Fountain Pen Abbreviations

by Galen Leather August 23, 2026 2 Comments

I remember the first time I saw "NPD" on Reddit r/fountainpens sub reddit, and had no clue what it meant. A quick Google search later, and I found out it stands for "New Pen Day" – how cool is that? Jumping into the fountain pen world is like learning a whole new secret language, full of short forms and special words that tell their own little stories.

This article is here to help you crack the code of fountain pen talk, making it easier for everyone, whether you're just starting out or you've been around the block a few times. It's going to help you understand all those tricky terms people use when they talk about their pens, from the different types you can get, to all the details about the parts and the ink. Think of this as your friendly guide, helping you navigate through the world of fountain pen lingo. 

Fountain Pen Abbreviations - The Pen Jargon

• FP: Fountain Pen - A pen that uses water-based ink delivered through a nib.
• RP: Rollerball Pen - A pen that uses water-based liquid or gelled ink.
• BP: Ballpoint Pen - A pen that uses oil-based ink.
• MB: Montblanc - A luxury brand known for high-quality writing instruments.
• P51: Parker 51 - A famous fountain pen model by Parker.
• EF, F, M, B, BB: Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Double Broad - The standard range of nib widths, from the thinnest line (EF) to the thickest (BB). Most everyday writers land somewhere between F and M.
• OM, OB, OBB: Oblique Medium, Oblique Broad, Oblique Double Broad - Nibs ground at an angle for a specific writing style, built on top of the base sizes above.
• MP: Mechanical Pencil - A pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable lead.
• VP: Vanishing Point (Pilot/Namiki) - A retractable fountain pen by Pilot/Namiki.
• SITB: Slime/Sludge/Stuff in the Bottle - Refers to unwanted residue in ink.
• C/C fill: Can use a Cartridge or a Converter - A pen that can use disposable cartridges or be refilled with a converter.
• R&K: Rohrer & Klingner - A brand known for high-quality inks.
• CdA: Caran d'Ache - A Swiss manufacturer of luxury writing instruments.
• PR: Private Reserve - A brand of fountain pen ink.
• WM: Waterman - A manufacturer of fountain pens and inks.
• FPH: Fountain Pen Hospital - A retailer and repair shop for fountain pens.
• FPN: Fountain Pen Network - An online community for fountain pen enthusiasts.
• ESTIE: Esterbrook - A brand of fountain pens.
• HR: Hard Rubber - A material used in the construction of some pens.
• IMHO: In My Humble Opinion - A phrase often used in discussions to express a personal viewpoint.
• SUMGAI: A term used when someone finds a great deal on pens, or gets there just before you to snatch up a bargain.
• FS, WTB, WTT, WTS: For Sale, Want to Buy, Want to Trade, Want to Sale - Terms used in pen trading and selling on Facebook and Reddit.
• NOS: New Old Stock - Unused vintage items.
• NIB: New In Box - Brand new, unused item in its original packaging. (See above for the other, unrelated meaning of "nib.")
• NIP: New In Package - Same idea as NIB, but for items that came sealed in plastic or another package rather than a box.
• BNIB: Brand New In Box - Emphasizes that the item hasn't just been resold in its original box, it's genuinely never been used.
• LNIB: Like New In Box - The item shows no real wear but may have been opened, tested, or briefly used.
• PEL: Pelikan - A German manufacturer of fountain pens and inks.
• OOTB: Out Of The Box - Refers to the immediate performance or quality of a pen upon purchase.
• GFT: Gold Filled Trim - A type of pen decoration.
• AERO: Aerometric Filler - A type of pen filling mechanism.
• VAC: Vacumatic Filler - A Parker pen filling system using a vacuum.
• ED: Eye Dropper - A filling method where ink is directly dropped into the pen's body.
• BCHR, BHR, MHR: Black Chased Hard Rubber, Black Hard Rubber, Mottled Hard Rubber - Types of materials used in pen bodies.
• MIB: Mint In Box - Perfect condition, like "NIB" but typically refers to older items.
• PF: Plunger-Filler - Type of filling systems or specific pen model.
• PCA: Pen Collectors of America - A pen collector organization.
• RHR: Red Hard Rubber - A material used in pen construction, often more orange than red.
• FTW: Fresh To the (pen) Wild - New on the market, not pre-owned.
• RG: Rose Gold Metal Trim - A type of pen decoration.
• Workhorse Pen: A reliable pen used regularly for all sorts of tasks.
• NPD, NID, VPD: New Pen Day, New Ink Day, Vintage Pen Day - Terms used to celebrate new acquisitions in the pen community. Very popular hashtags on Instagram.
• EDC: Every Day Carry - A pen that is carried and used daily.
• FPD: Fountain Pen Day - A day to celebrate fountain pens.
• SE, LE: Special Edition, Limited Edition - Pens produced in limited quantities, with LE often numbered.
• IPG: Iridium Point Germany - Refers to the material and possibly origin of a pen's nib tip.
• MINT: Factory new condition, perfect.
• POC: A suffix denoting a type of Waterman pen (screw-cap eyedropper).
• 1/8 14K, 18KR, 375, 585, 750: Marks indicating the purity of solid gold used in a nib or trim.
• GP: Gold Plated - Not the same as solid gold above. A GP mark (for example "18K GP") means a thin layer of gold plated over a base metal, not solid gold all the way through. It's a common and perfectly normal way to trim a mid-range pen, just worth knowing it's a different thing than a solid karat stamp.
• GSM: Grams per Square Meter - A paper weight measurement, important for fountain pen users.(52gsm =52g /m2 on paper terms)
• UV: Ultra-Violet - Radiation that can cause ink to fade.
• NOOB: Newbie

For further exploration and deep dives into the vast knowledge of fountain pens, the following resources are invaluable:

• Goulet Pens Blog: Glossary of Fountain Pen Terminology
• Reddit Fountain Pens Community: r/fountainpens
• Fountain Pen Network: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/

FAQs About Fountain Pen Abbreviations

+Is "pen" an acronym or abbreviation?

No. "Pen" comes from the Latin word penna, meaning feather, since early writing tools were made from feather quills. It isn't short for anything and doesn't stand for any phrase.

+What does NIB mean?

NIB has two unrelated meanings. In the fountain pen world, a nib is the metal tip of the pen that touches the paper. As an abbreviation, NIB stands for "New In Box," a condition term used in resale listings to mean an item is unused and still in its original packaging.

+What is the difference between NIB and NIP?

Both describe unused items in original packaging. NIB (New In Box) typically refers to items that came in a box, while NIP (New In Package) is used for items that came sealed in plastic or another type of package rather than a box.

+What does GP mean on a pen?

GP stands for Gold Plated. A stamp like "18K GP" means the trim has a thin layer of gold plated over a base metal, not that the piece is solid gold. This is different from a solid karat stamp like 14K or 18KR, which indicates solid gold throughout.

+What are the standard fountain pen nib sizes?

The most common sizes, from thinnest to thickest line, are Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), Medium (M), Broad (B), and Double Broad (BB). Oblique versions of these, like OM or OB, are ground at an angle for a particular writing style.

+What does NPD mean?

NPD stands for "New Pen Day," a term the fountain pen community uses to celebrate a new pen arriving, often paired with photos shared on Instagram or Reddit.

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