Rare Early 60's Pelikan 400NN (400) EXPORT All Tortoise Black Striped - Flexible F to BB 14K Nib Gunther Wagner Fountain Pen Item ID: PEL-080

Pelikan 400NN Black

Manufacturer/Model: Pelikan 400NN - All Black/Germany
Year of production: 1962-64
Filling system: Piston filling
Nib: 14K 585 solid gold, F "Fine" fully flexible nib, writes M medium, B broad and BB double broad
Material: Celluloid tortoise black striped; Gold filled metal parts (clip, clip-top & cap ring)
Length (pen closed): 131mm; Posted 148mm

Condition and information:
Offered here is the legendary Pelikan, model 400NN in one of its rarest editions, the Export model all black tortoise striped body. This is not the more common Merz & Krell all black Pelikan 400NN, this is the original model made by Pelikan themselves. There are some major differences between this one and the M&K model but most notable are the piston assembly and the turning knob, where the one on the M&K 400NN pen is flush with the body and this one is more pronounced.  This is one of the most beautiful vintage Pelikan pens, in translucent Tortoise black striped body. It 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 in mint condition, minimal signs of use, perfectly preserved, no scratches or cracks, solid and nice gold filled parts. Clean with crisp stripes and shiny black body and cap, the body is nearly transparent with green-ish under-body which gives it a unique green-black color. 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. Crisp imprints on the cap's ring and "EXPORT" on the body. All trimmings are gold filled, thus unlike gold plating, gold filled parts do not ware off.

The nib is one of the best on a Pelikan 400NN one can hope to use. It is a smooth, F fine size, non-scratchy, smooth writing nib, however with full flexibility. Due to flexibility it can produce amazing writing as anyone hopes to achieve with a flexible nib. The pen will write any thickness line up to BB, double broad, with little pressure while writing. Gentle or no pressure will produce near EF/F and more fast and writing with little pressure will produce lines up to double broad. Anything written with this pen will look amazing. This was the largest nib Pelikan produced at the time.

The Pelikan 400NN was the Pelikan's 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 still looks stunning, easy to clean and maintain and probably the perfect and most reliable Pelikan pen ever made. The pen comes in its original genuine black leather pouch, however the pouch has an obvious ware & tare signs of use.