Every now and then, you come across something that defies explanation. You’ll find something that you know should not exist, yet it does. It can be tempting to dismiss the anomaly as a fake, but then you might miss the chance to unravel a mystery. Such is the case with the Pelikan keyhole nib, an enigma from the far east. Nibs usually have vent or breather holes which were originally intended to allow air into the pen, replacing the ink consumed with writing. These remain a prominent feature today, even though many modern nibs vent elsewhere through the feed. Pelikan’s breather holes are usually round, except for a brief period spanning 1929-30 when they were heart shaped. The only other notable exception is the triangular breather hole of the Primapenna from the 1970s. Keyhole nibs are usually associated with the Waterman brand, so how do we explain a keyhole on a Pelikan script nib from the 1950s? Keep reading to discover the story behind the unique and rare Pelikan keyhole nib.