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We are delighted to be returning to the beautiful
Manhattan Beach Marriott in 2010!

To get information about this and future LA Pen Shows (and only that), drop an e-Mail to with your name and mailing address.

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The 2009 LA Pen Show has again ended.  We want to thank you all for joining us in 2009 and hope to see you back in 2010.  Be sure to keep President's Day weekend on your pen show agenda so you can attend.  Despite the changing economy this was one of the largest LA Pen Shows ever.  We had as many tables as ever and more attendees than the year before.  In short, we didn't miss a beat and things in LA went better than we even hoped!

In honor of the Anniversary of The LA Pen Show, The Manhattan Beach Marriott provided a great meal discount if you ate at their beautiful restaurant in 2009.  They provided a 15% discount for you and your guests. 

The Los Angeles International Pen Show is one of the largest pen shows in the world, if not the largest.  The 2008 Show featured more than 175 exhibitor tables with over 20 countries in attendance and we expect the number of foreign attendees to increase in 2009.  The 2009 Show opened to the public on Sunday, February 15, 2009 with pre-show activities for Traders extending from Thursday February 12 through February 14, 2009. 

Numerous vendors were again available for sale of inks, new fountain pens, ball point pens and all types of writing instruments.  Vintage writing instruments are also available for sale, for restoration, for identification and for purchase.  In 2008, our tables sold out far earlier than usual and our sold out even earlier in 2009.  Make arrangements early by returning the brochure along with your payment, if you want to be sure you have a table!

Special features of the LA Pen Shows include both seminars and rare pens on exhibit.  There were 9 seminars given by experts in various fields in 2009.  The seminars were held on Saturday, February 14 and were held on an hourly basis beginning at 9:00 a.m.  You were welcome to attend with your paid admission to the Show.  This was a great opportunity to bring your valentine to a pen show!  For some reason, pens bring people closer together.  The seminar topics and the times are below. 

9:00	a.m.	-	Susan Wirth	-	"Why the correct fountain Pen can make anyone's writing look great!"	Susan shows how using certain nib grades can enhance almost any hand and how you find it at a Pen Show.  You'll be amazed at how it changes your life.
10:00	p.m.	-	Joel Hamilton and Sherrell Tyree	-	"Basic pen repair by folks who know how to do it."	Learn how and when to sac yourself, and when to send it out for someone else to do the work.  A great class for the newer collector.  Includes a Q & A session.
11:00	a.m.	-	Greg Minuskin	-	"Get to the Point"	A fountain pen needs a great nib.  See and test nibs such as broad, italic, needlepoint, stub or most any way that suits your style.  All hand crafted by an expert.
Noon		-	Janet Takahashi	-	"Copperplate Calligraphy with a Flexible Nib"	From a calligrapher and journalist, you'll make your own name place cards and learn the construction of the letterforms and beautiful flourishes with your flex-nib fountain pen.
1:00	p.m.	-	Lynn Sorgatz	-	"The Most Obscure Parker Pens"	A guru with Parker spent 17 years studying early Parker pens; especially the obscure models that one rarely sees or hears about.  He studied Parker documentation in the archives for some years, and has seen and held many of the hardest to find.  Find out why they are so rare and why so few are ever found.
2:00	p.m.	-	Stan Pfeiffer	-	"Vintage Museum Quality Things to Look For"	A long time collector shares his knowledge about the things you should be alert for, and buy if the opportunity comes along.  You'll see the "rarest of the rare."
3:00	p.m.	-	Nancy Olson	-	"You're not a professional writer?  No problem."	The editor of Stylus magazine shows pen collectors, retailers and manufacturers the surefire method of submitting articles and information to the media that will virtually guarantee publication.
4:00	p.m.	-	John Mottishaw	-	"So you want your pen to write properly"	Learn how to make your pen a "great writing instrument" by getting the little tricks that make a big difference from an expert who knows how to do it.  Bring your pen for a tune up.
5:00	p.m.	-	Ward Dunham	-	"Vive La Plume!"	Calligraphers, Ward Dunham & Linnea Lundquist of Atelier Gargoyle, will talk about the art of handwritten correspondence, how to do it with style ... and why!  Fountain pens, italic nibs, bamboo pens, quills, unusual papers, exotic inks, and sealing wax.  "Vive La Plume!"

The LA Pen Show is hosted by the patrons of The Los Angeles International Pen Show. The Show may be reached by e-mail to .  It may also be reached by phone; call Boris at .   Admission is $6.00 for adults if paid before February 6^th and $7.00 thereafter.  Children under 12 will be admitted free with a paid adult admission.

At the Pen Show in 2008, we included a card for guests and tables holders to give us their thoughts about both their “Likes” and “Dislikes.”  We wanted both sides of the coin to see if things needed to be changed.  If you want a quick overview of how we are doing, click the link that will provide a summary of the “Results Of Comment Cards.”

Once again we had something special on exhibit.  The Show in 2008 featured rare pens on exhibit dating from 1900 thru 1920 and in some instances were the only versions known to exist.  One could only speculate on the values, but it would be accurate to say that most people never had a chance to see such a display before the LA Pen Show.  Click to see Photos of SOME of the items that were on Exhibit in 2008

We are proud to announce that we secured some incredible rates for rental vehicles through Dollar RentACar for the Pen Show in 2009 with rates as low as $20/day(+)!  Please check out the "Car Rental" tab at the top of the home page for details.

For those who are traveling to attend and need overnight lodging, special rates were arranged at $125/night(+tax).  In making the reservation, you needed to advise the Hotel that you are requesting the "Pen Show" rate.  If you wanted to secure this special rate, you had to book your room reservation on or before the cutoff date of January 19, 2009.  If, for any reason you did not get the Pen Show room rate, please be sure to drop us an email (to ) as soon as possible with your name, date of arrival and date of departure and we'll see what can be done to secure the Pen Show rate.

For many years The LA Pen Show has been sponsored in part by our close friends at Delta (Italy) and MonteVerde.  We are delighted that they were with us at our 21^st Show in 2009!  Through their support, the Show attendance has increased every year.  Once again, they are provided some wonderful gifts to the lucky winners.  In appreciation of their sponsorship, and so that you can see their products, we encouraged you to visit MonteVerde / Delta at Yafa.com.  Details and photos of the prizes they will provide at the Pen Show this year can be seen if you click the link Yafa Promotions.  You are also free to drop them a note.

In 2008, we were delighted to announce that we have a wonderful new sponsor at the LA Pen Show.  Our long time friends from Stylus Magazine and the companion publication, International Watch, decided to join us at The LA Pen Show.  We welcome them with open arms and we encourage you to also visit them at Stylus Magazine.  We are grateful for their sponsorship and feel they were a wonderful addition to the Show.  Both magazines have an incredible circulation and their sponsorship will surely increase attendance at the LA Pen Show.  To get a quick start on their sponsorship, both magazines included full page ads in several issues just before the Pen Show in 2008 and they have done the same thing again this year!  A copy of their ad before the show in 2009 can be seen at Stylus and International Watch Ad.  At the LA Pen Show in 2009, they will again give away hundreds of free copies of magazines, special deals on subscriptions at incredible prices, various pens, and miscellaneous other items.  Details and photos of some of these items are included if you click the link:  Stylus Promotions.

In 2009 the LA Pen Show itself decided to celebrate our 20th Anniversary as one of the largest and most successful pen shows in the world.  After our long heritage with this incredible event, a decision was made to let our guests know how much we appreciate your attendance at the LA Pen Show.  With the help and support of a few friends the first 1,000 paid adults (limit 1/family) will get a beautiful calendar free of charge.  Details about the calendar and who made it possible are available if click the link: "Free Calendar"

If everything above hasn't enticed you to attend the LA Pen Show, there are many other reasons to make the trip to Los Angeles!  Even the Manhattan Beach Marriot is beautiful.  If you plan on making a road trip, you can see some wonderful sites along the way; as evidenced by a yearly trip made by Sam and Frank Fiorella, dear friends of the LA Pen Show at Pendemonium.com.  On the other hand, the flights to and from LA usually present some incredible views.  While in LA; stay over (or come early) and take in the beauty of Los Angeles.  The sights encompass nearly everything a person might desire; including movie studios, Disneyland, wonderful scenery, incredible views at night, a great skyline, icons from the past, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica and views of the ocean that everyone can appreciate!  When we departed LA, we also found a wonderful place to eat - The Proud Bird.  The lunch buffet is very reasonable and there seemed to be no type of food that wasn't available.  We feasted on shrimp, smoked salmon, fajitas, fruits, salads, deserts and more than we can even remember.  The establishment is interesting because of the large number of planes on display on the grounds there.  To add to the wonderment, it is adorned with original photos of many of the great pilots and some of the ladies involved with them; specifically, Marilyn Monroe.

What is a “Trader” and what does it allow you to do?  “Traders” may attend every day the Show is open; from Thursday through Sunday and attend the seminars on Saturday.  It allows you to take ˝ a table on a space available basis to display and/or market items for sale from Thursday through Saturday but does not require you to do so.  It does NOT allow for any table space on Sunday.  If you’re a true pen lover it’s a wonderful way to get to know people, attend the seminars and buy the pens you want before the crowd arrives on Sunday.  Simply put, it’s a great opportunity for a new collector or pen enthusiast since the fee is fairly modest.

By registering as either a “Trader” or “Table Holder” you agree that you have read and agree to the terms of the LA Pen Show set forth herein and on the brochure, and you will not display or offer for sale merchandise with a trademark that is either (a) used without the explicit approval of the trademark owner or (b) not manufactured by the trademark owner; and further that your failure to comply with these terms may result in you being required to leave the Show and/or remove the items not in compliance.  In order to become a trader or a table holder, you must fill out and return the brochure. 

Please note that placement and use all posters and banners must be approved by both the LA Pen Show and the hotel.