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A Closer Look at the Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen

Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen

Montblanc- a brand beloved of pen connoisseurs and wannabe Rockefeller’s the world over. With some of its creations drawing upwards of 1 million dollars, it’s certainly not a company that sells itself (or its products) short. If you want to pick up a Montblanc pen, you’re going to need a rich daddy or a healthy salary to afford it. That said, a quick glance at the quality, craftsmanship, and timeless elegance of any one of the brand’s exquisite creations is enough to convince you its price tag is justified. Take the Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen, for example. With an average retail price of $4,130, it’s certainly not something you’d buy without some serious consideration. But take a look into the history of the piece, cast your eye over its stunning design, and feel the full weight of its hefty 75 grams in your hand, and you’ll soon be counting down the days till payday.

The History of the Writers Edition Collection

In 1992, Montblanc began a new tradition that it maintains to this day. Each year, the German brand looks back into the realms of history until it lands on a figure whose literary contributions have inspired, engaged, and won the hearts of millions of readers the world over. They then set about fashioning a writing piece that pays a fitting tribute to the individual’s greatest achievements. As Montblanc puts it “each of the writing instruments is inspired by the genius of the authors and interprets the lives, spirits, and works of these outstanding personalities”.

Over the last 27 years, we’ve seen Montblanc doff their cap to a bevy of the world’s greatest authors, including:

  • 2019: Rudyard Kipling
  • 2018: Homer
  • 2017: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  • 2016: William Shakespeare
  • 2015: Leo Tolstoy
  • 2014: Daniel Defoe
  • 2013: Honore de Balzac
  • 2012: Jonathan Swift
  • 2011: Carlo Collodi
  • 2010: Mark Twain
  • 2009: Thomas Mann
  • 2008: George Bernard Shaw
  • 2007: William Faulkner
  • 2006: Virginia Woolf
  • 2005: Miguel de Cervantes
  • 2004: Franz Kafka
  • 2003: Jules Verne
  • 2002: F Scott Fitzgerald
  • 2001: Charles Dickens
  • 2000: Friedrich Schiller
  • 1999: Marcel Proust
  • 1998: Edgar Allan Poe
  • 1997: Fyodor Dostoevsky
  • 1996: Alexandre Dumas
  • 1995: Voltaire
  • 1994: Oscar Wilde
  • 1993: Agatha Christie
  • 1992: Ernest Hemingway

The Life and Work of Antoine Saint-Exupéry

As we can see from the above, 2017 honored the great writer and pioneering aviator, Antoine Saint-Exupéry. During his lifetime, Saint-Exupéry released such noteworthy works as Night Flight, Terre des Hommes and Flight to Arras. Even if you’re not familiar with such classics, you’ll be sure to know him by his children’s book, The Little Prince, which, since its first publication in April 1943, has become one of the best selling and most translated books ever released, with almost 2 million copies being sold each year in over 300 languages and dialects.

In addition to his literary achievements, Saint-Exupéry was also renowned for his exploits in aviation, with many of his works drawing inspiration from his experiences as a commercial pilot and a WWII fighter pilot. Capturing as it does Saint-Exupéry’s love of adventure and courageous spirit, The Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s most beloved authors.

Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen

Looking at the Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen, we can see traces of Saint-Exupéry’s life and work in every detail. The shape and design of the piece take their inspiration from the Caudron Simoun, the iconic aircraft that formed the inspiration for so much of the writer’s work, including his seminal novel from 1931, Night Flight. Elsewhere, we see reminders of his time as director of Aeroposta Argentina S.A in the exquisite engravings littering the barrel and cap, which have been designed to replicate the night sky as it was during his inaugural flight from Villa Harding Green to Comodoro Rivadavia on November 1, 1929, at 23:00. The fittings, meanwhile, are inspired by the cockpit of the Caudron Simoun, while the cone is engraved with the names of some of the most important cities to feature in Saint-Exupéry’s life and works. Those looking for a reminder of their favorite children’s book will find it on the platinum-coated 18K solid gold nib, which bears a stunningly delicate star engraving to pay tribute to that great novella, The Little Prince. As a final tribute to the writer, the cap is adorned with an engraving of Saint-Exupéry’s signature.

As with all Montblanc’s limited-edition pieces, the Writers Edition Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen has been restricted to a relatively small run of 1931. The number, like the rest of the pen, has significance to fans of Saint-Exupéry, who will know it as the year of publication of Night Flight.

The Technical Details

If you’ve read the blurb but want to cast your eye over the small print, then go right ahead with this breakdown of the Antoine Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition Fountain Pen’s key details. For accuracy, all information has been drawn directly from the Montblanc official website.

  • Clip: Brass, platinum-coated
  • Barrel: Brass, patina-treated tubes in a vintage style
  • Cap: Brass, patina-treated tubes in a vintage style
  • Type: Fountain pen
  • Nib: Hand-crafted Au750 / 18 K gold nib with special engraving
  • Weight: 75.2 grams

Refill Type: Montblanc Writers Edition

Montblanc Ink Refills: Oyster Grey, Toffee Brown, Mystery Black, Royal blue, Lavender Purple, Burgundy Red, Irish Green, Permanent Black, Permanent Blue, Midnight Blue, Corn Poppy Red, Dark saffron, Psychedelic purple, Pourpre, Violet de Cobalt, Azure, Emerald Green, Orange, Grey, Blue, Red, Yellow, Plume, Light Brown, Dark Grey, Dark Orange, Bright Green, Pink, Brown, Burgundy Red, Modena Red, Cool Grey, Manganese Orange, Petrol Blue, Maya Blue, Chinese Blue, Egyptian Blue, Lapis Lazuli, Ultramarine, Khaki, Blue, Turquoise, Amethyst Purple, Pop Pink.

Liz Flynn

Written by Liz Flynn

Liz Flynn has worked as a full-time writer since 2010 after leaving a career in education. She finds almost all topics she writes about interesting, but her favorite subjects are travel and food. Liz loves the process of researching information, learning new things, and putting into words what others who share her interests might like to read. Although she spends most of her time writing, she also enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, watching films, cooking, dining out, reading, motorsports, gaming, and walking along the beach next to her house with her dog.

Read more posts by Liz Flynn

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