How Much Is My Pen Worth? What Can You Tell Me About It?

[Jahooty]

Hey Everyone,

 

I just received this pen from my mother the other day as a gift. Its been her's for years but she's never used it. She received it in 1984.

 

I'm new to the world of pens and would like to get some background info on this pen, and any thought you have on it.

 

How much do pens like this normally buy/sell for? And is there anything special about this one?

 

 

Thanks!

[psychdude]

It's worth nothing and you should mail it to me immediately to be rid of for you

 

 

Actually it's a Montblanc (or MB) 149, and if it's from the mid 80s and in as good a shape as it appears, it's likely worth somewhere in the neighbourhood of $400 USD. Maybe more if it's never been used.

 

There isn't anything inherently "special" about it, other than your mother gave it to you and you should use it with joy! It is not a collector's edition, limited edition, or anything else edition, but it is considered by many to be one of the nicer pens made. Others do not like MB's method of marketing, but it is, nevertheless, a very, very nice pen.

 

Enjoy your mother's wonderful gift, and feel free to browse around, especially the MB subforum, to learn more about your pen, and the world of fountain pens (FPs) in general.

 

Welcome!

[torstar]

Looks like a 149 in good shape. Nice!!!

 

Background is it's Montblanc's signature pen and one that most serious collectors have in their world. Browse around the board and see what is shaking on ebay for this model.

 

Brand new retails for US$810.

 

I'd offhand say you could get US$500 plus or minus a few hundred depending on other factors.

 

Purely an unlettered 149 user's view...

[jar]

Also it has what looks like the long tine 14C nib which may even be slightly flexible.

 

Welcome home, pull up a stump and set a spell. You have a quite nice pen there. one that you should be able to use daily and still have your kids leave to your Grandchildren.

[karmakoda]

There are two different pens pictured. The third photo is an older 149, late '70s, while the other may be a mid '80s pen. Do you have two pens?

Sorry, did not offer an estimate on your pen. I have nine 149s, that cost me from $285.00 to $490.00, a valuable and excellent pen.

As so many FPN members have said, "Enjoy your Montblanc 149!"

Edited July 5, 2012 by karmakoda

[psychdude]

Third pic looks like a stock photo...

[meiers]

One was just sold on the market place here at FPN listed at $385.

Edited July 5, 2012 by meiers

[Jahooty]

The nib photo is a stock photo. I was unable to get a photo to focus and show what was written on it.- that nib matched the one on my pen. I was unaware of such a large variation.

[georges zaslavsky]

keep your 149, it will bring you lots of writing pleasure

[melissa59]

Can you even put a price tag on a generous gift from a loved one?

And why would one want to is beyond me, unless the gift means nothing more to you than it's resale value.

 

My answer to "what is it worth?" is based on it being a gift from a mother to a child: PRICELESS!

[Paul Raposo]

Can you even put a price tag on a generous gift from a loved one?

And why would one want to is beyond me, unless the gift means nothing more to you than it's resale value.

My answer to "what is it worth?" is based on it being a gift from a mother to a child: PRICELESS!

 

:clap1:

[talkinghead]

The nib photo is a stock photo. I was unable to get a photo to focus and show what was written on it.- that nib matched the one on my pen. I was unaware of such a large variation.

 

Is the pen you have then a 14K or a 14C nib?

 

Just wondering......

 

Rick

[Jahooty]

The nib photo is a stock photo. I was unable to get a photo to focus and show what was written on it.- that nib matched the one on my pen. I was unaware of such a large variation.

 

Is the pen you have then a 14K or a 14C nib?

 

Just wondering......

 

Rick

 

 

It's a 14c.

 

How does it compare to a 14k?

[talkinghead]

My 14c nibs are the more flexible of my MB 149 nibs when compared to my 18C....don't have a 14K.

 

Rick

 

PS....keep the pen and use it!!!

Edited July 6, 2012 by talkinghead

[Jerome Tarshis]

14C and 14K are the same thing. No? Carat = Karat?

 

All of a sudden I can see why some people think metric measure makes things clearer. Not much chance that anyone will wonder what is the difference between a 585 nib and a 585 nib.

[Brian C]

14c and 14k are different nibs. 14c is slightly older and usually more springy. The Montblanc 14c nib is the nicest nib I have ever tried. I don't see anything wrong with finding out how much the pen is worth. Enjoy your pen.

[hari317]

Nice pen. You will get 315-450USD for it on ebay. I suggest you use the pen first if you are curious about FPs, if you dont like it, it is unsuitable to your hand and you need cash, sell it.

[jslallar]

I recently won a similar pen on eBay for $338, albeit with a B nib compared to what looks like your F. No big difference in price, just preference.

 

A nice pen and a mother's gift at that - cherish it.

[fpupulin]

Just to note that it is not a stock photo, it is my photo of the nib of my 149 ca. 1978, which I posted in another thread of this forum some time ago.

[torstar]

Can you even put a price tag on a generous gift from a loved one?

And why would one want to is beyond me, unless the gift means nothing more to you than it's resale value.

 

My answer to "what is it worth?" is based on it being a gift from a mother to a child: PRICELESS!

 

 

 

Hate to break it to you that very few people care about fountain pens....