The New Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collection

“Elementary, my dear Watson!” a famous quote by Sherlock Holmes. Surprisingly, these words were never written by the author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, nor did Sherlock Holmes ever utter them! It’s a little like when the famous quote from Darth Vadar was misconstrued; “Luke, I am your father”. It was never actually said. More to the point, the actual phrase was “No, I am your father“. But some facts are true about the Scottish-born Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) who wrote 60 stories about the fictional detective.  Like the fact that he studied medicine, trained as a doctor, received a knighthood and has now had a special writing instrument named in honour of his legacy.

In this post, we’ll be taking a look at the new Montblanc writing instruments from the Writer’s Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection. A luxurious brown and grey precious resin version and two solid white gold iterations. Meet the new Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection.

The Montblanc Writers Edition collection

The Montblanc Writers Edition collection is rather unique since the designs from this range will either appeal to you or not depending on the edition in question. That said, there are many exquisite features in the design of each of these writing instruments, so whether or not you were a fan of Virginia Woolf, or took an interest in the life and work of Antoine de Saint Exupery, or enjoyed the work of Oscar Wilde - Montblanc writing instruments are luxury products that, like the rest of the manufacturer’s range of delights, can be enjoyed for their beauty first and foremost. The Writers Edition collection by Montblanc is a series home to a whole host of designs dedicated to some of the world’s most influential people of all time, Arthur Conan Doyle included.

Throughout his writing career, Arthur Conan Doyle penned a total of 200 novels, historical books and poems. This body of work was driven by his passion for storytelling, combined with his unquenchable thirst for travelling, exploring and adventure-seeking. Having visited the Arctic and Africa, as well as volunteering as a doctor during the Boyle War and later earning himself a knighthood from King Edward VII for his services – the life, sights and experiences of his ventures are captured in his still-popular written work. One of the most successful examples of Arthur Conan Doyle’s contributions, however, was his Sherlock Holmes tales of which are commemorated proudly in these Montblanc Writers Edition pens.

Why are Montblanc writing instruments so special?

Montblanc is a world-renowned manufacturer of luxury writing instruments, impeccable timepieces and indulgent leather goods. The company spans back to the earlier 1900s and is synonymous with the  history of the modern fountain pen. One fountain pen, in particular, is the Rouge et Noir, which for its time, was considered an outstanding technical achievement in the world of luxury writing instruments back in 1906. Additionally, Montblanc released the Meisterstuck No. 149, one of the world’s most recognizable writing instruments to date. And what symbol bears the expertise and craftsmanship associated with this prestigious brand? No other than the floating star emblem. The motif has long been associated with Montblanc’s revolutionary approach to crafting luxury products but also represents the highest peak in Europe – Mont Blanc itself. This peak measures 4810 meters above sea level.  The white star emblem is a nod to this snowcapped peak and has featured as a recurring emblem throughout the whole of Montblanc catalogue, including those of the Writers Edition collection.

The four new writing instruments from the Montblanc Writers Edition collection pay homage to the famous author and the many people, events and stories he inspired throughout his lifetime. The elegantly sculpted fountain pens are each hand-crafted in Montblanc’s facilities and reflect the creative and cultural influence Doyle had on some of the world’s most successful literary figures to be born after him.

Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Writers Edition grey resin

First up is the grey fountain pen with a barrel and cap crafted from dark grey precious resin and embellished with a pattern based on the original Sherlock Holmes tartan. Other significant milestones in the author’s career are highlighted in excerpts from an old street map of Victorian London, which is also featured on the resin barrel. These include “Upper Wimpole Street” where Doyle’s medical practice resided and “Baker Street” where Sherlock Holmes lived. Ruthenium coated fittings feature throughout the svelte design of this new Montblanc Writers Edition Conan Doyle fountain pen. Behind the clip are a set of initials, JB – these refer to Joshua Bell – the inspiration behind the Sherlock Holmes character. A portrait of the author and Pterodactyl dinosaurs from “The Lost World” has been meticulously engraved into the surface of a solid Au750 gold nib, and finished with a ruthenium coating. Lastly, the cap of the new Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pen features Doyle’s signature along with a reference to the date and year in which Doyle received copyright of his Sherlock Holmes tale.

Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 1902

The brown precious resin used for the barrel and cap of this stunning Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1902 fountain pen imitates Sherlock Holmes’ pipe along with a limited edition number between 1 and 1,902 pieces. (Montblanc has also released a total of 1,902 rollerballs.) This special number is significant of the first publishing date of one of Doyle’s most famous Sherlock Holmes novels - The Hound of Baskervilles. The same landmark locations are represented on the surface of the brown-coloured precious resin as seen in the grey fountain pen. The cap top and cone also evoke Holmes’ smoking pipe. A special engraving of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a magnifying glass can be admired on the solid gold nib, whilst the detailing on the cap ring reveals the date Doyle opened a Psychic book shop in London with his wife: “February 1925”. To finish, a silhouette of a hound from The Hound of The Baskervilles can be spotted behind the clip, glowing richly when viewed in the dark thanks to special Super-LumiNova-coated finishes.

Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 97

The Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 97 refers to the year 1897 in which Doyle created many of his most famous pieces of work, including The Hound of Baskervilles. Its solid white gold skeletonized overlay makes for a particularly beautiful finish, while the landmarks highlighted in the design of this iteration include “Victoria Street” where he and his wife opened their psychic bookshop. A moveable magnifying glass clip reveals the initials of the author as they were seen on the stained glass window of Undershaw. “A NEW STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN” was an article written by Doyle on spiritualism. This can be seen on the cap top, whilst the rhodium and ruthenium-coated solid white gold nib, this time, bears an engraved portrait of Conan Doyle and a ship´s mast from the short story The Captain of the Pole Star. Other features of this Writers Edition fountain pen include the date “March 21, 1927” engraved into the cap ring. This date is in reference to the publishing date of his Pheneas Speaks book, outlining his spiritual encounters.

Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 8

Lastly, the Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Limited Edition 8 fountain pen commemorates Doyle’s spirit of exploration during his younger years, namely when the author was offered a ship’s surgeon post on a whaling boat setting sail for the Arctic Circle. In this design, three-dimensional icebergs are emblazoned into solid Au 750 white gold and surrounded by translucent blue lacquer reminiscent of the Arctic’s icy waters. The ACD initials can be found on the moveable magnifying clip, along with a diamond-pave Montblanc emblem, and a special engraving of “I CAME OF AGE AT 80º NORTH LATITUDE”, seen on the cap top ring. The vine from the “A Study in Scarlet” logo, as well as the first publication date of The Captain of the Pole Star: “January 1883” can both be admired in the cap ring. Finally, a yellow engraving of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and a ship´s mast taken from The Captain of the Pole Star is engrained into the pen’s Au 750 solid white gold nib.

If you would like any more information on the beautiful fountain pens from the new Montblanc Writers Edition Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection, you can call our store here on 01335 453453 or take a more detailed look online here.