On the Pelikan's own German forum (penexchange.de/forum) the member Dirk Barmeyer shared some nice links regarding Aurora.

This link shows a little info and comparison pics of the various vintage Aurora 88 and 888 models:
http://xoomer.alice.it/penandpencil/Aurora_88.html

And Aurora itself has put on the net some pretty and comprehensive PDF catalogues. [addicts don't look; pen porn aleart]

The high end range: http://www.aurorapen.it/admin/uploads/2007_altagamma_1.pdf


The mid & low level range: http://www.aurorapen.it/admin/uploads/2007_mediagamma_1.pdf

Enjoy!

My favourites in the high end range are the various "Optima" variations (own a 1996 "Sole" LE myself), while in the mid level the "Style" looks best to me, although I haven't tried it yet.

Aurora makes a nice product, no doubt. Most have classic lines and I like that. Myself, I have the small 88, I don't even know if they still make it anymore. A quality pen in a small package,

Just look into the high-end catalogue linked above. The cartridge 88 still features alongside the piston 88.

Some extremely tasty Idea's are to be seen in the lower-end catalogue. I notice colours and combinations you never really see in these United States. The translucent pens seem to have the softer plainer nib, while the chromish ones share the nib with the Style and Ipsilon. I didn't know Aurora still made that more flexible nib (if that's what it is). These truly are underrated pens, in my view.

Many thanks for the link saintsimon.

Cheers,
Eric

Thanks for the great links, saintsimon.

I'm very fond of Auroras myself. I'm very jealous that you have a Sole. Now if that came/comes with chrome trims... (of course, it somehow looks better with gold rather than chrome trims, I think).

And the Style is very cool to me - I've tried and like it. I'll be getting one (or two... ) later on.

EDIT - Just wanted to add that Daniele (whose website is linked to in saintsimon's post above) is actually a member of our Nuthouse too.


raf.

Hello
just to take a look at some different sizes I made a picture for you (quick and dirty):
Click to view attachment
88 pencil
88
88 (Nicargenta)
88 K
88 P
888

2cart
98 riserva magica
international
Hastil Ballpen
Hastil Fountainpen
Ypsilon (Torino Ice)

Optima (Asia)
Optima Ballpen
Optima Sketch
85 th
new 88 Fountainpen (Venezia)
new 88 Fountainpen small for cartridges

Best regards from Germany
Dirk Barmeyer

In order to gather toghether all the info about the Aurora 88 model, I'd think is a good thing to link this thread (few days old on FPN):

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...mp;hl=Aurora+88

where other links and info are available and where I put down some facts about the different models that are shown in the Dib collection.

Dib, your collection is awesome! I have a 88, 88K and 88P and all of them are NOS and never inked. But my road is still long I see!
I have a question: what is the pen you refer to as "international"? Is a cartridge 98 model?

Thanks,

Hello diplomat,
unfortunately it's only a part of my collection.
Unfortunately in financial matters :-) So in the next months I have to sell some pens.

I really don't know if "International" is right. But there are some 98 cartridgefillers with "98" on it and there are some others without. I think I read the others are called International. But I am not sure.
The three pens on the left side have the "98" engraving, the others not.
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
best regards
Dirk

Thank you very much Dirk, that clarifies a lot. The 98 series is definetly more articulate than the 88. I know there are models of "98" with "riserva magica" and classic "two tone" black/gold finish (like this one: http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt....cWAT.m240.lVI) but I don't know if the difference between the 98 and the international is a difference of time (international being an evolution of the 98) or simply the latter is a cheap version of the former.
And interesting the comparaison in size with the "lady" model. I found some over ebay but never realized they were that small!

Anyway, beautiful pictures and beautiful collection: I hope that your next selling activity will not touch those pens! Contrarywise I will check the marketplace more often!!

VBR,

I would like to add an Aurora to my italian line.Also need a Tibaldi and Montegrappa.

Jim

Hello,
all these 98 and International I will trade or sell sometimes. I want to specialise on safetys, Duplex, 88 (without K or P) and Hastil. All the others have to go !
Best regards
Dirk

The Aurora company has always produced stylish, functional, and reliable pens. In many ways, they are like an Italian version of Pelikan in that they don't receive the respect that they deserve from fountain pen collectors. I personally think it wonderful that they continue to produce piston fillers in an age when most manufacturers produce mostly cartridge/converter pens. And I also think it great that they continue to make a wide range of nibs, rather than just the basic fine, medium, and broad nibs. My Aurora collection is mostly Optimas, but I have about 8 of these in different designs, and I put them through the rotation pretty regularly.

Are there any Aurora "completists" on this board -- someone who has tried to collect every single variant of one of the Aurora models, such as the Optima or the Ottantotto?

Hello,
some of my pens are in the marketplace now.

I think it is extremely hard to be complete on a special Aurora.
The Optima for example may include the old ones of the 1930s-1940s, the continents (Africa, Asia, Europa,...), the older versions of the Optima, some special editions including the last Lira, Xanten, perhaps Brasil, the italian flag and so on. This could be quite expensive !

Best regards
Dirk

Dib, what a beautiful collection!

I'm awaiting my first Aurora--a Fuoco that should be arriving any day.

great colour, I hope you will buy the sketch pen. I love these little things no one needs