The De La Rue N.B., 'Nota Bene', was introduced in 1895 as a stylographic pen but a fountain pen adaptation was available to purchase separately as an option, as in this 'Dwarf' example. In 1896 De La rue became a limited company and pens were then stamped as 'De La Rue Co. Ltd., this pen is simply 'De La rue'.
The first pen made by De La Rue, in 1881, was the 'Anti-Stylograph' which was very similar to this pen with the nib section fitted as standard. The knurling on the nib section, colour, and design leave no doubt that this was a factory produced product specifically for this pen.
An eyedropper filler, the pen is constructed in mottled hard rubber with a plain red hard rubber cap. There are some light user marks to the cap but the body of the pen is in excellent condition with a deep shine and a very clear imprint.
The broad nib, stamped as 14 Ct. Gold, also has a 'Universal' stamp. At the time, most nib production was outsourced, Mabie Todd are later known to have produced some nibs for De La Rue, but it is interesting that one of De La Rue's first products was an ink called 'Universal'. The nib is quite long but needs to be set well into the section to prevent fouling of the particularly short cap.
At around 130 years old this remarkable and antique pen was made when the fountain pen was in it's infancy. It represents a concrete transition, by De La Rue, from stylographic instruments to the modern fountain pen.