With this limited edition Montblanc pays homage to Honoré de Balzac in a writing instrument that is as extraordinary as the writer himself. In its form and design it unmistakeably recalls Balzac's stature and mode of dress, with his pointed shoes being expressed in the shape of the cone. The black high-grade resin cap and the dark grey body decorated with fine stripes pay tribute to the "cutaway" - an 　indispensable component of Balzac's wardrobe. He often carried a magnificently decorated walking stick, which is recalled in the platinum-plated clip with turquoise inlay. The engraved initials of Balzac, in typical lead typesetting letters on the partly rhodium-plated 18K/750 solid gold nib of the Writers Edition recall the time he spent as an author, printer and publisher.


　One of the main features of this limited edition are the three rings which symbolise the social classes in 19th century France which Balzac so brilliantly described in his masterpiece "La Comédie humaine": the opulent, gold-coated cap head ring stands for the nobility, the platinum-plated, discreetly decorated cap ring for the bourgeoisie, and the simply worked cone ring for the lower social strata.

　The great writer's signature decorates the cap as a fine engraving, providing the finishing touch to this extraordinary Writers Edition in honour of Honoré de Balzac.

　The Writers Edition Honoré de Balzac is only available worldwide in a strictly limited edition - with the Montblanc guarantee which is provided with all our limited editions. The unique quality of each copy is documented by the edition number engraved on the cap.

　The pen is solidly built and there is some heft to it. I think the weight of the pen is just right to use the pen's weight to glide over the paper.
　As expected from the pen in this price range, I can see and feel the manufacturing precision and details MB put into this pen.

　Others commented the stripes on the barrel seems like pulled from Pelikan's. Even though there is no resemblance, I put the Balzac next to my M1000 Green to see if I can convince myself there is any similarity in the stripe designs. (see below)


　Initially, before I purchased it, I was not sure if the pen was too garish; but, now that I can have it in my hand, the color scheme is sensible and very suitable for the business setting as well. The ring around the top of the cap breaks from the overall color scheme, which hints elegantly this pen is not the run-of-the-mill fountain pens.

　Honoré de Balzac, (20 May 1799 - 18 August 1850) was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus. 　Owing to his keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of society, Balzac is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature.[3] He is renowned for his multi-faceted characters; even his lesser characters are complex, morally ambiguous andfully human. Inanimate objects are imbued with character as well; the city of Paris, a backdrop for much of his writing, takes on many human qualities. His writing influenced many famous writers, including the novelists Émile Zola, Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Jack Kerouac, and Henry James, filmmakers Akira Kurosawa and Eric Rohmer as well as important philosophers such as Friedrich Engels. Many of Balzac's works have been made into films, and they continue to inspire other writers.
　An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac had trouble adapting to the teaching style of his grammar school. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. When he finished school, Balzac was apprenticed in a law office, but he turned his back on the study of law after wearying of its inhumanity and banal routine. Before and during his career as a writer, he attempted to be a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician; he failed in all of these efforts. La Comédie Humaine reflects his real-life difficulties, and includes scenes from his own experience.
　Balzac suffered from health problems throughout his life, possibly due to his intense writing schedule. His relationship with his family was often strained by financial and personal drama, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, Balzac married Ewelina Hańska, a Polish aristocrat and his longtime love; he died in Paris five months later.

　モンブランは、1992年に初めて作家シリーズを世に送り出した。初めの頃は、作りも確りしていて、万年筆らしい形で魅力があった。今では、ビンテージものとして状態が良ければ、売り出された時の価格の数倍の値段で取引されている。

　順に、1992年ヘミングウェイ・1993年アガサ・クリスティ・1994年オスカー・ワイルド・1996年アレクサンドル・デュマ・1997年ドストエフスキー・1998年エドガー・アラン・ポー・1999年マルセル・プルースト・2000年シラー・2002年フィッツジェラルド、以降略

　というふうに、今も毎年作家エディションを作り続けている。しかし、2000年のシラーまでは万年筆の形がモンブランが作ったことが分かる形をしていたが、フィッツジェラルド辺りから、趣向が違って来た。
　ヘミングウェイ以来、作家シリーズには興味があったが、それはシラーまでのことで、その後の作家シリーズにはあまり気を惹かれるものがない。他の方なら趣向も違うので興味を持たれたかもしれないが、私にはそれを持って文字を書く気を起こさせない。

　ある日、いつもようにモンブランショップに立ち寄ると、馴染みの店員さんが勧めてくれたのが、このバルザックだ。その店員さんは私の趣向をよく知ってくれていてのことだ。少し迷ったが、コーヒーを飲みながら考えて買うことにした。立ち寄って試し書きをした時に、「この万年筆なら使うなぁ」と思っていた。実際、書き心地が良いので、149より使う頻度が高い。この万年筆なら自由にインクを入れられる。モンブランにはモンブランのインクを入れるのが鉄則で、不具合が起きた時に、モンブラン以外のインクを入れていると修理をしてくれないという定説もあるくらいだが、この万年筆なら、それでも良いと思える。
　ちなみに、このバルザック以降の作家エディションの箱は、本当の本のようにページがあるわけでなく、形だけが本で、中は普通の箱になってしまった。もっとも、箱が良くて万年筆を買ったわけではないが。

　<付記>　上の英文でも述べたが、ペリカンＭ1000のグリーンストライプは、昔は今のものに比べて、ストライブが極めて細い。写真では見えにくいと思うが、Ｍ800のそれと比べると半分程の細さだ。私はＭ1000の黒とグリーンストライプを一本ずつ持っているが、ストライブの細さでＭシリーズの中では、このＭ1000がもっとも気に入っている。