(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)
The Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case is a sturdy carrying case covered in synthetic blue leather stitched with striking red contrast thread. The case is made in China.
The case is lightly engraved with the Esterbrook name and "est 1858" on the front. The top portion is padded.
The case measures 6.7 inches/170mm long, 2.1 inches/54mm wide, and 1.26 inches/32mm deep. It weighs 81 grams without pens inside.
A magnetic snap closure, engraved with the Esterbrook eternity symbol, makes the case fairly easy to open and close. I found that the snap top and bottom don't always match up precisely, even with the magnet, and I had to shift the top flap for proper closure.
Both top and bottom parts of the case fold back to provide access to the inside compartment, though the bottom portion doesn't stay out of the way. I suspect that over time it will become less stiff.
The inside compartment is lined with soft red fabric and the bottom is padded. An elastic band insures that your pens stay secure. The board that separates the pens is not removable.
The case easily accommodates most pens. I tested it with a Montblanc 149 and Nakaya Neo Standard and both pens fit. That said, getting them in and out of the elastic was a little difficult, and I had to angle each pen to get it into position. Smaller pens were easier to insert and remove.
The Esterbrook Nook Case is handsome and well constructed. It's much more substantial than a pen roll or other soft pen case, so if the safety of your pens is a priority, it would be a good choice.
However, at $76.00, it is expensive. I could see paying that much if it were made of real leather, but for synthetic leather I think it is over-priced. I honestly expected the case to be around $25.00.
You can purchase the Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case from Goldspot Pens for $76.00. Other sizes are available as well, including single, triple, six-pen, and twelve-pen cases.
(Goldspot Pens provided the Esterbrook Double Pen Nook Case to Pen Addict free of charge for review purposes.)
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