Montblanc Writers Editions

A detailed list of all Montblanc Writers, and brief information on each of the editions. 

* Author's note: This blog post is and will remain a work in progress. It is a lengthy work that requires time and depends on availability of products, information, and images.

Some of the pens listed here we currently hold in stock, others we occassionally get to see and feel, and that is always an invitation to add details, other pens still evade us and so we have to rely on information available on the internet.

We suggest you stick with us and check back for more updates whenever you feel like it!


Montblanc first introduced the Writers Limited Edition in the year 1992 with a collection dedicated to Ernest Hemingway.

Ever since, an edition dedicated to a great, influential Writer has been released every year, and Montblanc's Writers have risen to be among the most coveted collectors' editions, at least as far as Montblanc writing instruments go.

Further adding to their popularity are the fact that each edition actually is a unique work of art deviating from the rest of Montblanc's collection, and, of course, that each edition is associated with an influential writer making it very easy to generate a connection even for people who are not otherwise crazy about writing instruments.

So, here in summary are the factors explaining the popularity of Montblanc Writers Editions (1) They are attractive high quality writing instruments, (2) They are an accessible limited edition from a great manufacturer, so pen collectors hunt them down persistently, and (3) The association with great cultural figures ranging from Homer, to Voltaire, to to Agatha Christie, and Mark Twain makes them very attractive even to users who don't normally collect writing instruments.

Hoping that the reasons why Montblanc's Writers Editions are so hot in the market have become plain, we can now move on to what a lot of people are looking for, a list of the editions with images, and further details.

Final notes before we get to the list:

  1. Yes, we always have several Writers Editions available, both new and preowned, click here to see all currently available Writers Editions, or click on the one you are looking for as you go through the list below. 
  2. Yes, we also trade in preowned pens, both unused and used, if you have a writer and you would like to sell/trade your pens feel free to call or email us.
  3. Yes, it is possible that a writer we do not have right now may come to us in the future. We can keep your wish list and contact you when the pen you desire becomes available. Simply email us.

1992 - Ernest Hemingway

The pen that started the series, and nowadays one of the most iconic and most highly coveted Montblanc pens.

The Tribute to Ernest Hemingway is an unassuming and yet extraordinary pen. Its design draws on classic pens from the first half of the 20th century, most notably the Montblanc 139 series. The barrel has a vibrant coral color, matched to a dark brown cap, and gold coated metallic fittings.

The pen is a piston filler, and has a large (think 149-size) two-tone nib made of 18kt gold. Interestingly, the nib has an etching of vintage inspiration, but unlike all following editions does not have a clearly themed etching, nor does it have the year of release on it.

In our opinion this is a pen that is beautiful and would stand out even if it were not the first of Montblanc's Writers Editions. The fact that it is, gives the Hemingway an iconic, even legendary status.

This is the grail pen of many collectors.

The Hemingway edition included 20000 numbered fountain pens, and interestingly enough it did not have the numbering of the series on the resin parts of the cap - the spot with which we are accustomed to see it today.


1993 - Agatha Christie

 

 


1994 - Oscar Wilde

 

 

 

 


1995 - Voltaire

Montblanc's Writers Edition for 1995 honors the father of the Enlightenment, Voltaire.

Total production of this limited edition included 20000 numbered fountain pens, 13000 numbered ballpoint pens, and 12000 numbered mechanical pencils - 5000 of each offered in the form of sets.

Voltaire is one of the most elegant, and simple in their design editions in the Writers series.

The whole pen is made of highly polished black resin. The few metallic parts, a single ring indicating the point where barrel and knob meet, the clip and 2 rings on the cap are made of gold coated silver.

The fountain pen has dedicated nib is made of 18kt yellow gold.

The nib carries a humble engraving exclusive to the edition, which includes the year of release: 1995.

The fountain pen has a length of 15cm when capped, and weighs 35.7 grams.

 


 

1996 - Alexandre Dumas

 

 


1997 - Fyodor Dostoevsky

 

 


1998 - Edgar Allan Poe

 

 

 


1999 - Marcel Proust

 

 


2000 - Friedrich Schiller

 

 


2001 - Charles Dickens

 

 


2002 F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

 


2003 Jules Verne

 

 


2004 Franz Kafka

 


2005 - Miguel de Cervantes

The author of one of the most extraordinary tales of the imaginary, and a world literature classic is honored by Montblanc's Writers Edition in 2005.

To Miguel de Cervantes Montblanc dedicated a precious limited edition of 17000 numbered fountain pens, 17000 numbered ballpoint pens, and 4000 numbered mechanical pencils - 4000 of the fountain pens and ballpoint pens were offered along with the pencils in the form of 4000 sets.

This edition has a color range drawn mostly by the dry land where Don Quixote's adventures take place, and ranges from a deep brown, to sand, to gold. The main material of the barrel is precious lacquer set in rings of increasing diameter making the fountain pen thinner at the knob and thicker at the top of the cap.

The color of the rings ranges from brown to gold and reflects light exceptionally. All metallic parts are gold coated.

The dedicated nib is made of 18kt yellow gold and has an engraving of a windmill and of course the year 2005.

The fountain pen has a length of 14cm when capped, and weighs 51.5 grams.

 


2006 - Virginia Woolf

 


2007 - William Faulkner

 

 

 

 


2008 - George Bernard Shaw

Montblanc's Writer for 2008 was the Irish writer George Bernard Shaw, an acclaimed dramatist and social critic, who was the recepient of both a Nobel Prize in Literature, and an Oscar for the film-adoption of one of his works.

A total of 16000 numbered fountain pens, 18000 numbered ballpoint pens, and 4500 numbered mechanical pencils - 4500 of each offered in the form of Montblanc's well-known sets.

This edition is inspired by George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion" and thus we see an emblematic barrel form that is built by consecutive rings of platinum plated metal and marbled deep green lacquer. The two materials produce an exceptional contrast, that hints to the contrast in between social strata in Victorian England.

The dedicated nib of the fountain pen is made of platinum coated 18kt gold and has an engraving of a flower basket and the year of release, 2008.

The fountain pen has a length of 14.2cm when capped, and weighs 60.8 grams.

 


2009 - Thomas Mann

 


2010 - Mark Twain

 

 


2011 - Carlo Collodi

 

 


2012 - Jonathan Swift

 


2013 - Honoré de Balzac

 


2014 - Daniel Defoe

 


2015 - Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, introduced in 2015, brought a new concept into Montblanc's Writers Editions. Up to this point, the Writers Editions were normally released in a single style each year, and their limitations varied between 10000 and 20000 pieces, depending on the edition.

Leo Tolstoy was the first Writer for whom Montblanc presented not only the standard limited edition, but also a more premium version.

So, 2015 saw the release of the standard edition made of blue resin and silver coated metal, and a more premium edition made of gold coated metal and natural wood. Only 1868 of the latter were produced, a number inspired by the year in which Tolstoy's "War and Peace" was first printed. 

 


2016 - William Shakespeare

Premium Edition Limited to 1597 numbered fountain pens, and standard limited edition.


2017 - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Premium Edition limited to 1931 numbered fountain pens, and standard limited edition.

 


2018 - Homer

Premium Edition limited to 1581 numbered fountainpens, and standard limited edition.


2019 - Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling was the writer honored in 2019, and this was the year that also so the introduction of a third tier, premium-luxury execution of the Writers Edition.

Thus, collectors can chose between the standard limited edition, the premium limited edition produced in 1895 numbered pieces, and the premium luxury edition, made of red lacquer and 18kt gold in just 70 numbered fountain pens.

 


2020 - Victor Hugo

2020 brought us the Victor Hugo editions.

Montblanc once again decided to strive for the extraordinary, and a total of 4 editions of the Victor Hugo were released.

The classic limited edition in black resin, the premium edition made in 1831 numbered pieces, the premium luxury of which 83 numbered fountain pens were produced, and the pinacle of the series, only 8 of which were produced.

 


2021 - Arthur Conan Doyle

Standard Limited Edition, Premium edition limited to 1902 numbered pieces, premium luxury limited to 97 pieces, pinacle produced in just 8 numbered fountain pens.

 


2022 - Brothers Grimm

Standard limited edition, premium edition limited to 1812 numbered pieces, premium luxury limited to 86 pieces, pinacle produced in just 8 numbered fountain pens


2023 - Robert Louis Stevenson

 

The Robert Louis Stevenson includes 4 editions:

  • The basic limited edition, made of precious resin and having as its most prominent theme the duality of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, represented by the contrasting black and white resin. Of course, the pen also nods to Treasure Island through introducing the Pirate-theme that gains prominence in the more premium editions.
  • Premium edition limited to 1883 numbered pieces, matching the year of Treasure Island's publication. This edition is gold coated, and has a lacquer barrel that draws inspiration from his pirate-adventure novel. Interestingly, a lever is integrated onto the barrel, using which one can switch the flag of the "Hispaniola" between the British and the pirate flag.
  • Premium luxury limited to 94 numbered fountain pens, marking 1994, the centennary of the author's passing, and the year during which the Bank of Scotland issued a one pound note commemorating the author. This edition has a base made of sterling silver, set within a frame of 18kt gold. Detailed engravings inspired by Treasure Island, as well as extensive lacquer work highlight this magnificent fountain pen.
  • The pinacle of the series produced in just 8 numbered fountain pens.

2024 - Jane Austen

Montblanc's Writers Edition for 2024 will according to our latest update be dedicated to Jane Austen, author of -among others- Pride and Prejudice.

Although details and images are yet to be revealed, we would expect a total of 4 editions as in recent years, a standard with circulation of approximately 10000 pieces, a premium edition limited to 1813 pieces, a premium luxury with approximately 100 fountain pens, and a final edition with only 8 numbered fountain pens. 

Stay tuned for images and further information!