This pen is reserved.
The Parker 17 was introduced in 1962 in two versions, the '17 Doufold' and the '17 Super Duofold'. The 17 had a thin cap band but the 17 Super, this pen, sported an extra wide cap band and a gold filled 'tassie' at the end of the barrel.
The early pens had a large, exposed 14 Ct. gold nib but in 1964 this was replaced with a much smaller hooded nib. This pen has the large nib, now often known as a 'beak nib', it was made between 1962 and 1964.
The pen is an 'aerometric' (squeeze bar) filler, it is simple and easy to use. The 14 Ct. Gold nib is large an uniquely shaped, perhaps it does bear a slight resemplance to the Parker VP of the same period, morphing into the nib subsequently found on the Parker 75. The later Parker 17, 1964 onwards, has a hooded design that precludes any flexibility but the open design of this pen doesn't have that restriction allowing this pen to provide good line variation through flex. Anyone with a decent 'hand' would enjoy impressive calligraphy effects with this nib.
The pen is in excellent condition. It has a mark free, deep shine and a clear barrel imprint. The gold filling to the clip, cap band, and barrel tassie is also in excellent order.
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.
Due to the very short production run and added expense of a 'super' model the 'Beak Nib 17 Super' is now very hard to find and is quite collectable.