Fahrney’s Pens is announcing the unveiling of the Visconti “Declaration of Independence” Limited Edition writing instruments at its Washington, DC retail store. This tribute to our great nation will be launched with a re-enactment of Thomas Jefferson reading the Declaration. Other special guests will include the creator of this magnificent pen and founder of Visconti, Mr. Dante Del Vecchio of Florence, Italy. The event will take place on Thursday, January 27th at Fahrney’s downtown DC store located at 1317 F Street, NW.
 
As part of the event, Fahrney’s will hold a silent auction to bid on the first pen (“No.1”) of the limited edition series, with proceeds being donated directly to the Foundation for the National Archives. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed by 56 members of the Congress in pen and ink, the original Declaration of Independence is on permanent display at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It is fitting that Visconti would commemorate the historic event that declared the birth of America with this amazing limited edition. And what better way to recognize the nation's record keepers – the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) – than to hold this silent auction on its behalf.
 
In addition to the pen, the highest bidder will receive a Scholar Level Membership to the Foundation for the National Archives which includes invitations to members-only events and activities, special receptions and exhibition openings, as well as private dinners with members of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the National Archives and the National Archives leadership. This membership is valued at $2,500!
 
Visconti uses a sophisticated scrimshaw technique to replicate the full text of the Declaration of Independence onto the pen’s ivory-colored resin body. The writing is just large enough to be legible to the naked eye – a specially engraved viewing glass is included to magnify the intricate details. A reproduction of the painting, “Declaration of Independence” by the American artist John Trumbull, is inscribed on the barrel; a sculpted metal Liberty Bell activates the fountain pen’s plunger-filling mechanism. The pen and magnifying glass are presented in a special collector’s box crafted in American walnut with a leather inset embossed with the Declaration’s 56 signatures. The Declaration of Independence collection comes in two modes (FP and RB) and two versions: a silver edition (776 pens) and a gold edition (76 pens). Each fountain pen has a 23-karat palladium nib. Prices range from $2,850 to $26,950.