It seems that Pelikan and my humble blog here were fated to collide this year. If you’ve been a regular visitor to this site, you might recall that September 1st marks the day in 2014 when I officially launched The Pelikan’s Perch. On September 2nd, Pelikan had a celebration of their own, commemorating the brand’s 185th anniversary. This blog isn’t quite that old, having only been up and running for the last 9 years, a milestone which I can still hardly believe. I’m not sure what I expected when I jumped into this endeavor nor was I certain how my efforts would be received. This community has been very supportive of me and has given me the energy to continue doing what I love. From the start, I have aspired to bring you relevant brand news, product breakdowns, historical insights, and more in a thoughtful way, approaching the task with a scholarly diligence. Bringing together the multitude of interesting but fractured tidbits of information regarding the brand and its products from across the internet and beyond has brought me great joy, providing a vital outlet for stress relief. As a bonus, I have gotten to correspond with countless people about the brand and its products and look forward to future conversations. While time constraints continue to limit my ability to publish content as frequently as I would like, I remain committed to keeping The Perch going. This site does not solicit for reviews or accept gifts of merchandise as I take the integrity of my work very seriously which is why you don’t see me hosting many contests (all giveaways occur at my own expense). Still, I have enjoyed hosting an annual contest for The Perch’s birthday over the last several years so let’s do it again. Up for this year’s giveaway, in honor of the blog’s 9th birthday, is a 2023 Pelikan M205 Rose Quartz Demonstrator fountain pen and ink gift set once it becomes available later this month. I once again have to give a special thanks to the amazing team at Fritz Schimpf, without whose assistance this giveaway would not be possible. Read on to discover all of the details about how you might enter for a chance to win.
UPDATE 10/25/23: The Perch’s 9th Anniversary contest ended on 10/2/23 and I have to say that I was truly overwhelmed by the amount of participation that it received. I saw a lot of common themes regarding people’s hopes for the future direction of the brand. There were over 150 entries this year making it the most competitive year to date but there was only one prize to win. I’m very pleased to announce that Kim Klein was selected as the winner of the Pelikan M205 Rose Quartz Pen & Ink gift set (once it becomes available that is). Thanks again and keep an eye on The Perch for all of your Pelikan news.
Pelikan’s M205 Rose Quartz fountain pen is due out later this month, designed to match the corresponding Edelstein ink which is a lovely pinkish hue. The M205 will be a demonstrator featuring silver colored, chromium plated trim. It has Pelikan’s piston filling mechanism at its heart 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, answering the following question. The brand is being sold which means fresh hope for new horizons. In what direction would you like to see the new owners steer the brand? Maybe it’s more exciting releases or perhaps a transition to universal pricing. Whatever it may be, let me know your vision for the company. Likewise, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to better tailor this blog to serve you better. 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. X, the site formerly known as Twitter, is getting a bit odd. I have subsequently joined the new upstart Threads in just the last week or two and am still finding my way around. So my ask this year is that you head on over to my Threads account and follow me so that you can keep abreast of all the action going on at The Perch. That simple follow will get you a second entry. Please make sure that you’ve also left a comment below and not just on social media.
I hope that the instructions are straight forward and that the experience will again be fun for everyone. I have kept the rules very similar to past contests on this site. The contest will run for 30 days starting with its launch today and running into early 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 Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, until midnight eastern standard time (23:59 EST) on Monday, October 2nd, 2023. 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 Rose Quartz 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 $280. 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 in what direction you think the new owners should take the brand, what can I do to better tailor the blog to your interests, and, 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 platform of Threads will be available this year. To gain an additional entry; simply follow my blog’s Threads account. This is not a substitute for subscribing to the site and commenting on this page. Any social media entry 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. The judge’s decision is final.
- Threads 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 that are beyond my control. 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 (2022) 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 would love to see a more universal pricing, or at least one that doesn’t completely make it exorbitant for non-EU customers to purchase. I love what they are doing in the 600 line with the new Art series and look forward to seeing more of that as well.
Oh, and thank you for the giveaway and all you do for the community! This blog is a gem!
I would like to see them continue to honor their past but reach out a little more into new materials and maybe even reach into innovating. It’s a tough balance but if any company can manage it, it would be one of the oldest and most respected brands out there, Pelikan. As far as the blog you’re doing a great job, love the info and not too much content that I get sick of reading. Keep it up.
I’m actually quite happy with the cadence of new releases. I would love it if they would reconsider offering fun nib options like italics and BB+, and if they would be willing to explore other suppliers for the translucent striped bindes.
I would love to try this year’s ink especially. Pictures suggest that it might just be saturated enough for normal use!
Thanks for doing this, Joshua. I will pass this year to someone who would appreciate this pen more than I would.
I would like them to return to transparent stripes in M600 and higher models. I would like to have at least one pelikan pen in my collection, can not get one yet at this point. Universal pricing would be great too. And maybe get one of those models with ebonite feed.
I would love more exciting releases – the new art pen looks fantastic.
I really want to see more special editions. The M1000 Raden Forever looks amazing and I want it in a M600 or M400 size.
I would like to see from Pelikan, more nib options especially trendy nib style like naginata, architect, zoom, etc, be available for both their steel and gold nibs.
I’d want a more universal pricing since some people get the upper hand. I would want something that features the local vibe such as hand-painted ones or native designs. I do hope they still continue the Souveran line as is.
I hope the new owners take this opportunity to introduce some new pens that try something different. Pelikan has certainly been in a groove with their special and limited editions but i think it could be fun to see something that challenges the usual Pelikan formula. I am excited to get a better look at the new art series which looks like it is using some new manufacturing techniques and exploring the brands history
The Glauco Cambon release caught me by surprise (like many others here) and if Pelikan stays the course – I’m sure we’ll all be very happy ! A M1000 special edition is now way overdue! Then I’ll be very happy !
Wishing your Perch a very happy 9th birthday, and thank you so much for the work that you do for this blog. As a clinician – spare time is hard to come by and we all can see your dedication to this brand and blog; in addition to your integrity and honesty with your thoughts about a Pelikan product. For that – a big THANK YOU once again.
Josh, I do not want to be included in this draw as I have far too many pens already. I hope the winner of this pen will derive many years of joy and happy writing.
I’d like to see standard pricing, particularly lower pricing in NA. The exorbitant prices for non-Europeans retailers is ridiculous .
I would like to see more availability of the pens and inks. I live in a small town, in the central United States, and the prospect of finding a Pelikan, is almost non-existent, other than online, or with a half day’s travel.
I would love to see the brand continue the present series and furtther make a few pens which are robust but exiting. The latter for Young people and people who like one in a pocket or in the car. A number of notebooks for bag or car, as well as some for Desk at home. I would also like specials developed in series which are available for a period. And: series limited for collectors. Limited in time and number. I would like to see a kit/set with pen, ink, paper, notebook and booklet for specials – not only expensive but also for Daily use. You May Think nerd. The giftset. The kit for School or job. Pricing from veryvreasonable to Daily use kit! Desk kit you realy have as center piece in mind and prise. And then the fine ones you collect. Good luck! I will support the brand!
I’d really like to see the brand get some new styles. I feel that you can redesign the same pen style so many times before you run out of ideas. One thing is I’d like to see a heavier 205. I always thought it was a bit too light in the hand. Those are the thoughts that I have for now. Good luck to those trying to win!
I would personally like to see Pelikan under the new ownership both embrace its history while also innovating in ways that go beyond just a limited edition color release. Right now it seems that very few brands do anything but make the same pens they always have in new colors. The only changes that are made are to simplify manufacture and increase profit margins. I’d like to see changes made for the sake of improving the product and the writing experience.
I would like to receive this Pelikan gift set as I have yet to get a Pelikan pen, and this year’s color release is the most exciting one that I have seen from the last few years. It would commemorate me first joining a pen club and participating the Hub event this year.
I love the new m600 series, especially the brass piston. I hope they do more with the 600 especially. And yes, more affordable American pricing would be great.
I’m hoping that the quality will not decline, but I wouldn’t mind the return/continuation of being able to see the ink level between the stripes. At the same time, the price discrepancy of the US retailers to those abroad is another issue I wouldn’t mind being addressed.
me know in what direction you think the new owners should take the brand:
They should honour the history, but make more innovation with more colours & materials; more availability of the entry-model pens & re-releasing (more) the tiny (M420?) pens! Also, more variety of ink. Blue blue & blue gets OLD.
what can I do to better tailor the blog to your interests
You’re doing an amazing job!
and, finally, let me know why you want to add this pen and ink set to your collection
I collect (small) pink pens and this is one that will need to be in my collection! It will go with my variety of pink Pelikanos. (So glad that it doesn’t have any white stripes to stain).
Hi, Josh! Congratulations on the blog’s 9 years. You’ve kept it fresh, while digging out all sorts of interesting stories from Pelikan’s history. One small request–might you consider adding more white space in your page design? This would be easily managed by breaking up long paragraphs and adding a blank line in between bullet points. It would enhance the blog’s readability.
I applaud Pelikan’s new releases and hope they consider more vibrant special editions for the M200/205 range (patterned acrylics like the Blue Dunes or the Cities series, for example, rather than endless demonstrators). They could restore sanity in pricing–European prices are so much more reasonable than those of the US. Bring back the translucent stripes and ink windows we love! Start offering a wider variety of nibs (obliques, stubs, italics, and double broads). And because I have a special affection for the M600/605 range, offer brown tortoise and green tortoise models in that size! (I absolutely adored the red & black tortoise models and couldn’t wait to acquire them.)
The Rose Quartz set appeals to me because I love the pale pink of New Dawn roses and see that in the lights and darks of this pen & ink.
Thanks so much for this blog, Joshua. I always open it the minute I get your email, and it never disappoints.
I would like the company to continue with forward thinking designs and colors. But I would like to see a department/section of the company introduce a version of pens from its history.
This pen and ink will help remind me of my dear friend in Scotland. I constantly bombardment him with pictures of pink flamingos, squid, birds of all feathers, etc. The reason is his favorite salmon fly incorporates pink as a main color. When I visit this fly has always caught fish. Seeing this pen on a daily basis and writing to him will reinforce my friendship with him.
My dream would be a greater choice of nibs– add a stub or cursive italic. Other than that, stay the course, and don’t forget about the M101N. I also think the Glauco Cambon looks very promising. Your blog is wonderful! And I’d love to add that charming pink pen to my flock.
I want a return of the old style Pelikan nibs and innovation in new pen designs. Your blog is perfect! It’s my go to source for a things Pelikan. And lastly I don’t have a pink pen so I would love it to be my first.
I would like Pelikan to return to the high standards prior to the turn of the 21st century in terms of nib quality and pen design.
I would love to see some new designs emerge, hopefully with some new materials, especially not plastics.
I love what you’re doing with the blog!
I love Pelican’s pens and would love to have it as my teacher meeting pen so my colleagues can see a Pelican in person!
I too would love to see US pricing match that available in the EU. I’d rather support a local pen seller, but the premium for buying Pelikan pens within the US is punishing.
Well, I’m fairly new to the Pelikan brand since going to the hub last year. Everyone was so kind and let me test out their Pelikan. I don’t have anything to add or recommend. However, I’d love to own a Pelikan some day and this limited edition is gorgeous!
I love the 101s, though they’re out of my price range. I love the look of these pens. I wonder if a budget conscious model could be made?
I have Shanghai from the City series and love it. Color variations on this style would be beautiful!
Ohhh the new owner ,this is exciting news!
I hope they make new models of smaller pens,
and more colorful elements as well.Maybe some new materials would be fun~
Thank you for this giveaway,
the pink ink shall not pass😍
The Marks on this set’s bottle has unique hearts, that’s why I have to participate !
Thank you for doing this!
I still don’t own a Pelikan for two reasons: my well-stocked (and now closed) local pen store wasn’t able to carry them, and the line I can stretch to afford – the M200/205 only – doesn’t come in any colors I find exciting. (That, or they photograph poorly – I’m told the Moonstone is amazing in-hand.) So my hope is that the quality and heritage of the brand continues, with some more dynamic colors or materials introduced, and broader distribution reach.
Honestly I wish they’d do some of the larger bodied pens like the m600/05 with steel nibs and a lower price point, but I think that’s likely a bridge too far.
But pink, now, pink is always dynamic, and I’m excited about this release.
It would be fun to see a collaboration with blank-makers we all know and love. Nothing beats a Pelikan nib!
Well I would enjoy versions without piston and maybe finer writing nibs from pelikan,
giweaway is a giveaway, but yeah I like the white piston parts and the colour is nice , most importantly without sparkles.
I would like to see some more variations in the design.
I would like to see more variations and colors in new designs.
I would like to see more variation of designs and colors.
I am on a tight budget so I would like the brand to have better pricing. I stick with what I can afford but would love to have a great fountain pen from Pelican. After reading about the brand, it is on my bucket list!!
I’m quite happy with the direction of the company from an artistic standpoint (style and frequency of releases, etc). What I’d like to see are more nib options. Bring back some of the classics, or even some new varieties. The selection currently is fine, but uninspiring and leaves too many potential interests unserved.
I want to see reduced pricing as well as experimenting with new pen barrel shapes. I would like to add a Pelikan fountain pen to go along with my Pelikan rollerball and ballpoint pens. And I’m glad I found your blog, keep up the great work!
Hopefully, Pelikan will introduce new materials for some upcoming pens, as well as designs that play tribute to vintage Pelikan pens. I get my latest Pelikan news from your website (I’ve been a happy subscriber for a while now) as well as from your Instagram account. I like that you offer information on both the pens and the company. So you’re already doing it quite honestly. Perhaps revisiting some old models and adding more bits of information would be nice, if there are any more information that could be added. I want to add this gorgeous M205 Rose Quartz pen and ink set to my collection because (1) I love the M2XX design of Pelikan, being one of their classics, and (2) pink is the only fountain pen colour that I am so far devoting a special place for in my collection. I find it to be a refreshing colour that reminds me cherry blossoms dramatically falling from trees. And it gives off a very calming effect. Thank you for sharing all your amazing information about this brand we love! Keep your posts coming!
I’d love to see more nib sizes and consistent pricing. It would be interesting if they went into the “vault” and brought back something from way back, even as a limited run
I love this pen! I just want the brand to continue to make amazing fountain pens. It would be nice to be able to find replacement nibs more easily. (I waited 3 months for the last one because it was special order) I have the moonstone version of this pen and absolutely love it, having this one also to go with it would be an amazing set ❤️
I would love for them to focus on universal pricing, the markup between countries is wild and prevents me from ordering Pelikans from local vendors most of the time. But honestly moreso, I would love for them to start offering a wider variety of nib size!
I would love to add this pen to my collection because I am a big fan of bright colours and demonstrators, so this is really the best of both worlds haha.
Congratulations on 9 years! I really appreciate your blog as a source of information 🙂
I would love to see a return to different nib options like BB’s, obliques and stubs as well as bringing back the transparent bindes and ink view windows we all know and love. Sadly, this year I didn’t get the Rose Quartz ink to review nor could I get it at a nearby Pelikan hub but I would love to win the pink set especially as I stupidly missed out on the white/pink M600 and don’t have any pink pens nor even any Pelikan M205 pens at all.
Thank you for the giveaway. I would rather see Pelikan adopting universal prices and also introducing more pens with exotic materials.
I’d love to see an expansion in their mid-range (between $30-80) with more professional styles. I have a P57 and Stola 3 which are great. I also have a few higher end ones, but they are more difficult to collect lol. I would give this set to my partner. She’s not as into pens as me, but the first time she saw a picture of it, she fell in love with it. I’ll just have to ink it for her hahaha.
Thanks for the giveaway and the work you do for the community! Congrats on 9 years!
I hope they move to equal pricing everywhere!
Definitely universal pricing!
Thanks Joshua for your passion and devotion!!
Would love to see more pens of the new Art collection.
The new manufacturing process is extremely interesting.
For this blog, Id like to get basic exposure to practical calligraphy.
Finally, if won, I will give the pen to my mother who just told me how much she loved writing using a Pelikan fountain pen
I really love the information uou provide for us flock lovers. I can always go and see what previous articles have discussed about certain models.
Would like to see more models above M2XX from Pelikan. I understand that it’s a great entry level but it would be nice to see some other sizes.
Would love to see more types of nibs for all the pen lines. Pretty in pink would go nice in my set of pens;-)
As a longtime user and fan of Pelikan products, obviously I like their style. However, what I am hoping for for the future is more focus on the nib options. Vintage Pelikan nibs are sooo good and their current offering isn’t bad, but slightly boring. I would love to see more focus and variety there, possibly taking a page out of Esterbrook’s book. As the nib units are already easy to replace, this would make me love the brand even more!
They will have to get margins up in order to get a better return on investment (as passionate as they may be).
This can be done with upping prices, with pricier limited editions, getting control over retail…
They may do a combination of all three. But I wish for the pen to get more special nibs, at least some italic ones, see-through bodies…
Maybe even some deeper engravings, perfectly alligned 🤓
Congratulations on the anniversary, it’s s joy to read this blog!
Ik hope this doesn’t post double; I’m having issues with WordPress logins…
As a longtime user and fan of Pelikan products, obviously I like their style. However, what I am hoping for for the future is more focus on the nib options. Vintage Pelikan nibs are sooo good and their current offering isn’t bad, but slightly boring. I would love to see more focus and variety there, possibly taking a page out of Esterbrook’s book. As the nib units are already easy to replace, this would make me love the brand even more!
I would love to see re-release of popular Souveräns like the M600 tortoiseshell
I would like to see many more nib options. It would be nice to see the return of the transparent bindes. Universal pricing does sound nice. I’d assume that would mean higher prices outside the US to make pricing universal.
I’d like to win the pen set because my birthday is this month.
Joshua, congratulations on your blog’s 9th anniversary! 👏👏 I love Pelikan school pens/pens for younger people/inexpensive starter fountain pens and I wish they were available in more brick & mortar stores in North America (where I live). I also wish that Pelikan’s *full line* of these kinds of pens were available from online dealers in North America; I see lots of Pelikan fountain pen models being sold only by European dealers. I know everyone talks about the Souverän lines, but the little guys should be made more available to more people around the world, for purchase in-person as well as online.
Ooops, sorry I didn’t see the other questions you asked! I can’t think of anything that needs improvement vis-a-vis your blog, but it’d be cool to see a blog post about your favourite Pelikans writing instrument from each decade; I did a quick search and I couldn’t find an article like that on your blog. As for why I’d want to add a M205 Rose Quartz fountain pen and matching ink to my Pelikan collection —because the M205 when posted is the perfect size for my hands, the rose quartz pen and ink colours are very pretty and very calming 🙂
To me the Pelikan brand means old world elegance. In a world where most companies try to modernize and innovate, Pelikan shows the world that what is not broken should not be fixed, but rather, let shine.
I think continuing to offer their iconic styling and potentially re-releasing older styles, nodding to what makes them great; attention to detail.
Additionally, I think some special edition pens focusing on Pelikan users across time would be a history that I would like to own a part of.
I love your blog, it keeps my eyes on beautiful pens. Thank you.
My wife gave me an M800 as a wedding gift when we were married 12 months ago (my favourite pen ever) and I think this would be a beautiful gift to surprise her with, she already told me how beautiful it was when she saw me reading your post about this colour set.
I love Pelikan pens and try to buy whenever I can. In my country, in recent years, it has become impossible to buy at exorbitant prices. I hope that it is at such prices that we can buy models like the m600 m800.
Congratulations on your 9-year anniversary!
I’m looking forward to seeing new colors, designs, and fresh inspiring limited editions.
I most enjoy your how-to’s and reviews on the blog.
I would so enjoy winning the giveaway to have my first NEW Pelikan!
Whew! Creating the terms and conditions is longer than the post.
I follow you on Feedly, have for years.
What can you do? Your optimism for the brand makes this site the best for following Pelikan! Know that as you write.
What can they do? Now is the time to develop a global marketing plan, as there market has become one. There will be a resurgence of brick and mortar outlets if Pelikan can develop firm pricing for all sellers. They should also spend time analyzing how the market changes, so they can anticipate new channels, rather than be 40 years late.
My wife bought me an 800 set 40 years ago. I then added futururas for work and then two 140s and a 400 from the used market. I would like this pen as an entry into Pelikan’s new role as a less formal pen.
I’d love to see new models introduced that change the pen styles more than just using new materials. New materials are exciting, but completely new models, either modern or perhaps even retro styles that are not just special editions would be exciting too.
I love what you’ve done with the blog, I can’t think of anything I’d change. But I’d support any changes made with the passion and care you always put into it.
This pen would be a wonderful addition to my collection. I am trying to expand it beyond the more traditional styles and colors and I think the pink would feel very fresh and new! It would feel unique among a collection of more serious black and green pens!
I would like to see more universal pricing as well as more nib choices. Perhaps add a line of more contemporary pens and/or a line of functional, everyday pens with a piston fill. As for your blog, it’s very informative and I look forward to reading new posts. This new release would be great as an interesting color combination and daily writing.
I’m already seeing some interesting new directions with the m600 At Collection. I’d like to see Pelikan continuing to explore such creative new ideas. I’d also love to see universal pricing. I want to support local restaurants and be able to walk into a store too but a Pelikan. Lately, is like to add the m200 to my collection because it’s the first one I’ve seen that I’ve genuinely liked. It’s such a gorgeous pink!
I have stayed away from fountain pens because I’m a leftie. But I won this, it may convert me to fountain pens. I journal and they would add a sophistication to them cheap pens don’t.
The brand being sold to the Hamelin Group probably means more good things than bad. The Hamelin Group would seem to be a place intent on fostering the strengths of Pelikan… and the fine writing niche of the brand might not be the money maker or be particularly profitable, but it punches above its weight as far as the brand’s reputation is concerned. If Hamelin values that (and a family-run business in that field should), we’ll probably, hopefully, see a mildly conservative continuation of the strategies pursued hitherto. Whether we’ll get wishes like greater nib choices or a return to transparent bodies might, in part, be a matter of how vocally customers are asking for it. But with the extant grass roots movement (Pelikan Hubs et al.), I’m tending towards optimism, here.
I would like to see them continue to innovate with a line of pen designs that are non-traditional, like the Pura. Offer the pens with a stainless nib as standard and with a 14k or 18kt nib as an upgraded version. Try new materials and new manufacturing technologies. I’ve found that since I have m20X, m40X, m60X, and M80X pens already, even new color options can be less intriguing and I have no motivation to buy. I also have not increased my collection of other brands because it’s too much of the “same pen, different color” situation. As for the M205 Rose Quartz -I would make an exception to the “same pen, different color” situation for a couple of reasons. I only have a couple of pens in the ink-pen color match annual series. I also recently started a new job and we have pink shirt day. I don’t have any pink pens to go with my pink shirts.
Thanks Joshua for your contagious passion and constant devotion
A. Would like to see more of the new Pelikan art series l
B. Id like to have some knowledge in Practical calligraphy is something
C. If won, Id give the pen to my mom. Two days ago, when practice writing with my Pelikan, she said how much she liked using a fountain pen
Hi Josh,
Thank you for your personal and sincere efforts for this blog, you keeping here clean and your approach makes it so valuable being here and following your posts. (one of the three blogs I read every post of, thank you 🙏🙏)
I would like to see a new M600 white tortoise with a vintage look, and would also like to see some full body yellow resin pelikan. I saw that in a Pelikan catalogue, it was so beautiful… Bringing back those old pens would make a nice vintage collection. Also would like to see some flex nib options.
and also, trying to keep my hands off I limited myself to buy only yellow and demonstrator look pens (or I would bankrupt :)) . But this pink is so beautiful that I believe it might bring a refreshing look to my flock! 🙂
Love to see some more non traditional nib varieties offered!
Thank you for hosting this giveaway. I would love to see the new owners continue with the classic look of the Pelikan line but with the addition of some new colors and materials such as celluloid. The beautiful pink of this M205 is an example of a new, brighter colorway and I love it. Honestly I cannot think of anything different I would like from your blog. It’s perfect with just the right amount of content, well researched and honest reviews. As far as why I would love to win the M205 Rose Quartz there are a couple reasons. Firstly it’s a gorgeous color and love that the ink matches…it’s pink! Secondly, I have only one Pelikan, an M400 White Tortoise in Fine. It is my favorite pen. Writes amazingly well, is stunning to look at and, for me, it is the perfect size. I have small hands. BUT I don’t take it out of my house. I’m so afraid of losing it or it getting damaged somehow. That being said, I would love the win the M205 in order to have a gorgeous pen that I love at a slightly lower price point allowing me the piece of mind to use it as an EDC. To be able to bring a Pelikan with me and use it throughout my day would be a dream come true. Thank you again for your wonderful blog and for hosting this giveaway.
I’d love the Pelikan lineup to have a little more options between the high and low end. It would be nice to have more options to introduce people to it.
I hope for a comeback of the semi-translucent barrels but I think Pelikan has been doing a great job with special releases. I’m hoping they eventually do a special M800 with some dark blue/navy tones. That would be a grail pen for me. Thank you for this contest!
Thanks for doing this!
I’d ask the new owners to try to keep from going crazy raising prices.
I’d love to see the smaller pens come back. And more nib variety for the smaller pens.
Pelikan is my favorite brand, I have a large handful of them.
I always look forward to your blog
More affordable striped models!
My hope is that the new ownership group will maintain the high quality we have come to expect. I also hope they continue the annual new pen and matching ink.
As for the blog, keep up the excellent work!
i do not own a lot of pelikans but i do like the way they look and how they write
the first thing i would like to see them address is the QC on nibs, mine was a dud out of the box, it is the most crucial aspect of the pen and i would like to see them put out consistent, well writing nibs
second on my wishlist are more nib options like the olden days, bring back triple broads, stubs and other nibs that the japanese seem to have zero trouble making and keeping in stock.
the third thing i would like to see are transparent-striped bindes and the addition of classic black body/silver trim/green ink window models standard across all pens from the 205 to the 1005
fourth thing i would like to see less limited editions and more of a focus on the the core classic collection with interesting new colours and silver trim, gold trim should not be the only option in this day and age
I would love to see some more adventurous colorways. The new M600 is definitely a step in the right direction. For the collectors, the M800s have gotten kind of bland. The few truly unique offering like the Ocean Swirl command a premium because they are so different and exciting. I hope that the new owners embrace that and give us more.
I’m a newbie to Pelikan, having been gifted my first just a few months ago. It is a standout in my collection though and I absolutely adore it. This pink pen and ink is gorgeous, I’m smitten! I’ve been looking to add a pink ink to my, so far, modest collection so this is perfect timing.
My favorite nib is the 1.1 stub nib, so put me in the camp of people who would like to see more nib options. For me beautiful inks and nibs that show them off is a large part of why I enjoy fountain pens.
I would like to see more variety in the M800 and M1000 (especially the M1000). More materials, more colors, more nib sizes.
I would like to see universal pricing as well as more nib options. The M2xx series is a sentimental favorite as my first piston filling fountain pen was a red transparent M200 many years ago at my first pen show.
I would love to see more special editions of cheaper pens, like the Dragon and Stardust Pelikanos
I would love to see more special editions of less expensive pens (like the Dragon and Stardust Pelikanos) and Edelstein Ink of the Year in cartridges
I would love for them to bring back the old styles but with new technologies. More reasonable pricing would be nice but not a must.
I would like to see universal pricing and perhaps wider nib options-instead of extra fine through wide, also options in nib stiffness. To me , nib stiffness is more important than line width, but stiffness isn’t an option.
I really appreciate this site. My 1992 400 fountain pen needed service (barrel cracked), and I found a repair option through this site. Without this site, I’d be stuck with an out-of-service pen.
Thanks!!
Universal pricing would be great but I’d like to a return to some nibs with more character. The current offerings that I’ve tried seem uninspired.
Universal pricing would be great but I’d like to see some more nibs with more character. The newer ones that I’ve tried seem uninspired.
I’m excited to see new ownership and reading that the new owner is a fountain pen user makes me hopeful that Pelikan will become a better company with better direction. The releases after the Ocean Swirl have been mediocre – a Green M800 rerelease? A number of M60xs and pushing the M1000 to the stratosphere vs bringing LEs to the M1000/M800. Pelikan would break the pen internets with an Ocean Swirl M1005, a Tort M1000, some LE M800s that are interesting vs rereleasing old editions Green demo/red that are old ideas. I am hopeful there will be an injection of passion into the company and that will show up in their future releases.
Would love to see the unequaled nib width variety from EF to BBB and OBBB and IB again.
Would love to see the nib width variety again EF, BBB, OBBB, IB.
I love the Pelikan’s fountain pens. Thank you very much, Joshua, for giving us the happiness to read regularly about them. Long life to your blog !
Universal pricing would be good for all pelikan pen fans. I would like to see more variety in the M200 and M205 ranges at more affordable prices as I really like them and they are better for those of us who like smaller fountain pens. I think the prices of the limited editions M200 and M205 are becoming a bit too expensive. I would also like to see more with white metal accents which I also like. Thank you for running this competition and keep up with the blog. I only found it recently however I enjoy every blog !
Josh congratulations on the 9th year anniversary! You are doing a great job with your off days and evenings to keep the Pelikans Perch going, as a definitive review of new Pelikan pens while adding other articles on vintage Pelikans.
I would like to see more colorful designs along with more selection in nib sizes & styles. The ink view window on Pelikan pens is the signature of Pelikan just as the screw-in nib sections are. I would like the new owners to keep the Pelikan achieves intact and in good order.
I would love if Pelikan would experiment in new colors and nib designs (I like the old ones too) maybe a cultural heritage collection, but yearning for something fresh, colorful, and different price ranges.
I’d like to see the brand move into a period of sustainable growth and pursuit of baby’s first fountain pen experiences.
I would like to see more creative special or limited editions for the m800 line. Hoping for a frosted demonstrator one day. I don’t currently own a Pelikan so I would love to win this contest for my first Pelikan.
I would love to try a 205 since I do not have one as yet. And the pink is pretty cute. The ink is really surprising me. As for the company I hope that they keep business similar in the sense that they keep making quality pens, but a fresh take would be refreshing. I do hope they also keep sponsoring the hubs as they are a draw for many to gather in pursuit of the analog experience and creative expression.
Hola Joshua, para comenzar, felicitaciones por el noveno aniversario de tu trabajo de análisis, informativo, de crítica de sobre todo de guía para los que no somos doctos en la materia (y de paso felicitaciones por ser un médico).
¿En qué dirección le gustaría que los nuevos propietarios dirigieran la marca?
Por vivir en Centroamérica, tenemos vedados muchos productos y sin presencia, por no gozar de representantes de muchas marcas de escritura, dentro de ellas está Pelikan por supuesto. Por lo que no sería raro que me gustaría que pusieran una división Centroamérica en Guatemala. Y no solamente de venta de productos de escritura, si no que de repuestos y un taller propio que sería lo interesante. No estaría solicitando ninguna edición en especial, solamente las que se encuentren disponibles y, bueno, por supuesto que sean asequibles, aunque, sé de antemano que hay ediciones limitadas y especiales que son de precios más elevados.
Me gustaría incluir La pluma estilográfica M205 Rose Quartz de Pelikan, en mi colección para dársela a mi nieta.
Soy el feliz poseedor de una M200 Smoky Quartz (2017) incluyendo su tinta, aunque, le hé substituido el plumín que trae, por un 120 de la década de 1,960, que es, además de punto fino (F) es mucho más flexible.
Thanks for running the giveaway.
Regarding where Pelikan’s new ownership can take the brand – I’d like to see the return of more non-standard nib choices (e.g. oblique, italics, BBB, etc.). I’d also like to see the transparent stripes return on the striped models. And lastly, would love to see more limited / yearly editions hit the M1000/M1005 line, similar to what they’ve done with the M800/M805 line.
The blog is fantastic; I frequently use some of your guides as references for ID’ing and dating pens. Would love to see you do even more guides. And just keeping us posted on the new ownership’s changes and future plans will be helpful.
Would love to add the new pen and ink to my collection as I don’t really have any pink inks, and would love to keep adding new colors to my growing set of M20X’s.
The Pelikan brand has an amazing history and should be honoured. But they should also look to the future with more exciting pens, colours and nibs.
I’d like to see them support local pen shops, we’re losing them to faceless corporations and it would be good to see skill triumph over bulk
I just got my first Pelikan. A silver/grey M805 medium nib. When I went to use it the pen wrote like a dream but I realized it wrote more like a broad vs my preferred fine/medium(think Twsbi fine or medium). Thankfully I was able to get the nib swapped. It wrote like a dream. I hope they consider more nib options including a more affordable steel option.
I love my Pelikan Stolla, it is not the most expensive pen, nor is it the fanciest. It is however, one of my most consistent pens. It is also one that fits my hand well. In the future I really hope the brand brings out a few more options for those of who find getting a pen a true luxury.
I would like Pelikan to make more classics like 100s and such and new pens that hark back to classics but are new designs.
I honestly hope they expand on their edelstein brand. Utilizing this second brand to put out pens with a new aesthetic could be an interesting addition to such a storied company!
I will follow you with no intention to enter any contest for the giveaway. I value your work. And that is all. Thank you very much for the good work you are doing. Keep it up please.
Definitely universal pricing!
I’d like to see the return of more non-standard nib choices (e.g. oblique, italics, BBB, etc.), even flex nibs in both steel & gold ones.
I’d also like to see the transparent stripes return on the striped models.
And lastly, would love to see Amethyst as a regular ink color.
The blog is fantastic.
I would love to see the new owners reintroduce translucency in the striped barrels so that the ink level can be viewed.
The blog is excellent, and it has been very helpful as I consider purchasing a Pelikan.
I love the other German fountain pens that I’ve tried, and the M205 Rose Quartz would mark my first foray into the wonderful world of Pelikan.
I don’t really like famous brands changing hands, as something always has to compromise. I hope that with these new owners, they’ll make everything cheaper. Most of Pelikan’s good pens are $50+, way out of my reach. They’ve been a company for a long time, and they have a big reputation on Reddit. The new owners should keep the Pelikan quality that it’s known for, while making it cheaper by reducing the Cost Of their Goods and Services, and their expenses. (learnt from Commerce class). Would be interesting to see a fountain pen company really go above and beyond.
As to how you could improve this blog, I do have an idea. I mean this 100% respectfully, and I mean no offence. Your website looks old. 2012 old. I believe that’s how old this website is. I think you should try to make one yourself, one that looks nice and modern. Maybe even minimalist! For multimedia class, we’ve had to make our own websites, and with the help of a youtube video it really is quite easy to make one that’s modern and minimalistic! Of course, you’d need a good guide video (I used GreatStack’s videos), but it is a really fun and rewarding experience. As to how to make a blog, with servers and logins, I don’t know. Maybe it’s not practical to make a new website. After all, if it’s not broke, then why fix it?
I really want to add this pen to my collection because I’m a new fountain pen enthusiast, as well as an aspiring high school student who wishes to enter medicine. I’ve browsed your website, and I now know that you’re a physician yourself. Also, I’ve realised that many users on r/fountainpens are of a medical background. I do want to follow this trend.
Sadly, my collection is small. I’ve got a Platinum Preppy (from Muji), but it has recently run dry and has been having lots of issues (scratchy, leaking, etc.) . I have used money from a tutoring side gig to order a Moonman A1 from Aliexpress, but I’m not sure when it’s coming, and if it’ll be good quality or not. Having a Pelikan M205 will introduce me to the world of real, quality fountain pens that aren’t disposable, and will serve as a great Stay-At-Home pen for use on homework and assignments. I might bring it to school, but only for semester exams. I’m in the running for 9th grade DUX!
From what I’ve researched, a Pelikan M205 seems to be on par with $250 AUD pens, like the Pilot Vanishing Point (which I’ve decided I’ll get if I get into med school), and the lamy 2000. It really would be a privilege to use such a pen, and I’ve no doubt it’d blow my Preppy out of the water. The pink is very flashy, and would be a break from my white preppy and incoming Black Moonman A1. I’ve also never tried anything apart from Platinum Black cartridges, so I’m really excited to try one of Pelikan’s Inks of the year. This pen would be the perfect writing tool to use for high school, and hopefully into university. It would allow me to access the world of higher end pens, that is locked for low/middle-class people. It would be an extremely valuable asset!
Thank you!
I just really hope that the new owners have good moral values, take care of their workers and love fountain pens as much as we all do.
I don’t really like famous brands changing hands, as something always has to compromise. I hope that with these new owners, they’ll make everything cheaper. Most of Pelikan’s good pens are $50+, way out of my reach. They’ve been a company for a long time, and they have a big reputation on Reddit. The new owners should keep the Pelikan quality that it’s known for, while making it cheaper by reducing the Cost Of their Goods and Services, and their expenses. (learnt from Commerce class). Would be interesting to see a fountain pen company really go above and beyond. Also, pelikan could start to use gold on their nibs more generously now.
As to how you could improve this blog, I do have an idea. I mean this 100% respectfully, and I mean no offence. Your website looks old. 2012 old. I believe that’s how old this website is. I think you should try to make one yourself, one that looks nice and modern. Maybe even minimalist! For multimedia class, we’ve had to make our own websites, and with the help of a youtube video it really is quite easy to make one that’s modern and minimalistic! Of course, you’d need a good guide video (I used GreatStack’s videos), but it is a really fun and rewarding experience. As to how to make a blog, with servers and logins, I don’t know. Maybe it’s not practical to make a new website. After all, if it’s not broke, then why fix it?
I really want to add this pen to my collection because I’m a new fountain pen enthusiast, as well as an aspiring high school student who wishes to enter medicine. I’ve browsed your website, and I now know that you’re a physician yourself. Also, I’ve realised that many users on r/fountainpens are of a medical background. I do want to follow this trend.
Sadly, my collection is small. I’ve got a Platinum Preppy (from Muji), but it has recently run dry and has been having lots of issues (scratchy, leaking, etc.) . I have used money from a tutoring side gig to order a Moonman A1 from Aliexpress, but I’m not sure when it’s coming, and if it’ll be good quality or not. Having a Pelikan M205 will introduce me to the world of real, quality fountain pens that aren’t disposable, and will serve as a great Stay-At-Home pen for use on homework and assignments. I might bring it to school, but only for semester exams. I’m in the running for 9th grade DUX!
From what I’ve researched, a Pelikan M205 seems to be on par with $250 AUD pens, like the Pilot Vanishing Point (which I’ve decided I’ll get if I get into med school), and the lamy 2000. It really would be a privilege to use such a pen, and I’ve no doubt it’d blow my Preppy out of the water. The pink is very flashy, and would be a break from my white preppy and incoming Black Moonman A1. I’ve also never tried anything apart from Platinum Black cartridges, so I’m really excited to try one of Pelikan’s Inks of the year. This pen would be the perfect writing tool to use for high school, and hopefully into university. It would allow me to access the world of higher end pens, that is locked for low/middle-class people. It would be an extremely valuable asset!
Thank you!
(reposting because i think the filter marked me as spam, but I’m not. Also, for all legal concerns, my dad (who is over 18) will be entering on behalf of me)
Pelikan is THE single brand that manages to reinvigorate a classic design year after year.
There is always a new color that I seem to want. I have 400s, 600s, a 1000 and a Toledo.
Even a Twist..
> In what direction would you like to see the new owners steer the brand?
I’d start with universal pricing and a return to a translucent binde (or perhaps another innovative way to determine how much ink remains in the reservoir).
> Is there is anything that I can do to better tailor this blog to serve you better.
Nope. Love the blog, and also the cadence of posts. Very informative.
> Let me know why you want to add this pen and ink set to your collection.
I love Pelikan pens and Edelstein inks, a this is a colorway I don’t have in my collection to-date.
I’d love to see more nib options, easily available! I love seeing all the new releases but I’d be more inclined to order something new if I could get, say, a factory stub instead of just another ef/f/m/b. And I’m now following on Threads under the username @rewil!
Merhaba, Pelikan’da en sevdiğim model olan M8xx e daha çok ağırlık verilmesini diliyorum. 2019 dan beri sadece 2023’te green demonstratoru çıkarttılar. M8XX de heyecan verici tasarımlar bekliyorum. Bir de fiyatlardaki yukarı doğru ivmeyi düşürmelerini bekliyorum 🙂
I would love to see some new fountain pen models, not just new color versions. Something than will continue Pelikan’s legacy, combined with modern point of view. And like many others – more nib options! Love the blog, regular visitor! I’m a sucker for every M205 model, never liked gold trim.
I’d love to see more “pretty”/colorful designs, things that really catch your eye, like some of the City Series or the m640 “Beauty of Nature” series. (The m640 Polar Lights is a particular grail of mine.) And I’d love to add this pink pen to my collection — the color is really fun and an immediate draw, and the ink is gorgeous too. Thank you for a great blog — it’s one of my small joys in life that when I see a new Pelikan release on Insta, I can be sure that there will soon be an email in my inbox with your pre-review thoughts!
I think I’ll be echoing the comments that many have already made. I hope the new owners will continue to honor the unique legacy of the Pelikan brand including such things as the visual appeal of the pen and the piston filling system. I’d also love to see more nib options from the factory. And a more universal pricing system would be most welcome!
I really like the Edelstein inks! Along with many others, I wait with anticipation for the announcement of the ink of the year. This year’s Rose Quartz has a kind of understated visual joy to it. I presently don’t have a demonstrator. I’d love to be able to add one to my collection!
Thanks for your continuing great work on the blog. I look forward to seeing it when ever it shows up in my email inbox!
Congratulations on nine years and thanks for doing this, Joshua! Re the question: I’d like to see Pelikan return to visulated stripe barrels.
I’m relatively new to fountain pens (really only got into it in 2020) and don’t own a Pelikan (yet?). One thing I love about Pelikan is their “Pelikan Hub” which is coming to my medium-sized city in the American Southwest this month. Living away from a major metropolitan center, I don’t get to see and try out pens, nibs, inks, etc… and this is a great contribution to the culture of fountain pens. I’d like to see Pelikan continue in this vein — finding more ways to spread the use and love of fountain pens, and foster a real community of fountain pen users and enthusiasts. Keep up the good work Pelikan, and you to Pelikan’s Perch. I appreciate it.
It would be nice to see more offerings in the lower price range. The more affordable pens could be a place for Pelikan to do more experiments with colors and designs.
-New direction: many people who love stationery are girls who also use stickers for planning. If you don’t know about this community, you can search for planners and stickers in Instagram and you’d see topics such as Happy Planner. But there are very few pens that fit women, such as smaller pens for our smaller hands, and feminine colors such as pink. I think if the brand owner takes us into consideration, we are passionate about buying luxurious pens that fit our aesthetics and writing habits. Fountain pen today is not used mainly for working or studying. It’s an aesthetic enjoyment as well as an expression of our personal style. Pens sell because they are beautiful.
-I think your blog is very good at letting us know about a new release. I actually first knew about many new releases from you. I have no suggestions. Thank you for your blog!
-I want this pen and ink in my collection because pink is my favorite color and Pelikan and Montblanc are my favorite fountain pen producers since I love the piston-filling system with which I can write my brain dump without stopping to fill the ink.
-I’m following you on threads (as well as Instagram).
-I’m over 18 and live in New York.
I hope that the new owners will enhance the current production and above all introduce new exciting models at competitive prices.
I really appreciate your blog, especially when you analyze the history of Pelikan.
I don’t have any pink pens and I’m very attracted to having them in my Pelikan collection.
I hope that the new owners will enhance the current production and above all introduce new exciting models at competitive prices.
I really appreciate your blog, especially when you analyze the history of Pelikan.
I don’t have any pink pens and I’m very attracted to having them in my Pelikan collection.
My first Pelikan was an M200 green marbled and although I have flashier looking pens, its ease of use and smooth nib meant it became the one I reach for most. I’ve added a Golden Beryl since then and love its looks, so what I’d most like to see from Pelikan is more special M200 releases in gorgeous finishes!
As such I’d very much love to get my hands on the Rose Quartz to expand my flock.
I love the blog – very informative!
I have one of the Pelikan 100Ns from the Attic Find and several other Pelikans. The brand is unique and exceptionally high quality. Cost control, new styles while maintaining quality are important.
Thank you for this exciting give-away. I don’t have any useful suggestion for your blog, because I think it is incredibly good as it is. My favorite posts of yours are the most technical ones, like your deep-dive into iridium tips.
As the Pelikan brand is evolving, I would love it to take into consideration that an important part of its clients are women. High end fountain pen brands are often geared towards men, as are most of luxury watch brands. They still have a very old-fashioned view of the executive or company director, for whom a fountain pen is not a daily used item but merely an token of prestige which is only used to sign contracts. In this perspective, the most expensive and the biggest the better. But today, we can see at Pelikan Hubs meetings, on blogs or on YouTube channels, that there are many female Pelikan fountain pen lovers. Maybe they have different expectations towards the brand, for example about pen sizes. Having small hands myself, I can only admire Pelikan’s more refined models at my local pen shop because I simply can’t write with a pen any bigger than the M600.
This is one of the reasons why I wish I could add the M205 Rose Quartz to my small collection. I have about ten Pelikan pens, all in the M200, M205 and M400 range, because they are the smallest ones. I specially love the less traditional colors like the M200 Amethyst or the M200 Aquamarine, and I am very impatient to see what the Rose Quartz looks like.
I think what I would really like to see is a greater push towards sustainable production. In your article on the tipping materials, you had mentioned that the metals used are rare. Given the amount of environmental damage that occurs with mining, it would be wonderful if the company could move towards using recycled materials while still maintaining a high level of quality.
I’m still new to the fountain pen universe, but I love reading your blog. I especially love the deep dive articles where you talk about the less known aspects of the brand. For example, I found the article on karat weights of their nibs fascinating, especially the part where they had to increase the karats in their nibs for Japan even though it didn’t change the writing experience.
I would love to add the Rose Quartz M205 to my collection as I’m still learning about fountain pens, and would love to try out a piston filling pen from a brand as old and established as Pelikan.
I recently finally got my first bird! Though I’ve been reading your blog for years. I love your insight and historical knowledge of the brand. I would love to see the new owners bring some sort of pricing standardization to the various regions.
I would love to add the M205 to my collection because I love pink pens and am really enjoying the Pelikan brand. Looking forward to more blog posts for years to come!
I would love to the Pelikan being steered to further high end writing tools while at the same time keeping up producing the daily drivers of stationary in a high but affordable quality. In the middle of these, I see the 400 and 200 lines of pens, which should get a yearly special edition (ok, the 200 line some kind of has this already).
Dirk, muy buen punto. Específicamente en papelería.
Aún conservo un par de resmas de papel aéreo de los años ’50, donde, prácticamente cualquier punto de cualquier plumín se comporta de una panera maravillosa, é incluso los mismos libros de contabilidad, de aquella época, poseían muchísimo mejor calidad de papel que los que hoy en día se encuentran, pues ya todo es o impreso ó escrito con bolígrafo a base de tinta de aceite (del cual no estoy en contra) pues en la gran mayoría ramifica con las plumas fuente (incluso con cuadernos caros), los papeles en mención son: Papel Esleeck de escritura piel de cebolla, y un par más sin marca de agua. Todos curiosamente súper delgados “papel aéreo”, ahora todos son curiosamente “vintage”.
Un fuerte abrazo a todo los amantes de las plumas fuente, y especialmente a los de los Pelikan Perch.
En Pelikan tengo en mi colección M800, M400, 200, Pelikano´s, Style blanco y negro (de la que no me fué muy bien) y una magnífica Level 5, siempre lista para escribir.
Pelican Direction. I’d like to see a mix of affordable and higher end pens. I love that I can toss my Lamy Safair Al-Star or Safari into a shirt pocket and not worry about whether it will scratch. Would I do that with my waterman? Not on your life.
Website. I much like the website the way it is. I haven’t used it a ton, but anything I’ve wanted to find I’ve been able to, pretty easily.
M205 Rose Quartz Pen and Ink. (1) I do not have any working Pelicans, pen or otherwise. (I have one that I inherited from my grandfather and need to get repaired.) (2) Pink is a favorite color and I have been looking for a good pink pen and ink
I have just found your site, and I love it. I discovered Pelicans about 20 years ago and absolutely love the ones I have. One direction I think the company should consider is a range of sizes at a reasonable price. Large pens make my hand cramp. At the same time, I have a crafter’s hands, and very slender pens make me worry that I will get overexcited and snap them in two. So I like a nice average size. But I have friends with small hands that need slender pens to be comfortable. I also think they might consider a line of more rough and ready pens. My favorite Pelican is put away every day when I leave work in a leather sleeve so that it won’t accidentally get scratched. My Lamy goes in my backpack. Even more versatile, my Kaweco, which writes as well as any pen I have ever owned, gets its cap screwed on and can go in my pant pocket. When I put the cap on the other end, this mini pen becomes a full sized and very comfortable pen. And that is the one that is always with me. Much like a Timex, it takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’. I would love to have a pen with Pelican style and that degree of versatility.
Oh, I almost forgot. Who wouldn’t want a beautiful PINK pen! I may have drooled a little.
Great work on the site- and your work stands in its own. No giveaway necessary and I’m thrilled to follow. Cheers to 9 years!
I wouldn’t want to see the new owners steer the brand too far off its current course. More things like a couple recent special editions (this rose quartz and the upcoming copper one) would be positive, as they look great.
I think the blog is great! A nice mix of news and opinion pieces helps fans feel like they know what’s going on with the brand.
I’ve been interested in Pelikan pens for a while but only recently acquired my first one. This one looks great and I’d love to add a second Pelikan to my collection!
Let me know your vision for the company. First, maintain Pelikan’s previous high standards and quality. Second, do new releases on a regular schedule, which they pretty much do now, but make it more predictable. Less frequently – due to anticipated cost – produce new releases in the 700, 800 and 1000 series.
Likewise, please let me know if there is anything that I can do to better tailor this blog to serve you better. Actually, I believe your blog is excellent. It really is my go to source for information. Any additional information on previously issued Pelikans is always appreciated, such as your post on dating a Pelikan.
Finally, let me know why you want to add this pen and ink set to your collection. Like you, I’m a Pelikan collector. This would be a welcome addition to my 200 series. And, I believe it’s a simply beautiful pen.
Thank you for your hard work on this blog.
I’d like less limited editions. I know it could be a weird idea as there are people who collect them and value them so much. Only pelikan pens used to be definitely above average in terms of quality and prestige, at least in Europe. To get a pelikan when one finished university, it was “something”! And with so many recent limited editions, it almost goes into lamy safari teritory. And safari is a school pen, so not the same level. A limited edition once in a while isn’t the same as a limited edition every 2 months. More exclusive in a way? Less “yeah, meh, another limited edition. Do they have to PROVE so desperately that they aren’t bankrupt?” effect – which isn’t what an old respected company should project.
I don’t think you should change your blog. It works, right? So improving it can only destroy your good work.
Also – I know chances that I win are extremely low, I am not “that” lucky. But I’d like this pink edition simply because it is so unbelievable cuuuute. And I have no pink pens. And with the current economy I don’t think I can afford it just like that.
Hello,
1. I’d like to see Pelikan try something new (for them) like a retractable-nib pen. Keep the ‘classic’ look, but with a new twist (or button)!
2. Site is excellent. Quality content. The place to come for all things Pelikan. Can’t think of anything to improve.
3. I’d like to add this new Rose Quartz pen to the flock to match the ink I received at this year’s hub.
Wow, so many great comments. It’s hard for me to think of some – maybe new colors and nib widths for the Stola?
Where would I like to see Pelikan go in the future? I would not like to see it driven into ground, that’s for sure. This brand means a lot to many pen enthusiasts from around the world that the last thing we want to see it become is another casuality like Omas. In the last few years we’ve seen Pelikan drifting away from its loyal customer base. The Souverän series is gradually becoming decontented yet more expensive (less pen for a buck). The nibs are not as good as they used to be, so that needs to change. More nib choices are needed, especially broader varieties and more flexible ones, not to mention nibs for left handed people that are currently totally lacking. It’d be nice to see some new line of products that are modern, outgoing, exciting so that new generations of pen enthusiasts can be atteaced. Quality and presentation need to improve as well. Pekilan alway had a good quality but I hate to say this, but the older models (from 20-30 years ago) are nicer, better made and better performing than the current offerings which feel quite stale. A breath of fresh air is definitely needed in Pelikans wings.
Future of Pelikan – so many things to think about. I think I bought my first Pelikan around 1970 when in college. And since then many more, old, new, limited, specials. Including a few limiteds that I picked up as bargains when others needed to sell. I have a large number that I am starting to dispose of now that I’m getting older and I know my family won’t appreciate them
And I’m not really buying any more so maybe my comments don’t count for much.
But – nib variety is important to me – and the ability to swap nibs across different pens of like size if special. Keeping at least some of the models relatively affordable is important to bring new/young people into the nest (couldn’t resist a pun, there).
Maintain high quality. I really can’t remember a Pelikan that I’ve purchased new that didn’t write well out of the box. Which is more than I can say for some other brands. (Of course I’ve not really bought anything new for a few years so I can’t compare the most current quality.)
And having attended all of the Pelikan hubs (was hubmaster for Washington, DC in the first year) in many different places – DC, Sydney Australia, Research Triangle NC, I really want to note how great it is for Pelikan to support the folks who buy their pens in such a big way. Do other pen brands do that?
As to the blog – you are doing great and I value the blog and the web site.
Thanks so much!
Q1. What direction should the new owners take the brand?
I would like the new owners of Pelikan to focus on nib quality and variety. A strength of Pelikan is the interchangeable nibs. There is a gap in the market for nibs used by artists, calligraphers and writers searching for line variation. I would love to see an introduction of flexible nibs as well as italic, stub and oblique options.
In terms of design and pricing, I think Pelikan are in danger of falling behind its competitors. For example, Benu is vibrant and sparkles, Leban has skeletal designs, TWSBI is extremely affordable. Japanese brands, such as Platinum, Pilot and Sailor, are well renowned for their quality. I would like to see more innovative designs at competitive prices.
A pen company needs to have a unique selling point in order to attract new customers and keep existing ones invested in their brand. Simple and/or limited designs options may be acceptable if the writing experience and build quality is exceptional.
Q2. Blog suggestions (in regards to the reader’s interests)
Happy 9th birthday to your blog. Thank you for your time and effort in producing a comprehensive blog on Pelikan fountain pens. I really found the article ‘A guide to buying a Pelikan’ really helpful and wonder if a link to this article should also be on your FAQ page especially for new readers to the site?
Q3. Why do you want to add this pen to your collection?
I love to hand write whether it’s in the form of calligraphy, journaling or hand-lettering. My fountain pen journey began again a few years ago. Previously I had been content with my calligraphy set and daily writer (a Parker Jotter) until I accidentally damaged my nib. Around the time I was looking for a replacement, I also discovered shimmer inks, Zen doodling and a love for Copperplate script. Before I knew it, I had been drawn into the world of fountain pens and ink. I was already heavily invested in the dip pen world so perhaps it was only a matter of time before I succumbed to the fountain pen.
I am finding that I am drawn to demonstrator pens due to the practicality of knowing what colour ink and/or how much ink is left in my pen. Learning Spencerian script this past year or so means I consume an inordinate amount of paper and ink. I even use my ipad to practise and reduce my consumption of materials.
I have found myself at a cross roads in my fountain pen journey. I am looking for my ‘holy grail’ pen. The fanciest pen in my collection is my Opus 88 Koloro. My family members were horrified that I had just spent around £70 GBP (about $88 US dollars) on a pen. What can I say? My pen was translucent pink, sparkly and was on sale; how was I to resist?
I would love to add a Pelikan fountain pen to my collection as I currently possess none. Perhaps my first M205 will change the course of my fountain pen journey.
I think the new owners have already done the right stuff! A bunch of new color ways- and the new art collection could be the start of something really fascinating—especially if they plug it into larger models (M800 and M1000s offer much larger canvases for any design they’d create). I love all of what they’re releasing although it is A LOT for October. I just got my first M1000 (second Pelikan ever) and so my pen budget has been emptied by that. Hopefully I’ll be able to get either of the M600s they’re releasing, as I love both of the designs A LOT.
However, I don’t know how much of this was already in the pipeline or is novel. Regardless I think Pelikan is showing that it’s a brand with a lot of life and a lot to offer as far as new releases, and if the new owners can sustain this level of quality releases I think they’ll be in a great spot.
As far as tailoring the blog more to my interests and needs I think you’re already on the mark! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading through the website, the knowledge you share, and the discussion that you foster through it! Every time I’ve seen a new post from Pelikan I’ve immediately gone to the Perch to see your write-up about it, and that sense of community is a part of what I enjoy the most.
I want to add this pen and ink set into my collection because I’ve fallen in love with Pelikan as a brand. I’ve both been eager to get it for a while now but due to the pushbacks and not having the money to invest in another pen this year I haven’t. As a full time college student it can be difficult to balance the budget and I used it all up on my grail this year haha.
The Rose Quartz is a beautiful color and a pen that I’d love to add to my small collection of Pelikans. I can imagine how lovely it would look filled with the matching ink! I hope that the new owners offer more nib varieties—particularly flexi nibs. Joshua, your blog is a fantastic labor of love. Just keep up the good work!
I found myself accidentally addicted to fountain pens a few years ago, as you do, but so far I don’t own a Pelikan. I have been looking at them recently and considering adding one to my collection, which is how I found your blog. Because I don’t own one yet, I don’t have a strong position regarding changes to the brand. However, I always love a variety of aesthetics in selection that appeals to a broad audience, so I hope that Pelikan will expand to offer something for everyone.