Those who know me and know my pens have wondered why there is one major Pelikan missing from my collection, the lizard Pelikan 101N. It’s not that I have never had one, any number of these pens have passed through my hands . But none have stayed.

To folks who have asked, my answer was that I had never found a 101N that “spoke” to me. Until yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon a shipment from Europe arrived, a lizard 101N that I had picked up relatively cheaply since it had not been restored and was, generally speaking, in kind of beaten condition. I expected to restore it and sell it.

Well, it worked out differently. As soon as I opened the package Iimmediately spotted an anomaly that only one as sick as I am would notice. The pen has gold plated rather than rhodium plated fittings. Now, the earliest lizards did indeed come with gold plated trim, both my regular lizard 101 and the short captop have gf fittings. But every lizard 101N that I have seen has come with white metal. My suspicious mind immediately looked for fakery, but the pen looked fine, no sign of markings around the trim rings other than the original crimp marks on the bands. Besides, who would perpetrate such an obscure deception and then fail to restore the pen and exploit it? Made no sense.

As I looked further into the pen, I saw the telltale signs of a first year 101N, the old style logo on the captop, worn to little more than a shadow, but there; and the yellow celluloid body, cellulose nitrate. Yesss!

Suddenly the pieces fell into place and made sense. This is a first year pen and was obviously made before the transition to white metal trim. Transitions happen, and this one has just happened to me.


This image shows from left to right a Pelikan 101, the short captop version, the new 101N, the matching pencil, all with gold filled trim. Then, for comparison, a "dropped in" image of a regular 101N with white metal trim.

Now, surely this pen is not unique, but it is uncommon, and given my taste for the super-exotic and for first year pens, it looks like my lizard 101N has finally found me. This one won’t be leaving the building, except in my pocket.

To paraphrase a good friend, happy, happy Rick.

I had no idea such things existed. And your nuanced understanding of the intricacies is mind-boggling.

I must I'd say I'd go for the white trim myself, but those are lovely pens, Rick. Thanks for sharing. Best,
David

Actually David, I prefer the looks of the white metal, too, but this pen is beyond mere esthetics

Oh, first year, shmirst year .

i'm happy for you. congratulations! you and david scored this week! a special happy new year's greeting to a great pen collector and dealer!

Rebecca, happy new year to you. May 2008 bring us health, happiness, prosperity and hope for the future. Oh, and a few new pens wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks to everyone who has shared my pleasure in this pen.

Wow, Rick! Congrats on a great find for your collection. Enjoy!