by Nancy OlsonA company’s archives always provide a wealth of information and frequently fascinating finds. Such was the case when the co-owners of Curtis Australia—during a bout of fall (yes, it’s fall in Australia) organizing—came upon an amazing discovery.
“We noticed a sealed padded bag hidden in a far corner of our vault, underneath a large quantity of paperwork,” says Heather Curtis of a find she and her husband, Glenn, recently made.
“When we opened the mysterious bag we found 60 sterling silver Abraham Lincoln pen overlays we had produced. Needles to say, we were absolutely stunned,” she continues. “It was like uncovering buried treasure.”
Treasure indeed. The mold for these overlays had been publicly destroyed at Fahrney’s pen store in Washington, D.C. in July of 2009, insuring that the number of pens produced would be clearly limited. There are 1,809 pens in the Lincoln limited edition, reflecting Abraham Lincoln’s birth year, and while this new discovery will not affect that number, additional—and unexpected—pens are now available.
Coinciding with the 12 Oscar nominations Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln received, as well as the Best Actor award it garnered for Daniel Day-Lewis in its title role at this year’s Academy Awards, this misplaced cache was indeed a fortuitous find. Lincoln, released with much acclaim late last year, is a revealing drama focusing on the sixteenth US President’s tumultuous final months in office.
Currently, the Curtis Australia Presidential series comprises three limited edition pens, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, in addition to Lincoln. Each of the pens is embellished with a finely sculpted sterling silver overlay that includes the likeness of its namesake, as well as pertinent details reminiscent of his life. Each is handcrafted using the lost-wax casting method of production, a hallmark of fine jewelry making.
Pen collectors, history buffs, and movie fans alike will undoubtedly be delighted to hear the news of more Lincoln pens on the horizon. For more information or to purchase a pen, contact info@curtisaustralia.com.
Curtis Australia is a Melbourne-based jewelry and pen atelier known for its handmade luxury products. Its heritage traces to the 1890s, when leather goods were first made by founding members of the same family in rural Australia—goods with a reputation for durability and quality. Almost a hundred years ago jewelry became the focus, and the company has evolved into the prestigious Curtis Australia brand, offering a wide selection of luxury pens, jewelry and accessories. Visit curtisaustralia.com to glimpse of some of its fine product offerings.
Disclaimer: I had been approached by Curtis Australia to publish this post. I am not in any way affiliated to the company nor the writer, nor am I receiving any benefit of any kind except for 1) a new blog post which I haven’t been able to do for a long while, lol; 2) your readership; 3) new knowledge gained about a pen company. Hope you have enjoyed this read!
I am the founder of this website.
Chemist by day, slacker by night, fanatic of stationery all the time.
I write with my left hand, but can also do the same with my right hand – it just won’t look very pretty.
