A report on the event that made the hearts of writing instrument enthusiasts race.
Hungary Pen Show third time
On November 22, Saturday, the conference room of Lurdy Ház was filled for the third time with fans of writing instruments – conversations were buzzing, new friendships were formed, pens and inks changed hands.
Even in the morning hours, the anticipation was palpable: exhibitors were unpacking boxes, helpers were packing prizes into canvas bags, and the organizers were preparing everything so that the gates could open at 10.
The host of the Pen Show (also the Pens&Hours Facebook group administrator, Csaba Kiss officially welcomed the exhibitors and opened this year's event – by then, a considerable line had formed at the entrance.
Helpers behind the scenes
I was also present as a helper this year – and I recommend this role to every writing instrument enthusiast. The group members, as enthusiastic amateur hosts/hostesses, answered visitors' questions, assisted the exhibitors, and everyone received a kind word.
The power of the community was palpable at every moment; we worked together, laughed, and of course tried out pens.
Vintage magic: past and heritage
This year, the vintage zone was incredibly popular again. Zoltán Kovács In the charming collection of the fountain pen restorer, pre-war and old Hungarian fountain pens, Montblancs, Parkers, Pelikans lined up, and even old family heirlooms surfaced.
Zoli knows everything about these pieces and happily shared the stories of the pens. The stand was a fresh point at the Pen Show, as everyone of all ages could find something new.
Ferenc Hiesz and his sons represented the bridge between vintage and modern this year: alongside their antique office supplies, they also showcased the Blackwing pencils new generation, which has become a TikTok trend, with super cool sharpeners and accessories.
This stand brought a real atmosphere – regardless of age, everyone was happy to chat with them about the secrets of pencil culture or try out the latest pieces.
An Tran 1. (USA) not only brought special vintage pens but also a popular „pen rummager” where real treasures could be found.
2. Kass Zsolt 3. his table was crammed with rare and limited Montblanc pens, as well as various desk accessories. 4. Bukovetz György 5. invited us on a true time travel: at his table, we could find antique pencils, rulers, sharpeners, and old notebooks.
6. The momentum of modern craftsmanship
7. Pető Sándor 8. and there is no Pendors stand without Hungary Pen Show9. ! Sándor is not only one of the main organizers and driving forces but also one of the most colorful personalities of the event. Alongside handmade writing instruments, his tables featured accessories such as leather cases, pen holder stands, or sample pieces showcasing the materials used in pen manufacturing. The biggest sensation at Sanyi's stand this year was the fountain pen hidden inside a hundred-year-old bamboo walking stick.
10. Next to him, the other main organizer, Máté Bikfalvi 11. (Pennonia) allowed us to try their limited edition inks. The official color of this year's Hungary Pen Show was „Pannon green,” which guests could test in demonstrator pens along with other colors. Máté's table 12. was shared with Sultis Attila. 13. The visually stunning, two-colored inks created in their collaboration, as well as the shoulder bags containing Attila's drawings, completed the already lavish ink selection.
14. the founders of the premium fountain pen brand also arrived with an impressive selection as usual. The r.feather modular, interchangeable nib model was a crowd favorite again this year, which is no surprise: it's a true.
9. The Etelburg 15. tool 16. writing instrument that comes with various tools. 17. (Szibapen) stand attracted visitors with the integration of natural materials: Balázs makes his writing instruments using barrel staves, grapevines, antlers, and horn. Balázs Szili 18. At the high-tech fountain pen brand's table, Zsolt Pataki was telling engineering students about the beauty of the profession (and of course, fountain pen making). The engineering and computer science girls studying in Győr eagerly tried the Capillaris fountain pen made of titanium, and Zsolt never ran out of good stories.
A Capillaris 19. Colorful selection.
Colorful selection
A Pentel The stand was popular this year as well: many were curious about the Japanese writing instrument manufacturer EnerGel's products and the colorful selection of Orenz mechanical pencils.
9. The Uni Mitsubishi Pencil also arrived with a huge selection. From the brand's classic, reliable ballpoint pens to the most modern hybrid ink-filled writing instruments, everything was available in the offer.
At the Uni stand, the Posca product line caught my attention the most: with these special, colorful markers, you can practically draw on anything from glass to fabric.
A Drawer The Kaweco pocket fountain pens were also popular at their stand, where I found special colored variants. The Kaweco fountain pen maker machine provided a unique experience, where anyone could create their own custom pen.
A Kazuma Art created cityscapes with fountain pens at their stand; this is real inspiration for every hobby calligrapher and anyone looking to develop the art of hand drawing/writing. If you want to get a glimpse into their creative processes, check out their stunning time-lapse videos.
International atmosphere, new directions
The Hungary Pen Show is now a true international event: among the foreign exhibitors were the aforementioned An Tran (USA), Black Forest Pen (Germany), Kasia Stier (Poland) and S.T. Dupont (France) team as well.
Marco Tagliani They brought the legendary, revived Omas brand from Italy. The fantastic selection included a titanium fountain pen made for Lamborghini's 50th anniversary. When I arrived, someone was just buying a mechanical pencil: its new owner was happily admiring the elegant writing instrument.
MichaelmagschöneDinge arrived with Montblanc rarities, special wristwatches, and distinctive Lamy Al-Star models – the German Bauhaus-style NOMOS Glashütte Tetra watches have gained new fans not only among pen collectors but also among watch enthusiasts.
9. The Aeris Wings its jewelry contributed to the experience with colorful earrings and pendants.
Paper, notebooks, and creative treasures
One of Hungary's classic stationery retailers, Béla Mudrák this year also delighted Pen Show visitors with a fantastic selection of fountain pens. This year, it arrived with colorful Kanwrite fountain pens – Kanwrite is an Indian manufacturer founded in Kanpur in 1986, producing affordable, quality fountain pens, mostly with flexible nibs, for which replacement parts can also be purchased. At his table, I also discovered mini jewelry pens – these seemed to be quite popular among the ladies. It was worth delving deeply into the offerings, which also hid one or two rare vintage fountain pens: I was surprised to find a boxed Onoto fountain pen estimated from the 1950s, which is a British luxury fountain pen brand.
Next to Béla Mudrák's table, as we have become accustomed to in previous Pen Shows, the Artists' Shop.
exhibited. The selection here was also abundant: I saw special papers, Taccia and Diamine inks, as well as premium notebooks. My favorite was the Diamine advent calendar (Inkvent), which is guaranteed to make every fountain pen enthusiast's heart race. Visitors could also flip through Zezil's, creative time planner notebook this year,.
which a friend recommended to me last year – it was nice to spend time at the always-smiling Cecilia's table, she had a kind word for everyone.
Closing with thunderous applause
