September 1st is always a special day for The Perch because it was on that day in 2014 that I officially launched the blog that you’re now reading. I can hardly believe that this endeavor has spanned 8 years already. I can still remember when the idea first came to me. It was when I was studying for my boards in the hospital library, distracting myself with pen research during study breaks that my “flux capacitor” moment occurred. The pen research that I was doing up until that point was simply for my own edification, but it occurred to me that others might enjoy the fruits of my fact finding as well. I found so many interesting tidbits fractured across the internet, like a puzzle that needed fitting together. Some pieces clicked easily into place and others didn’t fit at all. Being able to sort through all of that to get as complete a picture as possible has always brought me joy. What started out as a diversion from studying has now become a primary stress reliever from a very stressful career as a pulmonary and critical care physician. Being able to combine my background in science with my writing skills has been a life saver for me and a way to give back to the pen community. Over the years, I have appreciated each and every one of you that have reached out via email or who have commented on this blog. Time constraints have limited my ability to publish content as frequently as I would like but I remain committed to bringing you all of the Pelikan news as it breaks as well as release my own independently researched articles. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll even publish my research in a book format. This site, of course, will continue to run ad free and not be corrupted by solicitation or gifted products in an effort to bring you a clean and bias free experience. That is my ongoing pledge to you. I continue to take the blog’s integrity very seriously. Consequently, I don’t have the resources to run very many giveaways since they are at my own expense. Still, I have enjoyed hosting an annual contest for The Perch’s birthday so let’s do it again. This year’s giveaway is in honor of the blog’s 8th birthday. What I am offering up is a 2022 Pelikan M205 Apatite Demonstrator fountain pen and ink gift set once it becomes available in November. I have to give a special thanks to the good folks at Fritz Schimpf, a world class retailer whose assistance has made this giveaway possible. Read on to discover all of the details about how you might enter for a chance to win.
UPDATE 10/28/22: The Perch’s 8th Anniversary contest ended on 10/15/22 and I sincerely thank everyone for their participation. I really enjoyed reading your comments and seeing the photos that you posted to social media. I believe that there were approximately 90 entries this year. I wish that I had more to give away. That said, I’m very pleased to announce that Marjorie Asturias was selected as the winner of the Pelikan M205 Apatite Pen & Ink gift set. As always, I look forward to continuing to engage with you on the site and beyond. Hopefully, I will again be able to host another give away next year.
Pelikan’s M205 Apatite fountain pen is due out in November, designed to match the corresponding Edelstein ink which is a lovely turquoise color. The M205 will be a demonstrator featuring silver colored, chromium plated trim. It includes Pelikan’s best-in-show piston filling mechanism and will make a great daily writer for anyone who enjoys fine writing instruments. You can find out more about this model here.
Here is how to enter;
1. Click to subscribe to this site via e-mail (or your WordPress account if you have one). You can use the link below or you can sign up via the widget in the side bar to the right. Don’t worry, The Perch never spams you. If you are already following the blog (thank you), you can skip directly to step 2.
2. Leave a comment below. This year, I’d like to hear about something you learned from the blog that you were previously unaware of or perhaps some article that you found particularly interesting. How do you feel about the direction the brand has been going in? Perhaps there is some topic that you would like me to address in a future post. This is your chance to let me know how you feel about the blog and the brand. Finally, let me know why you want to add this pen and ink set to your collection. The two steps outlined thus far will earn you one entry into the contest.
3. Similar to prior years, I will again allow one additional entry per person via the social media platforms of Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram. Pick whichever one you prefer. All you need to do is make sure that you follow my blog’s social media account and then post a picture of your flock tagging me and using the hashtag #GrowMyFlock2022. Caption it by telling me what you love about Pelikan. If you don’t yet have any Pelikan pens, that’s OK. Show me what you do have and tell me why you’re interested in trying a Pelikan. Please make sure that you’ve also left a comment below and not just on social media.
I hope that the instructions remain straight forward and that the experience will again be fun for everyone. I have kept the rules pretty similar to past contests on this site. The contest will run for an entire month spanning September to October. Everyone 18 or older is welcome to participate (except residents of Quebec, Canada and where prohibited by law). By subscribing to the site, you may choose to be alerted to new posts which will ensure you are up to date with all of the latest Pelikan news, events, and my own extensively researched articles not available anywhere else. Please make sure to spread the word about this contest as I would love to reach everyone who enjoys fine writing instruments before the deadline so that everyone can get in on the fun.
Contest Terms & Conditions
- The contest will run from the time of the announcement on Saturday, September 17th, 2022, until midnight eastern standard time (23:59 EST) on Saturday, October 15th, 2022. The winner will be notified via e-mail within 72 hours of the close of the contest. They will then have 72 hours to respond before they forfeit the prize, and an alternate winner is chosen.
- Only one winner will be chosen to receive a brand new Pelikan M205 Apatite fountain pen and ink gift set. The nib will come in a medium width and the set is guaranteed to be brand new. This pen and ink set has a U.S. MSRP of $310. The prize is not transferable to another person.
- The contest is open to people worldwide (excluding residents of Quebec, Canada and in countries where such a contest is prohibited by law) to persons aged 18 or older. Up to two entries are allowed per person in accordance with the instructions outlined above and below. Myself, my family, or anyone else directly associated with The Pelikan’s Perch are excluded from consideration.
- To take part in the contest, first click to subscribe to this site via e-mail or your WordPress account. You can use the link above or sign up via the widget in the side bar to the right. If you are already subscribed, you can skip to the next step. Once subscribed, just leave a comment below letting me know what you’ve learned from this site, what you’ve found interesting, what you think about the current direction of the brand, or what you’d like to see me publish in the future. Finally, let me know why you want to add this pen and ink set to your collection. Both tasks must be completed for an entry to be considered valid. All comments are subject to review and approval before becoming valid entries. In rare instances, a genuine comment may inadvertently be flagged as spam by Akismet and may not be available for consideration though every reasonable effort will be made to prevent that occurrence.
- A single extra entry via the social media platforms of Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram will be available again this year. Pick whichever site you prefer (or all three) but know that only one additional entry via social media is allowed. To gain an additional entry; follow my blog’s social media account, post a picture of your flock tagging me, and include the hashtag #GrowMyFlock2022. Caption it by telling me what you love about Pelikan. If you don’t yet have any Pelikan pens, show me what you do have and tell me why you’re interested in trying a Pelikan. This is not a substitute for subscribing to the site and commenting on this page. Any social media entries not following steps 1 and 2 above will not be considered.
- The winner will have submitted a valid entry or entries and be selected by me based on the response provided below and/or via social media. The judge’s decision is final.
- Neither Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Slack, Pinterest, Reddit, nor any other social media entity is in any way associated with this contest. This blog has no affiliation with Pelikan International and this contest is completely independent of that entity as well. There is no sponsorship for this contest. The pen was purchased by Joshua Danley of The Pelikan’s Perch from Fritz Schimpf for the sole purpose of this contest. By providing your information on this forum, you are providing your information to me and me alone. I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.
- The prize will be mailed to the winner via the United States Postal Service using whatever modality is most economical. I will ship the gift set within 7 days of my receipt of the package from Fritz Schimpf who is based out of Germany. It takes an average of two weeks from the date of release for me to receive items from overseas, but it can take up to four weeks depending on customs. Additional delays might be incurred due to disrupted logistics surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I do appreciate your patience. The winner’s response to my notification e-mail must include a valid shipping address. The Perch is not responsible for misdirected or lost packages.
- The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.
- Persons may only win one prize from this site within a 12 month period meaning the winner from the year prior (2021) is ineligible for this contest.
- The Pelikan’s Perch reserves the right to publish the winner’s name to this blog. Neither the blog nor its administrator can be held liable for lost/delayed e-mail, typographical errors, or technical failures.
Thank you for your entry and good luck to all!
I like how detailed your reviews of Pelikan products are. Would like to read more news on the health of the company or any changes they going through. I would like to have this set as I still don’t have any Pelikan pens in my collection.
I love reading your reviews and the historical details of the brand and how this release being reviewed fits in with previous. Also enjoy how honest and frank you are with your opinions.
Thanks for you continuous work on the newsletter and webpage! What I like the most about it is that even though you are a fan of the brand, your opinions are always unbiased, you tell it like it is, no sugarcoating or wanting to please everyone.
I have been liking the color choices that Pelikan has been making overthe last few years in their pens. I don’t like the change in the barrel opaqueness though. Time will tell if it grows on me but all in all Pelikan is still my favorite.
Thanks Josh this is awesome… as is your site. I have been a subscriber for years and have learned much of what I know about Pelikan maintenance from this site and it was especially helpful when the piston on my original 800 became stiff. Easiest fix in the world once i knew what to do. Most of my Pelikans are in the 800’s plus my Ductus. I have one stray 205 that I pickup along the way and it is an amazong writer. It does need a sibling, tho to balance things out. 🙂 Because I keep it with my planner, I dont get to write with it when I journal or do letters and having another one would allow that. There is a surprising difference in the nibs between the 205 and the 800s that I quite enjoy.
I appreciate your demanding and continous efforts. It is your writings that have taught me so much about Pelikan. I had never heard of it before you, early in my fountain pen knowledge building. I do not own one yet. I have bough one for my son when he was 13 following our second visit to the NYC Pelikan hub. I would love to win this contest. Thanks again.
First, let me say that I always look forward to a new posting of The Pelikan’s Perch! I’ll typically skip past all the other emails to read it first! Thanks for your continuing careful research and writing. And while I find that my primary interest still is in postings about fountain pens, I really enjoyed the series of postings you did on ballpoint pens, roller balls and pencils. Thanks for keeping it interesting by pointing us regularly to things beyond fountain pens! I’d love to add this pen and ink to my collection because I just haven’t been able to justify purchasing one of the demonstrators over the past few years. I’ve typically been saving my pennies for the next 8XX model to come out–which, as I write it, seems like a rather lame excuse. I have bottle of the ink that just arrived this past week here in the north woods of Wisconsin. Another bottle would make a mighty fine gift for a friend who is just getting hooked on fountain pens.
Hi Josh! Ive been watching season 8 of Grey’s Anatomy when the residents sit for their boards. No Pelikans in sight! I love your blog. Some of my favorite entries of yours are about brown tortoise and the history of the different tortoise pens. I now have a vintage 400 tortoise with a wonderful nib as well as a more recent m400 with a stub. I also have a red tortoise and a white tortoise. My favorite thing about Pelikan is—of course–Tortoise! I love seeing what Pelikan will come up with next. The apatite is one of their prettier demonstrators. They do a good job with blue. I wonder if they would ever do a turquoise tortoise (with a blue cap not white!)? I have the recent Petrol 200 with a fine steel nib. I love it! Nibs and tortoise are Pelikan for me. Oh and the pistons are awesome.Never a lick of trouble.
I read and reread the information on the 400’s. I have two 400NN’s and the information posted here has been invaluable. I learned more about them than I thought possible, LOL! Thanks for all the information!
I’d like to win this to have a new Pelican in the small flock. I love vintage gold nibs and wish Pelikan could bring back that feel.
I love the historical reviews but my favorite posts are the new releases. In part, because no one provides more detail or a more fair and balanced approach on a new release. I have made several purchases based on your reviews and will continue to rely on them in the future.
I’ve found The Aviary section of your blog very helpful and informative. I bought my first fountain pen about a year ago and the glossary, writing samples, etc. are great resources for folks new to the hobby. I’m entering the contest and would enjoy having the Apatite set because I love the color and it would look beautiful with my only other Pelikan, the M205 Moonstone.
Thank you for taking time to research my favorite brand of pen. I learn so much from your articles about things I never would have thought about. The history is totally amazing. I hope that Pelikan has been treating their employees with respect and class.
Disappointed in M205 Black Tortoiseshell. The black solid lines make it look defective. I looked at my other tortoiseshell and they don’t have these “blank lines”. They could have done a lot better, in my opinion.
I’d love to win this set as I will turn 65 on the 20th and it would be so special.
The fascinating history of Pelikan and the story behind the brand. Many thanks for educating me!
I love learning about all the variety that there was in the brand before the modern era. While I do love my m800s, the sheer magnitude of what came before is fascinating and I appreciate your part in making it less overwhelming.
I appreciate how you mix content related to both the past and present of this iconic brand.
There are very few blogs that I immediately look at when I get an alert. Yours is one of them, Josh. I especially appreciate the objective reviews of new offerings. The cataloguing / timelines of the models has been especially helpful to me in identifying what some of my vintage purchases. I was not aware that pens had so many variants, which makes the research a bit more fun. Thank you!
I really enjoyed your blog about the Pelikan mechanical pencils I am starting to take an interest in mechanical pencils and your information was very helpful.
I’ve learned a lot from the blog – it’s especially interesting hearing details of Pelikan production and of course new releases (which I always seem to learn about here first!)
I love my Golden Beryl M200 – it’s a pen I always find myself reaching for – and I love teal, so this would be the perfect pen to add to my collection. Ideal for using all the teal inks I can’t seem to resist!
I love how thorough, consistent and focused you are about researching and sharing your passion for Pelikan. I’ve come to depend on your site for info on both modern and vintage models, and I love that your collection spans such a wide time range. Personally, I’ve always appreciated how dependable and practical Pelikans piston filler is. The m2xx series in particular is one I feel more comfortable about carrying with me and actually using as an EDC than most other pens in my collection. I wish Pelikan would release more tortoiseshell and Raden special editions in more sizes and a more affordable price point, especially in the M8xx and M1xxx sizes which I find particularly comfortable to hold. But there is something reassuring about how consistent and conservative as well. I would love to add the Apatite to my collection because, for all my gripes about the plastic top ring, I still really like the colorway and I think it would make a great base for a pen decorating project I have in mind.
I love reading your blog. I always learn something new. You give details to the items and I really love it. This pen would be lovely to add to my collection. It is very pretty!
I am so grateful to learn all I can and you have graciously and helpfully provided that opportunity! I only have one Pelikan at this point but it is fast becoming my favorite pen!
Hi Josh! Whenever you can manage a post, I’m happy to see it. I’ve learned so much about the history of the brand, the model variations–not to mention the announcements of new Pelikan offerings–that your site has become a trusted reference tool as I build my collection.
I enjoy browsing through your archives. Your 2020 post on “The Concessions of War: Pelikan, WWII, and the Untold Story” still impresses me to this day.
As for Pelikan: I love the new tortoise colors offered in the 600/605 sizes (I’m not fond of the white/pastel models), but I do miss the ink window. I’ve skipped the recent 200/205 demonstrators as I am not into glitter. The Apatite appeals to me because of its lovely, deep, non-sparkly color.
I have learned so much from this blog! Some of the more memorable things include — that I should consider a vintage 400nn in addition to a modern Pelikan, that I need to keep my eyes out for an m620 Piazza Navona that isn’t insanely priced because it is gorgeous, that m600 brown tortoises exist (though I still don’t know if the one I was offered on ebay was a fake?), that I had better ask whether green-striped Pelikans at retailers still have the transparent barrel before purchasing, that I need to try older Pelikan nibs in addition to current ones. That’s really the tip of the iceberg! I also reread your review of the m400 brown tortoise before making it my first (and so far only) Pelikan!
I’d love to add this pen and ink to my collection because I love all the shades that linger between green and blue, and this particular shade is amazing. I’ve never tried one of the paired pen+ink sets and would love to enjoy the perfect match!
Your blog has been a wealth of information about all things Pelikan. The first post that comes to mind is when you explained about labor issues at Pelikan, during the earlier days of the pandemic, but there have been so many and I’ve learned so much that it’s difficult to choose just one.
I have neither the ink nor the pen in Apatite, and as a big fan of all things in the blue, green and teal families, it ticks all of the boxes for me.
Thank you for the giveaway!
Happy Birthday Pelikan Perch!
This blog is a gift. Helped me a lot with information about the Tortoises, and other Pelikan models.
Thank you for all the work, Joshua!
Enjoyed all the researched articles, especially the M800 history – which is the sweet spot in my flock… Honorable mention to the “clickier side” articles.
I really liked the posts about the labor problems and the factory. It’s an example of what kind of insight I can get from this blog.
This is so wonderful! Thank you for hosting this giveaway.
Okay, so the caveat is that I don’t currently own a Pelikan…yet. I’m relatively new to fountain pens (bought my first one 4 years ago but then didn’t really become a collector till 2 years ago, when I bought my 2nd one and now I have 8), and I actually only discovered the Pelikan brand through your blog. But I love how much research you do about not just the pens themselves, their distinct features, every tiny detail, but also the history of the brand and the community. I really enjoy all of your articles, but I’ll admit that my recent favorite is the one you published about the return of the Pelikan Hubs. I signed up to join one and hope that it’ll come to fruition. I live in a very remote part of the country, so the closest one to me is 90 miles away, but I’m happy to make the commute to “rub nibs” with some fellow pen lovers and finally see a Pelikan “in the wild”!
Re: why I’d love this pen set in my collection. Well, I’d love it not only because it would be my first Pelikan (swoon) but also because one of my favorite movies of all time is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, and the set’s color (at least on my monitor) is stunning and looks so similar to the iconic shop’s signature color. I’m so mesmerized at how it makes the fountain pen look like a classic piece of jewelry.
I appreciate your Pelikan knowledge of where they’ve been and where they are going. Thank you
Your blog is an unbiased news source of Pelikan. I really appreciate what you have done over the years. My most favorite of your posts is your rating of individual pens with a score at the end. I do hope you continue this blog for more years to come.
The new M205 apatite will be my first M205 model to add to my growing collection of Pelikan fountain pens
It a few years ago when I learned of your blogspot and quite glad that there’s one dedicated to the brand. I like how you review the products fairly and unbiased. I started out with Pelikan inks around five years ago and only had Pelikan pens in my wishlist.
I finally acquired my first Pelikan pen, an 80’s made culture pen at a raffle on Pelikan Hub night in 2019. I have a long way to go growing a flock. Thanks for this chance most of all, congratulations on your 8th year!
It a few years ago when I learned of your blogspot and quite glad that there’s one dedicated to the brand. I like how you review the products fairly and unbiased. I started out with Pelikan inks around five years ago and only had Pelikan pens in my wishlist.
I finally acquired my first Pelikan pen, an 80’s made culture pen at a raffle on Pelikan Hub night in 2019. I have a long way to go growing a flock and this beautiful Apatite set would be awesome to win. I would like to read your thoughts as Pelikan Hub is finally pushing through on November this year and how the company’s been coping with the pandemic. I heard they won’t be sending out ink of the year goodies this time. Sadly. Well thanks for this chance. Most of all, congratulations on your 8th year!
Bought my first Pelikan after much blog study! Thank you for all of the great info!
Congratulations Joshua!
See you at the Philadelphia pen show in January
I love how you honestly talk about the features and feel of the pens and nibs. I haven’t gotten a higher end Pelikan, yet, but you’ve helped me narrow down which sizes/models that I’m interested in getting.
I love how you delve into the histories of some these pilikan models and am sure it requires a lot of energy and time to research. I would like to try a m200 sized pen.
Whenever I want to buy a Pelikan I’ll consult your blog posts first😁Every time.
What I find interesting is how much you cover: important news, historical details and reviews. If I have a Pelikan question I know where to look! Personally I miss that transparency is not a tortoise feature anymore! It’s part of what I love about my lonely bird that was a special gift. I would love the opportunity to try a 200 series and perhaps finally find my daily carry! (I worry about my tortoise cracking so it doesn’t leave the house typically) It and the ink are in a color I love! Thank you for the chance!
My favorite posts are the detailed historical articles about Pelikan. I have Pelikan ballpoint and rollerball pens, but no fountain pen. So a Pelikan fountain pen and ink set would be a great start to a collection. Good luck to everyone!
Joshua, your ‘how too’ articles are invaluable, interesting and educational, making the occasional maintenance tasks so very much safer for an amateur like me.
I have the full flock of gem-stone demonstrators and highlighters from the last 12yrs, and I can’t stop now! Besides, it’s such a lovely colour, it’d be great even as a stand-alone.
The history of the various pen models always astounds me and has made me appreciate Pelikan pens more than I already did.
I have always found your blog to be the most helpful for any news related to Pelikan, thank you for keeping this blog up to date and relevant all these years! I am sad Pelikan are no longer making transparent barrels. I don’t think I would pay the MSRP for opaque barrels or the newer models. I hope the really reconsider reverting this change and going back to the original look.
I have learned a lot about fountain pens in general from your detailed reviews and comments. Some has been as simple as history while a lot has been about the whys and hows of fountain pen care and usage. I still only have the simplest of Pelikans, but I know what to aim for when I can afford something on the higher end.
Thanks for all the work Joshua – your blog has definitely moved a Pelikan up into my “must try” category… there is so much history in that brand!
I really enjoyed reading about the labor issues at the Pelikan factory. I’ve always been interested in how things are made and who makes them. Very interesting insights.
My first grail pen was a Pelikan M800. They’re great pens.
Hello & thank you for doing this contest. My interested in fountain pens, just started back again and recently bought a couple of them. I am always interested on new materias, products from different companies and countries.
I don’t have any Pelikans but I think I should add one to the collection! I’d also like to know what made you gravitate towards Pelikans and what separates them from other pens – if you were to revamp your entire collection, what would be the first pen to add?
Thank you for this opportunity and congrats on the blog’s ongoing success.
I appreciate the resources you post. Specifically, when I bought an M400 at an antique store, your ID and vintage info helped me pinpoint what I had.
This giveaway interests me because the color is gorgeous and I am a sucker for ink windows, demonstrators, and translucent pen bodies.
Learned about different inks and types. And more about Pelican pens.
I have mixed feelings about the direction Pelikan is moving forward as a company. I’m not a huge fan of them removing the BB/3B nibs a few years back, nor the gradual climbing of prices (remember when people could get M200s for around $70?), and recently the move away from translucent barrel bindes. On the other hand, I had a great experience with their repair department recently and am very excited for the return of their annual Pelikan hubs as a way to bring fans together. I guess I would love to try the M205 as it is so well-regarded in the community. I remember first coming upon your site from your M200/205 collection that you posted on FPN almost a decade ago! Thanks for all your help over the years and congrats on the milestone!
My interest in pens is recent, and it came from another interest, which is in drawing. Pelikan is not the only brand I like, but’s it’s my favorite. I can’t say exactly what it is, it’s a subtle balance I guess, but there’s something about them that I just find beautiful. I now possess a few of them, including some of the serie the Apatite belongs to. Your news article about the Apatite, where you showed the other demonstrators, was the reason I’m trying to get them all (I miss the two oldest as of now). What your site brought to me is an immersion in the Pelikan’s universe. What I knew of it before was mostly from retailers showing the current available models, and forums. I like the detailed, well written articles, and that even when it’s about just one pen, it shows other models from the same serie, or for comparaison. My main interest is fountain pens, but I have a 450 for drawing also and I liked the “Not All That Scribbles Has A Nib” articles for example. I have no suggestion for this site as I like the content as it is, and I wish it a long life.
I really like how you keep me informed on the different pen shows and hubs. When I can’t get there myself, you go there for me!
I read this blog regularly, yes, but the main thing I use it for is reference. A part of me wishes that there was such a comprehensive source for brands and the pens they make so that it would be much easier to identify and learn about them. It doesn’t even have to be vintage pens, I enjoy looking at the new releases and learn the path the brand is taking with the smallest decisions.
This blog had a post about the brown tortoise that helped me date my vintage brown tortoise (that Joshua helped me find by messaging on Fountain Pen Network). That post actually locked my pen into a year, 1954. It was incredible to see how my version of the brown tortoise could be from one year. Thank you for this blog. It’s a wonderful place to learn about Pelikan Pens.
I learned that my Pelikan with two baby birds was an older model from your article on dating Pelikans.
I would like this pen because I love Pelikans, but am in kind of a pen rut, unable to get new pens right now and would really love something new.
I just discovered this blog and what a resource on Pelikan pens it is. I only have a M800 so far, but I love it and would like to have more Pelikans. This blog will help greatly in selecting which one will be the next. Thanks.
I really like your blog as it is the most up to date platform regarding Pelikan. I always get the news about new releases and decisions by you. I would like to have this pen as I collect all yearly M200/M205 releases. Keep up the good work, you are not alone.
I look forward to each and every post you do Joshua. I would like to add this to go with the Cognac and other M200/M205 pens in my flock.
Discovered this site when reading about how Souverans were changing from translucent barrel to an opaque one. Learned a lot and have been subscribed ever since!
My M205 Petrol Marbled is my first and only Pelikan and is hands down the best and most consistent writer I have. Would love to have it in another colour and nib size.
Looking forward to more posts and reviews, and wanted to also say that The Pelikan’s Perch is such a great name 🙂
“something you learned from the blog that you were previously unaware of”
Well I learnt from your site that Pelikan’s parent company currently is a Malaysian company. Never knew this, would’ve never thought that Pelikan has anything to do with Malaysia, so it’s intriguing.
Pelikan pen is always so elegant, really like to add this in my pen collection as a daily used pen.
How exciting.
I have made use of your blog and your perfectly detailed expertise just yesterday. Like the fool that I am, I purchased something called a “Pelikan M200 Series Translucent Transparent Moonstone Gray Medium Fountain Pen” on eBay. Excited and probably not thinking clearly I ponied up about $100. I wanted to take it to the Pelikan Hub. I know that it’s “only” an M2xx, but that is my range. Besides. any Pelikan 200 series is finer than a pen by any other manufacturer in that price range, always. Well, long story in brief what I got was an Anthracite Transparent Demo (2002). Only your peerless illustrated M200 database could have made the identification, and the year of manufacture so definitive.
So, a pretty nice thing but not the thing described, … humm. In the bargain it is totally fused with 20yo hardened ink, but that’s another matter. I’m mulling over whether to attempt to restore it myself or send it back, but again without you I would not have been armed with the information that I need. So, thank you!
I’m thinking that what my little flock of Pelikans really needs is this Pelikan M205 Apatite Demonstrator. I am an absolute fan-girl for Pen and ink matchups and vivid Pelikan ink colors and I don’t have anything as gorgeous as this in my collection. One can only hope.
Like I NEED another Pelikan.
Okay…maybe just one more…
I have loved all of the demonstrator fountain pens and corresponding inks from Pelican over the past few years, but the current one is my all time favorite!! Turquoise is my signature color so when this pen came out I was so excited.
I’m a new subscriber and huge fan ever since digging through my collection two months ago to ink an original M800 demonstrator, discovering that it’s the smoothest pen I have ever held. Pelikan’s Perch has been my go-to for learning about the brand and the line-up. I’m especially grateful to hear from other collectors about their pens and preferences, and you How-To guides are invaluable!
Every Pelikan Post blog article brings a smile to my face and I am grateful for your efforts!
This year was up and down news wise. While I fell head over heels for the black tortoise m605 the loss of the ink window robbed it of perfection. Still, I was so excited when I saw the news on your site. Definitely one of the most exciting m605s to come out in recent years.
In terms of direction, I’m not sure how heavily others weigh this factor, but the fact that Pelikan has not been paying their workers what they are owed and essentially lying to them that the money will come someday leaves me considering holding off any further purchases.
Personally I find the non-pen aspects of Pelikan to be just as interesting as the pens themselves (the lack of payment to their workers and the original Toledo lawsuit are good examples) so I wouldn’t mind seeing more articles like that but I understand most readers are probably here for the stationery.
I’d love to win the m205 set simply because it’s beautiful! One look is all it takes to understand, haha.
I always love when your posts give some insight into the history of the company. I believe it’s been more than a year, but the article about Pelikan’s entanglements during WWII was fascinating. I also love the historical details about where the pens were produced, which city, which building, what happened to the building, why they moved production there, why the left, etc. I think you’re doing the community a huge service by researching, summarizing, documenting, and sharing your findings.
Forcing myself to consider only posts within the past year, I appreciated your thoughts on the controversial transparent vs. opaque striated barrels. These little details matter to collectors, and your blog did a great job of considering all the angles!
Finally, it was your blog that alerted me to the return of the Pelikan Hubs this year, and gave me enough time to rally seven+ participants so that we could host one in our town. Thank you for the “breaking news” heads-up on that! : – )
Thank you for what you do!
Thanks to this blog I learned that the Souveran is going opaque, and managed to get a red M800 from the translucent production.
I used to have an M200 translucent anthracite I bought new back in the early 2000s, but I sold it to someone who made me too good of an offer to refuse, and now I regret it a bit.
The most interesting article on this blog this year was that striped Souveran pens are going to be opaque. There were many other much more enjoyable posts, but this one made me aware of a change I didn’t like. I was considering buying a pelikan in the future, but not being able to see ink level in a piston filler really discouraged me. My wife has an M600 turquoise, and the ink level can be seen only using a strong backlight, which is far from convenient. If I understood the change correctly, in the opaque version there is no way of checking the ink level, which I find crucial. So I would love for Pelikan to sort this issue in some way.
Another post that springs to my mind was about the highlighter M205 duo comeback. It’s just a shame I don’t have an use for highlighter, I guess it doesn’t work on LCD screens…
As for this blog, I enjoy reading all posts and always look forward to new ones (that’s the reason I’m subscribed). I was less interested in the posts about ballpoints and rollerball, as in my opinion both are just as good as the refill in them, and the “vessel” is not as important. But as always, those posts were very well written and informative, and I have no doubt other readers found them interesting.
And I would love to win the M205 Apatite, as for one, you can see the ink level ;-), and second, it’s a colour my wife loves, so we could share.
Reading your blog, I’ve become much more appreciative of the history of Pelikan. I currently own an M805 Souveran and an M120N, along with several of Pelikan’s annual Edelstein inks. It’s certainly one of my favorite brands, and I’d love to add a Pelikan M205 Apatite gift set to my collection. Thanks so much for the opportunity, and keep up the good work on the blog.
Wonderful blog. I’ve learned a lot about my favorite pen company and it’s history. I have a couple of the larger Pelikans and would love to add this M205 to my working rotation of pens. Thank you for what you do.
Thank you for the giveaway.
1- I particularly like the detailed explanations of specific lines like m120 and m200. I love learning about the history of the brand and learning the differences using your “Dating a Pelikan” articles. It makes me feel like a member of a secret society with exclusive imformation if that makes sense.
2. I like Pelikan the way it is. Some people say they should be more experimental but i like the classical Pelikan look because it’s timeless. Each brand have their unique style. You don’t have to Esterbrook-ize a Pelikan, each is special in their own ways. I would like if they didn’t have crazy prices tho. M200, a pen that has a steel nib cost nearly the same as a gold nibbed Japanese pen.
3- I am relatively new to the hobby so I don’t have a lot of pens let alone high end ones. I have been particularly interested in M200 series since it’s a very classic and elegant design and isn’t something so extravagant. I always hear that Pelikan pens are very reliable, they are “work horses” and I always hear good things about their steel nibs. Currently I can’t afford a Pelikan, so I would be very happy to win one. I actually do not care much about color, I just want to have a good quality pen that will last me a lifetime but it doesn’t hurt that it’s a very pretty shade of blue.
Thank you so much for all the information you provided for us and thanks for the giveaway.
Hi there,
I did have a few pelikan pens but after I subscribed to this blog I started to get more pelikans 😀 As an example, I was disappointed at first when Pelikan launched the M200 Golden Beryl (as I was expecting a yellow pen 🙂 ) but after I read your detailed post and searched again the pen I decided to get one and I did 🙂 It’s splendid! It’s really beautiful <3 🙂 For the future production, maybe Pelikan might consider reproduction of M200 demo (with gold details), and m200 plain yellow (I saw it in a magazine and it was shockingly cute 🙂 ). About why I want this pen, I started to like blue fountain pens too. I have blue of other brands but none from Pelikan. I love greenish (turquise) blue and this pen have this hue. I really liked the colour of this Pelikan.
Hi! Thank you for doing a pen raffle! It’s so nice! It’s a good chance to thank you for all the nice posts you’ve made, specially regarding the tiny details of the brand and the special characteristics of some pieces. I think that, along with Pelikan collectibles, yours is now the most reachable source of information regarding the brand. I’ve found extremely useful certain posts, like those about the nibs and gold markings, as those have been helpful to asses certain pens that were offered to me in the past. Also, the posts about the news from the brand are nice to get, and sometimes better put together than the official communications! To me, living in a periphery country, have become almost the main source of information about new releases, changes in the factory, etc. I’m happy that you’ve kept the pace of maintaining this site, and hope for another ten years of Pelikan pen posts!
Hi Joshua, Thank for all your work and efforts on your Pelikan Perch Blog.
Your site is my go to site for all this Pelikan. I particularly enjoyed your article “The Story Of Günther Wagner’s Danzig-Langfuhr Factory and the Danzig 100N”. I also enjoyed your reviews. I only have one used Pelikan a Silver Star and would certainly enjoy the M205 Apatite to get a proper Pelikan experience also the color is very cool & pretty. I really like that it is a demonstrator. Keep up your great work you passion is very evident in your work! I hope Pelikan appreciates you, your readers certainly do!!! A BIG THANK YOU!!!
Hi Joshua,
Your site is more than a simple site, It is a source of knowledge.
The “Dating a Pelikan” is very useful for me
I own a very interesting pelikan pen collection and I think that the Pelikan M205 Apatite will fit very well it it.
thanks you for your blog.
Hi Josh,
This post is my first time discovering your site, as it was linked to from the Pen Addict blog, but it looks great and I’m excited to dig into the content. I’ll be sure to take notes for the next time!
I just got into fountain pens seriously about 4 years ago and I have yet to try a Pelikan. I have been interested to try an M205 since my early days in the hobby though. I tend to prefer smaller pens and love what they do with the matching pen and ink combinations. I’ve had the Olivine edition in my cart several times but haven’t pulled the trigger.
I think this apatite edition might be my favorite yet. I’m a sucker for shades of blue.
I’ve returned to the fountain pen world some 3 years ago. I’m obsessed with 200/205 models. Your blog is THE reference to know precise information on what distinguishes each new outing. Thank you so much for this blog and your dedication!
As I think about getting into vintage Pelikan pens, the blog post on dating the pens was most helpful. I’m not sure about the current direction of the company, but I have fond memories of writing with a Pelikan (a Pelikano?) when I was a child. Not sure what else I would like to see in the blog, but I am interested having come across it. In terms of why I want this set. I’ve come to use fountain pens almost exclusively in my work now, and would love to see if the beloved brand from my childhood would hold up as a daily use work pen. Thanks in any case
I most enjoyed your recent articles on the return of the duo highlighter (in the fantastic new colour, which might be my new favourite Pelikan colour) and the German unity pen. I enjoy the diligence and clarity of your blog, especially the historical posts, and it was interesting to discover an unusual pen associated with a political event. I would like to win this pen as I do not currently own a working Pelikan. I have a very battered Pelikan 100 that has been in a state of repairs for years, but have not been able to try the modern versions, though they have been recommended to me for drawing. Maybe if I sold the 100 I could afford a new one, but it was a gift and I can’t quite give up hope of repairing it. Winning would solve my dilemma!
I’m fairly new to Pelikan pens. I actually received a M205 blue demonstrator as a gift in 2009, but only recently started using it often. The nib is marked EF, but it puts down a line wider than a 1.0mm fineliner marker. I thought Pelikan must have insanely broad nibs, and I put the pen aside after using it only a short time. Since it was a gift I did not want to sell it, and thought I could eventually get a custom nib grind. Ten years later I decided it was finally time to do something with that M205. Before sending it to a nibmeister I bought another EF nib to have as a spare. I put the new nib in to test it, and it writes as a proper EF. Now that M205 is in my regular pen rotation. (I may still get the original nib ground… in another 10 years or so…)
The articles on your blog I have found most interesting are the how-tos — it was “how to safely remove and replace a Pelikan nib” that first brought me here.
I would like to add the M205 Apatite set to my collection because I have recently come to enjoy the M205 very much, and I like the color of the apatite. I also prefer blue inks, and the Edelstein Apatite looks just different enough from my current collection while still being mostly blue.
Congratulations on your work! It would be difficult to focus on one thing I’ve learned from your blog, because it is my go-to source for all things Pelikan. I enjoyed your meticulous research on the legendary 140 as well as your article on the Pelikan music nib, to name but a few. It would be nice if the brand could re-issue its historical range of nibs (such as the oblique ones), thus making them available to a new generation of pen aficionados, since the prices in vintage Pelikans have risen steadily during the last years. With regard to the reason for wanting to add the pen and ink to the collection, the color is a favorite of mine and they seem to have nailed it to a tee. Wishing you all the best for the future!
Joshua Thanks for the blog, though I of course like the reviews and new addition news, I particularly like your coverage of Pelikan history and your coverage of the present day company and business news. Knowing more about the company and its employees makes using Pelikan pens enhances my personal experience using their pens. Winning this Apatite M205 would be my first green-ish Pelikan in my flock only my 2nd translucent demonstrator in my entire pen collection and first Pelikan demonstrator type. Thanks again for all you do for us “Bird Lovers.”
Your blog helped me out when I ran into my first Pelikan fountain pens and you have such a wealth of information on your website. The first Pelikan pens I bought were two Pelikan 120 fountain pens that I picked up for $60 that were in rough shape (the Merz & Krell version for each one). I gave one to my husband and we got each of ours back in working order and loved them so much that it really got me and him into the Pelikan brand. Since then I have collected some vintage Pelikan pens and love coming to your website to read about the pens and when you write about new releases as well. Also, as a side note, I love my Pelikan 120 so much, I ended up buying a brand new M120 in Iconic Blue (I adore it). My favorite Pelikan pen that I own is my Pelikan M700 Toledo. It has been a fun journey reading and trying old and new Pelikan fountain pens.
The 120 and M120 are amazing pens. Definitely quite every day workhorses. The Toledo is a work of art that still remains a wonderfully functional pen.