Limited Editions

[penandbeyond]

We just had a discussion about collecting fountain pens in general and special collecting Limited Editions.

 

Bottom line was that we agreed that when a Limited Edition was released by the manufacturer you can get it almost for 40 % less than the retail price. Sounds good so far but how is the perfomance over the years and that's looks not too good. Sometimes the value of a regular retired line rises much more compare to the Limited Editions.

 

What is your experience or what do you think?

[significantpass]

I wouldn't collect them to sell them away. Pens aren't the best of investments.

 

If I like a certain pen, I'll buy it, whether it be an LE or non-LE.

 

One explanation I've heard for non-LEs being worth more than LEs when they're discontinued is that people tend to preserve rarer items. The not-so-rare objects aren't maintained, until they deplete to the extent that there are less of them. For example, you'll see more Ferrari Dinos than Fiat Dinos because people value Ferraris higher. Therefore, the Fiats are often used as parts cars for their more esteemed brethren. Not sure if this applies to pens, though.

[riff raff]

Personally, I think it's silly to buy any fountain pen as an investment. I may be in the minority, here.

[FrankB]

I also think FP's are a really bad investment. If you like pens and enjoy collecting because they are a passion, then I would suggest you pick and choose those that appeal to you, spend your money on them and enjoy them. For an investment, I would consult an investment broker.

[penandbeyond]

I wouldn't collect them to sell them away. Pens aren't the best of investments.

 

If I like a certain pen, I'll buy it, whether it be an LE or non-LE.

 

One explanation I've heard for non-LEs being worth more than LEs when they're discontinued is that people tend to preserve rarer items. The not-so-rare objects aren't maintained, until they deplete to the extent that there are less of them. For example, you'll see more Ferrari Dinos than Fiat Dinos because people value Ferraris higher. Therefore, the Fiats are often used as parts cars for their more esteemed brethren. Not sure if this applies to pens, though.

 

That could be ... besides the Fiat Dino was a great car.

[penandbeyond]

I also think FP's are a really bad investment. If you like pens and enjoy collecting because they are a passion, then I would suggest you pick and choose those that appeal to you, spend your money on them and enjoy them. For an investment, I would consult an investment broker.

 

That's we have forgotten to talk about ... passion ... When I think it over then I come to the point, every collector has a kind of passion and would spend money for that.

[penandbeyond]

Personally, I think it's silly to buy any fountain pen as an investment. I may be in the minority, here.

 

As a member mentioned ... if you have enough passion than it's not silly ... sometimes a little bit desperade.

[jniforat]

don't buy as an investment, but it because you like it and want to use it

[pajaro]

What I have sometimes seen with collectables that can be used is that people buy the item, use some and save some as NOS. Then the maker comes out with some innovation that makes the new production a much better value to the people who form the collector/user base and the value of the older production goes very south. It's one of the risks of collecting/investing. The market for what you are collecting can go south for any number of reasons. I have seen it happen in stamps, coins, and other stuff.

 

Personally, I find I like to play with pens. I have made some money on some of them, but that was not my intention. It was just a pleasant surprise that I could actually recoup some of the money I had blown on pens.

[schadowrider]

If I like a certain pen, I'll buy it, whether it be an LE or non-LE.

Same here -- the LE-ness of the pen doesn't really play into my decision. And while I don't look at the pens as an investment, I take immaculate care of my pens and have found over the years that I can usually get a significant chunk of my money back if I decide to sell (I've turned my collection over many many times...) -- that certainly helps minimize the cost of the obsession! In some cases, the amount I've recouped is pretty low but in many cases I've gotten back close to what I paid for the pen initially (and in some isolated cases a little more; and in only one single case, quite a bit more: a Namiki White Tiger I bought new discounted off MSRP when they were still in stores -- of course now they're going for double what I sold mine for!; but even in that case, I never dreamed the pen would appreciate like that -- I just thought it was a spectacular pen...).

[wspohn]

Anyone that buys pens as investments is the sort of person about whom they opine that his money and he will soon be parted. But hey - there are people that 'invest' in Beanie Babies.....

 

IMHO one should buy pens that you like whether or not they are LEs. I have some LEs - in fact a complete collection of the Classic CP series, but only because they all attract me. I have not one Montblanc LE - because none of them attract me. I don't think I would buy a pen I was waffling about just because it was a rare LE, if I didn't want it, LE or not.

[Firenzepen]

Actually Limited Edition Fountain pens can be a good investment but you must have a specilized knowledge of the market for them as well or have someone who you trust advise you. Certain limited editions are going to go up in value some will plummet. Example: Mont Blanc Earnest Hemingway L.E.'s sold for $600.00 new, peaked at $3,800.00 and now sell regularly for around $2,800.00. Limiteds from little known brands or cheap manufacture don't have any value whatsoever. What makes a good Limited Edition investment pen are micro-runs of really interesting designs OR small runs of designs with wide appeal like the Visconti Knights Templar.

[wspohn]

Example: Mont Blanc Earnest Hemingway L.E.'s sold for $600.00 new

 

 

There is no such maker as Mont Blanc (it is Montblanc) and I expect you mean Ernest Hemingway.

[Merrib]

I would have to concur, FP's are not a great investment. But that is IMHO. I purchase pens to use.

[Glenn-SC]

A Limited Edition may or may not be a good investment or a good pen.

 

Just like any given stock may or may not end up being a good investment.

 

There are definitely FPs that have collector value and are worth buying and holding for resale.

But the FP Market has decided which pens those are and their value.

 

I have some LEs.

I have a True Blue Parker Duofold, because I like the pen company (Parker), the style (Duofold Centennial), the writing performance, and the color.

The pen was "Worthy to Buy" as a pen and (possibly, most probably Yes I suspect) a collectors item.

Edited August 28, 2010 by Glenn-SC

[Fuddlestack]

LEs are produced with a single object in mind, to rake in your dough. Don't give 'em the pleasure. As Glenn-SC observes, it's the market that decides which pens are worth the lolly. It's definitely not a bunch of little-finger lifters with stock options.

[bugmd]

I buy the pens that I like and use. I certainly have a number of LE's that are daily users but they were not bought because of the LE status. I almost never buy a new pen but when I do it is from one of our friends here that sell well below SRP. I love used pens and frequently buy demos from B&M shops, typically at 40-50% savings. Buy what sings to you but use it.

 

A Don's Axiom: "It's gonna be used when I sell it, might as well be used when I buy it."

[InkyWinky]

Example: Mont Blanc Earnest Hemingway L.E.'s sold for $600.00 new

 

 

There is no such maker as Mont Blanc (it is Montblanc) and I expect you mean Ernest Hemingway.

 

Bill, please check your facts on this rather rare LE. The pen in question was produced to honor Ernest's less well known but highly sincere and seriously committed twin brother. Very rare, highly collectible! I understand that any day now Danbury Mint will be coming out with a medal and a plate to celebrate him, along with his patron saint, Oscar Wild, so stay tuned!

 

 

[Blade Runner]

LEs are produced with a single object in mind, to rake in your dough.

That goes for non-LE pens as well.

[hawkgnat]

I'll admit I'm not much of a pen collector, as all the pens I have get used, but generally speaking collectible items that are designed to be collectible items have a bad track record. Demand goes down as soon as the manufacturer stops pushing them, and the supply stays the same, since they are all being hoarded instead of used.

 

Out of all the LE pens that have been produced, people always seem to pick out the same few pens that have increased in value. If you watch the market place, you will notice that the vast majority of them seem to sell well below their original price.

 

I suspect you would actually do much better if you selected a popular pen that was about to go out of production, and kept that in mint condition, rather than buying LEs, although, like everyone has said, using any pen as an investment is stupid.