What would you expect to pay for an Arthur Conan Doyle MontBlanc

[Boston Brian]

Was thrilled to see one of the above MB pens with a BB nib, my holy trail pen, and knew it would be a high price, but was surprised when the dealer said he was asking $1200 for this pen.

Is that a fair price does anyone think?

[Paul-in-SF]

One thing I do when I want to get an idea of recent sales prices is to look up completed sales on eBay (click Advanced Search, fill out the search and make sure you check off Completed Items and Sold Items. You will see whatever has sold in the past couple of months, and you won't get misled by a bunch of inflated asking prices. 

 

I did this for "Montblanc Doyle fountain pen" and got several hits, and it was very confusing. There were pens in the $200 to $250 range, a couple for $800, one for an unknown price ("best offer accepted") and one for over $3K. The cheap ones had small boxes or no box, the expensive ones had big fancy boxes. Some of these have a blue body, some have a maroon body, and since I'm not familiar with this model, I don't know what to make of it. Maybe you will understand it. 

[NoType]

On 2/17/2025 at 5:28 PM, Boston Brian said:

Was thrilled to see one of the above MB pens with a BB nib, my holy trail pen, and knew it would be a high price, but was surprised when the dealer said he was asking $1200 for this pen.

Is that a fair price does anyone think?

@Boston Brian As the price is $1200, this must be the less limited (9000 FP) version.  At this price point, I presume the dealer is offering a new pen.  As such, it is $120 less than Montblanc’s list price:

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/fountain-pens_cod22250442026098930.html

 

If neither a new pen nor BB nib is required, and price is paramount, you could save a further $100 and select a pre-owned example from Dromgoole’s with what I speculate is a M nib (unspecified in the listing below):

https://www.dromgooles.com/products/pre-owned-montblanc-writers-edition-fountain-pen-2021-arthur-conan-doyle?variant=47159127998704&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOoqiv0JRNXZ69N6ihH2uf1F4jrtRnx21Dn7UoALkIgHr1P85IJJPz9Q

 

Now, if the dealer is offering the more limited (1902 FP) for $1200 — see Montblanc’s list price:

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/fountain-pens_cod24062987016686966.html

— then seize the pen with both hands!

 

 

 

 

 

[NoType]

On 2/17/2025 at 8:18 PM, NoType said:

@Boston Brian As the price is $1200, this must be the less limited (9800 FP) version.  At this price point, I presume the dealer is offering a new pen.  As such, it is $120 less than Montblanc’s list price:

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/fountain-pens_cod22250442026098930.html

 

If neither a new pen nor BB nib is required, and price is paramount, you could save a further $100 and select a pre-owned example from Dromgoole’s with what I speculate is a M nib (unspecified in the listing below):

https://www.dromgooles.com/products/pre-owned-montblanc-writers-edition-fountain-pen-2021-arthur-conan-doyle?variant=47159127998704&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOoqiv0JRNXZ69N6ihH2uf1F4jrtRnx21Dn7UoALkIgHr1P85IJJPz9Q

 

Now, if the dealer is offering the more limited (1902 FP) for $1200 — see Montblanc’s list price:

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/fountain-pens_cod24062987016686966.html

— then seize the pen with both hands!

 

 

 

 

 

@Boston Brian Yet another pre-owned Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 9000 FP is available for sale at the moment.

 

You could save a further $105 beyond Dromgooles’ listing (linked in my previous post), if neither a new pen nor BB nib is required, on a pre-owned example with F nib from Bryant at Chatterley Luxuries:

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product/montblanc-writers-edition-sir-arthur-conan-doyle-limited-edition-fountain-pen/

The pre-owned pen from Bryant above is $325 less than Montblanc’s list price for a new pen.

[NoType]

On 2/17/2025 at 5:28 PM, Boston Brian said:

Was thrilled to see one of the above MB pens with a BB nib, my holy trail pen, and knew it would be a high price, but was surprised when the dealer said he was asking $1200 for this pen.

Is that a fair price does anyone think?

@Boston Brian Finally, Bryant of Chatterley Luxuries has a reputation of offering the most competitive prices online, and some time ago a new Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 9000 FP with BB nib (using listing’s “Nib grade” pull-down menu reveals BB nib option) was offered for $1150:

https://chatterleyluxuries.com/product/montblanc-writers-edition-homage-to-sir-arthur-conan-doyle-limited-edition-fountain-pen/

 

Thus, one may safely conclude that the offer from your dealer of $1200 for a new example is a fairly good price, considering that some years may have elapsed since Bryant’s pen sold for $1150.

[Boston Brian]

As I suggested, despite being a Sherlock Holmes fan, and the owner of two MontBlanc pens, I never investigated the price of this special edition as I was sure it was way beyond what I could afford. Interesting, though especially with the size of nib I would have loved to own.

[NoType]

1 hour ago, Boston Brian said:

As I suggested, despite being a Sherlock Holmes fan, and the owner of two MontBlanc pens, I never investigated the price of this special edition as I was sure it was way beyond what I could afford. Interesting, though especially with the size of nib I would have loved to own.

@Boston Brian Perhaps a gently used example in very good condition with a BB nib might become available in future at an approachable price point.  Stranger things have happened.  Members here oftentimes suggest that pen shows are good venues for shopping.