Last week we were finally able to get our hands on the Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Rudyard Kipling Jungle green resin rollerball, and The “Tribute to IF” fountain pen. I must say, we really enjoyed our time with these beautiful pieces. The first thing I noticed when holding these pens, was the intricate detail and design that went into the creation of them.
If you did not know or couldn’t tell by the name, these pens take their main inspiration from Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”. The overall color is inspired by the cover of the book’s first U.S. edition. Let’s start with the special “Tribute To What IF“. I was worried at first that the metal would be too uncomfortable for use in hand. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the comfortability that this pen had to offer. The metal casing that covers jungle green resin does not weight the pen down at all. I never felt as if I was holding something heavy or comfortable at all in my hands. On the contrary, the smooth feel of the champagne gold coated metal seems to settle nicely in between your fingers.
The clip of the pen is special. The clip features an engraved wolves head inspired by the wolfpack that raised Mowgli. The feel of the metal tiger stripes in my hand were so comfortable, I felt like I was holding Mowgli’s hand running together with him in the jungle (albeit in better clothes of course). This special version comes as a fountain pen with some unique features. The nib is special on this one. Not only is RK signature etched into it, but also an elephant from the film. I personally prefer the broad nib, but you can choose whatever nib sizes suits your taste. Insider tip, If your not entirely satisfied with the nib Montblanc will replace it within 6 months.
The jungle green edition is just as beautiful without all the metal. I found that this version felt much more versatile. The impresses barrel of the pen was smooth to the touch and effortlessly blends to the natural grip of your hand. The good news is that this pen is available in fountain, rollerball and ballpoint. Personally from an aesthetic standpoint, I like this pen as a rollerball. Like “the Tribute to IF” the clip also features an engraved wolves head. In hand this pen felt simply amazing as well. Also Like the “Tribute to If” edition, the jungle green resin also has RK engraved in the side of the pen.
Like any piece of art, both pens are of limited quantity. The jungle green resin is limited to less than 17,000 pieces. The “Tribute to IF” edition is limited to less that 2000 pieces and rightly so.
We really fell in love with the look and feel of these pens, and the way the message and rich history blend into the details of the pen. Using this pen in our office setting to sign a few important documents, still somehow put a smile on all our faces. It reminded us of the the warmer easier times of our childhood. As I stare at this pen now in my personal collection, I can not help but think about King Louis from the Jungle book. with this pen everyone is going to “want to walk like you, talk like you” … well you get the point..
Specs:
Green Edition Clip Champagne-tone gold-coated with embossed wolf’s head
Barrel Champagne-tone gold-coated overlay on “jungle green” precious lacquer
Cap Champagne-tone gold-coated overlay on “jungle green” precious resin
Nib Hand-crafted Au750 / 18 K gold nib with special engraving
Limited Edition Clip Champagne-tone gold-coated with embossed wolf’s head
Barrel Champagne-tone gold-coated overlay on “jungle green” precious lacquer
Cap Champagne-tone gold-coated overlay on “jungle green” precious resin
Nib Hand-crafted Au750 / 18 K gold nib with special engraving