I could sum this whole review up with some pics and this , but here is the other version.



Initial Impression: 10/10
Wow, this box is amazing!!! When you open the lid, its nice and plush inside, and the best part... You can turn the lid upside down for display and it looks like a rook! Inside the box is of course the pen, but a polishing cloth, pen wrap, large book and informative CD ROM with information on the Marostica in Italy. The pen at first glance is tremendous. It size is great, and its very unique being a pen that is square.























Look/Finish/Hardware: 10/10
I dont really know what to say... The overlay is fantastic. Elegant, but not to obtrusive. I love how the overlay is smooth with the crimson resin. The overlay has great low-relief etchings and is used to described the game of chess. The detail is fantastic, and has a chess background. The blind cap is shaped as rook. Below is a picture for size comparison to a 149.




















Feel/Balance: 10/10
The pen has some weight, but its not too heavy for me. In fact, it writes great posted. I just worry that I am going to break the rook, when taking the cap of, so I will only post it for long writing sessions. The sterling silver feels fantastic, and its even better that the section is resin. One other thing that I realized I liked... The threads on this pen, my Visconti Ripple and Romonica are all larger. They are different as you can see, and I like how that feels when writing, and it feels good when taking the cap on and off. It just feels a little more sturdy... To sum it up, it writes great, posted or not, and for this pen I will enjoy using it both ways.








Filling System 10/10 Nib: 8/10
The rook blind cap is not only really cool looking but is very smooth as well. I will have a lot of fun filling this pen up... Now the nib is a medium and writes well with a little flex, but here is my only complaint... This is a limited edition, but the nib is the same as regular editions. Its not a bad nib, but that is one thing that I like about MB LEs, their LEs have nibs that go with the pens. This pen would be really cool if it had a Rook on the nib! Not the end of the world, but... Its a great nib, just could be better in my opinion. I think I will get it modified to an oblique Medium Stub, if I can handle it out of my top pocket for long enough...









Price/Value:N/A
This pen was expensive, but worth every penny as far as I am concerned. For holy grail pens its hard to do a price VS value, because well... They are holy grail pens! I would say if you could get your hands on this pen, its worth it for sure. You will not be disappointed.






Overall: 9.5/10
Overall I am extremely happy with this pen. I am pretty sure I will ever own a nicer pen. Not to say, that my collecting day are done:) but no pen will touch this one for a long time if ever...

Congratulations! You've been looking for this for a long time. The rook blind cap is killer. Thanks for the shots and the (of course it is) unbiased review!

Well Bry what can I say this one is one level above anything I saw in the pen world so far and I tip my hat that you kept waiting for THE pen for 4 years.As I told you with the Dumas I will look for the box untill I will find it and I did.
The pen is simply stuning and all I can do is wish you many years of health and joy with this pen,oh and please do take care of it and keep it in pristine condition so when you decide to sell it to me I will get a nice looking pen

A love story with a happy ending! I'm so thrilled you got your baby and it was everything you hoped it was.

Congratulations on your unique pen. When it first came out Montegrappa did an outstanding website presentation that I still remember from many years ago. That web presentation alone must have counted for many many sales. If I remember correctly this was around 2001 or so and featured a human scale chessboard somewhere in Italy where the game is played annually with people serving as chess pieces. This was used as part of the inspiration for this fountain pen.

Yes. I just looked it up. Here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marostica

Thanks for the great pictures

Congrats, again, on the pen. I have accomplished the locating of grail pens a couple of times in my life, and I know something of the feeling of elation.

I also like the "rook look." It is a unique pen, and I hope you enjoy it for many years.

Edited: I also feel the nib would be a bit nicer with an LE engraving appropriate to the theme.

Congratulations ! It must be exciting to find the one pen that you feel that way about !

Very nice review and great photos. I was just flipping quickly through the photos and noticed you said the blind cap was a rook. Just for a second, I though, "Why would someone put a crow on a blind cap?" Then, of course, I actually looked at the photo. I am usually not this slow, really.

Again, nice pen! I would love to have one of these MGs!

j

Thank you very much Leigh! I know I love the blind cap! There are so many things I love about this pen, but that may be my favorite...


Thanks Amir! Not a chance in the world, I would sell this pen!:)


Me too! I was afraid it wouldnt live up my own hype, but it does


Thanks Brian. And thanks for the link


Thanks Frank!


It truly is! Thanks!


LOL Thanks Jon!

It is not a pen. It is a piece of art and history!
Compliments about the pen, the pics, and the review!

Thanks Bryant for the additional photographs of this awesome pen.

It really is! Thanks!


Thanks, I feel very lucky to own it!

You have your dream pen lucky now I am working on my DREAM one.

I have 3 letters to add here

P

O

A

WHAT A PEN! (or monument or sculpture or...) WOW. I have never seen something like that. Thanks for all the great pics!
Oh, my!

Hey, I just now noticed this great review of your Marostica! This is a rare, striking pen that is clearly the heart of your collection. I am so glad you finally found it -- never, ever sell this one Bryant!

I can now entirely relate to your love of this pen and your drive to get it, as I have fallen hard for pre-2005 Monterappa overlays: beautiful and unattainable!

Thank you very much... I love this pen!!!


I will never sell it for sure! This pen is sooooo dear to me...
Bry

Not having huge hands, I don't know that I would PERSONALLY look upon this as a writing instrument, but it is certainly one beautiful piece of art! Congrats!

Too each their own for sure... I love big pens, and actually this section is smaller than lets say a 149... But thank you very much! Bry

Bryant,

Congratulations on achieving a cherished goal. The pen is stunning and your photography does it justice. Are you a professional photographer by chance? The composition, lighting, framing, depth of field, etc...is flawless! Truly worthy of the subject.

One question regarding the angular shape of the pen - most of us are used to the traditional smooth tubular shape of our pens. Visconti does some interesting things such as twisting the body and that seems to have been well received. So....how does a squarish pen feel in the hand?

Thanks for the great review.

Congrats Bryant -

This is one of the most dramatic designs in pendom.

I like the rook so much I would always use the pen unposted. I also like the mirrored rook shape of the section - just as chess pieces are mirrored across the board.

The presentation casket is more clever and more lush than any I have seen crafted for a pen - those Italians really know how to wrap up a nice package.

So I think this is the quintessential pen for notation during a quiet game of chess - bottle of port to one side.

What do you say Bryant - Pawn to King 4?

very original pen

Thank you very much. I not a professional photographer, but thank you very much for that compliment

Believe it or not, its really comfortable to use. I thought it might be strange, but its fantastic.
Bry

It really is, I think thats why I was so drawn to it.
I use it unposted most of the time for that exact reason. Even though I like to post all my pens.

I agree this is the pen for a game a chess, but maybe a bottle Krug or Crown XR! Im not a big a Port guy...