Montblanc Writers Edition Pens Are A Tribute To Robert Louis Stevenson

Montblanc Writers Edition Tribute to Robert Louis Stevenson LE8.

Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894) is the focus of this year’s Writers Edition pen collection from Montblanc. Stevenson was a prolific writer, traveler and poet despite the health conditions that led to his death at just 44 years of age at his chosen home in Samoa. He is perhaps best known for the novels Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Montblanc brings his genius to life in four writing instrument editions that focus predominantly on Treasure Island, which is so rich in visual cues. The shape of the pens recalls the profile of a spyglass, and each of the variations is replete with engaging and specific imagery, such as the compass rose and the skull and crossbones from a pirate’s flag. The fountain pen nibs are engraved “Tusitala,” Stevenson’s Samoan nickname meaning, “teller of stories.”

The most limited among the variations, the Limited Edition 8 features an 18-karat gold cap dramatically hand engraved with a skull set with black sapphires. Several memorable lines from Treasure Island are also engraved on the cap, while the medallion is engraved with Montblanc’s iconic “4810” (the height in meters of Mont Blanc) used throughout its collections, this time in Roman numerals, or “MMMMDCCCX.” The cap ring is inscribed with Stevenson’s signature as well as “1889”—the year he arrived on the island of Upolu in Samoa.

The pen’s barrel is inspired by wooden planks, inscribed with “Walrus”—the ship that accumulated much treasure and was commandeered by Captain Flint, a prominent character in the novel. The barrel also reveals an image in the shape of Upolu, considered Stevenson’s island paradise. The forepart and fittings are crafted from 18-karat gold, rhodium coated, and the cone is made from mahogany wood in a dark rose hue. The Montblanc emblem that crowns the pen is in 18-karat gold, as is the nib

Montblanc Writers Edision Tribute to Robert Louis Stevenson LE94.

Comprising 94 pieces, this variation is inspired by the bank note issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland to commemorate the Scottish-born author. It was released in 1994, hence the number of pens in this edition. The cap and barrel are sterling silver with an 18-karat yellow gold overlay enhanced with lacquer inlays. Pirate tale symbols and a map of Treasure Island decorate the body of the pen, while the cone, forepart and fittings are 18-karat yellow gold, as is the nib. The cap ring again features the author’s signature as well as “1888”—the year Stevenson and his family set sail from San Francisco. The Montblanc emblem embellished with an image of a skull in sterling silver crowns the pen.

This edition includes a rollerball pen in addition to a fountain pen with an 18-karat gold nib, and the number in the edition is a reference to the year Treasure Island was published. The black lacquer barrel contrasts with the gold-coated and decorated cap, while the Montblanc emblem is in mother-of-pearl. This variation also references the duality of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the mirroring of the lettering on the cap ring.

This edition includes a fountain pen with an 18-karat nib, a rollerball, a ballpoint and a mechanical pencil. The resin pens feature platinum-coated details and the barrel is a series of “X’s” referencing the usual marking for a treasure’s location on a map. The Montblanc emblem on the cap crown is in resin, embellished with a skull and crossbones.