[Question/Help] Pilot Custom - Premium lacquer/gold Heart Sutra? Was I conned?

[Inked_Fingers]

Hello All,

 

Just registered

 

I won a VERY expensive auction in Yahoo Japan kind of accidently. It is a beautiful pen, and the description was very enticing saying it is RARE black lacquer and gold finish, never used and has a special Buddhist amulet in the box. Original box in silk I think also. You can see the photos attached.

 

The thing is I can't find a lot about it online in this premium finish. So, I cannot assess its value. The ONE bid auction was 1000+ GBP. I am still wondering if I fell in a trap by beginners' ignorance.

 

Can any one help me out and enlighten me?

 

Thank you in advance. 

 

 

[I-am-not-really-here]

Some info here I think.  http://newpentrace.net/penbase/Data_Returns/full_article9486.html?ID=415&cname=
 

 

[Inked_Fingers]

2 minutes ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

Some info here I think.  http://newpentrace.net/penbase/Data_Returns/full_article9486.html?ID=415&cname=
 

 

 

Thanks. Interesting! But it doesn't show the lacker/gold one. Just the sterling silver ones. Amazing that it says these pens were blessed. That explains the amulet in the box. Maybe is a consequence of a special ceremony for the pen. 

[A Smug Dill]

Firstly, welcome to FPN.

 

1 hour ago, Inked_Fingers said:

The thing is I can't find a lot about it online in this premium finish. So, I cannot assess its value.

 

Neither can we; the Fountain Pen Network is not an appraisal site.

 

If it's ‘technical’ information about the pen you won, you can have a look here:

Structurally and finish-wise, it's probably the same as or very close to Pilot's (also now-discontinued) more recent incarnation of the Hannya Shingyo pen, model FKVN-10MP, which had a nominal retail price of ¥100,000+tax when it was available. Age, condition, rarity, and market demand for your vintage model cannot be assessed systematically in comparison with that, of course.

 

1 hour ago, Inked_Fingers said:

The ONE bid auction was 1000+ GBP. I am still wondering if I fell in a trap by beginners' ignorance.

 

But the question of whether you paid too much for the pen should be how you feel about the writing instrument and/or the piece of art, unless the item is primarily intended to be just a (pricey!) chattel you acquired to trade or ‘flip’.

 

[PithyProlix]

See the thread above. 

 

Is this the same model on ebay? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154753821674

 

I think the value of the monk's blessing is in the eye of the beholder. I don't know about Japan but here in Thailand, in popular culture a monk's blessing might add a lot of value depending on the monk and his perceived powers. (There is a huge trade in amulets in Thailand and visiting a Bangkok amulet market is an interesting experience.) That said, 'serious' monks and laypeople here - i. e. those concerned with practicing what Buddha actually taught - feel like these blessings are occult practices and counter Buddha's teachings. Again, this is outside the context of Japanese culture, but my point is that there is value added only within the culture and, even then, only for folks that believe in this stuff.

[Inked_Fingers]

4 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

See the thread above. 

 

Is this the same model on ebay? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154753821674

 

I think the value of the monk's blessing is in the eye of the beholder. I don't know about Japan but here in Thailand, in popular culture a monk's blessing might add a lot of value depending on the monk and his perceived powers. (There is a huge trade in amulets in Thailand and visiting a Bangkok amulet market is an interesting experience.) That said, 'serious' monks and laypeople here - i. e. those concerned with practicing what Buddha actually taught - feel like these blessings are occult practices and counter Buddha's teachings. Again, this is outside the context of Japanese culture, but my point is that there is value added only within the culture and, even then, only for folks that believe in this stuff.

 

Yes, its definitely the model above, but mine is unused and it has still box and the amulet. 

I see, what you say about culture makes sense. Because I'm importing it to Europe then it will be less significant I would say.

[PithyProlix]

Oh, and I meant to add that I believe the “special Buddhist amulet in the box“ is likely the pen itself. When you receive the pen please let us know if there is a separate amulet. 

[Inked_Fingers]

9 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

Firstly, welcome to FPN.

 

 

Neither can we; the Fountain Pen Network is not an appraisal site.

 

If it's ‘technical’ information about the pen you won, you can have a look here:

Structurally and finish-wise, it's probably the same as or very close to Pilot's (also now-discontinued) more recent incarnation of the Hannya Shingyo pen, model FKVN-10MP, which had a nominal retail price of ¥100,000+tax when it was available. Age, condition, rarity, and market demand for your vintage model cannot be assessed systematically in comparison with that, of course.

 

 

But the question of whether you paid too much for the pen should be how you feel about the writing instrument and/or the piece of art, unless the item is primarily intended to be just a (pricey!) chattel you acquired to trade or ‘flip’.

 

 

Thanks, I feel welcomed

 

I didn't acquired it for selling or flipping it. But curious to know its value and if I payed too much for it. Just that.

I am still waiting for the customs to tax it so haven't seen it live yet. Hope I will be able to see it next week when I get it delivered after paying import tax.

[Inked_Fingers]

4 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

Oh, and I meant to add that I believe the “special Buddhist amulet in the box“ is likely the pen itself. When you receive the pen please let us know if there is a separate amulet. 

 

I believe it is the folded paper in the first photo on the right. That's what I assumed. Like a blessed prayer or something. Doesn't look instructions. 

[PithyProlix]

3 minutes ago, Inked_Fingers said:

I see, what you say about culture makes sense. Because I'm importing it to Europe then it will be less significant I would say.

 

Yep but, who knows, there may be the

folks in your potential buyer's market who would value a monk's blessing. But the set of those folks that intersect with the set of fountain pen collectors who have interest in this pen might be very, very small. 

[Inked_Fingers]

Just now, PithyProlix said:

 

Yep but, who knows, there may be the

folks in your potential buyer's market who would value a monk's blessing. But the set of those folks that intersect with the set of fountain pen collectors who have interest in this pen might be very, very small. 

 

I think I will have to agree on that!

[PithyProlix]

1 minute ago, Inked_Fingers said:

 

I believe it is the folded paper in the first photo on the right. That's what I assumed. Like a blessed prayer or something. Doesn't look instructions. 

 

Could be something inside the folded paper? 

 

Anyhow, enjoy your pretty pen! 

[Inked_Fingers]

2 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

 

Could be something inside the folded paper? 

 

Anyhow, enjoy your pretty pen! 

 

Will report back when I get it.

[A Smug Dill]

41 minutes ago, PithyProlix said:

Oh, and I meant to add that I believe the “special Buddhist amulet in the box“ is likely the pen itself. When you receive the pen please let us know if there is a separate amulet. 

 

35 minutes ago, Inked_Fingers said:

I believe it is the folded paper in the first photo on the right. That's what I assumed. Like a blessed prayer or something. Doesn't look instructions. 

 

The OP is correct. As one can clearly see, as written on the front of it, that piece of paper itself is the physical artefact of 御守 (omamori) from the Zōjō-ji temple.  

[stan]

What you have is the complete kit - box, papers, and pen. 

 

The 'blessing' was part of the sales pitch. Take a big box of pens to a temple - any temple will do - pay the priests some money (they like that and probably won't do it for free) - have them recite a sutra, and voila, a blessed pen. 

 

For comparison, there is no mention anywhere that they took pens with the quote from the Bible to a church for a blessing. Maybe not worth the expense.

 

Back to the sutra pens. They rank in rarity as follows:

1. Polished silver. Engraved characters. There is mention online they may been given as gifts to Pilot employees. However this idea was once pushed by a Japan-based seller to sell pens at premium prices.

2. Silver. Raised characters. The more common silver model.

3. Gold characters over black lacquer.

4. Gold characters over red lacquer.

 

Between the black and red, I guess you see about 60-65% red and 35-40% black on sale. The polished and engraved silver model - perhaps 1% of all sales of all models. And, all of the ones I have seen were slightly used.

 

A question that never fails to arise somewhere in somebodys mind is how many were made. Given the number seen for sale at Yahoo Japan over the past twenty years I beleive several thousand. They repeatedly come up for sale. Raised the question of where were/are all of the pens. A good many were purchased as gifts and used a few times and packed away. That's why the conditions of many is excellent. Original owners die. Kids get the pen. Sell off the pen for ehat they can get. Many have been purchased by overseas buyers - interesting that not many come up for resale at shows, etc. Maybe we could ask on FPN who has one.

 

I refuse to comment on whether you got a good deal or not. Depends on what you want to do with your pen. If you want to save it as somehting special, there is no value that can be assigned. If you bought it for resale, hope you did your homework before purchasing. If purchased for personal use, should you like the special design and how it writes, the price shouldn't matter.

 

For the collecters out there. Pilot also made a few similar Special Edition models of the Custom in very limited numbers on special order. I've had two in my collection with raised characters and one with gold on red lacquer. They are incredibly hard to find and often priced and valued more than the polished silver model with engraved characters.

 

 

 

[Karmachanic]

13 hours ago, Inked_Fingers said:

Can any one help me out and enlighten me?

 

Hmm.  No.  One has to follow the instructions and enlighten oneself.  But if you realize the Heart Sutra y0u will be well on your way. 

 

Enjoy your pen!

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

… enlighten oneself.  But if you realize the Heart Sutra y0u will be well on your way. 

 

Very funny!

[Inked_Fingers]

On 4/22/2023 at 4:48 AM, A Smug Dill said:

 

 

The OP is correct. As one can clearly see, as written on the front of it, that piece of paper itself is the physical artefact of 御守 (omamori) from the Zōjō-ji temple.  

 

I got the pen! It's in MINT condition. Box is silk threaded vintage. The pen is intact and never inked. It is a beauty. But what I wanted to show you is the amulet from the temple that comes inside . It is paper based, Intact also:

 

 

 

Not sure what it means but I believe it is rare to have one of these in suck good condition and as complete. Paid big buck for it (unexpectedly) but I a happy. It is a special find.

[A Smug Dill]

34 minutes ago, Inked_Fingers said:

Not sure what it means

 

That is the full text of the Heart Sutra. To understand what it means is to be on your way to enlightenment. 😁

[stan]

12 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

That is the full text of the Heart Sutra. To understand what it means is to be on your way to enlightenment. 😁

To understand what it means go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra

Congrats and good luck.