Visconti Van Gogh -- Different Clips?

February 12, 2014

I have three Visconti roller balls with "Van Gogh" marked on the center ring....two of them (colors Ocean Blue and an unidentified orange/amber) have an arched, flattened clip with "Visconti" on each side. I have a receipt for the Ocean Blue; it is a "Midi" purchased in 2004 for $96.00. No receipt for the orange/amber pen. The receipt for the third pen is shown as "White" but the pen looks more like the "Vanilla" color I find on the internet -- streaky white and tan. It was purchased in 2003 for $135. It has a different clip -- it is much slimmer and has "Visconti" only once on the topside of the clip. Can anyone provide me on any information regarding these pens, specifically why all three are marked "Van Gogh" but one has a very different clip, and why one pen was so much more expensive?

Thanks!

February 12, 2014

I can tell you the thinner clip was the early one before they went to the arched bridge affair with Visconti plastered down the sides. Prices were all over the place with currency fluctuations in those years. Midis cost less than the Maxis.

The orange/amber is either the tortoise or the sandal. Hard to tell without pictures. Sandal tended toward more red/yellow, while the tortoise ranged from amber to almost clear at times.

February 13, 2014

Thanks for the information. I haven't really been able to find anything on the internet about the "older" style clip. I am attaching photos of the pens -- colors may not come out so great (I'm having trouble with my camera) but I was wondering if you could guess whether the orange/amber one is tortoise or sandal... Also, the blue one looks a lot like the "Starry Night" pens I see on line but my invoice says "Ocean Blue" -- has anyone seen them side by side in person and can tell me the difference?

February 13, 2014

Looks like Sandal. The blue is definitely Ocean.

Here's a link to my collection so you can see a fair number of the colors. Note that my Vanilla has the older clip and bayonet closure.

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/258827-visconti-van-gogh-maxis-the-original-14kt/

My Sandal is 4th from left, Tortoise 6th from left. Hope it helps.

February 13, 2014

Thanks -- I actually came across your photo when I did a search for the Visconti Van Gogh. I agree with you that I have the Sandal...

I'm still busy at work cataloguing my 150 pens of all types -- thank goodness for the internet in general and this site specifically! I'm really enjoying learning about the pens I own...

April 5, 2014

I have one of the older ones. I believe it was called a 3 K cap due to the cam inside. Nice idea, but they tend to come loose in the pocket. I much prefer that clip though.