The great novels and tales of literature have inspired generations and shaped cultural movements by immortalizing in words the experiences, thoughts and impressions of the greatest minds. With its heritage firmly anchored in the culture of writing, Montblanc has been honoring the most distinguished writers and literary icons of past times with its Writers Edition since 1992.
For its 26th Edition, Montblanc celebrates the genius of French writer and pioneering aviator Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, Vicomte de Saint-Exupéry (1900-1944), author of notable literary works that include Night Flight, Terre des Hommes and Flight to Arras. He is best remembered for his novella Le Petit Prince, one of the bestselling children’s books and most translated works in the world. Because of his experience as both a commercial pilot and a fighter pilot in the French Air Force during World War II, Saint-Exupéry’s works are filled with adventure, danger and courage seen through a poet’s eyes.
The overall design and shape is inspired by his iconic Caudron Simoun plane and his famous novel “Night Flight”. Engravings on the barrel and cap show the sky seen by Saint-Exupéry on November 1 , 1929 at 23:00. As director of the newly formed company Aeroposta Argentina S.A, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry conducted Aeroposta’s inaugural flight on November 1, 1929, flying from an airfield at Villa Harding Green to Comodoro Rivadavia. The fittings are inspired by the cockpit of his plane. The geographic position of important cities in Saint-Exupéry’s life are engraved on the cone.
With a limitation number of 1931 in reference to the year Saint-Exupéry earned international acclaim as an author for Night Flight, the Writers Edition Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Limited Edition 1931 revisits the theme of aviation that is central to the bestselling novel with rivet engravings and cockpit-inspired fittings.
Reminiscent of the cockpit window from which the author gazed into the starry skies, the skeletonized cap features a window through which the nib can be seen. The metal with a special “vintage” coating on the cap and barrel of the Limited Edition gives the fountain pen its distinctive 1930s brass feel. The result of the finest craftsmanship, the effect is created using a four-step process of polishing grinding and treating.
A reminder that Saint- Exupéry was also a skilled illustrator, the engraving on the cap is one of his self-portraits, while his hand drawing for “Le Petit Prince” inspires the engraving on the barrel. The metal plate on the cap recalls the well-known Saint-Exupéry bracelet found after his plane mysteriously crashed into the sea.
For the first time on a Montblanc writing instrument, Super-Luminova® has been applied under the emblem in mother-of-pearl that crowns the writing instrument. This technical innovation gives the Montblanc emblem its glowing effect, just like the view of earth from the night sky in Night Flight or the illuminated control pane inside the pilot’s cockpit. The bi-color nib features Saint-Exupéry’s own star illustration from Le Petit Prince.
Launch 2017
Limitation:
Sets 1,300 / Fountain Pen, Rollerball and Mechanical Pencil
Fountain Pen Night Blue
Fountain Pen 1931
Rollerball Night Blue
Ballpoint Pen Night Blue
Set Night Blue 1300
