WES Journal

The history of the journal of the Writing Equipment Society dates back to the late 1970’s when a  series of 4 newsletters were produced by the late Philip Poole, one of the founders of the Society. Philip ran a stationer’s shop in Drury Lane, in fact this was more of a ‘collector’s grotto’ according to previous WES President Dr Geoff Roe. Philip’s shop became a popular spot for writing equipment devotees.  Philip’s aim was to put these enthusiasts in touch with one another, as he outlined in his ‘Newsletter No.3’.  He included a circulation list of those he knew were interested to enable them to make contact.

The first two newsletters were actually handwritten, with the following two being typewritten as were many of the early journals.

The first journal that would be recognised as such now, was published in 1981 and consisted of 22 A4 pages of typewritten text with black and white illustrations, stapled together along the spine. Items included a summary of the collecting interests of the first members, 50 in number, that UK membership was £6, (overseas £4), and an article on quill pen making.

Journals began to have some colour images including the front cover from around journal 27, (1990), but were still typewritten and the number of pages in each edition varied between 30 – 50.

The first professionally printed journal came along in 1997, this still had a number of black and white illustrations, but more colour was gradually being introduced.  As colour reproduction was quite expensive this limited its use.

Here we are today, with a ‘perfect bound’, 60 page, full-colour, professionally laid out and printed journal, using satin coated paper.

Credit to Dr Geoff Roe; ’The Writing Equipment Society; A potted history of 30 years’ ; a pamphlet written in 2010 to celebrate the Society’s 30th anniversary for some of the information used above.

Click below, to read a sample Journal article for free: