Photo Credit: THE-ANTIQUE-SHOP-OF-RUMEN
Vintage Pelikan 400NN Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set
Buy It Now Price: $299 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)
Pros:
-This vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set from the late 1950s or early 1960s has striking brown tortoise-striped barrels contrasting with gold-plated trim.
-The Pelikan 400NN fountain pen measures 5.12 inches (13.0 cm) in length. Although I do not have the exact measurement for the matching mechanical pencil, we can see from the photo that it is slightly longer than the pen.
-Pelikan was founded in Hanover, Germany in 1832 as a supplier of paints and inks. However, it was not until the late 1920s that the company began producing fountain pens. Pelikan’s golden age came in the post-WWII era of the 1950s and 1960s when it produced many memorable, high quality pens. Pelikan remains a respected pen manufacturer to this day.
–Vintage fountain pen sets are generally undervalued in today’s marketplace. This allows the knowledgeable writing enthusiast or antiques investor to pick up some truly special pen sets at bargain prices.
-The Pelikan 400 series fountain pen was first produced in 1950 and eventually discontinued in 1956. A revised version, the Pelikan 400N (the “N” stood for new) was briefly made in 1956. The type featured here, the Pelikan 400NN, was manufactured from 1956 to 1965.
-This Pelikan 400NN fountain pen comes with its original 14 karat gold EF nib. Many vintage pen aficionados consider Mid-Century Pelikans to be among the best pen-nib combinations ever made.
-According to the seller, this vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is in working order. In addition, it appears be in excellent condition, with no visible brassing, cracking or discoloration.
-The 400 series is the iconic vintage Pelikan fountain pen from the historical apogee of the company. According to specialist collectors’ website The Pelikan’s Perch, the Pelikan 400NN fountain pen (and its derivatives) are the “number one” vintage Pelikan pen for writing devotees. In their own words, “If you can only have one vintage Pelikan pen, this is probably the one to get.”
-Although the Pelikan brand often sits in the shadows of more recognized luxury pen makers, like Montblanc and Waterman, it really deserves to be acknowledged as a full peer with these venerated competitors. Because of this, I believe the $300 asking price for this beautiful fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is well justified.
Cons:
-While generally very robust pens, buyers of the Pelikan 400 series have to watch out for cracked barrels and collars. This is due to a minor design flaw (a shrinking plastic cap over a static metal liner) and material limitations (a brittle, polystyrene collar). Luckily, this particular Pelikan 400NN pen and pencil set shows no evidence of these issues.
-Although this vintage pen set is in a Pelikan case, I am dubious that it is original. If the set was still housed in its original case, its value would be slightly higher.
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