The explanation most dealers give,why e.g.the Hemingway is so collectible is that it was the first writers' edition pen,the very collectible Marcel Proust resembles one of the most sought after MB pens,the Medici(as nr.1 of the limited edition patrons of art),same the Agatha Christie and Imperial dragon,both resembling original very early MBs from the 20ies and 30ies.
Why and if the Dumas might or might not be more collectable than e.g.the Dickens or vice versa remains speculation for me.
Anyway,as far as I observed its chiefly the models following or copying older,classic and highly collectible pieces of MB and the "Nr 1" of a limited edition that gain high resale values,but there might be other reasons too as collectors do not collect according to logic criteria(see also the madness going on at watch auctions).
I like some of the writers series more than others. The Dumas, the Hemingway, and the
December 17 2004, 8:07 PM
75th anniversary special and limited editions (in the 149 series) have the advantage that they are big with a big nib -- the 149 nib. The Hemingway probably has high value among the 149's because it was the first. I don't especially like Hemingway the author, but I would like to have the pen.
I like the Dickens; others think it is grotesquely top heavy. The Proust looks like a great pen, and the Verne just plain looks great. I want an F. Scott Fitzgerald, but, if other pens take priority and it is a long time coming, I won't worry about it.
I understand that everyone has his/her preference. Personally I like the look of the Jules Verne but it seems that the market has its own preference which reflect on the auction although there is no significant difference in the numbers produced between the series.
This has a great influence because most collector seems to skew toward the most sought after series. Personally, I am not too fancy on the Hemingway being the first of the series doesn't really warrant such high 'price'. However, 1st pen in a series is more valuable.
The funny thing is that you could get a vintage Montblanc 139 for less than the Hemingway!
December 20 2004, 2:35 AM
Personally, I would rather have the original than a limited edition that is modeled after the original, although the orange barrel on the Hemingway is nice. Plus, the 139 if I remember correctly, has a telescoping piston to allow it to hold a lot of ink and they had flexible nibs back then!
-Jesse
Right on both counts, and I personally would rather. . .
December 20 2004, 10:07 AM
. . .a vintage 139 or pre-1963, celluloid barrel 149, although the Hemingway is a very nice pen.
Actually the very accomodating folks showed me around the MB Boutique in Manhattan not long ago whilst I was picking up my 149 after some repair work and I have to say, I think the Kafka definitely worth a look. Very understated and almost impossible to appreciate properly in photos, the cap and barrel are made of a wonderfully shaped slightly translucent plastic with a terrific depth to it- I think the Kafka may become very sought after as the design doesn't wow you immediately but definitely grows on you the longer you look at it.