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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Botanical Garden with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Botanical Garden with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9826-Techo
TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen in Clear Demonstrator
$55.99
M7443010
Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in King of the Night Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen in King of the Night
$315
$350

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

EKING806-EF
Opus 88 Demonstrator Fountain Pen in Pink PVD 2024 Opus 88 Demonstrator Fountain Pen in Pink PVD 2024
$140
2401002M
Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Blue Squares Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Blue Squares
$32
$40

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

MV51317
Edison Newark Fountain Pen in Magellanic Clouds LE Edison Newark Fountain Pen in Magellanic Clouds LE
$199
ED-202502-EF
Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Palm Green Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Palm Green
From $157.50
EJRPG-S
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Emerald Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Emerald
$225
LEO-MM-SME-FP-1.5-ST
Laban Antique II Fountain Pen in Red with Gold Lines Laban Antique II Fountain Pen in Red with Gold Lines
$95.95
$120

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

LPF-9191-11RDATG-M
Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Red Puzzles Monteverde USA MVP Fountain Pen in Red Puzzles
$32
$35

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

MV51327
TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen in Iris TWSBI Diamond 580 Fountain Pen in Iris
$88.99
M7449280
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Amethyst Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Amethyst
$225
LE-31858
Esterbrook Estie Bestie Fountain Pen in Sugar Plum Purple Esterbrook Estie Bestie Fountain Pen in Sugar Plum Purple
From $175.50
EBSP-Stub
Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Sea Glass with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Sea Glass with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9816-Techo
Esterbrook Estie Regular Fountain Pen in Botanical Gardens with Gold Trim Esterbrook Estie Regular Fountain Pen in Botanical Gardens with Gold Trim
From $175.50
EBG896-Techo
Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Mango with Stainless Steel Nib Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Mango with Stainless Steel Nib
$275
LEO-MOS-MANG-FP-1.5-ST
Opus 88 JAZZ Fountain Pen in Transparent Opus 88 JAZZ Fountain Pen in Transparent
$120
97010730M
Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Love Potion Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Love Potion
$157.50
$175

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

EJRPINK-EF
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Pear Green TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen in Pear Green
$26.99
M7448850
Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Sea Sand Leonardo Momento Magico Fountain Pen in Sea Sand
$225
LE-31513
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Indigo Blue with Bronze Trim TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Indigo Blue with Bronze Trim
$55.99
M7449580
Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Cracked Ice Conklin Duragraph Fountain Pen in Cracked Ice
$64
$80

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

CK71316
Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Yellowstone Conklin All American Fountain Pen in Yellowstone
$80
$100

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

CK71406-OMNIFLEX
Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Iride Green Blue 2021 with Gold Trim Leonardo Momento Zero Fountain Pen in Iride Green Blue 2021 with Gold Trim
$199
LEO-MZ-GBL21-FP-1.5-GT
Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - Twin Nib Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - Twin Nib
$55
10000652
TWSBI Classic Sapphire Fountain Pen TWSBI Classic Sapphire Fountain Pen
From $50
M7443720
Esterbrook Estie x Sakuradragon Fountain Pen in Sakura Street Esterbrook Estie x Sakuradragon Fountain Pen in Sakura Street
From $315
ESS906-EF
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in French Poetry Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in French Poetry
$174
BENU-0520650-Stub1.5
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black Carbonesque & Rhodium Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black Carbonesque & Rhodium
$192
$240

The comparison price is the item MSRP and may not necessarily be the price at which the product is or was offered for sale.

P60246
TWSBI Diamond 580AL Fountain Pen in Silver TWSBI Diamond 580AL Fountain Pen in Silver
$72.99
M7444250
Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Honeycomb with Gold Trim Esterbrook Niblet Fountain Pen in Honeycomb with Gold Trim
From $157.50
EPP9426-Techo
Jowo #5 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Gold Plated Steel Jowo #5 Replacement Fountain Pen Nib in Gold Plated Steel
$18
5-GT-M
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a stub or italic nib, and what does it do to your writing? +
A stub or italic nib is a nib whose tip is ground flat and wide rather than rounded, so it writes a thick downstroke and a thin cross-stroke. That contrast, called line variation, gives ordinary handwriting a calligraphic look with no special skill required.
What is the difference between a stub nib and an italic nib? +
The difference between a stub nib and an italic nib is the shape of the tip's corners. A stub has rounded corners, so it writes smoothly and keeps up with a fast everyday hand while still showing line variation. An italic has crisp, sharp corners that give the most dramatic variation, but it also has a smaller sweet spot, more feedback, and less tolerance for a careless angle. A cursive italic falls between the two, crisper than a stub yet more forgiving than a true italic, and much of the selection here is stub-ground, the same grind featured across our stub nib fountain pens.
Which stub or italic nib width should you choose? +
You should choose a stub or italic width based on how much line variation you want and how large your handwriting is. A 1.1mm nib gives noticeable variation while staying controllable, which makes it the usual first step. A 1.5mm nib is the balance most journaling and everyday writers settle on, while 1.9mm and wider is bold and leans toward calligraphy. Just note that a wide nib over small handwriting fills in the loops of your letters, so match the width to your hand and not only to the look you want.
Do you need a gold nib, or does a steel stub nib write just as well? +
No, you do not need a gold nib to get an excellent stub or italic. Steel stubs from TWSBI, Lamy, and Jowo write cleanly and hold their edge, so gold is a preference rather than a requirement. A gold nib is softer and can feel more responsive under writing pressure, but on a stub grind the shape of the tip usually matters more to how it writes than the metal does.
Are stub and italic nibs good for everyday writing? +
Yes, stubs and cursive italics are genuinely good for everyday writing, and true italics less so. A stub keeps up with fast notes and still shows variation, which is why a 1.1mm stub is a common first step beyond a round nib. Any flat-ground nib does have a smaller sweet spot than a round one and is less forgiving if you roll or rotate the pen, so it rewards a steady hold. If you would rather start with a fully rounded everyday nib, the broader fountain pens collection covers those too.
How do you write with a stub or italic nib? +
To write with a stub or italic nib, keep both tines flat on the paper and hold a consistent angle so the full width of the tip stays in contact. Let the nib glide without pressure, since these grinds create variation from the tip's shape, not from pushing down. Writing a little larger than usual helps the thick-and-thin contrast show and keeps a wider nib from filling in small letters.
Do stub and italic nibs need special paper or ink? +
Stub and italic nibs do not strictly need special paper or ink, but they write best on fountain-pen-friendly paper because they lay down more ink than round nibs. Paper like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, and Tomoe River resists the feathering and bleed-through a wet, wide nib can cause. A slightly drier ink helps as well, though most inks behave fine on good paper.
Are stub and italic nibs good for calligraphy? +
Stub and italic nibs are a good choice for casual, everyday calligraphy and hand-lettering, and a wider grind like 1.5mm or 1.9mm gives the boldest strokes. They are not the same as a dedicated dip or broad-edge calligraphy pen, which has sharper edges and allows easier ink changes for serious lettering work. For pointed-pen or broad-edge calligraphy proper, our calligraphy pens are the better starting point.
Can you put a stub or italic nib on a fountain pen you already own? +
Yes, in many cases you can add a stub or italic nib to a fountain pen you already own, which is why about half of this collection is standalone replacement nibs. Lamy steel nibs slip on and off across the Safari, AL-Star, Vista, and Joy, and a Jowo #6 unit screws or friction-fits into any pen built for a #6 nib. Check that the nib matches your pen's size and fitting before you buy, since swapping can void a manufacturer warranty and a stub unit sometimes needs light tuning.
Can left-handed writers use a stub or italic nib? +
Yes, left-handed writers can use a stub or italic nib, though it takes more adjustment than it does for right-handed writers. Because many lefties push the nib rather than pull it, and the pen often sits at a different angle, the thick and thin strokes can land in unexpected places or feel scratchy. A custom left-oblique grind is the known fix, reshaping the tip to match a left-hand angle. An underwriter, or a hand that keeps the paper squared off, tends to have an easier time than a hooked overwriter.