Pens of Note

A long History

The history of this company started in 1838 when Carl Hornemann opened a paint and ink factory in Hanover, Germany.In 1871, Günther Wagner, a chemist and plant manager, took over the company. He designed the Pelikan trademark of Small Honey Paints (honey was used as a binder for the paint colour), based on the family coat of arms (a pelikan over three small chicks). It was trademarked in 1878 with a fourth chick added after the birth of Wagner's forth child. Fritz Beindorff married into the Wagner family and took over the company. Over the years the brand tradmark symbol has changed in look and number of chicks but always along the consistent theme of a mother pelikan's love for her chick.

The Pelikan Group GmbH (new formal name 2017), with headquarters established in Berlin created and distributed paper, stationary supplies that include fountain pens - more than 12,000 items. The company's production sites include Germany, Mexico, Columbia and Poland. The lines of fine writing pens are manufactured in the Pelikan plant located in Vöhrum, Germany located near their Hanover Headquarters.

In 2023, Groupe Hamelin S.A acquired 100% ownership of a group of the Pelikan corporations. Hamelin is a large company in the area of school and office products.

Pelikan Pens

In looking at the M800, it is important to recognize the role of the differentiated piston, which Pelikan introduced in 1929. The term differentiated means the piston has a thread mechanism where the internal part that turns faster than the amount of turn of the external knob at the end of the pen. Pelikan's piston pen is known for its smoothness of feel and has a long track record of being dependable. It is key to the overall feel of the Souverän Collection, of which the M800 is part of.

The Souverän Collection

 Souverän, sovereign, commanding, refers to the pens that form the company's high-end lines. The lines started with the 400 issued around 1950. At the time the pen was part of a product redesign. The striped sleeve became and still remains a worldwide symbol for the brand. The workmanship of the body is impressive. It is not made from a solid rod of resin, rather raw cotton celluloid material takes months to produce until it is shaped into a striped sheet. The sheets are then cut into the shape so that a barrel can be created. This process ensures the cut pieces will have appropriate lines. Using heat and pressure the pieces are formed into a round barrel shape and sealed to create a barrel.

The M800 was issued in 1987 as part of the company's launch to enter into the premium pen market. Introduced at the 1987 Frankburt Spring Fair the pen was well received. This was an important moment for the company as it had entered into receivership in 1982, and taken over by the Swiss Company, Condorport in 1984. Later in 1996 Goodace of Malaysia became the majority stockholder of the company.

Pelikan M800 Green Stripe

Pelikan's launched M800 pen with a green striped body was introduced at the Frankfurt Fair in 1987. It was the first of the iconic stripped Sressemann pattern line. In 1991 a limited run of Tortoise Brown striped pens were also issues.

M800 Black

With the Green M800 a success, A solid black versions was issued in 1988.

M800 Blue Stripe

The M800 with a blue striped body was issued by Pelikan in 1997. About three years later I added that colour to my collection. Who could have a M800 and not have this elegant cheerful looking pen.

M800 Red Stripe

In 2001 Pelikan issued the M800 with a red striped body. As soon as that pen became available here in Vancouver, I picked it up at one of my local pens stores, Vancouver Pen. At work, one of my co-workers was also a fountain pen user and David acquired this pen. Some days we would arrive at meetings together both writing with this elegant pen... we would explain, no they were not available in supply department!

Pelikan re-issued the pen in 2022.

Pelikan M800 Tortiseshell Brown Old & New Versions

In 1988 or 1989, Pelikan issued the M800 in Tortoiseshell Brown. The company re-issued the pen in 2013, again as a limited production run model. When I asked what did limited mean, the information I received is that while there was no set limit on the pens at the start of production, once completed, no further production would take place. I kind of accept that, but knowing that the sheets of material that is used to produce the pens takes months to produce, and it arrives at Pelikan to be cut shaped into the pen body part, there must have been some idea of how many pens would be targeted for production.

The pen is stunning. To match the beautiful shades of brown, tan and orange, the pen is produced with a cap in very dark brown resin. From a distance it make look black, but when light falls on the pen, the rich brown colour is evident. The pen is trimmed in 24 kt gold plate.

The limited number M800 Tortoiseshell was available in Fine, Medium and Broad nib widths. I ordered mine with a broad nib and found the pen to bwe a very smooth writer.

I love the pen, it has all the feel in terms of size and quality of the M800 line. The packaging of the pen, given its price and restricted production, feels inappropriate. The pen comes in a standard cardboard gift box. The lid lifts off, and the only thing special is that the pen is in a white leather case although I just add, the white leather pouch is very nice.

Pelilkan, on their website notes that the Edelstein Ink of the Year (2013) will be Amber and I have to ask the obvious question... why did they not coordinate production of the ink so that a bottle of ink was included with the pen?

Pelikan Souverän M800 Burnt Orange Special Edition

In 2015 Pelikan issued the M800 Burnt Orange Special Edition. On my September 2016 visit to Novelli Pen in Rome, I went through my normal ritual of looking at the various pens, Marco carrying a try to put the pens of interst, and then we both return to the counter and I try out the various pens and go through a very painful process to narrow my selection. I bought the M800 Burnt Orange and to do day enjoy the warm burnt orange colour of the body.

Referenced as a Special Edition, to signify it was not a regular production model, the initial release was at the end of 2015 and references on line indicate because it sold out so quickly another issue was to take place in 2016.

Pelikan Souverän M800 Renaissance Brown Special Edition

The Renaissance Brown Special Edition was issued in 2017 is made with the standard M800 body and cap. The acrylic body and cap (same material used on both) is a beautiful blend of rich browns with large flecks of pearl that catch the light as you hold the pen. This is where the pen gets it name. Pelikan says the nuances of light and shadow in the acrylic are typical characteristics of Renaissance paintings. The pen pays homage to the masterpieces painted by the period's greatest artists.

The rings and clip of the pen decorated with 24 carat gold/There is gold plate trim at the base of the nib section and beneath the section with the piston turn knob. This all nicely sets off the beautiful resin used in the cap and the body. The resin is semi translucent and when you hold the pen up to the light you can see part-way into the body.

The nib is the smooth writing 18K gold nib, and it is available in Extra Fine, Fine, Medium and Broad. Gone are the days where a broader assortment of nibs were available.

I thought they went cheap on the box, and when a read about the pen on the Pelikan web site I see they call it a "practical" box and that prestigious gift boxes can be ordered separately.

With this pen, they note the 2017 Ink of the Year is Smoky Quartz, a matching colour for the pen. The ink was available in May 2017. Again, if you have an ink of the year issued in the same year as a Special Edition Pen of that colour, why not have them in a single presentation package.

M800 Renaissance Brown

Pelikan M800 Blue

Pelikan M800 Red

Pelikan M800 Black