon dust from Apollo 15 (1972) | $26,500 (Bonhams 2001) | Powdered gold and lunar dust mounted to barrel |
| Flighter | Brushed stainless steel | ||
| Gold-filled | Various gold-filled patterns | ||
| Thuya | Lacquer woodgrain pattern | ||
| Jasper/Malachite/Burgundy | Lacquer gemstone-effect patterns | ||
| French 18k | French production with 18k gold nib (vs standard 14k) |
What to Look For
Adjustable nib angle — rotates for optimal positioning. Triangular gripping section (early) or teardrop (later). $25 originally in 1964. The Spanish Treasure edition is made from silver recovered from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet shipwreck off Florida. The Apollo 15 Moon Dust pen ($26,500 at Bonhams 2001) has powdered gold and actual lunar dust mounted to the barrel — possibly the most valuable production Parker pen ever sold at auction.
An elegant, slim pen in sterling silver — one of Parker’s most popular premium models, introduced in 1964 at $25.1
Design
The Parker 75’s most distinctive feature is its adjustable nib angle — the nib unit rotates to find the optimal writing position for each user.1 The triangular gripping section (early models) or teardrop-shaped section (later) ensures comfortable, fatigue-free writing.2 The 14k gold nib (18k on French production models) delivers smooth, consistent lines.2
Finishes
The Cisele (crosshatch) pattern in sterling silver is the most iconic and common finish.1 Other notable variants include:
- Grain d’Orge (Barleycorn) — sterling silver barleycorn pattern
- Spanish Treasure — made from silver recovered from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet shipwreck off Florida, with certificate of authenticity3
- Bicentennial — 1976 US commemorative
- Moon Dust / Apollo 15 — powdered gold and actual lunar dust from the 1972 Apollo 15 mission, mounted to the barrel. Sold at Bonhams in 2001 for $26,500 — possibly the most valuable production Parker pen ever sold at auction.3
Market
Standard Cisele pens sell for $40-100. Gold-filled versions reach $100-200. The Spanish Treasure commands $500-2,000+. The Apollo 15 Moon Dust pen is in a class by itself.3