Fountain pens online since 1996: thirty years of Giardino Italiano
The story of Giardino Italiano pens began in 1996 — and the thirtieth anniversary in 2026 is the perfect time to tell it. In an Italy where the Internet was still a curiosity for a few, Susanna Buffo founded Giardino Italiano with a simple and radical idea: to bring the best Italian fountain pens to enthusiasts around the world.
Today, that intuition is called Pens.it: same soul, new tools.
A Visconti pen and an order from the United States: this is how the Giardino Italiano story began
It was April 1996. The first order, printed from the webshop form, arrived by regular mail from the United States, paid with a credit card transmitted over the phone. The first product purchased was a Visconti Pontevecchio fountain pen — a choice that, in hindsight, couldn't have been more fitting to inaugurate a thirty-year history in the world of collectible pens.
In those years, the Italian market was not ready. Manufacturers differentiated prices by geographical area and struggled to imagine a global customer. Susanna and Dario imagined it perfectly. And they moved forward.
The story of Giardino Italiano and its pens: thirty years of a unique adventure
Giardino Italiano is not only one of the first e-commerce pen shops in Italy: it is one of the few that has gone through three decades without losing its identity. Some milestones that tell this journey:
- 1996 — First online sale of fountain pens in Italy
- October 1996 — Introduction of the Fidelity program, long before loyalty programs became standard practice in e-commerce
- 2008 — Membership in AICEL – Italian Electronic Commerce Association and "Sono Sicuro" certification, to protect online customers
- 2011 — Exclusive limited edition pen for 15th anniversary
- 2013 — Logo redesign for its 18th anniversary
- 2016 — Twentieth anniversary: an already established history, while Italian e-commerce was still growing
- 2026 — Thirty years: the site becomes Pens.it, the team is renewed, the philosophy remains intact
Every evolution — of technology, platform, communication — has always served a constant: the quality of the experience for those who buy a pen from us.
Why selling fountain pens online since 1996 makes a difference
Thirty years of accumulated experience cannot be improvised.
It means knowing the manufacturers personally — Aurora, Visconti, Delta, Stipula, Leonardo, Pineider, to name just a few — and being able to advise not based on the catalog, but on the person who writes.
It means knowing that a pen is not shipped like a book. Each item is inspected for appearance before shipping, never inked, packaged with the care that a valuable object deserves. Because half the pleasure of a collector is already in opening the box.
It means still having Susanna available — via phone, via WhatsApp, via email — to answer those who want advice before buying. A rare thing in 2026.
From Giardino Italiano to Pens.it: thirty years of natural evolution
The name changes, the spirit does not.
Pens.it is the logical response to thirty years of growth: a more modern website - dedicated only to pens - an improved shopping experience, an even more suitable international showcase for those looking for quality fountain pens — Italian and non-Italian — with the guarantee of a seller who knows every single product thoroughly.
The team today is Susanna, for image, customer service, and purchasing, and Dario, for marketing — forty years of experience in large multinational companies now entirely dedicated to the family project. Small, deliberately so. Because personalized service is not a slogan: it's the reason why our customers return.
The future that begins now
Thirty years in digital commerce teach one thing above all: change must be anticipated, not endured. We said it in 1996 when no one believed in e-commerce. We repeat it today, as the sector continues to transform.
What will not change: the rigorous selection of products, the care in shipping, the direct relationship with the buyer. And the passion — Susanna's passion for fountain pens and for those who choose them — which has remained exactly the same since 1996.
Do you want to discover the pens in our current selection? Explore the Pens.it catalog →
What is the history of Giardino Italiano pens and how did the thirtieth anniversary come about? Giardino Italiano was founded in March 1996 as one of the first Italian e-commerce sites for fountain pens. In 2026, for its thirtieth anniversary, the site evolves into Pens.it, maintaining the same philosophy: quality, personal service, and a passion for writing.
Do you sell vintage fountain pens or only new ones? Our catalog includes both new pens from the best Italian and international brands, as well as limited editions and collector's items. For specific requests on particular models, please contact us directly.
How does the Pens.it Fidelity program work? The Fidelity program has been active since 1996 — one of the first loyalty systems in Italian e-commerce. You accumulate credit with every purchase and use it as you wish on your subsequent orders. Find out how it works →
