Mont Blanc Pens

There are increasing numbers of people collecting Mont Blanc fountain pens, but rather than keeping them in glass cases as with other antiques, they actually want to write with them.

The current world record price for a fountain pen is the $350,000 paid at Bonhams in London in 2000 for a 1928 Dunhill-Namiki 'No 50 Giant', which is 10 inches long and decorated with hand-lacquered dragons.

However, most of today's fountain pen collectors are buying for day to day use. Collectors aim to own perhaps seven or eight classic design fountain pens, rather than collecting hundreds that never see the light of day. As an example, a standard Mont Blanc Meisterstuck fountain pen, whilst $450 to $600 new, can be bought by a collector for around $200 to $250 second-hand.

So what has happened to the pen collectors market to see such an increase in collectors? In one word, eBay. This has enabled a worldwide marketplace for the pens, where a buyer in the UK can purchase a Mont Blanc from a dealer in the US with a flick of their mouse.

More collectors also means stronger prices. For example, the Mont Blanc Hemingway, issued as a limited edition of 20,000 in 1992 as part of its annual Writers series. The US retail price was around $700, but that had risen to about $1,800 by 1998. Today they usually change hands for over $3,000. However, it is also worth pointing out that some limited editions of more than 2,000, including some of the later Mont Blanc Writers, sell for around half of their retail price on eBay.

EBay has had an extraordinary effect on the collectors market, making items that were previously difficult to find far more available. However, there are still traps for the unwary buyer, with badly photographed or badly described items purchased and then arriving below the expected condition.

Like all collectables, condition is all important. Prices of vintage pens in average condition have not really moved in the past 10 years. With so much to choose from now, make sure you are fully aware of what you are buying and only deal with reputable eBay traders with excellent feedback.