National Ballpoint Pen Day – June 10, 2024

U.S.

History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
Related

National Ballpoint Pen Day is celebrated every year on June 10 and is a rather fun and whimsical holiday. This day encourages us to honor this humble product that is found everywhere, in our homes, schools, art studios, offices, etc. Almost everyone has used a ballpoint pen once in their life and, for many, it holds a special place in their pen holder.

History of National Ballpoint Pen Day

National Ballpoint Day acknowledges this universal writing utensil and it also marks the day when the patent for it was filed. Before the ballpoint pen came into the world, people used a fountain pen or pencil to write. Created to provide an alternative to the quill and fountain pens, now, the ballpoint pen dominates the pen market.

Many people attempted to invent the ballpoint pen but weren’t successful due to issues in ink distribution, overflow, and clogging. Then, finally, the brothers László and György Bíró obtained their patent for the ballpoint pen and revolutionized the way people wrote letters. Now, European Patent #2390636 protects one of the world’s most popular modern writing instruments.

The Bíró brothers knew they were onto something when they invented the ballpoint pen. Later, the British government bought the rights to the newly-patented pens and today global manufacturers produce millions of these ballpoint pens and sell them across the world. Ballpoint pens are used everywhere and are an affordable and reliable instrument for writing.

National Ballpoint Pen Day timeline

1888

First Ballpoint Pen Patent

The first patent for a ballpoint pen is issued to John J. Loud.

1938

British Patent for Ballpoint Pen

László Bíró, a Hungarian newspaper editor, files a British patent for the ballpoint pen.

1941

A Ballpoint Pen Company

The Bíró brothers along with their friend Juan Jorge Meyne move to Argentina and form Bíró Pens of Argentina.

1945

First Ballpoints Sold

The first ballpoint pens are sold in New York at a cost of $12 a pen.

National Ballpoint Pen Day FAQs

How many ballpoint pens are sold each year?

The United States imports approximately 3.4 billion ballpoint pens each year.

How many pens does the average person use?

A survey conducted by the Promotional Products Association International found that 83% of people use ballpoint pens on a daily basis.

What is the rarest pen?

Caran d’Ache Gothica, Montblanc Mystery Masterpiece, and the Caran d’Ache 1010 Diamond Edition are among the most expensive pens in the world.

How To Celebrate National Ballpoint Pen Day

Buy a stack of ballpoint pens
To celebrate this day, you can buy a stack of ballpoint pens. You can either keep them to use or even gift some to your colleagues or friends.
Write with ballpoint pens only
On this day, whatever writing work you have to undertake, ensure you do it only with a ballpoint pen. It can be a simple signature on a document or a letter, but use a ballpoint pen!
Decorate your ballpoint pens
If you have some spare ballpoints lying around, why not decorate them? You can doodle on them with permanent markers or apply tiny stickers on them. Make a quirky and fancy ballpoint pen and show it off.

5 Facts About Ballpoint Pens That Will Surprise You

Customized ballpoint pens
Approximately 56% of individuals own a customized ballpoint pen.
First word with a ballpoint pen
Most of the time, when a person gets a new ballpoint pen, they test it out by writing their name.
Average pens used
In the United States, each year people use around five ballpoint pens on average.
The average amount of words written
On average, a ballpoint pen can write about 50,000 words.
Ballpoints sales
Every second, around 125 ballpoint pens are sold.

Why We Love National Ballpoint Pen Day

Ballpoint pens are cheap
Ballpoint pens hardly burn a hole in your pocket. They cost as little as 20 cents. They’re affordable and can be purchased by anyone.
They’re perfect for both left-handers and right-handers
Due to the nature of the ink of fountain pens and gel pens, left-handers often end up with a messy writing situation. However, ballpoint pens dry instantly and are perfect and comfortable for left-handers and right-handers alike.
Ballpoint pens come in many colors
Ballpoint pens are available in multiple ink colors. They come in red, blue, green, black and more. They are more versatile than traditional fountain pens.