Since the pandemic, Pelikan has made it a habit of putting out fewer releases than what was historically the case which gives each new model coming to market a little more gravitas. You might expect that the extra time between releases would actually allow a bit more space for creativity. Imagine my surprise then when Pelikan brought us a new M800 which, at first glance, seems more like a retread of the past. According to Pelikan Schreibgeräte, customers from the United States clamored for a transparent green M800 circa 1991.  Pelikan acquiesced, releasing the Transparent Green M800 demonstrator in 1992.  It was an unnumbered model, similar to the special editions of today.  A total of 3,000 M800 fountain pens were set aside specifically for the North American market with a smaller run of pens supplied to both Italy and France.  The North American importing company had certificates printed at their own expense in order to indicate the limited nature of the run, a trick of marketing that saw this model dubbed “The Collector’s Edition.” The suggested retail price of that fountain pen, at least in the United States, was $450.  The iconic Blue Ocean M800 would soon follow in 1993 which would arguably make the M800 Transparent Green a test case whose success may well have facilitated the numerous limited and special editions that have come to market since. Fast forward thirty one years and Pelikan once again brings another M800 Green Demonstrator to market. While the appearance of the new model is very similar to the old, there are key distinctions worth noting. Are they enough to set this one apart from its predecessor? I’ll allow you to be the judge of that. Read on to learn about all of the nuanced features that set these two models apart.