Montblanc Writers Edition Pens 1992-2009 - Review

[josephfabry]

A couple months ago, Steve wrote:

 

I long for a Cervantes because of Don Quixote, not because it is an exceptionally beautiful pen but because I am reminded that "nobility knows no station" - dig a hole and solve a problem - what isn't noble about that? Provided we find our level in life and apply ourselves to learning and giving, we will have perhaps fulfilled our reason for being. The Don taught me that there is beauty in all and for all.

 

 

Steve-

 

I have a Cervantes. I too, thought that it was "less than" in the beauty category. I had never seen one in real life, but a while back, I started trying to collect the whole series of Montblanc Writers Edition Fountain pens and sets. My OCD will not let me get this far into the collection, and skip one or two pens which don't speak to my soul. I wasn't going to buy a Cervantes, or a Fitzgerald for that matter, because of the ho-hum gut reaction I have when I used to see these pens in photos. The cognitive dissonance I experienced when faced with a too-good-to-be-true deal on the Cervantes led me to buy it- more to work toward completing the set, than because of anything I liked about the BROWN pen. Yuck.

 

I gotta tell you- this pen when viewed in real life is just gorgeous. I was appalled at the thought of buying a brown pen, but I was absolutely wrong. Your charge, Steve, to pursue a Cervantes, is a noble one, indeed. But, prepared to be pleasantly- and overwhelmingly, taken aback by its beauty. Just- "WOW". The Cervantes is miles beyond exceptionally beautiful.

 

Anyway- Good luck in your quest. You will not be disappointed should you decide to take the plunge down the slippery slope.

 

I only have a few Montblanc Writers Edition pens left to get before my OCD can rest.

 

(On second thought, the OCD will just focus on another 'task' rather than stop and rest. It never rests.)

 

Love,

 

Joe

[torstar]

Excellent, thanks for writing it and thanks for bumping it.

 

The Verne isn't just heavy (which I like), it's egregiously unbalanced when posted, which may have been mentioned somewhere in 3 pages of comments...

[seriph]

Thanks very much for the insight into the Cervantes - I imagine nothing comes close to seeing all pens 'in the flesh' prior to purchase and in the case of most Writer's Editions in a worst case scenario, they are easily resellable.

 

I look forward to the Pen Show in November in my neck of the woods, where hopefully I will be able to see some of these babies up close and personal.

 

And I will make my own pen regardless, based on the wonderful Don Quixote (not Cervantes himself, as far as the two can be separated)

 

Forgive my repetition if I have stated such before, but I have contacted the Spanish arm of a windmill preservation society and am working to get some sail canvas and spar wood from an ancient windmill from the plains of La Mancha .... once I get this, I have a pal near me who makes pens and we will set about to create a pen that is hopefully worthy of The Don. All the metals will be in copper and aged to a near-black finish - I have chemicals here to do this ... I use it in my work. Over time and with daily use (it will be my daily writer) the copper will rub back in places etc. so it should turn out nicely. The pen while of wood, will be wrapped in the canvas, along the lines of the look of MB's Gandhi except actually canvas not injection moulded plastic. It will present certain challenges like how to neatly join the seam but it should turn out nicely I think. If I get enough wood I will make a box for it.

 

I think sir, we are brothers in our OCD

 

Edited September 16, 2011 by seriph

[goodguy]

 

(On second thought, the OCD will just focus on another 'task' rather than stop and rest. It never rests.)

 

Love,

 

Joe

Ahh Joe only those who have OCD can really relate to this fact OCD is something that is always with you and dealing with it is for the rest of your life

 

I KNOW!

[seriph]

My wife is convinced I have both ADD and OCD - My mother wonders why these things didn't manifest themselves when I was a boy to which I reply "I guess they weren't available diseases then"

 

 

oh look a butterfly

 

where was I?

[Neuroform]

Thanks for the great, comparative review, classifications, and details! I was pleased to just recently acquire the Dostoevsky (since he is one of my favorite writers). Interesting to reflect on different approaches to pen collecting.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[Bo Bo Olson]

As the owner of a Woolf...I like it but then again, it's one of one for me.

Having never seen any WE in life nor paid attention to them as was.

I got waylaid in my B&M....the Woolf was the second best looking MB after the Brandenburg I'd ever seen.

 

I saw and wanted.

It was on sale.

 

I don't know about this domed MB that my pen is supposed to look like.

The top is flatter...compacter than my standard sized flat topped MB 234 1/2 Deluxe.

[kcoen52]

These are all amazing pens! Great review, and I can't wait until I can own one; particularly the Poe... I love the look and the author!

[Pen Nut]

Fantastic post and review What a collection you have there !

 

Four picture rule for cases like this are @£$"ocks but hey what do we know

[kahhoewan]

Fantastic review.

 

Does anyone know if there is a Ralph Waldo Emerson writers edition? I did some research and to my knowledge it's a no.

 

And is there like a petition sign up for those who one a certain individual to be selected as a future writers edition?

[goodguy]

Fantastic review.

 

Does anyone know if there is a Ralph Waldo Emerson writers edition? I did some research and to my knowledge it's a no.

 

Sorry but no.

[bartl]

:thumbup:I have never held a Proust but it strikes me that is so light,the barrel should be hefty with all that silver. Proust is my favourite but price wise out of my league. Second: to my own surprise: the Shaw ! Beautiful, good weight and not to big unlike Hemi or Dumas. I am really tempted now.

Aaah.. thanks for the great review

[spraine]

Newbie question--

 

On Goodguy's Writer's Edition list:

 

What are the MB models he refers to as the "domed" pens ?

 

Thx,

Steve

[torstar]

:thumbup:I have never held a Proust but it strikes me that is so light,the barrel should be hefty with all that silver. Proust is my favourite but price wise out of my league. Second: to my own surprise: the Shaw ! Beautiful, good weight and not to big unlike Hemi or Dumas. I am really tempted now.

Aaah.. thanks for the great review

 

 

The Proust isn't light, it is just right, perfectly balanced when posted.

 

It's about time it gets its increase in bidding value...

[Montblanc owner and lover]

outstanding work,very nice collection thanks!but you lack the later ones:Col(l)odi and Swift

[seriph]

donut is no good - it has a hole in it

 

Stunning collection .... something most of us can only dream of having

[seriph]

Kahhoewan, no RWE pen - No Victor Hugo - No Melville, no Heinlein - but Montblanc WE's are only twenty years in .... there are thousands of worthy writers.

 

On a different note, I saw a Dupont "Bogart" pen today - looked good except they cheapened it (IMHO) very significantly with their "BOGIE tm" thing on the cap - looks baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

[tenney]

I find it interesting that after no activity in a year that this topic pops back alive. You'd think that the interest in WEs would keep it active forever.

[goodguy]

Newbie question--

 

On Goodguy's Writer's Edition list:

 

What are the MB models he refers to as the "domed" pens ?

 

Thx,

Steve

Well Steve MB used to make pre 146/149 pens which had kind of a dome at the top of their caps and I think the modern pens I called domed pens are copying their design from these old MB pen.

[mshepp3]

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to write this review. I am using it to help me decide what my first WE purchase should be... Details at 11