A few days ago, Pelikan announced their next Maki-e release, the M1000 Maki-e Goldfish limited edition fountain pen. The theme may seem familiar because of the carp inspired Maki-e Koi, released in 2015. Pelikan explains that “the design showcases two traditional goldfish, one in vivid red on the cap and another in graceful white on the barrel.” It also includes flowing seaweed and gentle waves, elements that “add tranquility and movement, symbolizing abundance, elegance, and good fortune in Japanese culture.” Each pen is hand-painted, and only 123 pieces will be available worldwide, with an expected arrival for sometime in June.
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News: M1000 Raden Black Infinity Limited Edition
The year started quietly, with Pelikan saving most of their major releases for the fall season. After only recently learning about the M800 Cream Blue and the M910 White Toledo, news has emerged about a third model: the Pelikan Souverän M1000 Raden Black Infinity Limited Edition. This pen follows last year’s Raden Red Infinity, featuring a similar design but in a different color. In the past decade, oversized Raden models have included the Starlight (2014), Sunrise (2016), Green Ray (2020), White Ray (2021), and Red Infinity (2023). Known for their shimmering abalone shell decorations, each pen is crafted and signed by hand. Only 400 pieces will be available worldwide for an October release. Keep reading to learn more about this latest Raden model.
Continue readingReview: M1000 Renaissance Brown (2024)
The flagship Pelikan M1000 fountain pen stands taller than its siblings, both literally and figuratively. Even so, it sees the fewest number of releases amongst all the Souveräns. Perhaps that is one reason that the new M1000 Renaissance Brown has made such a splash. It has been five years since the M1005 Stresemann (2019) made its debut which makes this new model worthy of review. Strictly speaking, I’m selectively ignoring the ultra-limited and exotic Raden and Maki-e models which are also built off of the M1000 chassis. The M1000 is a very large model, unwieldy for many, and not what I would call the most practical pen out there. And yet, there is something special about an M1000, something that the other Souveräns just don’t have. It’s a bit hard to describe but once you place that huge, juicy nib onto paper for the first time, you start to get a sense of that magic. While Pelikan’s modern nibs, at least those produced over the past few decades, have skewed towards hard and inflexible, the M1000’s nib graces the paper with just the most delightful amount of spring, thanks in part to its large size. They are a joy to write with and the Renaissance Brown is no exception. Also worthy of note is the fact that this is a case of “who wore it better?” Recall that the M800 Renaissance Brown was first on the scene in this finish back in 2017. When a classic makes a comeback, there is sure to be a lot to unpack. Keep reading to learn all about the M1000 Renaissance Brown and whether or not it would make a worthy addition to your flock.
Continue readingNews: M1000 Maki-e Ivy and Komon
While we are all anxiously awaiting news of this year’s Pelikan Hubs event to surface, Pelikan surprised us late last evening with a different type of announcement. With the M1000 Renaissance Brown hitting store shelves any day now, Pelikan plans to follow that highly anticipated launch with another M1000, this one being the latest in their line of Maki-e pens. Introducing the M1000 Maki-e Ivy and Komon limited edition fountain pen. The design draws from the Japanese culture and depicts an autumnal scene. This new model follows up to last year’s well received Maki-e Dragon. As is the custom with these hand painted pens, only 123 pieces will be available worldwide. Keep reading to learn all about Pelikan’s newest Maki-e masterpiece.
Continue readingNews: M1000 Renaissance Brown Special Edition
Pelikan regularly releases limited edition models based on the M10xx chassis, but these are usually Maki-e or Raden models made in ultra limited production runs with large price tags. The last standard M10xx release was the M1005 Stresemann in 2019. After a long wait, Pelikan has answered the pent up demand with the upcoming M1000 Renaissance Brown. If that name sounds familiar, that is because Pelikan first employed the finish on the M800 Renaissance Brown that was released in 2017. Pelikan’s advertisements declare, “Brace yourselves for the comeback of a classic!” The original M800 model has been well regarded over the years following its release. The M1000 Renaissance Brown is set to debut in May 2024. If that has your interest peaked, read on to find out all of the details.
Continue readingNews: M1000 Maki-e Dragon Limited Edition
On the occasion of the 2023 Pelikan Hubs event which came and went just last evening, Pelikan dropped yet another new release and guess what, it’s due out in October. That makes this supersized Maki-e model the fifth release tentatively scheduled for the autumn month. As I recently discussed, it will share space on the calendar with the M600 Glauco Cambon, M600 Red-White, M205 Rose Quartz, and M200 Copper Rose Gold. While the new M1000 Maki-e Dragon will surely add to the surfeit of fall releases, this one shouldn’t be too burdensome as it will be out of reach for most. The new M1000 Maki-e Dragon limited edition follows the 2022 models Snow, Moon, and Flowers as well as the Phoenix. Available only in ultra-limited quantities, the Dragon is expected to command a price commensurate with its grand stature. It strikes me as interesting, and perhaps it’s just a coincidence, that the Dragon follows the Phoenix since Pelikan has already included both creatures on a single past release several years ago. Some of you may recall 2005’s M1000 Maki-e Dragon & Phoenix which was made in a run of just 88 pens. Continue reading to learn all about the newest model from Pelikan to marry Western European design with Far Eastern artistry.
Continue readingNews: M1000 Raden Red Infinity
There is something extra special about getting wind of not just one but two new fountain pens back-to-back. Late last night, I wrote about the M200 Pastel-Blue fountain pen due out in mid-June. Nibs.com was the first to bring news of the next Raden model to hit the streets as well, the M1000 Raden Red Infinity. The M1000 model line has had some heavy hitters in the Raden category over the last 10-15 years. These have included the Moonlight (2011), Sunlight (2013), Starlight (2014), Sunrise (2016), Green Ray (2020), and White Ray (2021). For these ultra-exclusive models, artists employ traditional Japanese techniques to embellish the cap and barrel of a standard M1000 with small pieces of shimmering abalone shell. Every piece is crafted by hand which accounts for the relatively few models made and their correspondingly high price tag. Each pen is signed by the artist and hand numbered using the Maki-e technique. Similar to recent past releases, this will once again be a limited edition run of just 400 pieces available worldwide. Pelikan’s product literature states that “The design pattern has no beginning and no end and stands for continuity which is a lucky design that implies long family happiness, prosperity, development, and professional success.” Availability is anticipated for some time in June 2023. Read on to learn all that we know of this new Raden model.
Continue readingNews: M1000 Maki-e Phoenix Limited Edition
Today brought news of another new release out of Hannover, this one quickly following on the heels of the upcoming Souverän M800 40 Years Anniversary limited edition due out next month. If you will recall, Pelikan kicked off the 2022 season with their M1000 Maki-e Snow, Moon, and Flowers limited edition. Pelikan’s next release will again be another high end Maki-e model, this one titled Phoenix. The last time we got two Maki-e releases in a single year was 2019 when both the Five Lucky Bats and Japanese Umbrella debuted. These are always ultra-exclusive models made in very limited quantities with a price tag to match. Pelikan’s promotional literature states;
“The Phoenix is surrounded by numerous meaningful legends. Phoenix is a legendary spiritual bird in Chinese mythology, appearing in myths, ornaments, works of art, and architecture in East Asia. It is often depicted as a symbol of virtue, wisdom, beauty, and goodness. Phoenix also has the meaning of harmony, peace, femininity, beauty, prosperity, expansion, ascent and success. According to Chinese legends, phoenix represents the entire universe. The phoenix‘s head represents the sky, the eyes are the sun, the back is the moon, the legs are the earth, and the tail is a planet.”
The Maki-e Phoenix utilizes the oversized M1000 chassis, made in Germany, and decorated in Japan. This model is slated to arrive sometime in November 2022.  As is the tradition with many of these ultra-limited pens, this will be an edition of just 123 pieces available for worldwide distribution.
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