News: M600 Red-White Special Edition

August 31, 2023 By Joshua in News Tags: Fountain Pen, M600, New Release, Pelikan, Red-White 38 Comments

Pelikan has been on fire this August, dropping news of not one, not two, but three new releases. Earlier this month, we learned of the M600 Glauco Cambon, a pen that breaks new ground with a spirit that feels a lot like the Pelikan of old. Before we even had a chance to fully wrap our minds around that release, Pelikan announced the much anticipated M205 Rose Quartz. While that would have been more than enough to temporarily slake our thirst for new models, Pelikan drops yet another release just as the month of August comes to a close. Earlier today, the company announced the forthcoming Souverän M600 Red-White fountain pen, conspicuously just in time for their upcoming 185th Anniversary celebration this Saturday. Pelikan has been bringing bold, bright colors married with white resin to the M6xx line since 2012. Taking into account the tortoise releases over the past few years, that makes the mid-sized M6xx line arguably one of the brand’s most exciting at the moment. In case you need a refresher, white resin M6xxs have included the M600 Tortoiseshell White (2012), M600 Pink (2015), M605 White Transparent (2017), M600 Turquoise-White (2018), M600 Violet-White (2019), and the M605 Green-White (2021). Pushing past the pastels, the new M600 Red-White will come in a bold and striking shade arranged in stripes made of cellulose acetate accented by white resin and gold plated furniture. While this model may frustrate those longing for a new M800 or even M1000, the bold colors and striking looks of this one will likely have it flying off store shelves. Worldwide availability is expected starting in mid-October of this year, available only while supplies last. Read on to learn all about the newest Souverän to join the family.

Continue reading →

Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black Returns To North America

August 10, 2023 By Joshua in News Tags: 4001, Blue-Black, Ink, Iron Gall, Pelikan 30 Comments

Pelikan has been producing various inks suited to a multitude of purposes for well over a century. The 4001 line, originally crafted and marketed as Günther Wagner’s premium writing ink, is the only one of those historic formulas to continue production into the 21st century. Widely regarded as one of Pelikan’s best inks within that line, 4001 Blue-Black has not been available in the United States since around 2011, a topic that I addressed back in 2016. Off of the US market for over a decade now, those who’ve wanted to use this ink have had to order it from overseas vendors or do without. Pelikan actually has a whole line of permanent and semi-permanent inks which include Scribtol (best reserved for dip pens) and Fount India, a more fountain pen friendly formulation that requires meticulous pen hygiene. 4001 Blue-Black, while not as permanent as the other two formulations, skews even more fountain pen friendly while still providing some relative lightfastness. Its semi-permanent nature is accomplished by a small amount of iron gall in its formulation. Oak galls or gallnuts are tumors that occur on certain oak trees in response to insects. These oak galls serve as a food source for larvae but are also rich in tannic acid which makes them well suited for use in ink when combined with iron salts. Pelikan began using iron gall in its ink products circa 1892 thanks to the emerging dominance of the steel nib. In fact, the original formula for 4001 began as a class I iron gall writing ink that flowed blue from the pen and darkened to black so you might say that today’s Blue-Black speaks to the very heart of the line. It has been presumed that 4001 Blue-Black was formulated in such a manner as to not be in compliance with the United States Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), thereby barring its importation and distribution. According to a large advertisement in the August 2023 issue of PenWorld Magazine, Blue-Black is back! After a protracted absence, this ink will once again be available for purchase in North America.

Continue reading →

News: M205 Rose Quartz Special Edition Demonstrator

August 4, 2023 By Joshua in News Tags: Fountain Pen, M205, New Release, Pelikan, Rose Quartz 21 Comments

It is the summer of Barbie and pink is in the air. Since the moment the new Edelstein Rose Quartz ink was announced, talk of a matching pen took flight. To say expectations were high for this one would be quite the understatement. Perhaps even Warner Brothers took note, colluding with Pelikan to cash in on some of the pink fervor. While I say that tongue in cheek, I’m very serious about being blindsided just 48 hours ago when Pelikan announced yet another new model, the first to grace their freshly minted Art Collection, the Glacuo Cambon M600. While still reeling from that news, Pelikan comes in for the body blow with today’s announcement of the upcoming Pelikan M205 Rose Quartz. The practice of marrying a matching fountain pen to their annual Edelstein Ink Of The Year release has been a tradition that goes all the way back to 2015, making the Rose Quartz the ninth such pairing to make an appearance. Six of the prior releases have been M205s whereas only two were M200s, the two being distinguished only by their trim. Before I move on, it’s worth recapping just what we’ve been given to date. Past models have included the M205 Amethyst (2015), M205 Aquamarine (2016), M200 Smoky Quartz (2017), M205 Olivine (2018), M205 Star Ruby (2019), M205 Moonstone (2020), M200 Golden Beryl (2021), and M205 Apatite (2022). Despite every model mentioned being a demonstrator, Pelikan used the line to experiment some, bringing out their first glitter impregnated finishes. The Rose Quartz appears to have none of that, relying instead on its delicate pink features to capture the eye. Keep reading to learn all about this new model’s secrets.

Continue reading →

News: Souverän M600 Art Collection – Glauco Cambon Special Edition

August 3, 2023 By Joshua in News Tags: Art Collection, Fountain Pen, Glauco Cambon, M600, New Release, Pelikan 66 Comments

Pelikan Souverän M600 Art Collection - Glauco Cambon Special Edition

Now we’re talking! That’s the first thing that leapt into my mind when news broke last evening of the next release due out from Pelikan. You might recall a story featured on this blog in August 2021 that detailed Pelikan floating the notion of a series of pens whose designs were derived from one of the company’s many historic posters. That back catalog is deep and, in addition to being vehicles for advertising, many of Pelikan’s historic posters were works of art, created by some of the early twentieth century’s notable artistic talent. Three different prototypes were previewed in 2021 and a survey asked respondents to vote for their favorite. Aside from a few unsubstantiated rumors, little has surfaced since, leading many to believe that the concept had withered and died on the vine. With Pelikan having a lot on its plate already, there was little optimism that we’d see the concept brought to life anytime soon, until yesterday that is. The company surprised us with the rather unexpected news of the new Souverän M600 Art Collection – Glauco Cambon Special Edition. Not only is this a concept and design that’s a bit unique amongst Pelikan’s pantheon of pens, the actual construction of this M600 takes a twist all its own. As if that weren’t enough already, this is just the first in a projected series of special edition fountain pens that Pelikan has planned. Hannover must be listening because this is just the direction that they’ve needed to go in order to breathe some life back into the brand. Read on to learn all of the exciting details about this upcoming release.

Continue reading →