great pens

The Pen Event

Through my visits with pen stores on our trips through Italy and France I often hear how a reader of my pens site (glennspens.com) was just in the store. We just missed. Well last year then I was visiting with Brigitte Courson it turned out I missed a reader of the site by a day. We bought bough the same pens!

So Brigitte and I decided that I would announce in advance the date of my next visit. We would make an evening event and maybe, if a reader of the site is in Paris that week, they will drop by the store.

If you are in Paris in June (sounds good) work your schedule so that you can drop by Bridgitte’s store on Wednesday June 7 from 5 - 9pm.

Plume et Bille 38 rue de l’Arcade Paris

I have maps and Metro information on my pens site. I hope to see you there!

Waterman Edson, Emerald Green

OMAS, Arte Italiana, Wild

Pelikn M800 Burnt Orange

Montegrappa Miya

Corsani

Pelikan M800 - Tortoise Fountain Pen

First release in 1987 as part of the “save the company” marketing, the pen was re-leased in 2013. The striped barrel, made out of cellulose acetate, is stunning to see, as it has subtle orange highlights between the brown tone stripes. 

The clip and the rings are 24-carat gold-plated with an 18 carat bi-color gold nib. This elegant series consists of a piston fountain pen, a ball pen, and a roller ball. 

Delta Dolcevita Caruso - Vancouver Pen Club

Montegrappa Extra 1930 (Turtle Brown)

In last month’s newsletter from Montegrppa, they referenced world explorer Milosz Pierwolain who uses a Montegrappa Extra 1930 fountain pen to record his travels in his journal.

I thought there were a number of similarities with Milosz and myself. I could almost look like a twin, and also this summer I used my Montegrappa Extra 1930 fountain pen as my primary pen to write in my travel journal as I travelled through Italy in September.

I acquired the Montegrappa Extra in Rome at Novelli Pen at the beginning of the trip and basically could not put it down for the month.  

This was not first Montegrappa Extra 1930 I have, in fact Marco at Novelli Pen in Rome has helped me select both the Parchment and the Marble Green celluloid versions of this classic pen. 

Milosz founded EXP Adventures which designs custom tours to luxury destinations. Here is another parallel, as my wife, Karen Marcus, through Marcus Travel Planning, assists clients with travel planning in Italy and France.

Photographs: Top to bottom: • Montegrappa Extra 1930, Turtle Brown • Milosz Pierwolain, writing in his journal • Glenn Marcus, writing in his journal • Montegrappa Extra 1930, Turtle Brown

www.mytravelsinitaly.com

www.marcustravel.com

Stipula Etruria Amber

This is classic Italian. Stipula, located in Florence, makes these pens from rods of celluloid, hand-turned. They are trimmed with gold plated sterling silver. 

The pen with its soft oval shape is a pleasure to hold.  The rich amber-brown tone allows the light to catch gold and red undertones. 

Laban Mento

Ah, the mightly Laban Mento.

Laban created this pen with a vintage look. This is one of those pens you can have for everyday writing and take everywhere. Not a lot can go wrong with it. The trip and clips are platinum plated. The body is made from resin. The nib is a steel nib. There is some variation in terms of writing experience, but the nib with section can be purchased for $25.

Delta Chatterley Dolcevita Fusion Star, Sole

I selected this pen to take with me on my trip to the Amalfi Coast. This is the type of bright yellow I want when I am sitting at the end of day with a lemoncello and my travel journal.