Fountain pens online since 1996: thirty years of Giardino Italiano
The story of Giardino Italiano pens begins in 1996 — and the 30th anniversary in 2026 is the right moment 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 worldwide.
Today that intuition is called Pens.it: same soul, new tools.
A Visconti pen and an order from the United States: how the story of Giardino Italiano began
It was April 1996. The first order, printed from the website's cart, arrived by regular post from the United States, paid by credit card transmitted by telephone. The first product purchased was a Visconti Pontevecchio fountain pen — a choice that, in hindsight, could not have been more fitting to inaugurate a thirty-year story in the world of collector pens.
In those years, the Italian market was not ready. The manufacturers differentiated prices by geographic area and struggled to imagine a global customer. Susanna and Dario imagined it perfectly. And they carried on.
The story of Giardino Italiano and its pens: thirty years of a unique adventure
Giardino Italiano is not just one of the first Italian fountain pen e-commerce shops: it is one of the few that has crossed 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 programme, long before loyalty schemes became standard in e-commerce
- 2008 — Membership of AICEL – Italian Association of Electronic Commerce and "Sono Sicuro" certification, protecting online customers
- 2011 — Exclusive edition pen for the 15th anniversary
- 2013 — Logo renewal for the 18th anniversary
- 2016 — 20th anniversary: an already established story, while Italian e-commerce was still growing
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2026 — Thirty years: the site becomes Pens.it, the team renews itself, the philosophy remains intact
Every evolution — of technology, platform, communication — has always been in service of one constant: the quality of the experience of those who buy a pen from us.
Why selling fountain pens online since 1996 makes a difference
The experience accumulated over thirty years 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 catalogue, but based on the person who writes.
It means knowing that a pen is not shipped like a book. Every piece is checked visually before despatch, never inked, packaged with the care that a precious object deserves. Because half the pleasure for a collector begins with opening the box.
It means Susanna is still available — by phone, WhatsApp, 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 site — dedicated exclusively to pens — an improved shopping experience, an international showcase even better suited to those seeking quality fountain pens — Italian and beyond — with the assurance 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 major multinationals now devoted entirely to the family project. Small, deliberately. Because personalised service is not a slogan: it is the reason our customers return.
The future begins now
Thirty years in digital commerce teach one thing above all: change is not to be endured, it is to be anticipated. We said it in 1996 when nobody believed in e-commerce. We repeat it today, as the sector transforms once more.
What will not change: the rigorous product selection, the care in despatch, the direct relationship with buyers. And the passion — Susanna's passion for fountain pens and for those who choose them — which since 1996 has remained exactly the same.
Want to discover the pens in our current selection? Explore the Pens.it catalogue →
What is the story of Giardino Italiano pens and how did the 30th anniversary come about? Giardino Italiano was born in March 1996 as one of Italy's first fountain pen e-commerce shops. In 2026, with the 30th anniversary, the site evolves into Pens.it while maintaining the same philosophy: quality, personal service and a passion for writing.
Do you sell vintage fountain pens or only new ones? Our catalogue includes both new pens from the finest Italian and international maisons, and limited editions and collector pieces. For specific requests about particular models, contact us directly.
How does the Pens.it Fidelity programme work? The Fidelity programme has been active since 1996 — one of the first loyalty systems in Italian e-commerce. You accumulate credit with every purchase and use it however you like on your subsequent orders. Find out how it works →
