News: M1000 Renaissance Brown Special Edition

Pelikan regularly releases limited edition models based on the M10xx chassis, but these are usually Maki-e or Raden models made in ultra limited production runs with large price tags. The last standard M10xx release was the M1005 Stresemann in 2019. After a long wait, Pelikan has answered the pent up demand with the upcoming M1000 Renaissance Brown. If that name sounds familiar, that is because Pelikan first employed the finish on the M800 Renaissance Brown that was released in 2017. Pelikan’s advertisements declare, “Brace yourselves for the comeback of a classic!” The original M800 model has been well regarded over the years following its release. The M1000 Renaissance Brown is set to debut in May 2024. If that has your interest peaked, read on to find out all of the details.

Unlocking The Mystery Of The Pelikan Keyhole Nib

Every now and then, you come across something that defies explanation. You’ll find something that you know should not exist, yet it does. It can be tempting to dismiss the anomaly as a fake, but then you might miss the chance to unravel a mystery. Such is the case with the Pelikan keyhole nib, an enigma from the far east. Nibs usually have vent or breather holes which were originally intended to allow air into the pen, replacing the ink consumed with writing. These remain a prominent feature today, even though many modern nibs vent elsewhere through the feed. Pelikan’s breather holes are usually round, except for a brief period spanning 1929-30 when they were heart shaped. The only other notable exception is the triangular breather hole of the Primapenna from the 1970s. Keyhole nibs are usually associated with the Waterman brand, so how do we explain a keyhole on a Pelikan script nib from the 1950s? Keep reading to discover the story behind the unique and rare Pelikan keyhole nib.

Review: M200 Copper Rose Gold (2024)

In a short time, Pelikan has released two brand new Classic models that are making waves. The first one, the M200 Orange Delight, came out last month, and now we have the long-awaited M200 Copper Rose Gold hitting store shelves. First announced at the end of September 2023, issues during the final quality check postponed the release until this Spring. With the wait finally over, the first Classic pen to incorporate rose gold trim is impressive. Developed in the 19th century and popularized by Carl Fabergé, rose gold is an alloy made of gold and copper, giving the final product a pink or reddish color. It’s use is not new in the fountain pen world, as other manufacturers have also applied it to their pens, but it is particularly unusual to see it on a Pelikan. In fact, the only other instance that I can recall its use was on 2016’s The Statue Of Zeus, the sixth entry in the Seven Wonders Of The World series and a much more upscale model. This special edition marries the alloyed furniture to a shimmering copper colored barrel with white resin accents, creating an attractive design. Due to the delay, there’s a lot of anticipation for this pen, and the only obstacle now might be similar to what affected the Orange Delight. Keep reading to find out what those obstacles might be and whether the M200 Copper Rose Gold is worth your time.

Review: M200 Orange Delight (2024)

Pelikan has a long history of sticking to their established model lines without making many changes. However, they have occasionally offered fresh takes on standard models, like the M815 Metal Striped (2018) and the M800 Green Demonstrator (2023). You can now say the same with regards to Pelikan’s newest M200, the Orange Delight. Accepting the M481 as the beginning of the line, Pelikan’s Classic series has been around since 1983. In the intervening years, we’ve never seen a pen quite like this from Pelikan. This model is unique because it combines opaque resin with transparent materials, a departure from their usual style, creating a first of its kind hybrid. The concept isn’t fresh, and many will draw comparisons to pens like the TWSBI Eco. Not only are the mixed components unique, the bright orange hue is also unusual for Pelikan, known for more conservative colors. The future status of this newest M200 as the first in a line of similarly styled models or as a one and done remains to be seen. Combining the elegance of opaque resin with the allure of a demonstrator won’t appeal to everyone. Despite the substantially higher price than a TWSBI, I expect this one to sell well. Keep reading in order to discover whether or not this one is worth adding to your flock.

News: Edelstein Ink Of The Year 2024 – Golden Lapis

The annual announcement detailing Pelikan’s newest Edelstein ink has become one of the more anticipated tidbits of news each year. This is in part due to the fact that we all love a good ink, but it is also because the revelation heralds a future M2xx release if history is to be any guide. Last evening, news broke of the next limited edition Edelstein Ink Of The Year and the newest hue for 2024 will be Golden Lapis. With it, Pelikan revisits the shimmer effect that we last saw with 2021’s Golden Beryl, making it just the second ink in Pelikan’s line-up to do so. Like its namesake gemstone, Golden Lapis takes a base of vibrant blue and adds a golden shimmer. This brand new release will be the thirteenth special edition gemstone inspired ink to grace the Edelstein line along with a small selection of standard bearers. Limited editions that have come before include Turmaline (2012), Amber (2013), Garnet (2014), Amethyst (2015), Aquamarine (2016), Smoky Quartz (2017), Olivine (2018), Star Ruby (2019), Moonstone (2020), Golden Beryl (2021), Apatite (2022), and Rose Quartz (2023). Pelikan, at least at the outset, intends to produce this ink for one year therefore it will only be available for a limited time and while supplies last.  Golden Lapis is slated for a March 2024 release, just in time for the Spring.

Papel Secante: The Advertising Blotter And The Art Of Callein Scheller

Fountain pens were once almost as ubiquitous as ballpoint pens are today and, naturally, an entire industry of complimentary accessories catering to the fountain pen lifestyle grew alongside them. Some frequently encountered items include inkwells and blotters. Blotters are an interesting lot, designed to absorb excess ink and thereby prevent smudging. This can be a necessity when writing with liquid ink, depending on the paper upon which you are writing, especially if you do not have the time to let the ink dry naturally. Rudimentary blotting agents going back to the early days of writing included sand, clay, and even salt. Pounce, a fine resinous powder made from various materials such as ground bones, was frequently utilized to prevent the unintended spread of ink. Blotting paper was an accidental discovery of the early 1800s. The prevailing lore is that a worker in an English paper mill failed to add sizing to a batch of paper. Sizing is a substance used to reduce paper’s tendency to absorb liquid when dry. Consequently, the unsized paper produced in that batch was discarded. When someone tried to write on a piece of the discarded scrap paper, they found that it rapidly absorbed ink, making it unusable for writing, hence the birth of blotting paper. As fountain pen technology improved, blotting paper would become an essential companion, a fact that Pelikan was well aware of and exploited in an interesting way. Keep reading to learn how Pelikan turned an artist’s whimsy into an advertising gold mine.

Review: M600 Red-White (2023)

Released alongside the M205 Rose Quartz, the M600 Red-White continues the practice of cladding the M6xx line in white resin. That is a tradition which began in 2012 and was last seen with 2021’s M605 Green-White. This is the seventh model to do so over the past decade, a total comprised of five M600s and two M605s. I have been slow to get this review out simply because of the number of great releases that we have had in the last few months. It’s hard to put the M600 Glauco Cambon (2023) down in order to use something else. The new Red-White comes as an M600, a medium sized pen with gold-plated furniture. Its color scheme was apropos for the holiday season which we recently found ourselves in, reminiscent of a traditional candy cane or peppermint. Personally, I prefer the bolder, red stripes over the pastel hues incorporated on past models. While the Red-White is a solid fountain pen, it perpetuates a few bad habits that will be a turn off for some. Even though the pen has no glaring faults, it fails to inspire in the way that the Tortoiseshell-Red or Tortoiseshell-Black did. That doesn’t make it a bad pen but one that you’ll want to consider carefully before making an investment. Continue reading to see if the Red-White is worthy of your time and money.

News: M200 Orange Delight Special Edition

While a good portion of the country is grappling with below freezing temperatures, Pelikan brings the heat with the first official fountain pen announcement of 2024. Prior to today, the only forthcoming release publicly announced was the M200 Copper Rose Gold Special Edition, a model whose Fall 2023 release was delayed until the Spring of 2024. We now have yet another pen being added to the Classic line, the M200 Orange Delight Special Edition tentatively launching in Febuary. This is a model that breaks the typical Pelikan mold and I’m here for it. First off, you can literally count on one hand how many orange pens have been released by the company in the last several years. Off the top of my head, I can recall the M320 Orange Marbled (2004), M600 Vibrant Orange (2018), M640 Indian Summer (2009), and M800 Burnt Orange (2015). That makes the Orange Delight the newest member of a rather exclusive club. Pelikan is nothing if not a creature of habit. Time and again, we’ve seen the well-worn trope of “same pen, different color.” By creating what appears to be a hybrid type of demonstrator, the company expands their horizons and the result is certainly an attractive new bird. Vendors are taking pre-orders now. Continue reading below to learn all that we know about Pelikan’s newest Classic series fountain pen.