Filling Mechanism: Piston Filler

He has been called the father of modern American literature, and it is amazing how well the work of Samuel Clemens holds up today. In 2010 he was honored with the Montblanc Mark Twain fountain pen from its Writers Series. The cap of this stunning luxury pen resembles the smoke stack of a paddlewheel riverboat he worked on, while the knot imprinted on the 18k gold nib represents the depths he would call out to alert the captain of the Mississippi River's depth. Our pen appears to be New Old Stock in mint condition. From the collection of top-selling author Bill Adler Jr., whose book "Outwitting Squirrels" would likely have tickled Mr. Clemen's fancy, Mr. Adler asserts he never filled this pristine pen. It comes with its original book box but not the papers or outer box.

We love how Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" often gets swept into the children's books category when it is really a biting political satire for adults. Montblanc paid tribute to the great satirist in 2012 with a Writers Series pen best known as the Montblanc Jonathan Swift. Ours is in mint condition and has never been used. It comes with its book box and that is all. The pen is numbered 07675 of 12,800. You will likely write a fine line with its 18k gold nib, but we have not dipped it to verify. No sense messing up its New Old Stock status. Click the headline for a close-up.

Prepare for classic adventure with the Montblanc Jules Verne fountain pen. An homage to the French author who gave us "Around the World in 80 Days," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth," this pen has a nautical vibe from his early submarine. The fine guilloche work under the blue enamel makes the cap and barrel look as if it has capture the ocean in miniature. Its 18k gold nib is plated in rhodium and features the image of an old diving helmet. Click the headline for close-ups. This pen remains in unused mint condition from the modern million-selling author Bill Adler Jr. The pen comes just with its book box, no papers. Guaranteed authentic.

We often wonder if the authors of the Montblanc Writers Series pens would actually appreciate a pen being named after them. Would the surrealist author who railed against the corporate world really approve of the Montblanc Franz Kafka? We don't know, but we suspect that he would love a cockroach imprinted on a luxury nib made of rhodium-plated 18k gold. Montblanc pays tribute to the author of "The Metamorphosis" with this stunning wine-red, art deco-inspired fountain pen. The sterling silver accents really pop. Our pre-owned pen once belonged to the author Bill Adler Jr. who wrote the 1-million-copies-selling book "Outwitting Squirrels." He says he never filled the pen, and the pen certainly looks mint in its original box. The papers and outer box have gone missing. Guaranteed authentic. 14.8cm capped.

Perhaps the most prized fountain pen among Montblanc collectors is the Montblanc Hemingway. It is the first of the Writers Series pens and came out in 1992. Our pen is in like-new condition with no trace of wear. We suspect it was filled once, cleaned and left alone as a collectible. There is just the trace of black ink around the piston. The piston moves smoothly. Our pen comes with its book box, reply card and booklet. We do not have the outer box. Everything is in the photo. Click the headline for a close-up. Just in the case the pen is N.O.S., we didn't dip the 18k gold nib that looks like a fine point. Obtained from a dedicated Montblanc collector; guaranteed authentic. Based on the pen author Ernest Hemingway once owned. A nice tribute to the writer of "A Farewell to Arms," "The Sun Also Rises" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." 13.3cm capped.

Basic is best, sometimes. The simple magic of a Pelikan Souveran M200 is its ease of filling, attractive design and quality nib. We love the shimmering green design that reminds us of the Northern Lights. You'll find the piston operating smoothly. No cracks or significant wear, except for some spots the golden element of the nib is fading. Click the headline for close-ups. The Pelikan logo on the cap topper has a clean imprint of a mama pelican and two chicks nicely filled with gold. You will write a nice fine line with its nib, which does have a little feedback. 12.7cm capped.

We fell in love with the malachite cap on this limited edition Montblanc Czar Nikolai II the minute we laid eyes on it. Such beautiful contrast, too, with the vermeil barrel and accents. Our preowned luxury pen is in excellent condition with only the lightest traces of wear. Its piston operates smoothly. It has its serial number and "metal2" on the clip band. Guaranteed authentic from a dedicated collector. You will write a nice fine line with a little feedback. Click the headline for close ups. This is the larger LeGrand size model. 14.2cm capped.

Oversized carmine Sheaffer Premiers are a real treat when they have fully restored Vacuum-Fil systems. We had the great Sherrell Tyree restore this exceedingly handsome vintage pen. No cracks, no deep scratches, minimal brassing. This pen is a beaut with only minor wear from use. We've filled it and written with it to make sure it is working well. You will write a very nice extra-fine line with its two-tone 14k gold nib. A treasure for any Sheaffer collector and lover of vintage writing instruments. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.7cm capped.