The Fountain #016 - Limited Editions Are Not For Everyone
This week I watched a video from Samuel Naldi (from Style of Zug) where he featured a limited edition fountain pen - a collaboration between MontBlanc and Purdey & Son -the Purdey & Sons 81 fountain pen.
A pen maker and a rifle maker.
The edition is only 81 pens and they retail for USD$49,000. Out of reach for the regular fountain pen aficionado on the reddit or facebook groups. And me.
Undoubtedly, this series will sell out and they will be impossible to find immediately post their release.
This got me thinking. Is this something we, the common consumer without the budget for such limited edition luxuries, are interested in?
Does this bother you? Or is it no different to luxury watches, cars etc?
I find it interesting.
Exclusive pens in this type of price range don’t even register as a grail pen for me. They will never be an option. But I like to see what is being released, even if it’s not for me. The curiosity is there.
A grail pen should have some level of attainability. It should be a stretch; take effort to get there. But should have some level of reach to it. At least, I think so.
My grail pens are a Visconti Homo Sapiens Magma (~USD$1k) and a Namiki Maki-e Urushi Emperor (~USD$8-10k).
Obviously the Visconti is more attainable, but the Namiki isn’t impossible…but at the price of a small car (almost) maybe it’s just a dream.
But there are many Urushi Maki-e pens in USD$2-5k range too. My point is, it’s attainable. Unlike the latest MontBlanc limited edition.
What do you think?
Until next time.
Maker
Edison pen company
Edison pen company history
Resources
Goulet Pens Nib Nook - a great resource to compare nib widths with writing samples
The Nibsmith - services to tune your nib
Fun Fact
Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite pen was a Parker 51, which she used throughout her life. She gave Parker a royal warrant in 1962.
Another notable user of the Parker 51 was US President Eisenhower.
(facts from Purepens)
Tip
There are people that offer their service to adjust, tune and smooth your nib, to your specifications.
They’re called nibmeisters.
A skilled nibmeister is sought after in the fountain pen world.
Like a specialist doctor, they can bring your fountain pen back to life.
You’ll be glad for their skills if you ever drop a fountain pen nib first.
P.S.
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