Choosing the right fountain pen is a very personal thing, and when it comes to building a collection, there is no single best way to go about it. We may lean toward either modern or vintage pens, for example, or concentrate on pens of historical note or those with unusual features. Some people are drawn to pens made from precious or exotic materials or those that reflect a particular decorative style, like Art Deco. There are those who collect pens to match their wardrobe, while others couldn't care less about a pen's looks as long as its nib meets their criteria for perfection. Whatever the inclination, a true collector is always on the lookout for that one pen that captures the essence of what he finds most fascinating about fountain pens-even if such a pen does not exist. And that's where Henry Simpole comes in.

Simpole is a highly regarded pen restorer and pen maker who is perhaps best known for his recent collaboration with Conway Stewart to produce the Centenary pen and the over-sized Exhibition pen. What may be less known about Simpole is that he also builds custom- made-or bespoke-pens on a very limited basis. "Bespoke" is an English term usually used to describe custom-made clothing. Simpole applies this context to pen making, creating highly personalized pens for his customers one of whom is rumored to be a certain member of the British aristocracy.

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