Although her novels were published anonymously at the time, Jane Austen is celebrated today as one of the greatest novelists in English literature, and her works like Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma are studied and admired worldwide inspiring numerous films, television series, and stage productions. Over 200 years after her death, her literary legacy lives on through new generations who appreciate the irony, elegant prose, and realistic social observation that characterize her novels. This year, Jane Austen is the muse for Montblanc’s new Writers Edition and is probably one of the most successful editions so far.
Each writing instrument in this collection tells a story of Austen’s passions, with the designs capturing the essence of the countryside, the house, travel, and the ball, reflecting the different facets of her life and work. Drawing inspiration from the wax seal Austen used for her 3,000 letters she wrote during her lifetime, each pen takes the shape of a wax seal. Three of the editions bear the words “By a Lady” on the cap top, a nod to how she originally signed Sense and Sensibility, while the fourth proudly displays her real name.
The nib design features a silhouette of Jane Austen, reminiscent of Regency and Victorian shadow portraits, and the clip is styled after the band of a reticule, a charming pouch-like handbag from the Regency era. Each detail brings us closer to the world Austen lived in and loved.
Let’s take a closer look to each edition.
Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen – Limited Edition
The Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen Limited Edition encapsulates the essence of the author’s countryside life and her deep love of nature. Given that many pivotal scenes in her novels take place outdoors, the countryside serves as a perfect muse for this limited edition.
The barrel is designed to resemble the shape of a classical column from a Hampshire-style building and features Austen’s signature. The yellow gold-coated fittings and clip evoke the colors of Hampshire’s flag. The solid Au 750 rhodium-coated gold nib is adorned with a shadow portrait silhouette of Austen, paying tribute to her legacy. The cap’s pattern mirrors the dark blue double-collared coats of Regency gentlemen, such as Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
The cap ring presents a floral design and the inscription “XLIII,” a nod to Chapter 43 of the same novel, where Elizabeth first sees Pemberley Woods. This floral design also surrounds the Montblanc emblem on the cap top, which is inscribed with “By a Lady,” the pseudonym Austen used for her first published novel, Sense and Sensibility.
Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen – Limited Edition 1813
With its limitation number reflecting the publication year of Pride and Prejudice, the Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen Limited Edition 1813 is a heartfelt tribute to Jane Austen’s home in Chawton, Hampshire. This charming house is where Austen’s literary genius truly blossomed, and where she wrote, revised, and published her six timeless novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Today, it’s a delightful museum that offers a glimpse into Austen’s world and her extraordinary legacy.
The barrel of this edition is made from precious hornbeam wood, inspired by a Regency and Victorian era piano in Austen’s home, adding a touch of historical elegance. The yellow gold-coated cap, with its frame and panel pattern, mirrors the design of the house’s fireplace and is adorned with a beautiful floral motif. The solid Au 750 gold bi-color nib is engraved with a shadow portrait silhouette of Austen, capturing her enduring spirit. The yellow gold-coated cone, engraved with a floral pattern, along with the clip and fittings, evokes the golden hues of Hampshire’s flag.
One of my favorite details is the cap ring, which showcases Austen’s signature and the inscription “XXXIV,” a subtle nod to Chapter 34 of Pride and Prejudice, where Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth—such a pivotal moment in the novel. The floral motif continues on the cap top ring, beautifully tying the design together. The cap top itself is crowned with the Montblanc emblem crafted from Mother-of-pearl, inspired by piano keys, and surrounded by a floral pattern and Austen’s famous words, “By a Lady.”
The Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen Limited Edition 97
Limited to only 97 pieces worldwide, this edition showcases Austen’s adventurous spirit and love for travel. Her lively letters to her sister, filled with detailed and humorous descriptions of her journeys, show just how much she enjoyed exploring the world—a trait she passed on to many of her heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility.
One of the most captivating details of this edition is the barrel, crafted from dégradé lacquer with a wavy pattern that mimics the flow of horsehair, a nod to the era of horse travel during Austen’s lifetime. This design is enhanced by a solid Au 750 gold, ruthenium-coated skeleton structure that represents a horse’s harness, adding a touch of historical charm to the overall design of the pen.
The cap, made from yellow English cowhide leather and featuring a solid Au 750 gold, ruthenium-coated inlay, is inspired by the luxurious interiors of a traveling coach. I particularly love the initials “JA” on the cap, taken from the lettering on Austen’s letterbox—it’s such subtle detail.
The solid Au 750 gold bi-color nib is another standout feature: it is decorated with an embossed shadow portrait silhouette of Jane Austen, this time with a traveling hat – a lovely tribute to her journeys and the joy she found in them. The cap ring, made from ruthenium-coated solid Au 750 gold, bears Austen’s signature and the inscription “LVI,” a reference to Chapter 56 of Pride and Prejudice, where Lady Catherine de Bourgh confronts Elizabeth in her carriage.
On the cap top sits the Montblanc emblem in solid Au 750 signature gold, surrounded by a floral pattern and Austen’s iconic words “By a Lady.”
Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen – Limited Edition 8
Last but not least, the most coveted edition of this collection only comes in 8 copies and pays tribute to the vibrant world of balls that Jane Austen so vividly portrays in her novels. These social gatherings, where decorum and passion intertwine, are especially central in Pride and Prejudice, showcasing the evolving relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
What I find pretty impressive is the time Montblanc has dedicated to researching the most symbolic motifs in Jane Austen’s life such as the feather motif on the cap and barrel, inspired by a decorative needle case Austen gifted to her niece, Louisa Knight. Crafted from solid Au 750 signature gold, set with diamonds and precious stone inlays, this motif is interpreted in a mosaic featuring handmade inlays of yellow sapphires, turquoise, and brilliant-cut diamonds. The intricate net pattern below the stone setting mimics the delicate lace dresses worn by Regency and Victorian women at these lavish balls—such a lovely detail!
The forepart and fittings are crafted from solid Au 750 signature gold, while the upper barrel ring features turquoise-colored lacquer, reminiscent of both Austen’s birthstone of December and her beloved turquoise ring.
The solid Au 750 bi-color gold nib is finely engraved with the portrait of Jane Austen wearing her ball jewelry. The cap top, decorated with a Mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem is surrounded by blue lacquer, solid Au 750 signature gold inlays, and crowned with a ruby.
Adding a delightful personal touch, the cap top ring features the names of the Bennet sisters and a ruby set as a rhombus. The cap ring, made from solid Au 750 signature gold, is engraved with the quote, “To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love,” from Pride and Prejudice. This quote perfectly captures the spirit of the balls that Austen adored.
The clip, inspired by the band of a reticule, is coated with signature gold and set with a baguette-cut citrine, reminiscent of a pendant worn by the author. The cone, made from solid Au 750 signature gold and set with a turquoise cabochon, features engraved instructions for a contemporary country dance. The turquoise cabochon on the cone marks Mr. Darcy’s position, while the ruby embedded in the cap top ring stands for Elizabeth.
The collection is available at any Montblanc authorized retailer. For more, get in touch with yours.
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