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Italic Nib Fountain Pens

TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Créme with Rosegold Trim TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Créme with Rosegold Trim
$55.99
M7449530
Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Hawaii - 14kt Gold Nib Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Hawaii - 14kt Gold Nib
From $285
LEO-MOS-HAWA-FP-14K-M-ST
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Ocean Breeze (Blue Glow) Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Ocean Breeze (Blue Glow)
$180
BENU-0520250-Stub1.5
Leonardo Furore Fountain Pen in Ginger Leonardo Furore Fountain Pen in Ginger
$199
LEO-FU-GINGER-FP-1.5-GT
Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black & Rhodium - 18K Gold Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Black & Rhodium - 18K Gold
$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.

P60242
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Jazz Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Jazz
$174
BENU-0521150-Stub1.5
Lamy Joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Strawberry with Red Clip - 1.5 mm Stub Nib Lamy Joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Strawberry with Red Clip - 1.5 mm Stub Nib
$28
$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.

L15-15SB
Lamy Fountain Pen Replacement Nib Set in Stainless Steel Lamy Fountain Pen Replacement Nib Set in Stainless Steel
$89.60
$112

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

LZ50SL-SET
Esterbrook Estie x Accutron Fountain Pen in Spaceview Esterbrook Estie x Accutron Fountain Pen in Spaceview
$202.50
$225

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

ESV806-EF
Edison Collier Fountain Pen in Ancient Orchid Edison Collier Fountain Pen in Ancient Orchid
$149
ED-COLLIER-ORCHID-EF
Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Twinkle with Gold Trim Esterbrook JR Pocket Fountain Pen in Twinkle with Gold Trim
$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.

EJRTW-EF
Opus 88 Koloro Fountain Pen in White and Blue Opus 88 Koloro Fountain Pen in White and Blue
$93
96083908M
Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Chiaroscuro - 14kt Gold Nib Leonardo Mosaico Fountain Pen in Chiaroscuro - 14kt Gold Nib
From $475
LEO-MOS-CHIA-FP-14K-M-ST
Esterbrook Estie Back to the Lands Regular Fountain Pen in Incredible Rock with Gold Trim Esterbrook Estie Back to the Lands Regular Fountain Pen in Incredible Rock with Gold Trim
From $175.50
EBN2606-EF
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Dark Hawaii Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Dark Hawaii
From $295
LE-47942
Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Ametrine Benu Talisman Fountain Pen in Ametrine
$175
BENU-1925160-M
TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Caffè with Bronze Trim TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen in Caffè with Bronze Trim
$55.99
M7441010
Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Stardust Leonardo Momento Zero Grande 2.0 Fountain Pen in Stardust
From $295
LEO-MZG2-STAR-FP-SS-M
Edison Comet Fountain Pen in Brandywine Edison Comet Fountain Pen in Brandywine
$149
ED-COMET-BW-M
Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Blue Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in Blue
$125
97010721M
Monteverde USA MP1 Fountain Pen in Mondrian Composition 1921 Monteverde USA MP1 Fountain Pen in Mondrian Composition 1921
$68
$85

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

MV34259
Opus 88 Harmony Fountain Pen in Brown with Rose Gold Opus 88 Harmony Fountain Pen in Brown with Rose Gold
$167
240601EF
Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Bora Bora Benu Euphoria Fountain Pen in Bora Bora
$174
BENU-0520450-Stub1.5
Monteverde Impressa Fountain Pen in Gunmetal with Red Trim Monteverde Impressa Fountain Pen in Gunmetal with Red Trim
$44
$60

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

MV29870M
Visconti Homo Sapiens Oversized Fountain Pen in Dark Age Visconti Homo Sapiens Oversized Fountain Pen in Dark Age
$977.50
$1,150

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

V-59190-M
Kaweco Calligraphy Set in Black - Small Italic Nib 1.5 mm & 2.3 mm Kaweco Calligraphy Set in Black - Small Italic Nib 1.5 mm & 2.3 mm
$55
10000812
Nahvalur Original Fountain Pen in Sapphire Night Nahvalur Original Fountain Pen in Sapphire Night
$62.50
NW-01010264
Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Toffee Ti Nahvalur Nautilus Fountain Pen in Toffee Ti
$199
NW-03050680
Opus 88 Koloro Fountain Pen in Light Blue - 2025 Edition Opus 88 Koloro Fountain Pen in Light Blue - 2025 Edition
$93
241002M
Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - 1.1 Nib Kaweco Calligraphy Fountain Pen in Classic Black - 1.1 Nib
$35
10000230
Benu Tribute to the Wanderer Fountain Pen Goldspot Exclusive Benu Tribute to the Wanderer Fountain Pen Goldspot Exclusive
$280
BENU-2624550F
Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in One Spring Morning Opus 88 Jazz Fountain Pen in One Spring Morning
$140
260520M
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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.