Montegrappa
Pens and Ephemera

Montegrappa Extra 1930 is a confusing name for a pen, as it made many decades after 1930. Nevertheless, it was made with all of the elegance of that decade's luxury design. Montegrappa is easily our favorite Italian pen manufacturer. It uses the most beautiful of celluloids, solid precious metal trim and its nibs are soooo damned smooth. This preowned luxury pen sports a "green marble" design and sterling silver trim. It was gently used and looks like it is in mint condition on a passing glance. Yet, a very close inspection reveals some wear to the celluloid where it rattled around a desk drawer for a little while. However, you really need to look closely to see it. You will write a delightfully smooth medium line with its 18k gold nib. Oddly, we don't see the gold purity stamp on the nib, but these pens all came with 18k gold nibs to the best of our knowledge. Click the headline for close-ups. 13.8cm capped.

Ever wonder what it felt like for Howard Carter to be the first to enter King Tut's tomb after hundreds of years? Entering the enchantingly elaborate and beautiful Montegrappa Luxor pen might be as close as most of us get. A modern pen, it carries the weight and history of Egypt's ancient pharaohs. Its sparkling blue cap and barrel represent the life-giving Nile river. Sterling silver hieroglyphs surround the pen. Like many of the items tucked into Tut's tomb, this pen is New Old Stock and never before used. Protected by a suede wrap in a woven shroud, the pen is completely scratch, dent and crack free. The piston-filler seems stuck from disuse, but this pen is more decorative art than daily user. Additional shipping charges may apply due to the unusually large height and weight of the boxes.

The roaring '20s were such a fantastic time for automobile racing. The technology was evolving quickly and no race course was too dangerous. Italy's 1000 Miglia (1000-mile Race) was a huge international challenge, tempting the world's greatest drivers to its inaugural run in 1927. The Montegrappa 1000 Miglia fountain pen pays tribute to the 70th anniversary of this first race. Its sterling silver overlay features etched images of the adventure. The racing red celluloid is stunning in the light. We do not believe this pen has been used. It remains in pristine condition. Click the headline for close-ups. Unfortunately, the faux-leather box looks as if it has just raced for 1,000 miles. This faux leather looked great when new and was quite popular with Waterman, too, but it erodes badly with time. Complete box and papers.