The Parker 17 Super, along with the standard version, was introduced in 1962. In 1964 the spectacular open 'beak nib' was replaced with a much smaller hooded arrangement. The 'Beaky' 17, this pen, only had a very short production so it is consequently quite rare, the 17 'Super' more so than the 'Standard'.
This is a particularly fine example, finished in black with a very wide Gold filled cap ring, clip, and 'tassie' at the end of the barrel. It shows very little sign of use, the ink sac is unstained and the surface is pristine, as is the Gold filling.
The pen has been fully serviced and tested. The aerometric filling system works well and is simple to use. The 14 Ct. gold nib is a masterpiece, it writes with a beautifully smooth and connsistent medium line with a delightful amount of flex, not exceesively soft but enough to obtain good line variation in the right hands.
The English made Parker Duofolds of this era were good, dependable pens but, apart from the different sizes, all looked very similar, some would say boring. Not so with this model, the cap band is very distinctive and the nib, which is strikingly attractive, follows the curve of the section perfectly, a triumph of design. It is certainly a pen with character in abundance.