Aurora/Novelli Internazionale Ebonite Sand

A beautiful ebonite fountain pen with vintage Aurora design.

Auroral - Novelli - Internazionale -Ebonite Sand - Limited Edition fountain pen created for Novelli Pen in Rome

Aurora/Novelli Internazionale Ebonite Sand

Aurora made this Limited Edition pen, for the Novelli pen store in Rome in 2022. I first saw the pen on my 2023 visit to Rome. Hard for me to say, but I could not take everything I saw and wanted, but on my 2024 visit the pen was part of the group that I took home!

Typical of my Novelli visits, I walk with Marco through the store looking and talking about the various pens. I am always looking for something that will be different from pens that I already own, or have a design element that catches my attention. I usually end up with six or so pens that are placed in the "decision tray" which is taken back to the main counter.

At the counter, Marco opens as a bottle of ink and I carefully dip the nib in the ink and I try writing with each pen. Some pens are decided upon and others continued to be explored as an option. In the end I have to say "no" to some pretty good pens. Karen is with me to help find the strength to make the decision for some pens to retur to the shelves. Oh yes, on that she is very helpful! On this visit I decided to take that Internazionale, in a colour produced for Novelli. Aurora has other versions of this pen on their website.

As mentioned, Aurora was one of the first of the Italian pen companies that I visited when I started may tours, now many years ago. Up to now I have enjoyed Aurora's Talentum line of pens. This is the right time to add a pen from the Internazionale line to my collection.

Aurora issued the Internazionale line to celebrate its original pen, the Internazionale of 1930. The style and look of the pen reflects pure vintage Aurora. On the body of the pen is engraved: “Fabbrica Italiana di Penne a Serbatoio” (meaning Italian Factory of Reservoir Pens) and is the same engraving that was found on the first Aurora fountain pens. In their initial press release on the 2018 model, Aurora mentiioned that in 1919 it was the first Italian Tank Pen Factory.

No better partner than Novelli to create a fountain pen celebrating fountain pen history. The Novelli store has operated since 1951. The knowledge of brands and pens in this store is well known. I have been coming to Novelli to view and select pens for just under 30 years. It is a must for Karen and I. From our first visit back in 1997 with Augusto Parascenzo, and now with his son, Marco, I am always impressed with the level of knowledge and with breadth of pens of the Novelli store. The store, located on via di San Marcello 22, a characteristic side-street in the historical downtown area of Rome, is close to Trevi Fountain, should be on the itinerary of anyone interested in pens when in Rome. Of course, now it is even easier, visit the store via their website: www.novelli.it.

The Internazionale is a long body and cap with a consistent width throughout. Capped it has a length of 140 mm (5.51"), and when uncapped 130 mm (5.12"). If you write with the pen posted, then pen has a length of 170 mm (6.69"). The diameter is 14 mm (.53"). It is not an overly narrow pen, as for comparison, the M800 has a body diameter of 13.5 mm. I find the pen very comfortable to hold, and the sleek common width top-to-bottom is different from many of my other pens. The common width of the pen enhances the lines of colours in the cap and the body.

The ebonite body and cap have beautiful streaks of sand and black colour that while being random do not come across as a mess of lines. It was this look of the pen which originally drew in my eye and when coupled with its writing characteristics, were the deciding factor in the selection process.

The Internazionale pens on the Aurora website are made from their material called Auroloide, the pens produced for the Aurora/Novelli pens are made from ebonite. (Auroloid is Aurora's version of celluloid acetate.) I particularly like the material for the Aurora/Novelli pen - ebonite - a hard rubber and is made from a vulcanizing process. When it is polished, is has a beautiful glossy finish and is light and warm to the touch so it creates a solid writing experience for the owner.

In holding and writing with the pen I liked that there was no step-down between the body and the nib section. The decrease in width within the nib section is minor and smooth.

The cap also posts to the body, and I have found myself typically writing with the pen posted. The length, and more important the balance of the pen is fine for me. When the pen is posted, and I place it on my desk, I have less worries about the pen simply rolling of my desk. Seen that happen too often.

The cap of the pen has details on the sturdy clip to recognize the vintage roots of the pen. Aurora has nicely balanced enough details to look purposefully but not to create a busy appearance to the cap. The cap band is engraved Aurora. At the top of the cap, on the black band is engraved the number of the pen: 47 of 50.

I refer to the clip as being sturdy and I like the feel in the hand. The round ball is a great way to end the clip from a design point, and is, of course, consistent with the heritage of the company's design.

Two aspects about this pen impressed me - the unique look and the writing experience. The pen is fitted with an 18 kt gold with a medium stub writing line. I was impressed when I visited Aurora 2006 to see how they produce their own nibs, and that practice continues. The nib sits on an ebonite feed providing a smooth flow of ink. I enjoy writing with the pen very much.

I enjoyed using this pen for my daily writing in my travel journal and now at home it continues to perform so well on a broader range of paper and different inks. It is certainly one of my Pens of Note.