I just got this Visconti Van Gogh Maxi in sandal brown/red yesterday. It is my second Van Gogh, the first one being a black Maxi. After getting the black one and loving it so much I thought it would be nice to start collecting the different colored Van Goghs. I thought it would be more economical to collect the Midis instead of the Maxis. When I was at the store yesterday my options in the Midi were Ocean Blue or Vanilla. I didn't want Vanilla, but the Ocean Blue had a beautiful coloration. Unfortunately, before trying it out I dipped and tried a Lamy Studio. The nib on the Lamy was incredible. Then I tried the Ocean Blue Midi--couldn't compare, yet it was twice the price as the Lamy. So, I looked at the Maxis. My options were another Ocean Blue or the Sandal. The Ocean Blue Maxi didn't have very much variation in color--essentially it was all blue. The Sandal, however, was beautiful. I broke down and got the Sandal Maxi. Looks like I'll be collecting the Maxis even though they're more expensive.

Previously I ordered a Midi Tortoise Demonstrator because it had a gold nib. When I got it though, I was disappointed in the coloration--it was almost entirely translucent without any striations. So I sent it back. After that incident I decided that if I wanted any more Van Goghs I'd have to buy them in person--their colorations are too different from pen to pen. I'm pleased with yesterday's purchase.

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Nice! Just picked up one of these myself. Love the Maxis.

Thanks. I thought you had all of the Maxis. Which one did you get--the sandal, too? Do you lack any?

Yep - my sandal has more yellow than yours is showing. I now lack only the Black and the Tortoiseshell of the older colors and still haven't decided if I'll get the new colors with the gold furniture since my taste in pens runs to silver. My Vanilla is one of the older style bayonet caps. Haven't had any trouble with it.

I've only seen the new colors with gold furniture on the internet. Like you, I'm partial to silver furniture. I'll be looking for Ocean Blue and Musk next. I think the Vanilla is beautiful, but I'm not certain I'd actually use it. I'd definitely get it before I'd get the Tortoise, though. So, maybe I'll stop at Ocean Blue and Musk. Ghost, I know from your other posts you like colorful pens. I think you'd enjoy the black, though, as it's one of the most elegant pens I've seen in black with its thick, silver band and clip. I know you said you ended up really liking a black Carene. I bet you'd find the black Maxi to your liking as well.

Lead me not into temptation, I can find it by myself. You're right, I love color.

I had the pleasure of handling the new shades in person when Ken Jones brought the Viscontis to Edwards of San Marco in Jacksonville for a pen show. They're beautiful in sunlight and I found I actually liked the evergreen better than the cappucino in person, which was the reverse of what I expected from the pictures on Fountain Pen Hospital's website. It's the gold furniture that holds me back. The vast majority of my collection is silver trim, silver overlay, solid silver...just one of those personal quirks.