Extremely Rare 1956-58 Fully Transparent Pelikan 400NN (400) Flexible F to 3B 14K Nib Light Tortoise Green-Grey-Brown Striped Gunther Wagner Fountain Pen Item ID: PEL-120

Pelikan 400NN

Manufacturer/Model: Pelikan 400NN/Germany
Year of production: Between 1957-1965; Pen in this listing made in 1958-59
Filling system: Piston filling
Nib: 14K 585 solid gold, F "Fine" fully flexible nib, writes F fine, M medium, B broad, BB double broad and 3B triple broad
Material: Rare color; Celluloid light tortoise green-brown-grey striped fully transparent; Gold filled metal parts (clip, clip-top & cap ring)
Length (pen closed): 131mm; Posted 148mm

Condition and information:
We are very proud to offer this super rare 400NN, in a color we have never seen before. It's a nearly fully transparent as opposed to the green and brown versions. The color is very light green with touches of brown and grey, some stripes are even close to mother of pearl color. On this pen the entire piston assembly can be easily seen through the barrel. On the last photo there's a comparison of this pen (middle) next to typical green and brown models. The section, cap and turning knob on this pen are the very dark brown color, same as the brown striped model, as opposed to the fully black parts found on the green striped and black models. This would indicate that this model color was in the brown family 400NN, however it is a very unique color with the least brown in it. Hence it could either be a rare one-off line produced shortly, or an attempt to make a new color variant. In any case it is gorgeous and the only 400NN we had so far where one can clearly see the piston inside as well as the shaft and where it ends.  

The legendary Pelikan, model 400NN is one of the most beautiful vintage Pelikan pens. This is the third series of the 400 line launched in 1953. The first line is the 400 model with nearly flat cap-top and turning knob. The second is 400N which has slightly more pronounced cap-top and turning knob curvature. This last model the 400NN features  more elongated cap-top and turning knob with much more distinct curvature to represent the modern times of the late 50's and early 60's. The "N" nomenclature on each pen model stand for "Neu" meaning "New", therefore in this model NN stands for "Pelikan 400 New New".

The pen offered here is superb mint condition, minimal signs of use, perfectly preserved, no scratches or cracks. The piston is very smooth, operates as new and takes considerable amount of ink. The silicon piston cork provides great flexible fit to the pen's inner walls and never leaks. Original ebonite (hard vulcanized rubber) elongated feeder provides for a very good ink flow. Most importantly the pen has the original early production ebonite hard rubber feed-ring. Many later production 400NN have a Plexiglas feed-rings which are almost always cracked and will leak ink around the feed making the pen useless. This feed ring cannot crack as it's flexible. Crisp imprints on the cap's ring. All trimmings are gold filled, thus unlike gold plating, gold filled parts do not ware off.

The nib is superbe as those early Pelikan nibs can be, a joy to write with. It is a smooth, F fine size, non-scratchy, perfectly smooth writing nib, however with full flexibility. Writing with this nib can produce amazing writing as anyone can hope to achieve with a flexible nib. The pen will write any thickness line up to 3B, triple broad, with little pressure while writing. Gentle or no pressure will produce near EF/F/M. Anything written with this pen will look amazing. The nib has two breading holes for better ink flow and it is elongated large size nib; this was the largest nib Pelikan produced at the time. This was the Pelikan flagship pen for many years, all luxurious and limited edition models were based on this model. A truly remarkable Pelikan masterpiece, proven pen in every respect, highest quality build, a pen that performs like a true vintage Pelikan and one that looks stunning, easy to clean and maintain and probably the perfect and most reliable Pelikan pen ever made.