The Parker 51 was first made in England in 1951. Date stamping on the barrel ended around 1955 and a halo was added to the cap in 1958. This pen has a clear 'Made in England' imprint with no date stamp and the cap doesn't have the halo, making 1956 a good date estimate.
The 51 is often described as 'the best pen ever made', it was often copied but never equalled. This is an outstanding English example, it has a showroom Navy Grey finish and a ding free 'Lustralloy' cap.
The English 51 was made in only four colours: Black, Burgundy, Teal Blue. and Navy Grey. The grey colour is, arguably, the best match for the lustralloy cap, and now the least common of the English colours.
The pen has been fully serviced and tested, this is particularly important with a '51' as the fine fins in the collector are often clogged with dried ink, impairing performance. The aerometric filling system works well, it is very simple and easy to use. The 14 Ct. Gold nib has a medium point which lays down a super smooth and consistent medium line.
The box is brand new, it will serve well for transportation, protection, and display.
At sixty odd years old at least, this is a remarkable top quality vintage pen. The Parker 51 is the first choice of many collectors as a daily user, it is a totally reliable, stylish and very practical pen with a great deal of prestige.