---
title: "Collector knowledge, literature, specialist articles"
description: "Books and literature about fountain pens (Rösler, Lambrou, Dragoni), auctions, marketing background."
language: en
date_modified: 2026-05-19
date_published: 2026-05-19
license: CC BY 4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_url: https://www.fountainpen.de/faq-chunks-en/10_sammlerwissen-und-literatur.md
landing_url: https://www.fountainpen.de/faq-llm-en.htm
publisher: fountainpen.de
author: Michael Steiner
keywords: ['collector knowledge', 'literature', 'Rösler', 'Lambrou', 'Dragoni', 'auction', 'specialist article']
entries: 48
---

# Collector knowledge, literature, specialist articles

> Books and literature about fountain pens (Rösler, Lambrou, Dragoni), auctions, marketing background.

Knowledge base from the former fountainpen.de forum (anonymised, AI-curated). **48 entries** in this topic block. Full index: <https://www.fountainpen.de/faq-llm-en.htm>.

## Articles

### Which Montblanc fountain pen is used for entries in the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund?

For entries in the Golden Book of the City of Dortmund a Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 in the classic version is used. The fountain pen has a 14-carat gold nib with platinum inlay in nib width B and is fitted without engravings or decorations. It has been in official use since the 1980s together with a matching pen stand; the writing instruments used previously also came from Montblanc. The Golden Book itself was designed in 1899 on the occasion of the opening of the port of Dortmund by Kaiser Wilhelm II by Professor Mayer of Heidelberg together with Karl Eyth and financed by Heinrich Wencker, owner of the Dortmund Brewery zur Kronenburg; the matching golden inkwell with little tower-corners was donated by the owner of the Dortmunder Zeitung Gustav Krueger and designed by Paul Drescher in silver, gilded, partly polished and adorned with gemstones. The book cover itself consists of engraved silver, is partly gilded and decorated with ruby-backed rock crystals, coal spheres and pieces of translucent and opaque enamel; between the covers, now in the fourth edition, lie hand-made paper pages. Before each entry the book is given to a graphic studio that calligraphically inscribes the name, function and background. The fountain pen is checked for ink level and cleanliness and placed without cap into the pen stand for the ceremony; the set is supplemented by a blotter roller. Should the 146 fail, a second Montblanc writing instrument stands ready as a backup. After the ceremony, pen and book are kept under the supervision of the protocol chief in the safe, while the book cover, together with inkwell, official chain and parts of the council silver, is exhibited in an alarm-secured display case in the city hall foyer.

### Which poets and writing instruments does the book 'Der Gänsekiel oder Womit schreiben?' cover?

The book 'Der Gänsekiel oder Womit schreiben?', subtitled 'Dichter und ihre Schreibgeräte', appeared as a companion volume to the exhibition at the Schiller-Nationalmuseum in 1994 and comprises around 90 pages in 13.5 by 21 cm format. Four writers with their preferred writing instruments are presented. Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) wrote almost exclusively with the goose quill, although stylus and pencil were already available toward the end of the 18th century. Eduard Mörike (1804–1875) used both goose quill and frequently stylus and pencil. Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) wrote both by hand and on the typewriter; a piston pen Osmia Supra had proven itself for him, which he had repaired in the late 1930s and after return acknowledged by letter with the remark that the nib had become somewhat coarser, but he himself was no longer what he once was. Peter Härtling, born 1933, writes exclusively with typewriter and fountain pen, corrects with ink, rarely with pencil or ballpoint; already as an eleven-year-old he owned a Montblanc piston pen and remained loyal to the brand but today uses cartridge pens. Alongside, the volume covers paper, ink, sealing wax, writing furniture and travel accessories of the respective epoch and is richly illustrated. Bibliographically the work belongs as 'Vom Schreiben 2' to the Marbacher Magazin 69 of 1994, edited by Sabine Fischer.

### Which fountain pens were on view in the small exhibition at the Dortmund Museum for Natural History?

From 26 April 2005 to the end of May 2005, part of a private fountain-pen collection was exhibited in the information area of the Dortmund Museum for Natural History, Münsterstrasse 271 in 44145 Dortmund near the Klinikum Nord. Opening times were Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17:00; admission prices were between 75 cents and 3 euros; on Saturdays admission was free on Family Day. On an exhibition area of around 1.80 by 0.70 metres, 36 fountain pens with nearly all filling systems were presented, including transferable, Safety, push, lever, piston and cartridge pens; six fountain pens were exhibited disassembled in order to illustrate the filling technique. Well-known German brands like Geha, Montblanc, Lamy and Pelikan were deliberately omitted in order to give more attention to less known makers like Pichler & Mueller, Moewe, Santis, Transparit, Heiko, Rigoletto or Corrector. The presentation was supplemented by fountain-pen boxes, dip pens with nibs and small ink bottles. In parallel Ursula Stolte showed parts of her collections in encaustic painting and Günter Graban with minerals and gemstones.

### What do the historical Pelikan advertising or seal stamps from 1984 have to do with brand advertising?

Pelikan published in 1984, as a return to old values, a small booklet in 13.5 by 23.5 cm format with historical advertising stamps whose originals appeared around the turn of the 19th to 20th century. The booklet contains three sheets with twelve different seal stamps each in styles like Art Nouveau, Expressionism, Futurism and Art Deco; some are poster designs by graphic artists and painters of the time. Advertising stamps, occasionally also called seal stamps, had their heyday between the early 1890s and 1914 and were printed in millions in Germany. They were artistically designed pictorial marks given to customers for advertising purposes, usually in product reference; original advertising strategists expected the stamps to be glued onto letters and envelopes, contributing to brand spread. Already at their heyday they were a popular collecting object; after WWI cigarette cards largely displaced advertising stamps.

### Which postage stamps commemorate Thomas De La Rue and his writing-instrument firm?

Thomas De La Rue, born 1793 and died 1866, was founder of the English firm De La Rue, which in the late 19th and early 20th century also made fountain pens, including the well-known Onoto pen; in the late 1950s the company ceased fountain-pen production. De La Rue first made his fortune with the production of playing cards in London and later received the English monopoly for postage stamps and means of payment also outside England; in the 1880s the development of fountain pens began. The postal administration of the Channel Island Guernsey, his birthplace, honoured him twice with special stamps. A first set of four stamps appeared on 2 June 1971 with focus on stamp production and depictions of stamps from Hong Kong, Italy, USA and England. A second set of five stamps followed on 27 July 1993 for his 200th birthday in an edition of 113,000 pieces and shows banknote, fountain pen, printing press, postage stamp and playing card as the firm's full product range. In Germany on 12 October 2000 the first special stamp of the 'For the Postage Stamp' series appeared with a fountain pen, a writing pencil and an inscribed envelope with stamp. Background on the firm De La Rue and its writing instruments can be found, among others, in Andreas Lambrou's book 'Füllfederhalter' and in 'Füllfederhalter, Schreibkultur und Schreibdesign' by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera.

### Which surprising insight does the book 'Die merkwürdigen Füllhalter' by Piet Ruys bring?

The book 'Die merkwürdigen Füllhalter' by Piet Ruys, despite its title, does not let one expect a collector volume on curious writing instruments. In fact, it is a Dutch crime novel from 1961 with 124 pages on industrial espionage. Records and chemical formulas are violently torn from a young inventor and smuggled in a gutted fountain pen; childhood friends of the inventor can later solve the theft and return the formulas to the rightful owner. With this title is a crime novel whose fountain-pen reference is purely literary.

### What does the catalogue 'Werkzeuge des Pegasus' on the exhibition of the Stiftung Weimarer Klassik show?

'Werkzeuge des Pegasus' is the companion catalogue to the exhibition 'Historische Schreibzeuge' in the Goethe National Museum, on view from 9 November 2002 to 5 January 2003 in Goethe's residence in Weimar on the ground floor and presented by the Stiftung Weimarer Klassik. The volume presents writing implements in various forms and materials such as ceramics, wood, porcelain, stone and glass in word and image and additionally shows furniture, writing-implement folios, ink bottles, nibs, letter openers and further writing accessories, above all from the second half of the 18th and from the 19th century. Among the outstanding exhibits is the writing ball made in 1867 in Copenhagen on which Friedrich Nietzsche wrote. The catalogue is divided into preface, an essay on writing instruments and creative writing in the 18th and 19th century, a catalogue part with writing implements, writing instruments and writing utensils, a section with illustrated portraits, an excursus on writing recipes and iron-gall ink, and bibliography and picture credits.

### Which book publications exist for the Montblanc Literature Prize from 1991 to 1994?

For the Montblanc Literature Prize four book editions appeared between 1991 and 1994. The first prize of 1991 carried the theme Profit, the second of 1992 the theme Embraces, the third of 1993 the theme The Summit and the fourth of 1994 the theme The Appointment. Each edition contains, alongside the short story of the prize winner, between 14 and 16 further selected short stories of the participants. Editor of all four volumes is Joseph von Westphalen, who also chaired the jury and wrote the afterword in each volume. The first two books appeared from Piper Verlag, the following two from Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. From 1995 to 2003 the prize was not awarded; only in 2004 was it given again with the theme 'There must be that much time'.

### What is the advertising booklet 'Ein himmlisches Märchen' of the Tintenkuli Handels GmbH, and which product information about the inkpen does it contain?

'Ein himmlisches Märchen' is an advertising booklet of the Tintenkuli Handels GmbH Altona (Elbe), published in the early to mid-1930s. The booklet has a format of about 9 by 12 cm, comprises 16 pages including cover and additionally contains a four-page insert with thank-you letters. The humorous frame story describes how the office secretary Albert Lingenbring stands in his dream before Saint Peter, whose fountain pen blots while filling out the admission application, after which Lingenbring proudly shows his inkpen and explains its merits. Central product features are advertised: the writing tip consists of iridium and platinum; filling is done by dipping in the ink and pressing a filler button; the pen is then filled for weeks. The price was 6.50 marks, payable also in two monthly instalments, with one week's free trial period and three years' unrestricted warranty. The inkpen was distributed exclusively directly by the firm in Altona to exclude middlemen and imitations. On the enclosed order card the postage was 3 pfennigs if only the quantity was entered; with additional handwritten additions the postage rose to 6 pfennigs.

### Which contents and basic data does the exhibition catalogue 'Pelikan – Ein Unternehmen schreibt Geschichte' for the 170-year company anniversary offer?

From 20 February to 13 July 2008 the Historical Museum Hannover dedicated an exhibition to the Pelikan company for the 170-year anniversary. The accompanying exhibition catalogue 'Pelikan – Ein Unternehmen schreibt Geschichte' is a hardcover with about 136 pages in 21 by 25.5 cm format and appeared in the series 'Schriften des Historischen Museums Hannover' under ISBN 978-3-910073-31-9. Two of the three authors are employees of the museum; contributions on writing instruments were written by Jürgen Dittmer. The catalogue is divided, among others, into the prefaces of the museum director and the Pelikan vice-president, a section '1838–1905. In the service of art', contributions to the brand Pelikan and to the adhesive Pelikanol, the section '1906–1945. The Pelikan conquers the world' with texts on the district of List and on the new building, a presentation of the beginnings of Pelikan writing instruments, a section on art education, the period '1946–1977. Lifelong Pelikan' with contributions on the Pelikano and the local competitor Geha, and the section '1978–2008. Losses and changes' with contributions on office products, the renaissance of the classic fountain pen, literature notes, outlook and advertising art. The catalogue contains numerous illustrations of posters, billboards and products from cartridge pen to adhesive.

### Which ten stylish fountain pens does the Welt Online Special present, and how is the list structured?

The Welt Online offer 'Die Welt Besten' under besten.welt.de offers rankings from lifestyle and luxury, including hotels, restaurants, chill-out lounges, coffee houses, structures, TV series, dream streets and theatres, and contains under besten.welt.de/stilvolle+fuellfederhalter also a selection of ten stylish fountain pens. The listing is expressly not a ranking but an alphabetical sorting by maker, which addresses the question of a subjective order. Classics like Montblanc, Pelikan and Faber-Castell are represented, while makers highly valued by connoisseurs like Delta or Sheaffer are missing, who could have appealed to a broader public on this platform.

### Which contents does the book 'Schriftstücke — Autographen aus sieben Jahrhunderten' offer for writing-instrument collectors?

'Schriftstücke — Autographen aus sieben Jahrhunderten' is a more than two-kilo volume from Gerstenberg Verlag of 2005 with about 290 pages in 25 by 32 cm format, ISBN 3-8067-2939-5, based on the collection of Pedro Correa do Lago. The book presents handwritten samples of famous personalities from seven centuries, from artistically designed scripts to the hastily scribbled note, supplemented by manuscripts, drawings and autograph cards as well as short biographies. Anecdotally illuminated are e.g. Goethe's wine order, Rubens as author of an espionage report to the Spanish king, George Sand's worry about Chopin or Wagner's begging letters. The English original texts are not translated; other languages are, however, supplied in the appendix. For collectors, especially Montblanc collectors, the facsimiles are particularly interesting, since many namesake personalities of the writing instruments are represented, including Peter the Great, Voltaire, the Marquise de Pompadour, Catherine II the Great, Frédéric Chopin, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Frederick II the Great, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Ernest Hemingway and Greta Garbo. The handwritten sources range from detailed letter and drawing through notes to the address on a letter in Kafka's case, a signed photo with Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner or a signature on a cheque with Charles Dickens.

Related pages on fountainpen.de:
• Montblanc Writers Edition Hemingway (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/writer-hemingway-en.htm
• Patron of Arts Marquise de Pompadour (2001): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-pompadour-en.htm

### What is the book 'Der Füllfederhalter des Grauens' about, and in which publisher did it appear?

'Der Füllfederhalter des Grauens', edited by Jörg Sprave, appeared from Dr. Ronald Henss Verlag under ISBN 978-3-939937-05-0 as a paperback with about 148 pages. The book arose from a project of writing-enthusiastic participants of a short-story forum and gathers 14 stories around the fountain pen. The thematic starting point is the thought that with a fountain pen not only entire books are written but also signatures are made with which wars are declared, judgements pronounced, wills written or weapon and drug-money transfers initiated, by which the pen becomes a tool of power. The short stories play in different times and plot situations and range stylistically from humour and black humour through tragedy to horror and chills. To be highlighted is the variety of writing styles and the different ideas with which the common motif of a fountain pen is varied. The publisher offers reading samples of the title on its website.

### What does the illustrated volume "Im Schreiben zu Haus. Wie Schriftsteller zu Werke gehen" by Herlinde Koelbl offer in terms of content on writing habits and writing instruments?

The large-format volume "Im Schreiben zu Haus. Wie Schriftsteller zu Werke gehen" by Herlinde Koelbl weighs over 1,600 grams and has a format of about 24.5 by 29.5 centimetres. The book appeared in 1998 from Knesebeck GmbH und Co. Verlags KG in Munich, comprises around 260 pages and bears ISBN 3-89660-041-9. The author documents in interviews with 42 writers their writing habits and places of work, whether study, atelier, train or café, and which tools — pencil, fountain pen, typewriter or computer and laptop — are used. The interviews were partly conducted shortly before the death of individual authors and give insights into the inner emotional life of the interviewees. The text is accompanied by numerous black-and-white photographs of writing samples, workplaces and writing instruments. Thus a picture shows Sarah Kirsch, who is holding her seven pens in both hands above a handwritten manuscript. The various working methods are also described: some workplaces are meticulously ordered, others, like that of Friederike Mayröcker, chaotic; individual authors let no one into their study or separate private apartment and work apartment.

## Auction tips

### How can on eBay auctions additional photos be embedded free of charge by using the gallery function of one's own website?

On eBay only the first photo is free of charge; further photos and larger picture displays are chargeable. These costs can be circumvented by storing photos on one's own server and embedding them in the auction. Via the gallery function in the user menu, for example with the zOOm Image Gallery, a new album can be created. For this, the item "Create / edit photo gallery" is selected, a gallery name and optionally a description entered, the publication option deactivated and "Create" clicked. Afterwards the photos can be uploaded, either as a ZIP archive with all pictures or as individual files whose number is fixed beforehand and then transferred to the server via "Browse" and "Upload". The photos stored this way can then be embedded in eBay auctions. Every author has 10 megabytes of free storage available; the maximum traffic is 250 megabytes per month, which is generally also sufficient for power sellers.

## Books / Literature

### Why is Jens Rösler's "Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide", according to Penparadise, considered the "bible" for Montblanc collectors?

Jens Rösler, son of the last private owner of Montblanc, Dr. Jürgen Rösler (12 March 1930 – 9 September 2003), describes in his "Montblanc Diary & Collector's Guide" the company's history from the founding of the Simplo Filler Pen Company in 1908 through to the Second World War. Substantial parts draw on the recollections of his grandmother Annemarie Rösler, née Voss. The book is illustrated with numerous images of rare writing instruments and period documents and offers detailed descriptions in the appendix of nearly all models produced in this period.

For Montblanc collectors it is currently the only comprehensive reference of its kind and rightly counts as the indispensable bible of pre-war Montblancs. The work is now only available on the collector market and is worth every cent even at prices beyond 250 euros.

### What is the book "Das Bleistiftschloss" edited by Jürgen Franzke, and what topics does it cover?

"Das Bleistiftschloss" is the companion volume — published in 1986 by Heinrich Hugendubel Verlag, Munich — to the exhibition of the same name at Schloss Faber-Castell, on view from 9 July to 19 October 1986. The book was edited by Jürgen Franzke and runs to about 160 pages (ISBN 3-88034-307-1). It covers various aspects of the more than 225-year history of the family company, including the generation contract, Schloss Faber-Castell in Stein, company history, the "village of pencil-makers", the relationship of order, good work and pay, and the castle as backdrop. Despite many illustrations only few writing instruments are shown; for interested collectors the volume is nevertheless worth reading.

### Which book by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen covers Montblanc writing instruments between 1946 and 1979?

'Collectible Stars' by Jens Rösler and Stefan Wallrafen presents Montblanc writing instruments from 1946 to 1979 and is therefore the ideal complement to Rösler's earlier volume on the pre-war period. The work is aimed primarily at collectors and offers a comprehensive overview of the fountain pens, ballpoints and pencils produced in this epoch. It additionally contains guideline prices for mint-condition pens and thus also serves as a valuation aid.

### What history of the pencil is told in Henry Petroski's standard work 'The Pencil'?

Henry Petroski's 'The Pencil — The History of an Everyday Object' appeared in German translation in 1995 from Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, as a hardcover with about 408 pages and numerous illustrations (ISBN 3-7643-5047-4). Originally packed, shrink-wrapped copies additionally contain a Faber-Castell 9000 pencil. Petroski competently tells the history of the pencil starting in the time before its invention, describes the rise of new technologies, closely guarded trade secrets, improvements and well-known pencil families of the old and new world, and depicts a 'pencil world war' between entire industries. The to this day unfinished search for technical perfection is also a topic.

Cultural, technical and economic aspects interlock here. Drawing on old company records, Petroski quotes discussions of an Atlanta firm in the early 1920s on how wage structures were to be designed for the mass production of mechanical pencils — in a language that mirrors the social image of that time in an oppressive way. In the appendix is a contribution by Norbert Franzke and Peter Schafhauser on the pencil dynasty Faber-Castell.

### What does Miroslav Tischler's book document about Eduard Slavoljub Penkala and the Penkala works?

In his elaborately researched book Miroslav Tischler has documented the life and work of Eduard Slavoljub Penkala (1871–1922) as well as the history of the firm Edmund Mostar & Co. — the later Penkala works. Penkala was not only an important designer and inventor in the writing-instrument field but also the constructor and pilot of the first aircraft built in Croatia. Presumably it was he who invented the piston filler; in 1927 the Penkala works sold the patent of a fountain pen with differential piston to Günther Wagner, from which the well-known Pelikan fountain pens later emerged. Penkala also held patents for mechanical pencils, further writing instruments and improvements to the gramophone or to the material of gramophone records.

The large-format volume (about 24 x 33 cm) comprises around 152 pages with excellent photos of writing instruments, documents, ads and advertising. Content-wise it is divided into preface, history of Penkala and the Penkala works, writing instruments (filling pencil, mechanical twist pencil, fountain pen, safety pen, lever filler, push filler, bumper pen, eyedropper system, piston filler), factory in Lepoglava, other products of the Penkala factory, clips, nibs, art of advertising as well as chapters on other Croatian stationery makers — including Günther Wagner K.D. Pelikan factories in Zagreb — and other international makers. From the last chapter previously unknown piston fillers such as Juwel (Deutsche Füllhalterwerke GmbH, formerly Angloamer) or OWA (Peter Jungmann, Heidelberg/Dossenheim) can also be unambiguously assigned. In 1909 Penkala incidentally founded a Berlin branch in which writing instruments were also produced.

### What did the annually published special edition 'Scriptum — The Most Beautiful Writing Instruments' offer, and when did it appear?

'Scriptum — The Most Beautiful Writing Instruments' appeared annually, initially in 1996 as a special edition of the magazine 'Chronos' and from 1997 to 2000 as a special edition of the magazine 'Scriptum, the magazine for writing culture'; the series no longer exists today. Each issue presented the new releases of nearly all renowned writing-instrument makers, including Montblanc, Pelikan, Faber-Castell, Parker and Waterman. Material, nib, mechanism, variants, special features, edition sizes and prices were described, supplemented by contributions on history, design, manufacture and inks. Readers could also vote for the 'Fountain Pen of the Year' by postcard and win attractive prizes.

The volumes appeared from Ebner Verlag in roughly 23 x 30.5 cm format with 130 to 160 pages as hardcover editions. They are no longer available in bookshops but can be found in online antiquarian shops and at auctions.

### Which collector's book by Jens Rösler documents the history of Montblanc writing instruments from 1908 to 1947?

Jens Rösler's book 'The Montblanc Diary & Collectors Guide' is dedicated to the history of the Montblanc company and its writing instruments from 1908 to 1947. It provides an extensive overview of the fountain pens produced in this period and describes in detail the development of the firm. For every Montblanc collector the work is regarded as an indispensable standard reference; it is, however, out of print and only very rarely to be found second-hand. The book itself has thus achieved the status of a collector's object.

### Which standard work documents Pelikan writing instruments from 1929 to 2004, and what does it cover?

The book 'Pelikan Schreibgeräte / Writing Instruments 1929 — 2004', available from 4 October 2004, represents the long-awaited counterpart to the Rösler volume on Montblanc and is regarded as one of the most comprehensive works on the history of a single writing-instrument maker. It covers all Pelikan writing instruments over 75 years and comprises around 175 pages. Contributors such as the Pelikan expert Tom Westerich ensure that it should quickly become the standard work for Pelikan collectors.

Content-wise the book is divided into a first chapter on Pelikan history and a second on Vintage Pens from 1929 to 1980, supplemented by a special section on Pelikano writing instruments from 1959 to 2004. All new limited editions are also included; photos and tables provide a comprehensive overview. The book can be ordered directly from Tom Westerich. Since works of this kind — as the example Rösler shows — typically sell out quickly, an early pre-order is worthwhile.

### What overview of makers and history of the fountain pen does Andreas Lambrou's German edition 'Füllfederhalter' offer?

The German edition of Andreas Lambrou's 'Füllfederhalter' — original 'Fountain Pens, Vintage and Modern' — appeared in 1992 from Wilhelm Heyne Verlag Munich in the translation by Stefan Wallrafen, partly with different photos than the English edition. Lambrou offers an overview of the development history of the fountain pen and presents the most important international makers; a chapter on care and troubleshooting also belongs to it. Richly illustrated, the volume is a standard work for fountain pen collectors.

The table of contents covers the development of writing and writing instruments up to 1883, three US chapters on the phases 1883–1920 (birth and early development), 1921–1940 (the golden age) and 1940s to 1980s (modern design), followed by country chapters on England, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. Sections on modern fountain pens and limited editions, on handling fountain pens, plus appendix, bibliography, club lists, picture credits and index are added. In the German part the makers Soennecken, Kaweco, Osmia, Faber-Castell, Tropen, Rotring, Pelikan, Lamy and Montblanc-Simplo are presented in short biographies.

### Which topics does the second Lamy Edition 'Die Lust am Schreiben' by Hans Heger cover?

Hans Heger's 'Die Lust am Schreiben' is the second issue of the Lamy Editions and appeared in 1999 from Verlag Umschau Brauss in Heidelberg (ISBN 3-8295-6905-X). It is neither a large-format pictorial volume nor a classic writing-instrument or script history but reading and picture book at the same time, presenting the world of writing in self-contained, generously illustrated chapters. Heger combines, in feuilletonistic manner, topics such as children's writing, calligraphy and other aspects of handwriting and illuminates the art of letter writing, the ritual of the signature and famous handwritings of cultural history.

### Which target group does Regina Martini's book 'Füllfederhalter' address, and what should buyers look out for?

Regina Martini's book 'Füllfederhalter' is aimed primarily at beginning collectors and conveys first important hints on building a collection. Writing instruments of various brands are presented, but only partly with photos in colour or black-and-white. The guideline prices listed in the book were valuable orientation at the time of publication but are completely outdated today and show how strongly collector prices have meanwhile risen. Important to know: the book has appeared with absolutely identical content also in an edition with red cover, so a double purchase merely because of the cover is not worthwhile.

### What is special about the Rotring commemorative volume 'A Red Ring Rolls Around the World' for the company's 25th anniversary?

The commemorative volume 'Ein Roter Ring rollt um die Welt', self-published in 1953 by the firm Rotring/Riepe-Werk, is an unusual form of company anniversary publication for the 25th anniversary, focused on the Rotring inkpen. It tells the probably fictional story of a Hamburg journalist named Wiek who is sent on a world trip by his newspaper and on his stops in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and America repeatedly encounters the inkpen — be it in Manaus in cinema advertising, in the port of Singapore during the unloading of Riepe crates or in Spain at the contract signing of a torero.

After his return to Hamburg, Wiek is sent on a report to the Riepe works; there readers learn about the founding in 1928 with the Stylo-Pen, predecessor of the inkpen, the war years, the rebuilding and the company development of the early 1950s. The bound volume has about 60 pages and contains travel photos, shots from inkpen production and pictures of the founder and important employees. Today the book is to be found in antiquarian shops or with collectors.

### Which technical topics around the fountain pen does Hans Heger's Lamy Edition 'Füllhalter für Kenner' cover?

Hans Heger's book 'Füllhalter für Kenner' was supplied in the writing-instrument box of the Lamy Lady: buyers could send in an enclosed request card and receive the volume free from Lamy. With high technical background knowledge Heger vividly explains the construction and function of a fountain pen, illustrated throughout with the Lamy product range. The central idea is that a fountain pen is more than a writing instrument — it reacts to individual handwriting and combines highly developed technology with traditional craftsmanship.

The book is divided into chapters on the history of the fountain pen, design, materials, the nib and its manufacture, filling systems, the feed, the writing test, the grip section, the clip, fountain-pen ink, and care and maintenance; a bibliography concludes the work. Numerous photos and schematic illustrations supplement the text.

### Which topics does Dietmar Geyer's collector book 'Schreibgeräte sammeln' cover?

Dietmar Geyer's book 'Schreibgeräte sammeln — Vom Faustkeil zum Griffel, vom Federhalter zum Füllfederhalter und Faserschreiber' traces the history of writing and its tools from the hand axe to the modern fibre-tip pen. Geyer covers, among others, so-called agent pens — James Bond, played by Roger Moore, is said to have used a solid-gold Montblanc as a life-saving weapon in 'Octopussy' — as well as fountain-pen materials such as hard rubber, galalith and bakelite. The book recalls historically vanished and still existing fountain-pen makers along with their famous brands and describes, in a short industry report with numerous colour photos, how a fountain pen comes into being.

Separate chapters are devoted to ballpoints, quill pens, pencils, steel nibs, inks and fibre tips; shaping, idiosyncrasies, design, decoration, accessories and two collector stories supplement the volume. It is illustrated with carefully selected photos and pictures from old original advertising. The book appeared in 1989 from Verlag Laterna Magica (ISBN 3-87467-391-X).

### Which cultural history of writing and drawing tools did Wilhelm Eule write in 1955 in 'Mit Stift und Feder'?

Wilhelm Eule's volume 'Mit Stift und Feder — Kleine Kulturgeschichte der Schreib- und Zeichenwerkzeuge' appeared in 1955 from Fachbuchverlag Leipzig and comprises 164 pages with 113 illustrations. The book vividly explains the history of writing and describes the filling techniques of fountain pens current at the time of publication as well as the then almost new ballpoint. The pencil and its manufacture are also extensively covered.

Eule explains the writing tools of history from the chisel through the scriber, spatula, stylus, reed pen, brush and goose quill to the pencil, steel nib and the fountain pen of the 1950s. He also covers writing surfaces such as stone, wood, papyrus and parchment and devotes separate articles to chalk, ink and Indian ink, the compass, the ruling pen and — over four pages — the writing of the blind. Today the book is only available second-hand.

### Which topics does Eric Le Collen's book 'Feder, Tinte und Papier' cover?

Eric Le Collen's book 'Feder, Tinte und Papier' covers not only writing instruments and their makers but also tells the history of writing from antiquity through the Middle Ages to the present, including associated writing models and accessories. It is divided into the sections Writing Companions, A Thousand Years of the Goose Quill, Of Ink and Paper, The Steel Nib, The School of Writing, The Fountain Pen as American Dream, The Ballpoint Generation and Useful and Worth Knowing. In the last section numerous addresses of collectors, museums, clubs, auction houses, repair and restoration workshops and writing-instrument shops from Germany, France, Great Britain, Switzerland and Austria are listed. The richly illustrated book appeared in 1999 from Gerstenberg Verlag, Hildesheim (ISBN 3-8067-2860-7).

### Which writing instruments does the 1997 Bonhams auction catalogue gather, and which highlights does it contain?

The auction catalogue 'Bonhams Knightsbridge — Fine and Rare Vintage Fountain Pens and Lighters' from 1997 documents a writing-instrument auction of the English auction house Bonhams Knightsbridge. Numerous older fountain pens from all over the world were auctioned, supplemented by some lighters, ink bottles and stands, each accompanied by estimated prices. Besides internationally known and unknown brands, many German makers like Montblanc, Pelikan, Kaweco and Faber-Castell are also represented.

The cover image shows the aviation pioneer Amy Johnson with 'Amy Johnson's Gold Presentation Pen from F. D. Waterman', a memento of her solo flight from England to Australia between 5 and 24 May 1930; the auction house estimated it at 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. Comparatively cheap, by contrast, is a black Montblanc pen set number 136 from the late 1930s with an estimate of 250 to 350 pounds. From the 1990s at least three further Bonhams writing-instrument catalogues exist.

### What does the unusually formatted book 'Collectible Fountain Pens' by Juan Manuel Clark offer?

Juan Manuel Clark's 'Collectible Fountain Pens' appeared in 2001 from Flammarion in Paris (English edition 2002) and stands out through its square format of about 14 x 14 cm at a thickness of around 2.7 cm. Unlike many collector books, the writing instruments are not treated maker by maker; for each fountain pen depicted, the author instead tells small stories — e.g. about the Ink-Controlled Fountain Pen of the firm Klio of Hennef/Sieg, originally only obtainable by sending a form with a 50-cent piece to the Spencerian Pen Co. in New York. Other pieces are described with date of production, material and design notes.

Represented are, among others, the German brands Faber-Castell, Klio, Montblanc, Pelikan, Rotring and Soennecken. Content-wise the book is divided into Introduction, Vintage, Precious, Thematic, Unusual, Index and Addresses & Acknowledgments. A short overview of the emergence of writing and writing instruments and a section on advertising items round off the work. Even if the texts can be challenging for readers without English skills, the pictures compensate.

### What does the commemorative volume 'schwarz auf weiß. 50 Jahre Geha' report on the history of the Hannover stationery maker?

The commemorative volume 'schwarz auf weiß. 50 Jahre Geha' appeared on the 50th anniversary of the Geha company (1918–1968) and was distributed to specialist trade customers, friends and long-serving employees. It begins with the founding in 1918 by the brothers Heinrich and Conrad Hartmann in Hannover; from the initial letters of 'Gebrüder Hartmann' the founders derived the company name 'Geha'. Also described are the important inventions, the build-up of manufacture and the variety of products — from fountain pens and inks via duplicators, stencils and ribbons to carbon paper — each illustrated with numerous black-and-white and colour photos.

Particularly impressive are the shots from the production halls in which still many employees can be seen at the machines, e.g. in the assembly and inspection of fountain pens, ballpoints and mechanical pencils — a picture that makes clear the change to today's strongly automated production.

### What content does the Montblanc brochure 'Collectables — Creations of Passion 2004' have?

'Montblanc Collectables — Creations of Passion 2004' is the new edition of a brochure first published in 2003 covering all Montblanc writing instruments with an edition from 333 pieces. Presented are, alongside the Writers Editions and the Patron of the Arts editions, also special limited editions like the Lalique desk set and the Skeleton Star Edition. A criticism is that the associated watches — e.g. for the Skeleton Star Edition, which is only complete as a set — are not included in pictures and that the Limited Anniversary Edition is missing. Overall the brochure nevertheless provides a good overview of the collector's pieces from 1991 onwards and can be obtained free of charge from Montblanc.

Related pages on fountainpen.de:
• Patron of Arts Lalique (1991): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lalique-en.htm

### Which two books deal with the Faber-Castell dynasty, and where do they place their focus?

Juliane Nitzke-Dürr's work 'Lothar Freiherr von Faber' is dedicated to the history of the Faber-Castell dynasty, with the focus on Lothar von Faber (1817–1896) — the first great entrepreneur of the family and founder of the worldwide reputation of the Faber name. The book is divided, among other things, into chapters on company history, the first three generations, expansion and marketing, the patriarch's social responsibility and corporate development to the present. It appeared from Ullstein Verlag, comprises around 158 pages with numerous black-and-white illustrations (ISBN 3-548-35872-1) and is only available second-hand.

In addition there is the novelistic biography 'Eine Zierde in ihrem Hause. Die Geschichte der Ottilie von Faber-Castell' by Asta Scheib. It tells the life of Ottilie, who in 1893 at sixteen became sole heiress of the pencil factory A.W. Faber, and her marriage to Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, embedded in the lust for life and end-of-the-world mood of the fin de siècle. It appeared as a Rowohlt paperback with 494 pages (ISBN 3-499-26399-8), likewise only second-hand.

### What cultural history of writing instruments does the book 'Griffel — Feder — Bildschirmstift' by Jürg-Peter Huber offer?

Jürg-Peter Huber's book 'Griffel — Feder — Bildschirmstift', published in 1985, is — as its subtitle 'Eine Kulturgeschichte der Schreibgeräte' (A cultural history of writing instruments) reveals — an overview of the history and emergence of the various writing tools from antiquity to the then-present. With numerous photos and illustrations the author conveys a vivid insight into the epochs of writing and its environment, including computer technology of the early 1980s.

The content overview includes introduction, ancient writing, a thousand years of quill, paper, the office a hundred years ago, the pencil, the development from steel nib to fountain pen, ink, writing in school, the ballpoint ('Rolling on'), felt-tip, fibre-tip and a look into the future, writing instruments and graphology, from typewriter to text system, exotic writing types of other countries, a scribbler's glossary with tips for collectors, writers and readers, and an index.

### What characterises the picture book 'In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit' by Montblanc?

The volume 'In einer Zeit rasender Geschwindigkeit brauchen wir Dinge, die uns innehalten lassen', published by Montblanc, is a deliberately quiet book. Factual knowledge is sought in vain there; rather, it invites the reader to pause and understands itself as a contemplative work. As is usual for Montblanc, the edition is very aesthetic and lovingly designed.

### What does the Brause commemorative volume 'Vom Werden unserer Schrift' for the company's 100th anniversary contain?

The commemorative volume 'Vom Werden unserer Schrift' was published by the firm Brause & Co. on its 100th anniversary and presented to friends and supporters of the house. On around 50 pages the history of writing from antiquity to the then-present of 1950 is described in detail, supplemented by numerous writing epochs and writing styles. A short company history and a report on the emergence and production of the fountain pen are no less missing than a self-critical look at contemporary technology: the board muses that the mechanics and handling of the models of that time already seem old-fashioned and that the fountain pens of 1950 might in a few years be regarded similarly disparagingly — without foreseeing the long-term collector value of these pieces.

### Which makers and models does the picture book 'Füllfederhalter' by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera present?

The volume 'Füllfederhalter' edited by Giorgio Dragoni and Giuseppe Fichera portrays a multitude of writing-instrument makers, including prominently Montblanc. The first chapters are devoted to the cultural significance of writing and the development history of the fountain pen. In the second part a selection of striking models is presented, e.g. the Rouge et Noir, several Astoria pens, the Montblanc 139, as well as modern pieces like the Lorenzo de Medici. A famous passage on page 173 honours the Meisterstück series as the line that breaks all records regarding size, beauty, durability and robustness. The work is partly still available in the regular book trade.

Related pages on fountainpen.de:
• Astoria — brand overview (fountainpen.de): https://www.fountainpen.de/astoria-en.htm
• Patron of Arts Lorenzo de Medici (1992): https://www.fountainpen.de/patron-lorenzo-en.htm

### Which collector book on fountain pens did Jonathan Steinberg write, and what focus does it set?

Jonathan Steinberg's book 'Füllfederhalter' concentrates on writing instruments from 1900 to 1945. A single maker is not particularly highlighted; Montblanc pieces are represented but, from a Montblanc collector's perspective, rather underrepresented. Nevertheless it is an appealing volume with numerous illustrations of old fountain pens and many explanations and notes, providing a good overview of this epoch.

### Why is Andreas Lambrou's 'Fountain Pens of the World' regarded as the standard work for collectors of high-quality writing instruments?

Andreas Lambrou's 'Fountain Pens of the World' has established itself as the standard work among collectors of high-quality writing instruments. In the volume all major brands are represented, including of course Montblanc. Convincing above all are the numerous professional photographs that show some of the rarest and most beautiful writing instruments ever produced. Together with the books by Jens Rösler and Rösler & Wallrafen, the volume counts among the indispensable reference works for collectors of old fountain pens.

### Which Montblanc Limited Editions does the work 'Creations of Passion' present, and what target group is it intended for?

The volume 'Creations of Passion', published by Montblanc itself, presents all limited writing instruments of the house from 1991 to 2003, provided their edition comprises at least 333 pieces. The truly rare editions with smaller editions thus regrettably remain unconsidered, which can disappoint the ambitious collector. The book addresses primarily beginners and new collectors who have just discovered their passion for Montblanc writing instruments and want a quick overview.

### On the occasion of which event did Kurt Grobecker's 'A History of the Firm Montblanc' appear, and where does the focus lie?

Kurt Grobecker's volume 'A History of the Firm Montblanc' was published for the inauguration of the new Montblanc building. Alongside the writing instruments, the book pushes into the foreground the people who shaped the company. Drawing on numerous historical advertising brochures, Grobecker traces both the successes and the more difficult phases of the company's history. The conclusion is a picture gallery of celebrities who own a Montblanc fountain pen.

### What overview of limited writing instruments up to 1999 is given in Bernard Bernolet's book 'The List'?

Bernard Bernolet's book 'The List', with texts by Marc Van der Stricht, was published in 1999 in Belgium in 21 x 29.7 cm format as a softcover with about 140 pages and claims to cover all limited writing instruments published up to 1999. Most of the editions presented date from the 1990s; the oldest is a Parker '75 Spanish Treasure Fleet' of 1965, made of silver salvaged from the Spanish treasure fleet sunk off Florida. Per page five Limiteds are presented with photo and short description, with year of production, edition size, issue list price, possibly current collector price, material and history given for each.

The writing instruments depicted come from Belgium, China, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and the USA. Critically to be remarked is that the nibs are treated as stepchildren — material is barely named, and on the often somewhat unsharp or print-limited photos the nib markings are mostly not recognisable, which does not suit collectors who see the nib as the heart of the fountain pen. Notes on contributors, their collections, relevant clubs, magazines and books round off the volume. Overall 'The List' is a useful reference work for an overview of the variety of special editions produced.

### Which topics does the reference work 'Werkzeuge des Geistes' by Friedrich E. Linscheid cover?

Friedrich E. Linscheid's richly illustrated reference work 'Werkzeuge des Geistes' is dedicated to writing implements and accessories through the change of style epochs and addresses interested laypeople as well as long-standing collectors. It appeared from Universitätsverlag Carinthia, Klagenfurt, with about 180 pages (ISBN 3-85378-409-7). It is divided into two main areas: one on writing with chapters on the original sources and evolution, schools and writers, scripts and printing; and one on writing implements with sections on development, writing surfaces, inks and colours.

In the second main part writing implements are presented in the style epochs Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Historicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco up to the 1920s and 1950s; further chapters cover Asian writing implements, travel writing implements, utensils, desks and lecterns, writing sets, pen holders, metal nibs, slate pencils and slates, the pencil, fountain pen and ballpoint, seal stamps and letter openers, typewriters and telegraphs, and collectors and museums. Appendix, bibliography and picture credits round off the work.

### What characterises the Montblanc picture book 'Die Seelenmacher — Acht Porträts'?

'Die Seelenmacher — Acht Porträts' places not the writing instruments but the employees of Montblanc as the actual stars at the centre. The volume impresses above all through its photography, with which the products — writing instruments, bags and watches — are emotionally charged. The message is that a Montblanc bag is more than a utility item: it embodies life experience, patience and precision. This achieves a particularly emotional form of corporate communication.

## Marketing facts

### What effect can cultural sponsorship, as practised by Montblanc, have on customer loyalty?

Montblanc has been strongly engaged in cultural sponsorship for over ten years, e.g. with the Patronage Awards and the Donation Pens. A study by Manfred Schwaiger and Anastasia Steiner-Kogrina at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich examined the effect of this engagement using the example of Sparda-Bank and provides hints transferable analogously to other industries. Sponsorship and especially cultural sponsorship are often underweighted in the marketing mix, since hardly any direct measurement variables for their effect exist; acceptance on the customer side, however, is very high compared with TV or print advertising. The investigation shows that cultural sponsorship can increase customer loyalty, operationalised via trust, satisfaction and emotional closeness, provided the target group knows the activities. Higher customer loyalty is accompanied by loyalty, repeat purchase and positive word of mouth, which also has economic effects. Cultural sponsorship can thus serve both customer loyalty and employee motivation. The study was published as Schwaiger and Steiner-Kogrina, 'Kultur stärkt Kundenbindung', Marketing Journal, 37th year, no. 3, 2004, pages 34 to 36.