Benvenuta (Prototype)

A beautiful ebonite fountain pen

Radius 1934 prototype Benvenuta ebonite fountain pen

Our 2025 Italian travels included a visit with Salvatore and I had the opportunity to visit with Salvatore and Mariafrancesca Matrone. I had the opportunity to be introducted to a prototype fountain pen - the Benvenuta. The pen is the result of a collaboration between Salvatore Matrone, Latizia Jacopini and Stefano Costantini. Latizia is a well know fountain pen user, collector and author on the history of the Italian fountain pen history. She is an expert in fountain pens, based on a lifelong immersion with fountain pens. Stefano Costantini, of Sec Calligraphy.

Benvenuta

This pen is made from a rod of ebonite. The ebonite gives the pen a warm feel to the hand. Latizia Jacopini saw this model as being part of her Anima Vintage line of pens. When she introduce the Anima Vintage Benvenuta at the Madrid Pen Show she had 25 of the pens created as Limited Editions as they were fitted with a vintage 14 k gold "Wellcome" nib, and also available as a non-limited edition pen fitted with a steel nib created by Radius 1934.The pen has unique design aspects that include a large piston turning knob at the end of the pen body.

The circular shape of the pen transitions to a six sided piston turning knob and a six sided cap where the clip is attached. The transition at both ends of the pen is so smooth and subtle. At first glance your eye does not see the diffence, but pens are very tactile, and you fingers sense the different style at each end of the pen.

The pen has a smooth continuous appearance with the ebonite rod used to create the nib section, the pen body, the piston turning nob as well as the cap.

The clip of the pen is a solid piece of metal, with a smooth raised end. It feels very smooth to the hand. At the base of the cap the classic Radius 1934 band finishes off the look of the cap.

The pen uses a piston for ink filling system. The piston is smooth and the pen holds a generous amount of ink.

The top of the pen cap is flat and this allows the design of the ebonite to be profiled in the form of a horizontal view.

Radius 1934 Benvenuta Briar 2 ebonite fountain pen - prototype