Lincoln Resurrected

A company’s archives always provide a wealth of information and frequently fascinating finds. Such was the case when the owners of Curtis Australia—during a bout of fall (yes, it’s fall in Australia) organizing—came upon an amazing discovery.

“We noticed a mysterious sealed and padded bag hidden in a far corner of our vault, underneath a large quantity of paperwork,” says Heather Curtis of a find she and her husband, Glenn, recently made.

“When we opened the bag we found 60 sterling silver Abraham Lincoln pen overlays we had produced. Needless to say, we were absolutely stunned,” she continues. “It was like uncovering buried treasure.”

Treasure indeed. The mold for these overlays had been publicly destroyed at Fahrney’s pen store in Washington, D.C. in July of 2009, insuring that the number of pens produced would be clearly limited. And while this new discovery will not affect the number in the edition, additional—and unexpected—pens are now available.

Ironically coinciding with the 12 Oscar nominations Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln received, as well as the Best Actor award it garnered for Daniel Day-Lewis in its title role at this year’s Academy Awards, this misplaced cache was indeed a fortuitous find. Lincoln, released with much acclaim late last year, is a revealing drama focusing on the sixteenth US President’s tumultuous final months in office.

Currently, the Curtis Australia Presidential series comprises three limited edition pens, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, in addition to Lincoln. Each of the pens is embellished with a finely sculpted sterling silver overlay that includes the likeness of its namesake, as well as pertinent details reminiscent of his life and work. Each is handcrafted using the lost-wax casting method of production, a hallmark of fine jewelry making.

Pen collectors, history buffs, and movie fans alike will undoubtedly be delighted to hear the news of more Lincoln pens on the horizon. Write Info@curtisaustralia.com for more information.

Curtis Australia is a Melbourne-based jewelry and pen atelier known for its handmade luxury products. Its heritage traces to the 1890s, when leather goods were first made by founding members of the same family in rural Australia—goods with a reputation for durability and quality. Almost a hundred years ago jewelry became the focus, and the company has evolved into the prestigious Curtis Australia brand, offering a wide selection of luxury pens, jewelry and accessories. 

Coffret Ecridor designed for gift giving...

New from Caran d'Ache for the holiday season, the Coffret Ecridor District comes in its own gift box, ready for giving. Produced in the Geneva workshops of Caran d'Ache, the lovely diamond-cut guilloche allows light to play off the pen, giving it a dazzling palladium finish. The ballpoint has a retro-style clip and push-button action and is fit with the famous Caran d'Ache Goliath ink cartridge; it comes with a 50-page leather notepad. The Ecridor District box is produced in a limited edition for the Christmas and New Year season, available in select shops and department stores priced at $155.

Swann holds special preview with Rick Propas

Waterman Patrician Turquoise, ca. 1931;
Lot  394

This Wednesday, a special preview event (6 to 8 p.m.) will be held for Swann's upcoming inaugural auction of Fine & Vintage Writing Instruments. Swann's pen specialist, Rick Propas, will be available to display pens and answer questions; light refreshments will be served.

The auction will be held in New York City on September 13, 2012 at 1:30 pm. It includes over 400 lots featuring vintage Chilton, Montblanc, Pelikan, Parker pens and many more, as well as a fine selection of modern limited editions; the exhibition schedule began September 8. For more information, take a look at the exquisite 3-D auction catalog. 

Swann Galleries is at 104 East 25th Street, Manhattan, 212.254.4710.

Click and write!

Cross is  introducing its new Click pen that combines gel ink technology with a clever "click" mechanism. The pen is priced at around $25 and comes in a variety of colors and finishes, including satin black, satin chrome, pearlescent teal or pearlescent white--all with black trim. The pens are available this month. I think they offer good value and a good look, from the Century line.

Faber-Castell Pen of the Year 2012

Faber-Castell's Pen of the Year 2012 combines gold leaf and ancient wetland oak to create an extraordinary limited edition writing instrument. All of the metal fittings are 24-karat  gold plate, and a faceted citrine crowns the cap. The 18-karat bicolor gold nib of the piston-filled fountain pen is available in fine, medium and broad widths.

Wetland oak wood has a deep texture, due in part to the fact that it has been buried for many years in bogs and marshes. In the process of making the pen, gold leaf is carefully applied by hand to each wooden barrel using a squirrel-hair brush. Artist and painter Ernst D. Feldmann, who studied Venetian gilding techniques, is responsible for the unique gilding of the pen wherein layer upon layer of 24-karat gold leaf is applied. Embedded in resin, a unique pattern emerges. 

Each pen comes in a deep black wooden case with a certificate signed by Mr. Feldmann attesting to the 24-karat gold leaf, the 1,700-year-old wood and the limited edition of 1,500 pens. The pen is priced at under $5,000.

A little bit of soul

Aurora's new Demo Black, based on the iconic Aurora 88, is a limited edition of 1,888 piston-filled fountain pens, 888 rollerball pens and 188 sketch pencils--as well as 18 solid gold fountain pens embellished with diamonds. The transparent resin is turned and polished by hand and the matte black solid gold nib of the fountain pen is a pleasant surprise, matching the matte black finish of the fittings and clip. The pen comes in a silver box lined in black satin. The fountain pen is priced at $950; rollerball, $725; sketch pencil, $550. The price of the solid gold fountain pen is available on request.

Montblanc's Statue of Liberty...an interview

Limited to just 50 pieces ($33,000) symbolizing the number of states in the US, the Statue of Liberty Artisan Edition from Montblanc made its debut yesterday at Montblanc's Flagship boutique on Madison Avenue. And during the remainder of this week, the general public is invited to visit the boutique and share their insights about the Statue in a book on display. President and CEO of Montblanc North America Jan-Patrick Schmitz shared his thoughts in an interview.

Nancy Olson: In what way do you think that the Statue of Liberty writing instrument is particularly fitting at this moment in our country's evolution?

Jan-Patrick Schmitz: Obviously, this country is built on the immigrants who came to the US. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of hope and of a brighter future, and I believe today it goes beyond that and has also become a global symbol of hope and freedom.

NO: What was the impetus for the collection?

JPS: As part of our Artisan Edition, it is about a great American historical moment. We are constantly looking at historic figures as well as historic symbols that represent values, and I think [the Statue of Liberty] is one of the most prominent and important symbols for our nation and around the globe.

NO: Was it designed and produced in Hamburg?

JPS: Yes.

NO: What are your expectations for the book that will be on display?

JPS: We are inviting people to our store to write down their experiences and thoughts about freedom. New York is built on diversity; all people come together with a common view of liberty, which is how we started. We at Montblanc always have a story to tell, and we love to interact and share with people.

NO: What pen will they be using?

JPS: Since there are only 50 Statue of Liberty pens, it will not be one of them! But we will be using another of our wonderful fountain pens and we will make it a joyful experience to write. 

Previous artisan editions from Montblanc include tributes to Max Reinhardt, Frida Kahlo and the Presidential Series. The Montblanc Statue of Liberty Artisan Edition is available at Montblanc boutiques nationwide.

Sneak Peeks from Omas

Two new pens from Omas, sure to capture your imagination, are the Burl Wood Celluloid Vintage Paragon and the Red 360 Demonstrator, both available within the next few months. The Paragon comes with either a 14-karat extra-flex nib (extra fine, fine and medium) or an 18-karat nib (extra fine, fine, medium and broad). There are 80 pens each: with rose gold trim, yellow gold trim, hi-tech silver trim and ruthenium trim. Nibs must be pre-ordered through your favorite retailer; price is under $1,000. The fabulous 360 Demonstrator in red is really hot. This limited edition--there are only 360 available worldwide, with 180 slated for the US--features "hi-tech" silver trim. It is priced at $750. I'm in love.

It's Cherry Blossom Time

The cherry blossoms are just about at peak bloom right now, and once again this year Fahrney's of Washington, DC, has teamed up with Retro 51 to celebrate this wonder of nature. And even more exciting, this year is the centennial celebration of the cherry blossom in DC, since the first trees were gifted to our nation's capital in 1912. In that year, the city of Tokyo bestowed 3,000 cherry trees upon the city, and they have survived to this day. This is the sixth collection that Fahrney's has offered honoring the lovely blossom, and this year's original design captures the delicacy of the blossoms at day and night, with an intricate rendering of the White House wrapping around the base of the barrel. The steel barrel features multiple layers of black and white enamel with a touch of pink on the blossoms. The capless retractable rollerball/ballpoint is a twist-action pen. It is priced at $49. The Cherry Blossom Festival begins tomorrow, and runs through April 27.

Honoring Frank Lloyd Wright

ACME, based in Hawaii, is paying homage to Frank Lloyd Wright with a few of its latest introductions. The Taliesin Anniversary cartridge- or converter-filled fountain pen is based on the architect's Teliesin in Wisconsin. Taliesin, which means "shining bow" was the Welsh name that Wright bestowed on his home, which he designed in 1911. Available now, the etched pen is a limited edition of just 1,911 pens, each with a steel nib. A fountain pen and rollerball set is available for $250 and comes in a collector's box. The new Frank Lloyd Wright architect's pencil is ACME's first-ever architect's pencil (or lead holder). It features the Ennis Block pattern on the grip and includes Wright's signature on the red background. Priced at $60, eraser and refill leads are included. Apparently red was Wright's favorite color.

Hey, Delta pen company fans. Airline International--that great pen shop in El Paso, Texas--has an exclusive on a fabulous and forthcoming new Delta Roma Imperiale Demonstrator fountain pen. It is a limited edition of just 25 pieces and, to my knowledge, it is the largest demonstrator pen every produced. The body and cap are crafted from clear hand-polished resin and the details are in vermeil. It features a large 14-karat gold nib (size 8) with an ebonite feed; the pen is piston filled. It's a handful at almost 6.5 inches (closed) with a barrel circumference of 2.28 inches. The pen will be available in about two weeks, I understand, and it's priced at $1,395. The artist's rendering shown offers a pretty good idea of the pen's appearance, but I'll post a photo as soon as one is available. I'm a huge fan of demonstrator pens, and this looks like a fun one to own, produced by a respected Italian firm.

Dragon from S. T. Dupont

S. T. Dupont is introducing the Dragon Limited Edition in celebration of the Chinese New Year. The Premium Collection comprises a Neo-Classique large pen and the iconic Line 2 lighter engraved with a pale gold dragon on black Chinese Lacquer. Each pen and lighter is numbered in this edition of 888 pieces each. The Prestige Collection is limited to 88 pieces each item (Neo-Classique President fountain pen, Line 2 lighter, matching solid bronze ashtray), created in collaboration with French artist Philippe Tournaire. Red rubies light up the dragon's eyes. There are just six pieces each in the Dragon Diamond Collection (shown) of pens and accessories, all embellished with diamonds and rubies. Tournaire hand sculpted the pen base and the ashtray, which comes as a set with the Line 2 lighter.

Delta Peace Pen

The Delta Peace Pen, crafted from solid gold, enamel and 105 diamonds, was recently presented to Pope Benedict XVI. The Unione for Christian Onlus (UPC) commissioned Delta to produce this one-of-a-kind pen designed by Ciro Matrone, one of Delta's partners. The pen is embellished with the word "peace" written in various languages. It was presented to the Pope in a white lambskin and gold box designed by another Delta partner, Luigi Muscente. Due to the level of interest in this project, Delta has decided to custom manufacture this pen in sterling silver and enamel for anyone interested in owning this bit of history. 

Acme Studio's Abbey Road watches

Acme is introducing new watch designs for spring. Abbey Road, from the Beatles Collection, is available in black for men and white for women in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces. The wristwatches are water resistant and have stainless steel case backs, rubber straps and a manual wind movement. They are priced at $160 for the men's piece and $150 for the ladies'. The Beatles pen collection was first introduced last year, and Abbey Road watches are a nice addition to the array of pens and card cases.