There's a new listing on ebay (thanks AzTheta for pointing it out). Its a 20 pearl quill with a diamond tip in place
of the 20th pearl.

Item number 330401064055

its listed as Alpha Theta pin. Its only listed for $9.95 but the front has been defaced,
the letters and the barbs on the quill "feathers" have been buffed off. I don't see anyway
of restoring it. :-(

From the engraving on the back it is from Alpha Theta chapter (Northwestern) from 1947.

Ugh, why would someone do that???

ETA: It's up to $20.50 now. I'm going to keep an eye on it. Even though the letters are gone, I feel like it needs to be rescued.

Another quill on ebay
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/10K-GOLD-ALPHA-X...item20af54ddb1
Item number:140380528049

current price is 50.95 with 2 bids

The person selling it says all the items on their ebay site were found at garage sales?? (Who would sell a quill at a garage sale?!)

Sometimes it gets out of the hands of the owner for whatever reason, and the person who winds up with it has no idea what it is, its value, its meaning, etc.

ETA: The two Quills on ebay right now (posted by AZ Alpha Xi and SexiFuzzy) are from the same chapter and are only two years apart! I'm sure the original owners new each other. What I'm curious about is that the one from 1947 is the "vintage" 20 pearl (well, 19 pearl 1 diamond) and the older one is actually the current 15 pearl style. Interesting!

Double post, but another pretty one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Alphia-X...item2a04b69354

It's the 20 pearl kind. I can't tell if it's Beta Kappa or Beta Chi. If it's Beta Kappa then it's a chapter founder's pin!

ETA: And this one just breaks my heart...read the description...the sellers sounds like a (former?) member....http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Alpha-Xi...item5ad6f9593d

new member pin (i've already rescued one, I wish I had a little extra money for this one too!) Item number:310038272550
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-XI-DELTA-V...item482fb89a26

gold - 14 pearls, 1 diamond (I would love to get this one, get a chapter guard and president drop, then donate it to my chapter for the presidents to use! I wish I had more money, omg.) Item number:220570561902
http://cgi.ebay.com/10K-Solid-Gold-A...item335b07ad6e

gold - 15 pearls Item number:250587386664
http://cgi.ebay.com/Alpha-Xi-Delta-q...item3a582c1328

gold - 20 pearls Item number:370332343445
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-XI-DELTA-s...item5639871c95

gold - 15 pearls Item number:270446142313
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-XI-DELTA-s...item3ef7d8a369

gold - plain Item number:180487681421
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1933-10K...item2a05e7758d

gold - plain Item number:370184990304
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPHA-XI-DELTA-s...item5630beae60