Fine Pens at PBA Galleries
The Montblanc Rotary Centennial Artisan Edition fountain pen.
Berkeley, CA – PBA Galleries announced an auction of Fine Pens & Watches to be held on July 1st, 2021. The sale features 320 lots of fine writing instruments, both modern and vintage. The selection includes numerous Montblanc pens, including favorites from the Writers Series, as well as many Dupont pens and instruments from other limited edition penmakers. Vintage pen fanciers will be pleased with an exceptional selection of Waterman pens, including rare and early eyedropper-fillers.
Montblanc standouts feature prominently in the catalog and are expected to drive spirited bidding. Highlights include the Montblanc Max Reinhardt 2007 White Gold Limited Edition Fountain Pen: Each year, for the Young Directors Project, a new writing instrument is created to honor the founder of the Salzburg Festival. The 2007 edition is solid 18K white gold with rock crystal inlays and a sapphire set in the clip. The captop features a mother-of-pearl star. The pen is still sealed in its original plastic sheathe (Estimate: $10,000-$15,000). A Montblanc Diego Rivera 18K White Gold Limited Edition Skeleton Fountain Pen remains Montblanc's significant tribute to Diego Rivera. 18K white gold and black lacquer barrel with a squared, skeletonized cap inspired by the Mexican National Palace, overlaid with a gold window-lattice over red-orange translucent resin. Mexican etchings adorn the cap, a black sapphire is set in the clip, and the captop features a mother-of-pearl star. ($10,000-$15,000). The Montblanc Rotary Centennial 18K White Gold Limited Edition Fountain Pen is an 18K white gold fountain pen honoring the 100th anniversary of the worldwide humanitarian organization ($10,000-$15,000).
Other noteworthy lots include the Montegrappa Luxor Blue Nile Sterling Silver Limited Edition Fountain Pen. Part of Pelikan's "Seven Wonders of the World" series, this pen honors Artemis, daughter of Zeus, and her temple, constructed over the course of 120 years in Ephesus. The pen's palladium-plated body is inspired by the Ionic columns of the original temple ($2,000-$3,000). The Parker 51 14K Gold “Empire Cap” Fountain Pen is a magnificent pen featuring a black barrel, 14K gold "Empire" cap, gold-plated "Blue Diamond" clip and double amber jewels ($2,500-$3,500).
Coveted Waterman pens round out the sale, particularly the Waterman No. 20 black hard rubber fountain pen with a chased pattern and ball-ended Waterman's clip ($2,000-$3,000). The Waterman No. 420 Oversized Black Hard Rubber Fountain Pen with Sterling Silver Filigree Overlay, c. 1912 is a rare Waterman No. 420 black hard rubber fountain pen with sterling silver Art Nouveau filigree overlay. A very large and impressive instrument, the No. 420 is differentiated from the more commonly-seen No. 20 by the elegant sterling silver filigree (the "4" is Waterman's code for silver overlay pens). It is said that due to the pen's massive size and attendant expense it was only available as a special order ($6,000-$9,000).
PBA continues to safeguard the health of employees and clients by remaining closed to the public. PBA will limit live auction participation to online or phone bidding. For more information about upcoming sales or to schedule a Zoom preview or phone bidding for a future auction, please contact the galleries at 415.989.2665 or pba@pbagalleries.com.
