PenAndCo blog

Why a limited edition about Charles de Gaulle?

This pen was manufactured by J.Herbin for the 3Oth birthday of his death and the 110th birthday of his birth.

If you want to get this pen, please order it from our new web site : Paperandco.com

It is similar to the fountain pens used by the General during the years 50.It was a limited edition.

Each pen is provided with its booklet of authenticity but without its box.

This pen was manufactured on behalf of the oldest manufacturer of ink in France (always in activity), the company J.Herbin

This pen measures nearly 14 cm. The body is made of black resin on a brass base. The body contains the signature of Charles de Gaulle and the single number of each pen.The top of the cap is made of fine gold with another signature of Charles de Gaulle. 2 stars (Brigadier general) are on the clip which is made of bronze and fine gold (details of oaks ) The nib is made of 18 carats gold engraved with a rhodium Cross of Lorraine. This nib was manufactured by the mark Bock. The feed is made of hard rubber.

A free box of cartridges is offered with this pen and you can choose within a choice of three nib sizes: fine,medium,large. ( The medium is a medium ++, the fine is somewhere between a real fine and a medium size )

Description:

This is an original letter from him written January 7th 1891 to Edmond Cottinet. He tells him that he has slept 7 hours and that it is the first time in six weeks ( he was ill )

if you want to buy this original and certified letter, please contact us.

Visconti introduces the first ever produced DREAMTOUCH nib in 23 ct 950 Palladium .

The international classification system lists only four precious metals and their related percentages of content: platinum, palladium, gold and silver. According to these precious metals Visconti has been producing 18 ct gold nibs and 14 ct gold nibs on a regular basis and some years ago also produced a Platinum 800 nib.

The advantages and disadvantages of gold nibs are well-known, while platinum nibs have proved to be excessively stiff. Although it is a precious metal in itself, silver is not suitable to fountain pen nibs manufacturing due to the strong corrosive power of ink on silver.

Palladium however has very interesting physical features for the fountain pen nibs production due to its strength and resistance to corrosion and for these reasons, unlike gold, it can be used almost pure.

Palladium melts at much higher temperatures than gold – 1522°C against only 1063°C – hence it is obvious that any manufacturing process is more difficult and more expensive by using palladium. Being more resistant than gold it has also better mechanical features, but it is at the same time more expensive. Nowadays manufacturing palladium nibs is possible thanks to new metal fusion technologies and to the welding of iridium points.

Dreamtouch is the term Visconti registered to define a soft nib that requires no pressure whatsoever in order to put thoughts and words on paper in a gentle and smooth way for a dream handwriting.

Main features:

Value: the 23 ct 950/1000 palladium nib is the nib with the highest content of palladium ever manufactured in the fountain pen history. In other words, it contains 95% of pure palladium against the 75% of pure gold in the 18 ct nib and the 58% of gold in the 14 ct nib. Flexibility and Memory: best possible for any type of writing, enhanced of 30% compared to the same nib in 18 ct gold. Writing comfort and reliability are guaranteed. Resistance to ink corrosion: improved up to 100% thanks to the pureness of the material to an extent to which no protection treatment or plating is needed. Originality: the palladium nib will make your Visconti even more exclusive, either as a collection piece or as a daily use instrument.

Broadness range: XXF (extra extra fine) XF (extra fine) F (fine) M (medium) B (broad) BB (double broad) S (stub) OM (oblique medium) OF (oblique fine) OB (oblique broad)

This new nib will be find on the brand new limited edition from Visconti: Homo Sapiens

Several weeks ago, i heard a rumor on internet talking about a pen made of lava from Etna…first i thought that it was a joke.You know…sometimes limited editions are so special..but who would buy a pen made of lava…

Last week, the French distributor of Visconti asked me to test the pen for real and I said “ok” thinking that it would be a fancy pen but nothing more.

Because as many of us, I can not always test the pens and get the real pictures of them, this time I have decided to make this humble home made video to share another point of view of this pen.

Here is my feedback.

When I saw it for the first time, I was surprised because this is not that kind of limited edition that you are afraid to use in a board meeting for exemple, the design and the colors are classical and elegant, black and bronze.So you can use it everywhere !

Same clip system as usual on Visconti pens, a little bit like the Faber Castell ones( I mean the concept). The system to clip the cap on the barrel is clever even I do not like the design of the system when you use the pen , cap off.

Bronze is a nice material

The pen is heavier rather than the Pelikan 1000 about 15/20g more. SO….how does it feel to have a barrel made of 50% of lava ?

Well, here are my first words:rubber, “neoprene” sorry I do not know the English word for this, it is the material used for swimming suit, peach skin…I would say that for me it is something pleasant.

I have used it during a whole day, without the cap on the back ( I have little hands and the pen is heavy for me with the cap posted ),you really feel the material, the pen does not move in your fingers and it was funny to often touch it just to “feel it” The filling system is something like my old Sheaffer Vac Fill pens easy and fun, it is funny to fill you pens with that kind of system because all the people around you do not know it and ask questions.

And what about that nib with palladium? Well my friends, for the moment my favourite nib was my Pelikan M1000 one without any doubt possible but this one…..i have tried the Homo Sapiens with a broad nib ( I prefer a stub or a fine one ) and when I found the right position…how to say…honestly..you feel for real the difference,the pen writes very well with a minimum of pressure.To be sure of my sensations, I have asked my wife to test it ( she found it too big for her ) but said the same about the nib. For me to write must be a pleasure before all, and that s the reason why I love to use a Waterman 52 with its flexible nib, a OS Sheaffer flat top for its design, its celluloid odor and its manifold nib..but the palladium nib is a discover for me and I really would like to have your point of view about it. Pricing in France will be around 350 euros…well..the ration pleasure/price if correct for me in comparaison of some other pens…

This special anniversary ink has been especially made to celebrate the 340th anniversary of J.Herbin. With a dark red color and earthy tone, this intense and deep dye ink will be a futur hit for them. It comes in a 50ml bottle ( not the traditional ink bottle ) with instructions.

If you know the history of this oldest french company, you know that wax came first before ink...it explains better the design of the bottle.

This ink is now available and you can order it from us, please do not hesitate to contact us :-)

Thanks

We are really to publish this interview based on several questions coming from FPN,Twitter, our readers, thank you to you ! If you do not already know Herbin, please do not hesitate to click here

Q : Are Herbin inks manufactured by Caran d’Ache ?

No, they aren’t. J.Herbin belongs to Exacompta Clairefontaine, the French stationery group. Established in 1670, the company has always produced its own inks ever since. And it is still the case today with a manufacturing tradition and a know-how in this area that are over 300 years old. Herbin is indeed the oldest name in ink production in the world.

Q : Would you consider manufacturing a permanent ink for fountain pens ?

We want to be a reference brand in the ink market; to date we have not received any client request or query for this category of ink but if this type of demand really exists in the market, we would study this opportunity. Everything is possible however the process of mixing of pigments and water requires analyses in order to ensure that the end product will not foul up the feeder.

Q : What were the highlights of the year 2009 for Herbin’s fine writing inks ?

2009 was a year of transition with the relocation of our manufacturing site at the beginning of the year; nevertheless our production is still manufactured in France. Overall sales remained satisfying due to a massive clean stock effect in the first semester.

Q : Did your company open new market regions in 2009 ?

Yes, indeed! Herbin fine writing inks are now available in Korea, Russia, and soon in China. The Japanese also like very much our inks (we are distributed in the famous Itoya store). Herbin fine writing inks may owe it to their history perhaps, yet they convey emotions and pleasure around the world and we are really pleased in knowing this.

Q : In theory, should the ink viscosity be the same for each ink ?

We are very demanding regarding the threshold of ink viscosity when it comes up to the quality of writing. This threshold cannot be exactly identical for two different inks but should remain in the same level area…in effect the difference must be very small..

Q : Are your top three best-selling ink colours different in different parts of the world ?

Yes, they are. France’s top three best selling ink colours are: Perle Noire (09) / Bleu Myosotis (15) / Violette Pensée (77). Germany’s top three: Gris Nuage (08) / Rouge Opera (68) / Bleu Nuit (19). The U.S. and Japan prefer: Perle Noire (09) / Eclat de Saphir (16) / Violette Pensée (77).

Q : Will you launch new products in 2010 ?

Herbin already provides 30 different colours of inks, which is quite a large range of choice in the market! Having said this, in the year 2010 we will celebrate our 340th anniversary of existence. And I am pleased to announce here the launch of a new ink, a kind of “vintage” so to speak. The readers of PenandCo will soon be informed of this. And as I am talking about new launches, allow me to add that we are very satisfied with the brand new launch of our Salto product, a very innovative notepad by G.Lalo. We hope that your readers will enjoy this product dedicated to pen lovers and writing addicts
Q : What about manufacturing a scented fountain pen ink?

We already manufacture scented fountain pen inks. We might launch a new scented ink in the coming months. All ideas and suggestions for this new fragrance are welcome.

Q : What does the printing « do not mix two inks » mean on your packaging ?

The manufacturing of each ink requires many hours of mixing, which guarantees an efficient dilution of the elements. If you mix two Herbin inks, incompatible pigments could change the colour over time. This is the reason why we advise our consumers not to mix the inks.

Q : We might have found an anomaly on your US packaging : « Rince » should be changed into « rinse », shouldn’t it ?

Yes, it should. We are noting this information down and will take it into consideration for our new packaging.

Q : Many of your ink users wish to see an evolution in the shape of the ink bottle in order to make it more appropriate for the use of modern fountain pens. What do you think of this?

We wish to offer a simple and lasting solution. We have worked for several months about the design and manufacturing of a new bottle that will keep the Herbin spirit and will have an integrated pen rest.

Q : I am handing you now the comments and questions posted by our readersfrom Twitter,FPN,... and customers. What do think of these?

First of all I would like to thank your clients for providing feedback regarding our company and products. I am proud and honoured by these consumers’ feedback which is the most important feedback for me. I can assure you that I will share this positive feedback and “thank you” messages with the entire staff. There are very few companies with over 340 years that are still operating these days and this is even more noticeable in the ink market. We are genuinely willing to hear your suggestions or comments, without those we would find it difficult to improve the way we do things and manufacture our products. A big THANK YOU to all your readers and clients!

If you have any message about G.Lalo or Herbin products, do not hesitate to drop a mail here

We are happy about this launching from G.Lalo so till the end of the year if you order from us one Salto, we will a free Herbin ink or the free Salto shipping.

If you are interested just click here

If you are not familiar with this great ink company,borned in 1670
Do not hesitate to click HERE.

With a huge choice of 30 colors, this ink manufactured in 30ml glass bottle is perfect for both vintage and modern fountain pen. On each bottle, there is a pen rest.

The offer is this one: You just have to pick three inks of your choice within the 30 differents colours and then we add a free other ink (to choose between Rouge Caroubier,Perle noire,Bleu Myosotis and Vert Réseda)

Offer 18,5 euros + 6 euros ( shipping fees ).

So..you just have to create your own mix of colours and mail us HERE (if you have a problem the adress is herbin@penandco.com)

Many thanks Nb: If you use cartridges, please contact us too, we will have a special offer for you.

Delta is currently developing two new meaningful collections: the Dreidel and the Sevivon Limited Editions. A dreidel (Yiddish: dreydl, Hebrew: sevivon) is a four-sided spinning top that children play with during Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights, an eight-day Jewish holiday. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, i.e. on December 12th on the Gregorian calendar in 2009.

The numerical value of the Hebrew letters on a Dreidel/Sevivon is 358. [Nun (50) + Gimmel (3) + Hei (5) + Shin (300)]. It has the same numerical value as the word Messiah [Mem (40) + Shin (300) + Yud (10) + Chet (8)]. Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Nun, Gimmel, Hey and Shin, stand for the Nes Gadol Haya Sham, which means “A Great Miracle Happened There” referring to Hanukkah, the Festival of light, a symbol of the triumph of light over darkness when the Jews regained control of Jerusalem over the Greeks and rededicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE.

In Israel, the modern-day land of Judea in which the story of Hanukkah took place, the letters on the dreidel are Nun, Gimmel, Hey and Peh, which stand for “A Great Miracle Happened Here” (Po, in Hebrew) referring to the “miracle of oil”. There was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame of the Menorah in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, that oil burned for eight days and nights (the time it took to have new pure oil prepared.

Hanukkah was born : the Torah light has shone ever since and will shine eternally.

The Dreidel collection comes in a Limited Edition, made in a precious coloured resin with sterling silver attributes. Cap and body are hand turned from a solid bar of precious resin available in four different colours (black, white, blue, pink) with a 14-karat solid gold nib. Matching rollers complete the Dreidel collection. Sevivon is a limited series of writing instruments with 358 pieces only, made in black resin with brown nuances, hand turned from solid bar, with vermeil (gold plated silver) attributes, 18-karat solid gold nib, lateral lever filling system and the cap is enriched with a precious sapphire. The Sevivon collection offers matching rollers as well.

If you want to get this pen, please visit our site

About 700 years ago with an infamous charge of heresy the Order of the Knight Templars was outlawed, the knights killed and their fortunes confiscated.

The Order, founded around the year 1118, ows its name to the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic sanctuary located in the whereabouts of the Biblical Temple of Jerusalem; the Templars used to call this Dome ‘‘Templum Domini’’

The Knight Templars are remembered for the economic and cultural development they had brought throughout Europe and they are still cited today as shining example of honesty utter devotion and faithfulness.

In the common iconography the Knight Templars represent the right thing that can only be destroyed by mere economical interests. This fountain pen has been inspired by the legendary white robe with the red cross the Knight Templars used to wear.

Since they were a military order the metal trims of the pen were inspired by the iron and the steel and have been duly aged.

The seal bears a significant historical weight as well: it portrays two knights, symbol of poverty and of the duality monk –soldier.

Main Features:

Limited edition to 312 fountain pens Material: ivory-colour resin Artwork: aged filigree Filling system: Double Reservoir Power Filler Nib: bi-tone 23 ct 950 palladium