Manuscript Pen Company Ltd is a family-owned company established in 1990 and based in Highley, Shropshire, England. Its history, through association with “D.Leonardt & Co”, goes back as far as 1856. Producing under their own brand name “Manuscript”, they are also the exclusive manufacturer of the "D.Leonardt & Co" and 'Hiro' range of dip nibs.
Manuscript’s range includes a wide variety of writing instruments and seals and waxes for the art & craft, stationery, education and gift markets. They own the Stuart Houghton high quality giftware brand, which they acquired in 2004.
They are one of the few remaining Companies in the world specialising in the development, production and sale of fountain pen and dip pen based calligraphy products. They work in close association with CLAS, the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society.
In addition to calligraphy products, Manuscript has developed a range of Writing Instrument and Stationery products for both adults and the younger generation. Their colourfully designed range of decorated pens and markers are suitable both for educational purposes and practical everyday use.
Manuscript's product range can be found in a number of different retail sectors including specialist Art & Craft stores, Stationery stores, Department stores, Gift shops and Internet selling sites. Its products are sold in over 40 countries worldwide.
A history of Birmingham pen nib manufacture entitled "The Steel Pen Trade" has been written by the former Chairman of D.Leonardt & Co, Arthur Charles who acquired D. Leonardt & Co in 1949 and was the father-in-law of Manuscript’s present Chairman and Managing Director, Nick Stockbridge.
In 2010 Nick Stockbridge’s son Charles became the Commercial Director for Manuscript. He is the fifth generation of the family to be involved with the manufacture of pen nibs in the West Midlands.