On September 12, 2010, Montblanc unveiled the John Lennon Edition writing instruments and launched a program that supported access to music education to children around the world.
Almost 30 years after his tragic death John Lennon, a symbol of promoting peace and love around the globe, proved he still has star-pulling power at the launch of a series of luxury pens to commemorate what would have been his 70th birthday.
John Lennon was not only a legend of music and art, but also a peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon was a very complex man with a vivid personality, characterized for the rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, writing, drawings, on film and in interviews. His unconventional music style along with his fresh approach has inspired a lot of people worldwide and the messages of peace he spread, are still valid today.
Acting on his desire to do good for mankind and harnessing the power of love, John Lennon used his celebrity to mobilize ordinary people to do extraordinary things, opening new vistas of hope and inspiration all over the world. These were the qualities that made him such a natural spokesman for the peace movement- and a perfect counterpart to Yoko Ono’s cutting-edge, experimental art. His fresh, unconventional sound, full of experimentation and innovation, prompted thunderous approval from audiences everywhere- and became the perfect vehicle for his resounding message of peace. With powerful lyrics that articulated exactly what people were feeling though they couldn’t express it themselves, he caught the zeitgeist with uncanny accuracy. He was that rare thing – an independent mind, a great thinker, a visionary whose influence helped and shaped the intellectual mood of an era.
Montblanc has released three versions of the John Lennon Pen Collection inspired by the legendary musician with part of the proceeds going to music education charities including the John Lennon educational tour bus.
Even if the Montblanc John Lennon 70 doesn’t belong to the Great Characters Series (like Mahatma Gandhi 241, Einstein 99, Leonardo da Vinci 74, Miles Davis 90, etc.) – it constitutes nevertheless a natural complement of this series that pays tribute to some of these great people. In appreciation of the artist, his musical activity as well as his dreams of seeing the world a better place, Montblanc honored John Lennon by donating EUR 600 from the sale of each fountain pen to cultural projects supporting young artists around the world.
The Special Edition
The John Lennon Special Edition incorporates several design elements evoking the music of the 1950s and 1960s. The gentle grooves chiseled into the black precious resin of the barrel mimic those of a vintage vinyl record. The platinum-plated clip is shaped like his guitar complete with tuning pegs and etched strings, depicting a portrait of the musician in the resonator hole. The rhodium-plated 18K gold nib is embellished with the iconic peace symbol.
The John Lennon Special Edition made of black precious resin and platinum-plated finish encompasses the models of a Fountain Pen, Rollerball and Ballpoint Pen .
The Limited Edition 1940
Produced by Montblanc in only 1,940 pieces in the world in memory of John Lennon year of birth, this precious limited edition is a further tribute to his life. Available in Fountain Pen, Rollerball and Ballpoint Pen, inspired by their own exclusive design to the famous mosaic dedicated to John Lennon in the heart of Central Park in New York.
Completely covered in Ag925 sterling silver with guilloche and transparent white lacquer, it keeps the precious cap breakdown of the guitar-shaped clip, enriching it with a stone of blue tanzanite blue spectacles reminiscent of the famous artist. The mid-point of the barrel is decorated with silver half sphere plaque engraved Lennon’s self-portrait signature. The pen’s cone is encircled by the release date of Imagine: “02.10.1971”. The rhodium-plated 18K gold nib again bears the sign so often trace in flowers on the circular memorial mosaic: the peace symbol-standing for the ideals to which John Lennon dedicated his life’s work, and bringing the design full circle back to the memorial mosaic in Central Park, where people so often offer personal tributes by decorating the stones with flowers laid in the universal sign of peace.
The Limited Edition 70
Celebrating John Lennon’s famous song “Imagine”, both design and construction are absolutely astonishing. The Limited Edition Fountain Pen 70 itself is like a sculpture made by Michelangelo, crafted with the precision of Swiss watchmakers and built to last due to the high-quality materials and German engineering. The fountain pen’s barrel is encircled by the word “Imagine” artistically rendered in 18K white gold as an homage to Lennon’s greatest solo hit.
To provide a tridimensional demonstrator effect to the fountain pen’s body, a translucent blue precious resin shows beneath the skeleton overlay, reminiscent of Lennon’s iconic round blue glasses. The clip is inspired by Lennon’s Gibson guitar and displays fine details such as blue sapphire enriched with three diamonds set as a chord of Imagine. The end part of the barrel features a lacquered piano keyboard.
Coming in a medium-size, crafted from Au750 solid gold and rhodium-plated, the nib displays in a beautiful manner Lennon’s self-portrait and the release year “2010”. Scribbled so often along with Lennon’s signature, Montblanc took this sketch and engraved it on the nib as a touch of the artist’s personality.
Launched in 2010, the year the artist would have celebrated the 70th anniversary of his life and achievements, the fountain pen was limited to 70 pieces to commemorate the 70th birthday of this legendary musician.
The masterpiece comes with all original boxes, so Montblanc took care of this aspect providing the fountain pen with matching black slipcase, booklet and with a facsimile of his handwritten lyrics of Imagine.
Launch 2010
Special Edition
Fountain Pen 1940
Rollerball 1940
Ballpoint Pen 1940
Fountain Pen 70
