Pen of the Day – Page 9 – Fountain Pen Follies

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Green o’ Green with J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor

August 26, 2015February 12, 2016 Laura2 Comments

Pelikan M600 Green o’ Green with broad nib. A good friend sent me a sample of the new J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor, so I brought out my big gun, nib-wise. A Pelikan broad. That’s as big as things generally get for me. I’m more of an extra-fine person.

The pen is beautiful. But I’ll save that for another day, because the ink is new, and we have all been eagerly anticipating it. It’s a “wow” ink, it really is. A teal green, with gold flakes, that shades beautifully and sheens on the right paper.

On a Rhodia dot pad, the shading is gorgeous, and the gold flakes really stand out.

Tomoe River paper really brings out the phenomenal sheen.

In this photo, you can see that the period sheens so much it looks entirely red. That’s not a trick of angle or lighting, either; it looks like that in real life, in normal light and with the page entirely flat.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M700 Toledo

August 18, 2015 Laura2 Comments

Pelikan M700 Toledo with extra-fine nib. This is the smaller of Pelikan’s two modern Toledos. It is based on the M400 body. The sleeve is sterling silver, with the decorative parts engraved by hand. It is then treated to darken the base and cover with gold the part of the design that stand in relief.

I bought the pen used and added the extra-fine nib later. Richard Binder ground the nib himself from a stock medium nib when he realized that he had run out of extra-fines. I know I got the better end of that deal; this is one great nib.

The ink is Pelikan Brilliant Black. It’s not a dark black, but a more gray black, and it’s a dry ink, so it keeps the line nicely narrow.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Ruby Red

August 14, 2015March 15, 2016 Laura1 Comment

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red with fine nib. The M600 is the perfect size for me, and red is a favorite color, so this special edition Pelikan from a few years ago sees frequent use. The cap is the most translucently beautiful part of the pen.

The ink is Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline, ink of the year for 2012, a very cheery pink. It will be the perfect match for Pelikan’s forthcoming pink-striped M600. Pink-o-phobes, I apologize.

Pen of the Day: Parker 51 Plum

August 11, 2015February 12, 2016 Laura1 Comment

Parker 51 Plum with fine nib. This particular Parker 51 is the color Plum, which was produced only for about a year or so. No, you can’t tell by looking at the photograph, which is how I chanced upon mine. The color is so dark it tends to look black, brown or burgundy in photographs. It was entirely by accident, then, that I bought this on eBay. Even in real life, however, the Plum color isn’t particularly noticeable. However, I’ve always liked writing with the 51’s straight-forward, business-like fine nib, no matter the pen’s color.

I’m using Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst, Pelikan’s 2015 ink of the year. It’s a red-leaning purple with a soft, friendly look and beautiful shading. It seems to clean up easily for a purple ink. I’m smitten. Because it’s a limited edition ink, it won’t be around forever, and I’m sorely tempted to buy a bottle.

Pen of the Day: Omas Extra Lucens

August 5, 2015February 12, 2016 Laura1 Comment

Omas Extra Lucens Limited Edition with extra-fine 18k nib. This gorgeous pen is black, gold and transparent celluloid. Writing with an Omas is special, and a bit different. The pen rests lightly in the hand, and the nib asks for only the most delicate touch, so you find yourself skimming over the paper as effortlessly as possible.

The ink is Stipula Calamo Ebony Black, which is a lighter, slightly gray black ink with a hint of shading. When I write with it, I think of the shades of Sumi-e, Japanese black ink painting.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M400 White Tortoise

July 31, 2015August 4, 2015 LauraLeave a comment

Pelikan M400 White Tortoise with medium nib. My newest pen. I adore it. I was a little worried it would turn out to be too flashy for my tastes, but the small size of the pen means it never overwhelms. The color of the binde is lighter than most tortoise Pelikans; I’d call it honey or flaxen.

Right now it’s inked with Diamine Salamander, which I had never used before. Salamander is yet another nice Diamine ink, this one a dark olive green, almost the color of camouflage. It shades beautifully and flows well. I think I’ll go back to it in the fall or winter, and try it with an extra-fine or fine nib.