Inheritance Help - (Apprently) Super Special Mont Banc Pen

[ze-newbie]

Hi FPN, I am so happy to have found this community. My uncle has passed sadly, and he has left me with an apparently rare Mont Blanc Fountain pen. I am struggling to find out how much they should be worth though. I would love some help. I don't write at all with fountain pens and I know he would love someone to keep enjoying it. He is from Munich, so it is an original from Germany. 
 

It says "Meisterstück 149" - with a little Diamond at the top

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated, I know nothing about Pens. 

 

Edited November 3, 2024 by ze-newbie
Found the answer to second question

[Heinkle]

It looks to be the 1999 75th anniversary 149. As ever, value will related to condition - if unused, can reach upwards of £700

[ze-newbie]

Thank you! It seems to be well used actually, there are signs of wear on the sides, he used to carry them everywhere with him. 

[NoType]

2 hours ago, ze-newbie said:

Hi FPN, I am so happy to have found this community. My uncle has passed sadly, and he has left me with an apparently rare Mont Blanc Fountain pen. I am struggling to find out how much they should be worth though. I would love some help. I don't write at all with fountain pens and I know he would love someone to keep enjoying it. He is from Munich, so it is an original from Germany. 
 

It says "Meisterstück 149" - with a little Diamond at the top

 

Your help would be greatly appreciated, I know nothing about Pens. 

 

@ze-newbie I am sorry for your loss.  May his memory be a blessing.

 

As @Heinkle has said, the pen in question is the 75 Years of Meisterstück Special Anniversary Edition, released in 1999.  

 

For an idea of pricing in the US, here are two listings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/126485635478?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=72PDYazwTUq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=AvepPp2_Rxa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

https://www.truphaeinc.com/products/montblanc-meisterstuck-149-75th-anniversary-special-edition-fountain-pen?srsltid=AfmBOooy5rwSBzIjOrq7nWkObbjAOSu8iPimamzquC7xw82uEZp_f0ID

This second link shows the 75th Anniversary nib, but discloses that this nib was exchanged for the standard 149 nib, which might explain its relatively lower price.

 

Both listings present pens in excellent-to-mint condition, so the well used example left to you by your uncle may have a lower market value than these pens above.

[Karmachanic]

I'd say, given its provenance, that it's worth keeping.

[CS388]

Sorry to hear of your uncle passing.

 

Yes, a valuable pen, indeed.

 

If you are comfortable with using internet auction sites, you could sell it by auction - most pens on these sites reach their natural value. 

Use plenty of photographs (as the ones you have already shown) which show its condition and it should sell very well. Might not reach the price of the mint examples (posted above) but should easily reach  the lower estimates (above).

And you can be pretty certain that the new owner will be someone who really wants it, so you'd be doing your uncle proud.

 

Good luck.

[a student]

11 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

I'd say, given its provenance, that it's worth keeping.

 

+1

[davisgt]

I agree.  When my grandfather died, the only item from his estate that I wanted was his harmonica.  I've kept it in my night stand next to my bed for decades.  It is as if I've kept an aspect of my grandfather close to me for a long time. 

[mulrich]

I'd recommend looking up a couple videos of how to use a fountain pen then giving it a try for a few months to see if it ends up being something you're interested in. If so, great! If not, you can try eBay but that comes with some risks. An easier alternative is consignment through a known used pen dealer. They'll charge fees but they will take care of all the details for you. 

 

Here's one option but there are several out there https://chatterleyluxuries.com/consignment-policies/

[CS388]

I recommended selling it because ze-newbie doesn't use fountain pens at all and he/she wanted someone to enjoy using it, in their uncle's memory.

 

Of course, should ze-newbie decide to keep it and have a go at using it, I'd be delighted.

If you're only going to have one fountain pen, a 75 years 149 would certainly do the job!

 

I think murich's advice is wiser than my previous auction advice (unless you're an experienced ebayer etc).

 

1 hour ago, mulrich said:

 An easier alternative is consignment through a known used pen dealer. They'll charge fees but they will take care of all the details for you.