Dating Pelikan fountain Pen

[RedPie]

There is a lot of history about this pen. Wonderful. Thank you @tacitus!

[tacitus]

Pelikan Kirin (2002) - Asia Limited Edition

 

The fifth and the last release of the Asia Limited Edition was the Kirin (2002), based on the motif of Kirin, the legendary Chinese animal.
 
According to ancient Chinese mythology, there are guardian deities in the four directions in the sky, and all creatures are said to belong to each guardian deity according to their nature and characteristics. The guardian deities of the four directions are called the "Four Gods": the Azure Dragon in the East, the White Tiger in the West, the Vermilion Phoenix in the South, and Xuanwu (Black Tortoise-Snake) in the North. In accordance with the "Wuxing" (Five Phases Theory), the Yellow Qilin (Kirin) was added in the center to make up the number "five". When the Golden Dynasty was first released as the Asia Limited Edition, fountain pen enthusiasts all would have thought that it would become the "Four" Gods series, but in the end, "five" fountain pens were released. The reason was as described above.

 

The Kirin is written in Chinese characters as "麒麟". Originally "麒"(ki) represented the male Kirin and "麟"(rin), the female Kirin. The ancient Kirin is a mythical animal that appears in ancient Chinese myths and legends. They are mild-mannered and rarely trample insects, flowers, or plants. They have horns that can be used as weapons to attack enemies, but at the end of the horns is a lump of meat, and although they have weapons, they do not actually harm people or animals. For this reason, it is called a benevolent animal. According to legend, it is called the animal of fortune because it appears only in times of peace and prosperity and in the presence of saints.
 
Confucius ”孔子” has a close relationship with the Kirin. According to his Spring and Autumn Annals, "in the spring of the 14th year of the Duke of Ai in Lu, while the Duke of Ai was hunting in the west, a wild animal was caught, which the people thought was ‘ominous’ and thrown away the body, because they had never seen such an animal before." Seeing the animal, Confucius said, this is a "麟"(rin; female Kirin) (Shiji”史記"). Learning that the Kirin had appeared at a time when there were no saints and the world was not at peace, and that the people who had captured it did not know that it was a Kirin, he is said to have been deeply disappointed, lamenting that his previous deed was in vain and that his Tao ”道” had came to a dead end. His Spring and Autumn Annals ends with the so-called "Kirin” article. From this event, "獲麟" (capturing Kirin)  came to mean the end of things (esp. used for one's last writings).

 

The original image of the Kirin in ancient times was that of a one-horned hairy animal with the body of a deer, the tail of an ox (中国政法大学博物館). In literature of the Tang and pre-Song dynasties, Kirin were often described as a hairy animal without scales. Through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to the present day, the image of the Kirin has gradually changed. The head of a deer (horse) became the head of a dragon, one horn became two horns, and finally, the image was completely transformed into what people believe today: a dragon head, two horns, a deer or horse body, and scales. Thus, the image of the Kirin has changed from that of the Kirin, which is reminiscent of the ancient benevolent saintly monarchs of the Han and Tang dynasties, to the majestic dragon-like figures of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
  
During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He "鄭和", who sailed the South Sea seven times during his lifetime, brought back a giraffe from East Africa and presented it to the Yongle Emperor "永楽帝". Although its authenticity is not known, the Yongle Emperor took a liking to the giraffe, and it is said that he prized it as a “real Kirin” because of its resemblance to the legendary Kirin and because the pronunciation of the local Somali word “geri,” meaning "a long-necked herbivore sounded like ‘Kirin’. Since then, the legendary image of the Kirin became associated with the image of the giraffe⁽¹⁾.

The animal that could be compared to the Kirin in the West would be the unicorn, which has the same single horn, but differs in the shape of its horn, its character, and its origin. The Kirin is a legendary creature from Chinese mythology, while the unicorn is a legendary creature from the Old Testament and other sources. Unicorns have sharp horns, while Kirin have rounded ends on their horns. The unicorn is a very fierce creature with a horn that can pierce anything. On the other hand, the Kirin is very gentle and the tip of its horn is rounded to prevent it from hurting people.

For this Kirin fountain pen, the body color has returned to a pure color, vivid yellow, to match the Kirin in the Five Phases Theory. In addition, while the ink window color in the previous series was translucent gray regardless of the body color, the color of the ink window in the Kirin is translucent yellow, which matches the body color and is very beautiful. The Kirin is a fitting end to the Asia Limited Series.

The packaging is similar to the Xuan Wu, with a wooden inner box. The inner box has the word “麒麟” and the "modern image" of Kirin, engraved on the lid. Like the Xuan Wu, it comes with a cloth bag to wrap the inner box. The outer box that holds the inner box is made of paper and is almost the same size as the inner box.

Note;⁽¹⁾In this connection, when naturalists of the Meiji era established a translation of "giraffe" in Japan, 麒麟 (kirin) was suggested as a possible translation, and “麒麟” was finally adopted.

 

 

[tacitus]

Appendix

 

Nobody ever asks me what kind of ink I use, but I'll answer. This is NOT Wyman's Wild Blueberry Juice, but it is a Business BB ink that Pilot has been producing decades before the introduction of the Iro-shizuku series. It has a capacity of 350ml and costs only $10. It is a blue-black ink with a strong blue tint and very good flow, and is gentle to fountain pens. What other major ink manufacturers make ink in this size?

 

Incidentally, the pen tray is also made by Pilot.

 

 

Now, I am relieved to finally finish my review of the Asia Limited Edition Four Gods series released by Pelikan between 1995 and 2002. I would like to work on the "Originals of their Time series" next.

 

[RedPie]

@tacitusYour reviews and the history behind it is just great and so detailed. Thank you very much!

[tacitus]

Pelikan Originals of their Time 1931 Gold (1997)

 

Since 1993, Pelikan has released limited edition fountain pens for specific target groups based on the successful M800 and M900 Toledo, but in 1997, under the title "Originals of their Time", the company began introducing a new concept of limited edition fountain pens. This was intended to bring vintage fountain pens back to life in the modern age, so that more collectors would be exposed to the masterpieces of the past (Pelikan Schreibgeräte).

The first release of "Originals of their Time" was a re-edition of the model 111. The model was introduced as Pelikan Gold in 1930 and renamed the model 111 in 1931. It was, so to speak, an upscale version of the model 100. Thus the limited edition fountain pen was therefore named “1931 Gold”. At the time, it was not possible to determine how many the model 111 pens were produced retrospectively, so the limited edition was 5,000 pens (Pelikan Schreibgeräte).
 
A comparison of the “1931 Gold” and the original (the model 111) is described in detail in Pelikan's Perch. The main differences are that the nib, cap band, and sleeve of the "1931 Gold" are made of 18 carat gold⁽¹⁾ (the originals are all 14 carat gold)⁽²⁾. The material or shape of the cap, feed, collar, section, barrel, seal, and filling system are slightly different. The cap of 1931 Gold. Especially, the cap top and cap tube are made of celluloid. In the original 111, the cap unit was made of ebonite until 1938. It is unclear why Pelikan did not make the cap out of ebonite. The engravings on the cap top and nib are also slightly different from the original (Fig.2-2, 2-4, 3-1). On the other hand, the milled turning knob, piston guide and section are made of ebonite, and the barrel is made of celluloid, identical to the originals. The old four chick logo on the cap top (Fig.2-1) and the arrow on the turning knob (Fig.6) are also reproduced exactly. As a result, the appearance is exactly the same as the original at a glance (Fig.1-3)⁽³⁾.

The original 111 had three patterns (diamond, barley, and wave) on the sleeve (Pelikan-collectibles, Pelikan-guide), but the 1931 gold used only barley pattern (Fig.5) .

The shape of the nib is somewhat similar to the nib of the original 100 series, but the actual writing feel when filled with ink is quite different from that of the original, being stiffer (or less flexible) (of course, individual impressions may vary). The feed and collar appear to be the same as the M200 and M400. In fact, it is compatible with the M200 and M400 nib units. The original cap had vent holes to prevent ink dripping due to negative pressure in the cap, but in the 1931 Gold, the vent hole was omitted, perhaps due to the improved ink holding capacity of the feed⁽⁴⁾.

As stated in Pelikan's Perch, the joint between the section and barrel has been moved behind the cap threads. The original had an ebonite section joined to a celluloid barrel, with the cap threads engraved on the celluloid side; on the 1931 Gold, the cap threads are engraved on the ebonite side, not the celluloid (Fig.4). This is probably to improve the durability of the threads. I have seen cracks and chips on the celluloid threads of the 100 series several times. This is probably due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficient between celluloid and ebonite and the stress caused by opening and closing the cap. Pelikan may have decided that ebonite was more resistant to these stresses.

The 1931 gold uses a synthetic polymer seal in place of the cork. This was probably to facilitate the installation of the seals and to improve the durability of the seals.

Thus, the 1931 Gold is a fountain pen that attempts to faithfully reproduce the original while incorporating modern technology throughout⁽⁵⁾. Of course, this fountain pen can stand up to daily use (although the price is not practical), but care should be taken when posting the cap. The cap is made of celluloid and the cap lip is not guarded, so there is a risk of cracks in the cap lip if you try to force the cap on.

When this fountain pen was first released, I saw several online posts expressing disappointment that the nib unit was different from the original. Perhaps Pelikan could have made an exact replica, with a collar and feed made of ebonite, a cork seal, and a nib identical to the original. However, this would have been too costly, and Pelikan probably did not do so for fear of a flood of troubles and complaints from users who were not accustomed to old-style fountain pens.

Coincidentally, 1997 was the year that the M600 became one size larger and the M1000, the largest fountain pen in the Souverän series, was launched. For users accustomed to the size of the M800 and unfamiliar with the 100 of yesteryear, a fountain pen like the 1931 Gold, which looks slim and compact but has a solid length (between the new style M600 and M800) when the cap is posted⁽⁶⁾, must have seemed rather novel.

Note;⁽¹⁾There is an anecdote that when the 1931 Gold was released, the Japanese distributor thought it was "gold-filled" instead of "solid gold" and made a mistake in setting the retail price (Pen Cluster).
⁽²⁾The change from 14 carat gold to 18 carat gold was probably an upgrade for the limited edition, but if Pelikan had made the same limited edition today with the rising price of gold, they might have stayed with 14 carat gold to "stay faithful to the original".
⁽³⁾The 1931 Gold was made based on the drawings of the time (EuroBox). 
⁽⁴⁾However, there were some pens reported where the outer diameter of the section end was too large for the inner diameter of the cap, and in that case, the cap was too snug, and ink leaked when the cap was removed (万年筆評価の部屋). These problems of manufacturing precision and materials became more pronounced in the following 1935 Jade.
⁽⁵⁾Let there be no misunderstanding, the 100 series, including the original 111, were fountain pens of such a high degree of engineering that they can still be used today if cared for and handled with care.
⁽⁶⁾In Japan, the 1960s and 1970s were the heyday of fountain pens such as the Pilot Elite, which were compact and slim, but could be extended to a comfortable writing length when the cap was posted.

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2025 by tacitus

[tacitus]

 

Pelikan Originals of their Time 1935 Green (1998)⁽¹⁾

 

The second release of "Originals of their Time" was a re-edition of the model 101, and named the 1935 Green.The original model 101 was introduced in 1935 (Pelikan Schreibgeräte).  As the colorful pens were not popular with conservative German consumers, the model 101 was destined mainly for the export markets, especially for the South American countries and Portugal (Pelikan Schreibgeräte). The model was characterized by the colored cap and sleeve made of the same material (celluloid), and named the model 101. The lineup were as follows (cap / sleeve):

• red / red
• green / green
• blue / blue
• lizard / lizard
• turtles shell (brown) /turtles shell

 

Returning to the modern 1935 Green, the cap and sleeve of are made of marble green celluloid. It is not surprising that Pelikan's iconic green color was chosen among five colors as above for the re-edition. Notably, according to the catalog as of 1998, the two cap rings are made of 14 carat gold⁽²⁾. As those of the original was gold-plated, this was obviously a upgrade for a limited edition (Pelikan-collectibles). Other than that, the nib unit and filling mechanism are the same as 1931 Gold. I don't have the original 101 Green, so I can't compare, but side by side they would look very similar in appearance.

 

I actually got this pen recently, from a Japanese Yahoo flea market site. I had heard bad rumors about 1935 green for a long time (although the seller's comments didn't say anything about it), and when I saw the fountain pen that arrived, I could tell that the rumors were true (万年筆おやじの備忘録, 万年筆評価の部屋). Fortunately, my pen did not leak ink when I removed the cap, but there was a recognizable bumps on the beautiful marble green sleeve. I had seen this on several well-known Japanese fountain pen websites, so I thought it might be due to Japan's unique hot and humid climate, so I contacted Rick. He told me that the same phenomenon had occurred to his pen in the warmer climate of San Francisco, and that it was not due to the climate but to the celluloid material used. In researching the celluloid used for this purpose, I learned a number of things. According to Pelikan Schreibgeräte, "celluloid is highly flammable during the manufacturing process, and the German safety regulations are very stringent." and "considering the cost of the investment to the limited edition that require high levels, Pelikan subcontracted the befriended foreign company to  manufacture the cap top, cap tube, and sleeve." Pelikan Schreibgeräte does not say which company was contracted for the job, but it is an open secret that Visconti used their own celluloid and assembled Pelikan's limited edition fountain pens (Rick Propas (personal communication), PenCluster). Unfortunately, Visconti was notorious (at least at that time) for their materials handling and celluloid made in the 1990s were reported to disintegrate extremely quickly (万年筆評価の部屋)⁽³⁾. Visconti's feed was also made of ebonite at one time, so it is likely that Visconti's ebonite was also used in this Pelikan limited edition fountain pen (万年筆評価の部屋). Perhaps Visconti used celluloid that had not been sufficiently matured (or "aged") for this Pelikan limited edition fountain pen. This would have caused the celluloid to shrink unevenly and become uneven. This celluloid shrinkage was especially noticeable on the sleeves. Also, either the section was too large for the cap due to a manufacturing precision problem, or the celluloid of the cap tube shrank, causing the cap to be too snug and/or the ink to leak when the cap was removed. Some might think that this is a unique phenomenon of celluloid itself, but since Pelikan produced many fountain pens using celluloid for over a decade starting in 1931. Pelikan must have been accustomed to handling celluloid at that time, and looking at so many model 100s with their flat sleeves that remains today after more than 90 years, it is unlikely that the problems that occurred frequently in the 1935 Green occurred (although of course we cannot dismiss the possibility that only pens without problems have survived to the present day). So, it is unlikely that there was a problem with the celluloid itself, and it is likely that there was a problem with Visconti's celluloid after all⁽⁴⁾. Please see the description by PenCluster, where the 1935 Green is described as “a nostalgic gem with the aroma of celluloid camphor. This rather suggests that the celluloid is still evaporating, and that the celluloid has not yet fully aged. In fact, this pen also has slightly uneven sleeve.

 

I tried to find out when these 1935 celluloid shrinkages began, but could not be certain⁽⁵⁾. However, there are many similar problems reported in a Fountain Pen Network thread started in 2010, so the celluloid had shrunk within just a little over a decade after the 1935 was made. At the time Pelikan planned the next celluloid model, the 1935 Blue, this problem did not seem to be apparent. Pelikan again commissioned Visconti to assemble it using their celluloid. Unfortunately, the same problem occurred with the 1935 Blue. From reading this thread, it seems that Pelikan was flooded with complaints about the celluloid sleeve shrinking. Pelikan then offered to refund the pen or exchange it for another limited edition pen of the same price, but would not replace or repair the pen. It seems that even if they wanted to, they could not.

 

There was another problem with 1935 green. There seemed to be some cases where turning the turning knob did not suck ink, or the ink turned to the back of the piston seal. It seems that there was a problem with the piston seal used as the cause. The nib and collar of the M200 and M400 were used, but instead of the white translucent piston seal, a reddish brown, probably rubber, piston seal was used only for this limited edition. It is unclear whether the durability of the reddish-brown piston seal was a problem or whether the outer diameter of the seal did not match the inner diameter of the celluloid barrel, but it is reported that some of the piston seals were torn off during use (筆記具工房).

 

As you can see, this pen has many problems, but it is a beautiful pen if you can put up with the uneven sleeve. If the cap is too snug, a gentle rubbing of the section with a very fine sandpaper will solve the problem. And if the ink leaks easily, making vent holes in the cap, as Pelikan did 80 years ago, will solve the problem (though most pen owners may not want to do either).

 

Then, as mentioned above, the 1935 Blue was released in 2001. Many Pelikan fans were hoping for the 1935 Red next, and Pelikan had plans to do so, but due to the deteriorating relationship between Pelikan and Visconti, the 1935 Red eventually never materialized.　Only a prototype of the 1935 Red remains at the Pelikan headquarters (PenCluster). Pelikan then started re-editioning the 101Ns from 2011, but perhaps they learned their lesson from this and no longer use ebonite, let alone celluloid.

 

When I saw this fountain pen, I was reminded of the phrase “The Decay of the Angel”. The Decay of the Angel is the English title given to 天人五衰, the fourth volume, of 三島由紀夫 (Yukio Mishima)'s tetralogy, 豊饒の海 (The Sea of Fertility). In the tetralogy, Mishima describes the reincarnations of the protagonist, and as the story progresses, we see that pure passion and beauty of the protagonists ultimately submerged into nihilism and death, as it were anti-"Bildungsroman". Just on the day the final draft of “The Decay of the Angel” was submitted, Mishima committed suicide by seppuku at the Ichigaya Camp of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (三島事件) (1970). I was intrigued when I happened to see a article with this title in timezone.com. The part II describes how the great watch brand Vacheron Constantin, once a master of haute horlogerie, has gradually stagnated in concept and declined in craftsmanship after several acquisitions and quartz shocks since the 1970s, focusing on its calibers. The so-called “ballpoint pen shock” that Pelikan and other fountain pen manufactures suffered would be compared to the "quartz shock" that Vacheron Constantin and other Swiss watch manufacturers suffered. While many fountain pen manufacturers went out of business or were merged into other manufactures, Pelikan found a way to make a living by producing fountain pens for school pens (Pelikano model 1), and also struggled to diversify its business. However, the business stalled and the company was forced into bankruptcy in 1982. However, the M400 saved the company, and Pelikan was revived like a phoenix. The M800, which became the flagship of the company, followed, and Pelikan recovered enough to produce a series of limited edition fountain pens in the 1990s and 2000s. Was that Pelikan's last peak? Vacheron Constantin, now as a part of Richemont as you know, is one of the most prestigious watch companies in the world. Meanwhile, Pelikan has fallen on hard times again and, as we all know, was finally forced to sell itself to Hamelin and is in danger of shrinking its business (Pelikan’s Perch). As an outsider, I do not know why this happened. Looking at this fountain pen retrospectively, one might say that Pelikan has failed to reissue the model 101. Although this does not necessarily mean that Pelikan's technical capabilities have declined, the result is everything. To the average user who does not know Pelikan's inner workings, Pelikan would have been perceived as no longer being able to do today what it was able to do 70 years ago. In the final scene of "The Decay of the Angel", the Mishima's last novel, the following phrase appears:"衰亡はおもむろに進み、終末はしづかに兆してゐた (Decay advanced gradually, the signs of the end appeared quietly)". Even when Pelikan was seemingly doing well in the late 1990s and 2000s, it might have begun to show signs of "decay". 

 

I may be too harsh on Pelikan in this article. And I may have exaggerated (minor) flaws. Probably I am. However, today, Pelikan's limited edition fountain pens are much more expensive than they used to be, and the 1935 Green and Blue are no exception. This is ironic given Pelikan's current situation. Some sellers are selling at reasonable prices, while others are charging exorbitant prices, so I thought I would write this article to give readers some background on the 1935 before they buy one at an exorbitant price.

 

Note;⁽¹⁾According to the catalog, the name of this pen is "Originals of their Time 1935", and although it does not seem to have "Green", I call it "1935 Green" for the sake of convenience to distinguish it from the 1935 Blue.
⁽²⁾However, according to the catalog as of 2002, the cap rings are made of 18 carat gold. Which is correct?
⁽³⁾In the beginning, Visconti outsourced the production of celluloid fountain pens to the Japanese Kato Seisakusho Company (加藤製作所). At that time, there were no problems with celluloid (万年筆評価の部屋). It is ironic that Visconti started to have many problems with celluloid fountain pens when it started to make its own celluloid fountain pens. To Visconti's credit, Visconti now seems to have overcome the material handling problem and continues to produce excellent fountain pens.
⁽⁴⁾There have been many reported cases of celluloid-based fountain pens with shrunk or disintegrated shafts, not only from Visconti, but also from other makers of Italian fountain pens (万年筆評価の部屋).

⁽⁵⁾The problem of ink leakage when the cap is removed was already reported in 2006 (Fountain Pen Network).

 

 

 

[tacitus]

Pelikan Originals of their Time 1931 White Gold (2000)⁽¹⁾

 

The third release of "Originals of their Time" was a re-edition of the model 110, and is called "1931 White Gold"⁽¹⁾.
 
The original model 110 was introduced in 1931 (Pelikan Schreibgeräte). The model 110 was one of the precious metal models or “luxury models”. It was characterized by white gold filled cap and sleeve (and clip)⁽²⁾. The ground metal was nickel silver. The inside of the cap top metal was ebonite. The cap tube metal was lined with ebonite tube to reinforce it. The model 110 had three patterns (diamond, barley, and wave) on the cap and sleeve (Pelikan-collectibles). 
 
Returning to the modern 1931 White Gold, the pen, as described in the 1931 Gold, is found to be faithful in appearance to the original model 110, except for differences in the nib unit, filling mechanism and barrel construction. Of course, the cap and sleeve are white gold filled. Probably the pen is rhodium (or palladium) plated as white gold tens to discolor if left intact (Pen Cluster). The sleeve is decorated with alternating wavy patterns and plain stripes, probably only one type of pattern for this limited edition.
 
This limited edition has a metal cap and sleeve, so there is almost no celluloid sleeve / cap problem, which has been pointed out in the previous series (although there is a possibility of denting when bumped), and it can be said that this is the highest quality fountain pen (as an industrial product). 1931 pieces were produced in honor of the year when the original model 110 was launched. The original model 110 was so rare that its re-edition, 1931 White Gold, sold out very quickly (Pelikan Schreibgeräte).
 
The only problem, to some extent to be expected, would be that the white gold body would tarnish yellowish over time. As shown in Fig.09, the 1931 Gold (right) does not stand out on its own, but when compared to a fountain pen with a platinum barrel (Pt 900) (left), its slightly yellowish tint becomes apparent. I don't know if this is due to the rhodium (or palladium) plating on the surface peeling off or the discoloration of white gold, but I have seen several 1931 White Gold with yellowish discolored body more than 20 years after its release (please click). This may not be enough to be called a drawback, but, like all other limited edition pens, the 1931 White Gold is now fetching a high price, so prospective buyers should be aware of the discoloration of the body.

Note;⁽¹⁾According to the catalog (2002), the name of this pen is "Originals of their Time 1931", and although it does not have "White Gold", it is customarily referred to as "1931 White Gold" for the sake of convenience to distinguish it from other 1931 series.
⁽²⁾White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal (usually nickel, silver, or palladium).

 

 

[tacitus]

Pelikan Originals of their Time 1931 Toledo (2003)⁽¹⁾

 

The fifth release of "Originals of their Time" was a re-edition of the model T111 introduced in 1931 (Pelikan Schreibgeräte), and is called "1931 Toledo" or "Toledo 1931"⁽¹⁾. The 1931 Toledo was released in a limited production run of 1,100 units. As can be seen in the Originals of their Time series, the number of limited production units decreases with each release. The reason for the 1,100 units is stated in the pamphlet. To quote from it,

"The 11th century was fateful for the city of Toledo – Over four centuries from 712 to 1085, the Arabians ruled over Toledo under their rule, Toledo flourished in art and science, in the silk and cotton industry as well as in its fabrication arms. Toledo’s damascene blades and inlays made by the gold- and silversmiths of the city went by the name of Toledo and carried its unique technique into the world. In 1085 Alfonso VI of Castilla conquered The city and appointed Toledo as his royal residence in 1087. In memory of this very historical 11th century, we have decided to restrict the “Limited Edition Toledo” to only 1100 pieces."

As already mentioned, this 1931 Toledo is very similar to the original model T111, except for a few details (such as the nib unit and internal suction mechanism). The clip, which resembles a pelican's face and beak, the two milled 14 carat gold cap rings (Fig.3-1), and, most notably, the sleeve engraved with two pelicans (Fig.4-1, 4-2), show the manufacturer's efforts to faithfully reproduce the original design (Fig.12-1). Though it is a bit lengthy, I will quote the description from the brochure again.

"An exquisite art – The eye catcher on this extraordinary fountain pen is a valuable ring made in Toledo in Spain in the exquisite tradition of Damascene art⁽²⁾. In meticulous hand-work, ornaments of gold are laid into the basic iron material. In twelve steps, the wafer-thin golden patterns are professional and carefully embossed into the iron with the finest special tools. This artful method, which has been named after the Syrian capital of Damascus, from where it was spread throughout the Mediterranean. Arabs later brought this art to Spain. Today, the city of Toledo is the world’s leading center of this unequalled art."

Even with this fountain pen, the cap is made of celluloid, so there are occasional instances of the celluloid shrinking and the cap becoming tight⁽³⁾. However, since the sleeve is made of iron, there are no problems like those seen in the 1935 model, and overall, it can be said to be a work of art.

This fountain pen seems to have been particularly special even among the Originals of their Time series, with elaborate packaging and a dedicated pen case (Fig.9) unlike the other pens in the series.

The re-edition of the 100 series ended with this fountain pen. In the end, the model 112 was not re-editioned. Subsequently, the re-edition of the 101N series began in 2011⁽⁴⁾, but the 100N Gold, 100N Toledo, and 101N White Gold have not yet. 

Note;⁽¹⁾Although the box /papers, the name of this pen is only "Originals of their Time 1931", in the Statements of Inspiration (2004), the pen was advertised as "Originals of their Time Toledo 1931".
⁽²⁾This fountain pen undoubtedly pays homage to the Toledo technique ( or Damasquinado) and actually was made in Toledo. However, like the original, it was not made using the Toledo technique in the strict sense (PENEXCHANGE, Pelikan Schreibgeräte).
⁽³⁾On my 1931 Toledo, the cap cannot be posted on the cone (between the sleeve and turning knob) as a result of shrinkage of the celluloid cap tube (Fig.1-1). 
⁽⁴⁾Perhaps learning from the failure of 1935, Pelikan did not use celluloid or ebonite in these fountain pens.

 

 

 

[christof]

On 5/1/2025 at 1:24 PM, tacitus said:

 

 

...I had heard bad rumors about 1935 green for a long time (although the seller's comments didn't say anything about it), and when I saw the fountain pen that arrived, I could tell that the rumors were true (万年筆おやじの備忘録, 万年筆評価の部屋). Fortunately, my pen did not leak ink when I removed the cap, but there was a recognizable bumps on the beautiful marble green sleeve. I had seen this on several well-known Japanese fountain pen websites, so I thought it might be due to Japan's unique hot and humid climate, so I contacted Rick. He told me that the same phenomenon had occurred to his pen in the warmer climate of San Francisco, and that it was not due to the climate but to the celluloid material used. In researching the celluloid used for this purpose, I learned a number of things....

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much for this very detailed and informative article.

 

I know these rumors about the supposedly poor quality this celluloid. And I have also seen examples that were in poor condition. However, I have a slightly different theory about the possible causes.

 

Celluloid is generally an unstable plastic in the chemical sense. It will not last for a very long time. Celluloid is a thermoplastic consisting mainly of cellulose nitrate and camphor, with camphor serving as a plasticizer. 
The evaporation of camphor and ethanol is a natural process that can lead to the ageing and decomposition of celluloid over time.

 

In view of this fact, it is not difficult to establish a connection between storage and the durability of the celluloid.

 

Optimal storage conditions are dark, dry and cool (as for almost all materials). But even more important in connection with celluloid is, that the aspect of evaporation is taken into account. Never store these pens in their original boxes! It is important that there is a high level of air exchange so that the vapors can evaporate.

 

The proof of this is my example of the “Original of their times” which is still in perfect condition after 20 years in my possession. I have always stored the Pelikan appropriately, as I do with all my celluloid fountain pens.

 

[stoen]

16 hours ago, christof said:

It is important that there is a high level of air exchange so that the vapors can evaporate.

 

Hello, @christof. Nice and educative post. There is just one point about “vapors evaporating”, that I’d kindly ask for a bit of further clarification, so I can get the point. Once a “room temperature solid” (camphor) or “liquid” (ethanol) molecules have been released from a mixture of compounds such as celluloid in form of vapor, they have already evaporated (=turned into vapor) once. How does this vapor evaporate again in air exchange conditions? Did you perhaps mean that low air exchange condition prevents these two celluloid compounds from evaporating at all?

In another sentence you make a point that evaporation can lead to “ageing and decomposition of celluloid over time”. It would be great to learn how these two points connect. 

Thanks for your understanding and sharing own experience.

[christof]

22 hours ago, christof said:

 

...so that the vapors can evaporate.

 

 

 

 means: that the vapors can dissipate.

 

Although it is normal for celluloid to emit these vapors, the material should not be exposed to such vapors as they can damage the material over time.

 

I am not a chemist, but if you do a little research on the subject, you will learn that it is a known problem.

 

And uneven shrinkage is just one of the problems that can occur.

 

PS: if a plastic emits a perceptible odor, it is nothing other than the evaporation of volatile substances that you can smell. The camphor smell of celluloid is nothing else.

[stoen]

Thanks, @christof,

So you mean to say that vapors once emitted from a celluloid object can harmfully interact with the very material from which they have previously evaporated unless properly drained (vented) from the storage environment, and that it is a known issue?

🙂

Neither I am a chemist, but I’ve experimented and noticed while preparing liquid celluloid for repairs, that the mixture with 1-3% of camphor added has substantially reduced brittleness once solidified.

 

Do you know for some means of decay rate reduction, other than storing in a cool, dark, dry and airy spaces?

 

[mana]

The following might be of interest:

https://vintagepensblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/celluloid-storage-and-acid-absorption.html

[stoen]

43 minutes ago, mana said:

The following might be of interest:

https://vintagepensblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/celluloid-storage-and-acid-absorption.html

Thanks for the great link, and very useful reading, @mana

🙂

[christof]

Indeed, a very well-founded article. Thank you.

[mana]

Thank you both, @stoen & @christof, glad to be of help.

 

I ran into that article some years ago while doing research on celluloid degradation on Pelikan 100 & IBIS due to having bought 1-2 each, the barrels of which basically crumbled like hard candy (they were visibly altered and beyond repair already when I received them).

 

It was a rather insightful piece and helped me understand associated processes, but also, how to keep vintage celluloid pens as safe as possible, a worthwhile undertaking knowing their nature.

[tacitus]

Pelikan Souverän M809 Black Matte (2025)

 

Happy New Year.

 

It's been half a year since my last post.

 

I haven't been buying many of Pelikan's recent new fountain pens because they don't interest me much. However, I recently acquired a brand new Pelikan M809 Black Matte for the first time in a long while. To be precise, it was a birthday present from my wife. I requested it after seeing an article about this pen on the Pelikan's Perch and finding it intriguing. Since that article covers this pen in detail, I have little to add. I just want to mention a few things I noticed only after seeing the actual pen (it was probably only recently imported to Japan, so I hadn't seen it in major stationery stores beforehand). My first impression is that from the grip to the barrel, rings, cap, and 18 carat gold nib, every part is unified in black, creating a perfect monochrome beauty. The matte-finished barrel has no visible seam. Its appearance is identical to the matte-finished PVD (physical vapor deposition) coated metal clip, crown, and rings (Fig.1). As the website describes, “soft matte resin meets matte textures, creating a hand-held rhythm ...”, the texture feels unique touch compared to the regular model. Examining the surface under a loupe reveals countless minute irregularities (Fig.2-1). The slightly smoked ink window is designed to blend seamlessly with the barrel. This smoked tint ensures the ink window appears black regardless of the ink color used (Fig.4). The cap tube and turning knob have a glossy finish, likely similar to the M800 (though appearing slightly duller, likely due to the matte finish of the clip and ring). While some might think that “all parts being unified in black” could make the entire pen look monotonous, this is not the case. When light hits it, the glossy cap tube and turning knob appear as black stripes, much like the barrel of the M805 Stresemann or "Raden"⁽¹⁾(Fig.5). This saves the pen from monotony despite its perfect monochrome design, while subtly hinting at its Pelikan DNA. Unless you use special lighting, this pen will not look like too hushed images as shown in the Pelikan website⁽²⁾. This is something you simply cannot know without holding the actual pen in your hand. There was one more thing I wanted to confirm once I acquired this fountain pen. The 18 carat gold nib is coated with black PVD, matching the barrel and metal, but I was curious (a minor detail) about the iridium tip. As I expected, it was the same black color as the nib (Fig.3-2). I don't know if the iridium is coated too or if they specifically sourced black iridium⁽³⁾, but it shows Pelikan's commitment to achieving this perfect monochrome look. This is why I believe the beauty of this pen and Pelikan's dedication can only truly be appreciated by holding the real thing. I've seen some positive and negative opinions (especially regarding the price) about this pen on several forums and hesitation about purchasing it, but if you get the chance, I still think you should see it in person.
 
The first thing that came to mind when I saw this pen for the first time was the H. Moser Venture Concept Vantablack⁽⁴⁾ Black Hands watch - something watch enthusiasts might recognize. The watch deliberately omits even the company name and all hour markers, featuring a dial (it's hardly a dial anymore) and hour/minute hands entirely in black. Pursuing the ultimate minimalism, the H. Moser tried to obscure its brand identity, and stubbornly refuses even legibility. Similarly, obsessed with minimalism,  the M809 Black Matte is an ultimate concept fountain pen that asserts itself by "not" asserting. At first glance, you might not even recognize it as a Pelikan pen. Its packaging is also extremely simple, perfectly aligned with this concept (Fig.6).
 
Now, Pelikan has released such concept fountain pens based on the classic Souverän line. Just as Pelikan previously introduced the Ductus and Majesty, I hope they will create such pens based on an entirely new fountain pen model in the future. This pen is a special edition, with only 250 pieces scheduled for sale in Japan. I wonder how many are planned for the entire world?

Note;⁽¹⁾This also applies more or less to other M800 series pens.
⁽²⁾The photos on this website seem to have gotten a bad reputation. They appear overly fixated on “monochrome,” failing to capture the rich expressions of this fountain pen. However, after trying to take photos myself, I've come to understand anew the difficulty of expressing such fountain pens through two-dimensional photographs (I always end up failing).
⁽³⁾If I were to grind down the iridium, I could tell which one it is, but I don't have the courage to do so.

⁽⁴⁾Vantablack is a class of super-black coatings with total hemispherical reflectance (THR) below 1% in the visible spectrum. The name is a compound of the acronym VANTA (vertically aligned nanotube arrays) and black. The original Vantablack coating was grown from a chemical vapor deposition process (CVD) and is claimed to be the "world's darkest material", absorbing up to 99.965% of visible light measured perpendicular to the material (wikipedia).

 

P.S. Next post will be about Herzstück 1929, M800 Green transparent, or 1000 Years of Austria.

 

 

[stoen]

Dating by nib grade imprint:

 

Please, have my asking a side question within this well ordered, comprehensive and relevant thread pardoned:

Did anyone make some additional research on nib grade lettering imprint near the Pelikan 100 cap top?

 

The two pens shown in picture roughly belong to the fourth “generation”: one can be dated around 1937 (upper pen - millesimal fineness on the nib), while the lower one dates between 1935 and 1936 (no millesimal fineness). I’d like to learn how the ebonite mechanism imprint letterings relate to dating.

 

Is there a clue which would map the lettering type to the manufacturing years? Sharing any evidence is highly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[tacitus]

Hello @stoen.

 

I am sorry for the delayed response, but thank you for reusing the thread in this way.

 

I've never seen the upper "08" logo before. Unfortunately, I don't have any useful information.