What is a collection? Pelikans

M200, Blueboy; M200, Greyboy; 100 Falcon; M215 Lozzy

Pelikan M215, 100

M200s (1991)

This is my 4-pen Pelikan collection. The two M200s are male and the 100 and M215 are female.

All my pens seem to have genders and many have names.

The Pens I didn't buy

I'm sure there were others, but the fountain pens I wanted to see where: Conklin's Victory, Marlen's Basilea, Conklin's Mark Twain, a Raspberry Lamy Al-Star and what the Fountain Pen Hospital might have in vintage.

The Conklin Victory on line looked like a small rocket that might be headed for a good write, but when I saw it up close and held it, it seemed more like a throw away than a stay by my side. Passed!

Fountain Pen Hospital didn't have an in store Conklin Mark Twain or Marlen full size Basilea, but I did get a peek at the Conklin's at Kate Paperie. If I were in for the penny, I might have bought it but as I am in conservation mode, and I couldn't ink at Kate's, it got passed up.

The Raspberry Al Star isn't a must have so unless I get an itch later on for an aluminum Lamy, it too is now relegated to the back burner.

There was one moment that I thought about a Pelikan M400 that was a window model and at a dirt cheap price, but as it was grey and I already have my '91 Pelikan M200 in the same colour, I left it for another good consumer. However, if it had been a Tortoise, I would have sung for my supper.

What I wasn't expecting is the Sailors and now, of course, I am obsessing over getting one or both the full size Sapporo and the 1911. Karen's 1911 writes beautifully, and the Sapporo was a delight in the hand.

I've gotten 3 quotes on line, and all work out about the same, with discounts, shipping and/or tax, to be within a five dollar margin of the Fountain Pen Hospital's offer.

A different sort of Soennecken

If I could start all over, and think collection rather than an assortment of fountain pens, I'd probably keep it simple and German.

Each day, my Pelikans and Pelikanos (when in use) start without fuss or bother. All are ready to write on first scratch even after days of idleness and all flush rather easily. They are so easy to hold, write with, and on a tactile level alone, they feel good to the touch.

My Lamys also start easily and prove nearly flawless in their ease of use. I have the usual assortment, Safari, Vista, Ratio and a CP1.

So if I sold or gave away nearly ever other pen, and was 30 years younger, I'd try to snatch a few Geha, Osmia, Soennecken, early school Pelikans like the 100 and keep to under twenty (20) pens total.

At present and according to my Fountain Pen Inventory, I have about fifty-five pens, use fewer than 10 and only get excited when I use the Lamys, Pelikans, my Sheaffer Vac, Waterman Twist and strangely my Sensa Meridian and Libelle Autumn. Again it may be tactile, nib width or some other idiosyncratic issue but I have no desire for Japanese pens. I do occasionally covet a vintage pen or three made in the USA or Great Britain.

I suppose it was a good catch to get the new Parker Duofold Centennial, but frankly, I don't find it to be the best writer and it does not start easily in the morning although I've tried to keep it in regular rotation.

But, I am not thirty years younger, it is not possible to sell all these other pens, or at least not easily, and I will have to be content with my past decisions.

Pelikans in Pennsylvania

How many Pelikans in Pennsylvania?

Sometime in either 1990 or 1991, I was on Thayer Street and strolled into the local stationery store across the street from the University. If memory serves me nearly 20 years later, I admired their small but fine selection of fountain pens.

One in particular must have caught my eye: a blue marbled fountain pen. However, given my penchant for duplicates I seem to have two Pelikans, a blue and another in a
lovely shade of grey.

Are they both M200?

There are several good articles on the net about the Pelikan's and their history.

Pelikan also has some wonderful history here.

And, lastly, after doing some additional searches, I found a pen in Germany that matches mine exactly, and is indeed an M200! Voila!