Mont Blanc Pope Julius Ii, 888 Edition

[RNP]

Dear All,

 

I am selling this beautiful example of the Pope Julius II, 888 Edition on behalf of my father. This pen was acquired brand new from the Mont Blanc boutique in Singapore (a reciept can be shown), and has never been filled or inked. It has been opened, and gazed at from time to time - deserving of its exquisite craftsmanship. I hope that by selling it in this forum, I can find a buyer who will be willing to use it. Below are some details and pictures you may find useful. For those who are interested in this item or have any questions, please PM me your full name and e-mail address. I in kind will provide you with my details and that of my father's. Thank you for viewing.

 

Item: Mont Blanc Pope Julius II, 888 Edition

Serial number: 736/888

Location: Singapore

Shipping: US$90 (approx) International Priority Service

Payment method: Bank transfer

Cost: US$9100

 

Pictures (Please note the RNP logo is attached digitally, it is not a sticker. Also, the pen comes with a plastic wrapping not shown in the pictures below):

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p1.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p2.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p3.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p4.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p5.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p6.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p7.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p8.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p9.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p10.jpg

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p11.jpg

 

The certificate was not stamped on purpose. If a buyer would want it stamped by the Mont Blanc boutique, this can be arranged.

 

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e338/rayninan/MB/p12.jpg

Edited September 6, 2010 by RNP

[RNP]

I tried changing the topic to 'Pope Julius II' instead of 'Pope Julius Ii', but I cannot seem to do it. I'm sure this won't cause any confusion!

[fuchsiaprincess]

RNP, you need to include a price, and shipping costs in your listing as per Marketplace Guidelines.

 

If this is not done by the end of the day, your listing will be removed.

 

Thank you.

 

FP

Marketplace Mod

[yachtsilverswan]

Notwithstanding the pricing violation of Marketplace Rules, if the listing is modified and survives, I have previously posted a Review of the Pope Julius II 888 in the Review Sub-Forum here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=90831

 

I'm not affiliated with the buyer, but I thought a review of the pen would help potential buyers define their level of interest.

[ballen98a]

Wow, that is one impressive pen! And the packaging is incredible. Definitely fit for a pope.

[RNP]

RNP, you need to include a price, and shipping costs in your listing as per Marketplace Guidelines.

 

If this is not done by the end of the day, your listing will be removed.

 

Thank you.

 

FP

Marketplace Mod

 

Dear Mod, I hope everything is in order now. Thanks for your patience.

 

 

Notwithstanding the pricing violation of Marketplace Rules, if the listing is modified and survives, I have previously posted a Review of the Pope Julius II 888 in the Review Sub-Forum here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=90831

 

I'm not affiliated with the buyer, but I thought a review of the pen would help potential buyers define their level of interest.

 

I actually read your brilliant review sometime back and wanted to post a link to it on my ad, but I decided against it in case of a misunderstanding. Top class of you coming forward like this yachtsilverswan!

[fuchsiaprincess]

RNP, you need to include a price, and shipping costs in your listing as per Marketplace Guidelines.

 

If this is not done by the end of the day, your listing will be removed.

 

Thank you.

 

FP

Marketplace Mod

 

Dear Mod, I hope everything is in order now. Thanks for your patience.

 

 

Notwithstanding the pricing violation of Marketplace Rules, if the listing is modified and survives, I have previously posted a Review of the Pope Julius II 888 in the Review Sub-Forum here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=90831

 

I'm not affiliated with the buyer, but I thought a review of the pen would help potential buyers define their level of interest.

 

I actually read your brilliant review sometime back and wanted to post a link to it on my ad, but I decided against it in case of a misunderstanding. Top class of you coming forward like this yachtsilverswan!

 

 

Thank you, RNP. All the best with the sale

[Maccabee64]

stunning pen...

[RNP]

stunning pen...

 

Cheers.

Edited September 19, 2010 by RNP

[RNP]

Dear all,

 

Upon doing some research regarding pricing of pens such as these, I have decided to reduce the price to US$7100. Profit doesn't even come into the picture regarding this sale. Furthermore, you will basically be the first owner of this pen since its still in such pristine condition. Do message me if you have any special requests or queries. Payment options can also be discussed. A viewing in Singapore or Malaysia can be arranged for prospective buyers.

[InkyWinky]

I am not an MB fan and typically like plain black pens BUT this is one beautiful pen and if I could afford it then it would be a daily user. Wow!

 

 

Edited September 30, 2010 by Powerbroker

[RNP]

I am not an MB fan and typically like plain black pens BUT this is one beautiful pen and if I could afford it then it would be a daily user. Wow!

 

 

 

Cheers Powerbroker.

 

 

I wish to update the payment method. I now accept PayPal, or bank transfer if you are comfortable.

The updated price of US$7100 is negotiable for sincere buyers. Thanks for viewing.

[InkyWinky]

It's now just $6,900 out of my range!

[stephl]

Interesting. I thought your price was a little steep, but I just noticed that ebay has it for a few thousand more.

 

Yours sounds like a great deal then.

 

Stephan

[jpl]

I paid 7500 for mine so this is a fair price buy maybe it is NOT the time to sell

[RNP]

Thanks guys. I do think its a decent price as well. After being on this forum for a couple of months, I've gotten a better understanding of how pricing works here. Unreasonable prices just won't cut it. I think its even roughly the same price as my father bought it new - (basing it on the fact that the Singapore dollar has become stronger over the last 5 years or so). And when you compare the aesthetics of this pen to even the more recent POA Queen Elizabeth 1, its certainly on par or even better (my opinion of course), though a good few grand less. Never inked, never filled, only admired...The pen's still available so treat this as a bump. Cheers.

[mohanjude]

Thanks guys. I do think its a decent price as well. After being on this forum for a couple of months, I've gotten a better understanding of how pricing works here. Unreasonable prices just won't cut it. I think its even roughly the same price as my father bought it new - (basing it on the fact that the Singapore dollar has become stronger over the last 5 years or so). And when you compare the aesthetics of this pen to even the more recent POA Queen Elizabeth 1, its certainly on par or even better (my opinion of course), though a good few grand less. Never inked, never filled, only admired...The pen's still available so treat this as a bump. Cheers.

 

Please dont take this post the wrong way - I think the price for this pen can vary very much. Mont Blanc pens are nice things to own but I would never buy one with any intention of selling it back to get a fixed return. Maybe a professional pen seller can shift them but unless you are going to sell them for a 'bargain' it can be a hit and miss trying to sell pens - at least in my experience.

 

I purchased a MB Pope Julius 888 for $6000 and thought I had a good deal. I really wanted one badly and wittled it down to the 'cheapest' at the time. I made the mistake of comapring prices against buy it now prices on ebay. The pope Julius never retailed for $9500 so why are are ebay sellers listing it at that price. The pen regualrly comes up on auction so it is not that scarce. However I was very happy with my purchase - that was until somebody offered me 2 pens - Pope Julius 888 and Henry Tate 888 as a pair for $8500 pristine boxed uninked in showroom condition. The caveat was that I had to buy it as a pair. In fact I purchased the pair but negotiated - I paid it in 2 installments. $4500 for the PJ (and received the pen) and 2 months later $4000 for the 888 Tate. I could have been nasty and not bothered to buy the tate after I had the PJ 888 in my hand. But at $4k the tate was worth it so I did the deal for both the pens.

 

So yes I have now x2 PJ 888 pens and a 888 tate that I will keep and not sell. I wish I did not rush and buy the 1st PJ pen for $6000. In fact a few weeks later after all the pen buying spree I had the oppertunity to buy other 888 pens for GBP 3000 each which is approx $4500. I gave it a miss as I had to limit my spending on FP's. Had there been a Carnergie I would have bought it no questions asked. However in psite of my best efforts a few days later I ended up buying a golden dragon for £2k which is again much less than the $6000 on ebay that somebody has been trying to sellf or the past year.

 

So bottom line this kind of pen is best sold at an auction where you are willing to let it go for the market price prevailing that day, week etc. So you can see that unless your pen is a tempting price it will have to wait for the right person who wants it. Oppertunsitic sales are possible but the price has got to be so low that it is hard for people to resist a bargain. When you are talking $ thousands I really dont know what a bargain is anymore.

 

 

Good luck with your sale.

 

Mohan

[RNP]

Hi Mohan, I appreciate your comment. Buying a PJ 888 for $6000 and then $4500 (though a bundle package) is quite a drop, and its rather interesting the range of prices I've seen for this pen - from the 4's to 5's, all the way to 9k. Initially, I pegged my prices to ebay 'buy it now' prices, but I realised they just don't move at those prices. I've reduced it by $2k, which perhaps agrees with your point on fluctuations. I wouldn't understand the logic at selling it at a significant loss, say reducing it by 1-2k more because its brand new, and I'm not desperate for a quick sale. In Singapore, they sold the MB Queen E 888 for approx US$10k at the boutique. Warranty aside, should a PJ 888 be priced at half of that? Thats up to debate. My father bought this pen because of its craftmanship. He has other MBs, some of which he bought for the same reason, and others used as writers. I do plan to auction it off on ebay in about a months time, but with a reserve. Will I get the price I want? I'd like to find out. But if I don't, I'll just have to tell my father to admire it for abit longer

[mohanjude]

I think you are quite right. I also think the singapore price for the QE 888 is over priced. Here in the UK it is £5200 which should translate to $7500 over in singapore. Here in the UK the price is inclusive of VAT at 17.5% so if a tourist bought it they would get it at £4550 if they took it out of the country. I am not sure what the tax rules are in Singapore but if there is not VAT it should be priced at equivalent of GBP 4550. A lot of the far eastern economies have low sales taxes. I am aware that Mont Blanc price there pens at the same price all over the world what ever the local tax rates are. I was hoping to pick up a bargain when I went to Hong Kong and to my dismay found it more expensive there than in the UK for the same Mont Blanc pens. Why? Hong Kong as not VAT or import duty as far as I know. Contrast that to a Omega Seamaster that I purchased from an official delaer in Hong Kong for 55% of the UK price.

 

Mont Blanc have effective price control as they are the only outlet for POA 888 as far as I know in many regions

 

It is not only the POA that get a hammering - the pen in my Avatar was brand new and I got it for a 1/3rd of the retail price of $16500.

 

Mohan

Edited October 25, 2010 by mohanjude

[nathan_da_man]

Hi there guys. I am a complete newbie here. I just wanted to say, WOOOOOOW. Look at that pen. Mind you, My main passion is Watches and I don't even have a watch worth take kind of money.

 

Good luck with the sale