PBA Galleries

No. 1 Large safety pen, hallmarked 18K rolled gold filigree, round captop device, floral pattern, overlay likely of Italian origin. No Astoria emblem on cap. Mercury white metal circle-vent nib, no flex. 120mm. Dings, scratches and brassing to endpiece, dings to captop. The filigree pattern is remarkably similar to that of an obscure Montblanc No. 2 rolled gold filigree pen, c. 1930, which is believed to be the precursor of Montblanc's Semiramis Patron of Art design. The present example may predate the Montblanc No. 2, and the overlay is a closer match with that of the Semiramis. Considering the close association between Montblanc and Astoria, this pen may indeed be the primordial root of the classic Semiramis filigree design.

-Wallrafen, Stefan & Jens Rösler. Collectible Stars I: Montblanc 1908-1947. [Koln: 2004], pp.143-144. The present lot is identical to example "t" except that the clip style is different. Listed with a scarcity rating of 10 (on a 12-point scale), indicating "up to 25 exist". As the book explains, Astoria was founded in 1921 by Montblanc's director of production, George Ilgner. The new company enjoyed immediate success offering pens that were as stylish and well-made as Montblancs. In 1932, Astoria was bought by Montblanc, which continued selling pens under the Astoria imprint until 1936.