MB Pope Julius II 888 Edition

[yachtsilverswan]

yachtsilverswan...

 

I'm planning to ask Ethernautrix out on a date. Can I borrow your pen?

 

Always happy to play Cyrano (but the pen stays in my pocket). The gentle lady will just have to figure out you are happy to see her some other way.

 

[Pravda]

Excellent and thorough review I enjoyed it very much Thank you Yachtsilverswan

[archie001]

yachtsilverswan,

 

a fantastic in depth review of one of my favorite pens.

just wanna say i'm in line with your mind in these aspects

and i have nothing but praises...good luck and thanks for the review!

 

best,

archie

[PigRatAndGoat]

Great review! Fitting for such a lovely pen. If you have time, you should review some of your other pens too, like the Divine Proportions.

 

PRAG

 

EDIT: Oops, forgot to mention that my local MB boutique oddly seems to have a past POA on display; the Pompadour. Maybe they're just waiting for someone to pick it up...

Edited January 14, 2009 by PigRatAndGoat

[Prise]

After reading this review, I'm going to drop by the Montblanc boutique this afternoon and check out what they have in the store.

[Ghost Plane]

Yacht, love, you've missed one of the true joys of a man in a T-shirt. That moment when the object of your desire can't stand the wait and rips your shirt from neckline to waist. No point in wasting a good shirt

 

Such behavior, however, would NOT be appropriate for this beauty. This is a pen to go with a slow, seductive unwrapping of the beautifully packaged male. Happy sigh.

 

Thank you for sharing this piece of art. Love what you had done with the nib - it really suits your writing.

[ThaIwan]

Pen looks great! Too bad you didn't post a picture of your summer dinner jacket.

[yachtsilverswan]

Yacht, love, you've missed one of the true joys of a man in a T-shirt. That moment when the object of your desire can't stand the wait and rips your shirt from neckline to waist. No point in wasting a good shirt

 

Such behavior, however, would NOT be appropriate for this beauty. This is a pen to go with a slow, seductive unwrapping of the beautifully packaged male. Happy sigh.

 

Thank you for sharing this piece of art. Love what you had done with the nib - it really suits your writing.

 

Morning GP -

 

Finishing up my second cup of coffee, and saw your kind comment on the Pope Julius, et al.

 

A. Yeah, this is my absolute favorite Binder nib. The fabled Nibmeister said he did something "special" to this nib, a bit different than the handful of other Cursive Italics he ground for me that weekend.

 

B. My tailor has plenty of spare buttons (some of which are Mother of Pearl).

Edited January 14, 2009 by yachtsilverswan

[Izzy]

Ray,

 

Superb review and stunning pictures of a beautiful pen.

 

Thanks for sharing, I hope I can afford one of those one day.

 

Kind regards

NIGEL

[yachtsilverswan]

Great review! Fitting for such a lovely pen. If you have time, you should review some of your other pens too, like the Divine Proportions.

 

PRAG

 

Good morning PRAG -

 

Just trying to save these German beauties from the pen-eating gator family in your neighborhood.

 

Yeah our resident Visconti dealer and FPN member Bryant just sourced me a factory broad DP. I really should do a handwriting sample of that ultra-smooth wide nib before I have it converted to a broad cursive italic. The Viscontis seem to have the smoothest out-of-the-box glassy nibs in my small stable of experience.

 

Thanks for reading and for sharing my enthusiasm for this handsome pen.

 

[yachtsilverswan]

Ray,

 

Superb review and stunning pictures of a beautiful pen.

 

Thanks for sharing, I hope I can afford one of those one day.

 

Kind regards

NIGEL

 

Morning (at least on this side of the pond) Nigel -

 

I could not have afforded a pen like the PJ 888 when I was in school, or when I was beginning practice. But I'm very fortunate. I love what I do, and after twenty years have become passingly good at it. And so now I have a few toys.

 

I really like the deco look of the Waterman Edson pen you have in your profile. That inlaid nib gives the pen a sleek 1930s style that really appeals to me. You have great taste.

 

 

 

[Ghost Plane]

Yacht,

Whatever special got done to that nib, it definitely needs reproducing on more of your nibs. The effect is stunning on an already stunning pen!

 

Glad to hear there's a good supply of buttons. You keep posting reviews like this and you're going to need them.

[Aslan]

Ray

 

Yes, the pen is, well, beautiful (understatement); while it is a bit overstated for my tastes, it is a stunning work of art. I must comment on how much I enjoyed reading your exhaustive review. Very nicely done, Sir. The gravitas of this pen work of art warrants such a review.

 

The only thing more enjoyable in this thread: GP's steamy posts!

 

[Izzy]

Morning (at least on this side of the pond) Nigel -

 

I could not have afforded a pen like the PJ 888 when I was in school, or when I was beginning practice. But I'm very fortunate. I love what I do, and after twenty years have become passingly good at it. And so now I have a few toys.

 

I really like the deco look of the Waterman Edson pen you have in your profile. That inlaid nib gives the pen a sleek 1930s style that really appeals to me. You have great taste.

 

Thanks for the compliments Ray,

 

Must admit the Edson Sapphire & Gold is superb and is my special occasion pen and does not get inked that often.

 

I was offered the Black Edson FP a few days ago by a business acquaintance at a bargain price, however, on closer inspection it was clearly a copy of inferior quality.

 

Kind regards

NIGEL

 

 

[yachtsilverswan]

Ray

 

Yes, the pen is, well, beautiful (understatement); while it is a bit overstated for my tastes, it is a stunning work of art. I must comment on how much I enjoyed reading your exhaustive review. Very nicely done, Sir. The gravitas of this pen work of art warrants such a review.

 

The only thing more enjoyable in this thread: GP's steamy posts!

 

Morning Aslan -

 

I suspect some of the more conservative suits at Montblanc may have missed a design meeting, and this little jewel slipped through without being toned down.

 

No doubt this ornate pen is an over-the-top design. To be frank, that fits with parts of my personality - parts that get exercised every now and again.

 

And a pen this flashy would look silly in most day-to-day circumstances. My understated MB 149 gets much more pocket time than does my PJ.

 

But pulled from the jacket pocket of a well tailored three-button suit or tuxedo, the pen somehow fits.

 

There aren't many proper opportunities for a Southern Gentleman to show a little color, a little flash - cufflinks, wristwatch, braces, necktie/bowtie - and his pen.

 

Oh - and I'll do my best to keep my back-and-forths with the gentle lady from Florida in PG mode.

Edited January 14, 2009 by yachtsilverswan

[oracle202]

This is why once my trust fund comes in I am giving up this forum.

 

[yachtsilverswan]

This is why once my trust fund comes in I am giving up this forum.

 

Very prudent Anthony.

 

Of course an even better plan is to put that quick mind and sterling education to work to become wealthy enough to create and leave trust funds to others.

 

Thanks for drooling with me.

Edited January 14, 2009 by yachtsilverswan

[RedRob]

Congratulations on your beautiful pen and thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough and interesting review. Here are a few comments.

 

I'm not sure the Atelier versions look very good and your 888 is definitely the nicest iteration of the Pope Julius. Besides that rich and warm combination of red and gold, the cap seems proportionate to the size of the barrel, whereas I feel it looks too large on the white 4810 version (like an overgrowth).

 

It is interesting that they haven't filled the guilloche with lacquer and I concur that it gives the pen a lot more contrast.

 

I agree that those diamonds on the clip are probably distracting at first, but then they do seem to fit in with the wealth of the overall decor. Would the pen have been too sober had rubies been used instead on the clip?

 

I didn't know MB used ebonite feeds on their modern (XXI century) pens. Maybe they are as exclusive as those MOP snowcaps.

 

If words should carry weight, then those 79g are indeed well placed. Besides, weight should not be an issue when appreciating such a work of art.

 

I do agree that such a sumptuous pen should lay down a thick and characterful line. A broad nib with Mr Binder's italic modification looks like an excellent choice.

 

PS Is that divine proportion something usefull in fountain pens?

Edited January 14, 2009 by RedRob

[yachtsilverswan]

Congratulations on your beautiful pen and thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough and interesting review. Here are a few comments.

 

I'm not sure the Atelier versions look very good and your 888 is definitely the nicest iteration of the Pope Julius. Besides that rich and warm combination of red and gold, the cap seems proportionate to the size of the barrel, whereas I feel it looks too large on the white 4810 version (like an overgrowth).

 

It is interesting that they haven't filled the guilloche with lacquer and I concur that it gives the pen a lot more contrast.

 

I agree that those diamonds on the clip are probably distracting at first, but then they do seem to fit in with the wealth of the overall decor. Would the pen have been too sober had rubies been used instead on the clip?

 

I didn't know MB used ebonite feeds on their modern (XXI century) pens. Maybe they are as exclusive as those MOP snowcaps.

 

If words should carry weight, then those 79g are indeed well placed. Besides, weight should not be an issue when appreciating such a work of art.

 

I do agree that such a sumptuous pen should lay down a thick and characterful line. A broad nib with Mr Binder's italic modification looks like an excellent choice.

 

PS Is that divine proportion something usefull in fountain pens?

 

Hey Rob -

 

Thanks for taking time to write such informed comments.

 

I agree that, for my taste, the 888 has a better look than the Atelier design. I think the Atielier editions are 18 k white gold, or platinum, but I could not confirm that independently, so I didn't put it in my review.

 

I initially went to the MB Boutique to look at the 4810 edition, but I agree with you - I was underwhelmed by the look of the 4810 pen. The 4810 edition just does not have the intricate detail to pull off a rich, ornate look. But many disagree with me. Each to his own.

 

I added the Divine Proportion ratio measurements just for fun. I just love the math, science, and biology themes behind Visconti's Divina Proporzione pen, and as you know Visconti includes a Phi Caliper with the pen to measure the divine ratio in nature. I used the caliper to amuse and annoy friends by objectively quantifying their personal congruity with Phi standards of symmetry and proportion. But it is true that there is something hardwired into our interpretation of beauty - across all cultures we perceive and interpret beauty in a way that seems mathematically dependent on this weird little ratio and on symmetry. I posted a couple of little rants on Phi in replies to GoodGuy's Review of the Divina Proporzione LE:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...st&p=804527

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...st&p=804631

 

Wicked cool stuff. Makes the knees go weak in a math, science, or biology major.

 

Thanks again for taking time to comment on my review.

Edited January 14, 2009 by yachtsilverswan

[ZillaGTO]

As a new convert to this wonderful hobby (this is my 2nd post) I have to add that reviews like this are one of the reasons I had to allow myself to be taken in by the art and beauty of the pen.

 

Certainly a pen like this is the equivalent of a fine automobile that costs many hundreds of thousands of dollars. While I may not have one (yet), I sleep better knowing that they are out there and like said automobile I love it all the more when they are being used!

 

Thank you for sharing.

 

Ryan