Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen 1813, Fountain pen 130682 * Montblanc

Description:

The only known silhouette of Jane Austen, showing her delicate features, is finely engraved on bicolour, solid AU 750 gold nib. Limited to just 1813 pieces—a nod to the year Pride and Prejudice was published—the Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen honors the masterful wordsmith whose subtle wit, acute observation, and sharp intellect continue to resonate worldwide.

The Rhodium-coated clip of the Writers Edition Homage to Jane Austen LE 1813 is as unique as its cap. Shaped like a braided cord with a drawstring closure, it resembles a reticule (pouch) used to carry powder, a mirror, and an indispensable pocket handkerchief.

The title page of her first novel, Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, declared the work to be written “By a Lady.” These words adorn the wooden inlay of the cap top, surrounding the Montblanc Emblem in mother of pearl.
The writing instrument itself resembles a wax seal stamp, similar to the one Jane Austen might have used to seal the over 3000 handwritten letters she is thought to have sent.

This edition transports us to the picturesque town of Hampshire, where, from 1809, Jane Austen found the tranquility and inspiration to complete and publish her famous novels. Her delight at the beautiful square piano she purchased when she moved to her small cottage in Chawton inspired the design of the barrel, made of precious hornbeam wood. The gold-coated cap, echoing the historic wall paneling and fireplace at Jane Austen’s home, harmonizes beautifully with the barrel.

The cap ring is inscribed with the Roman numerals XXXIV, signifying the chapter in Pride and Prejudice where the excessively proud Mr. Darcy proposes to the wise and independent protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet.

Although Jane Austen did not achieve the fame and recognition in her lifetime that she enjoys today, she was celebrated as one of the greatest authors of her time just a few years after her premature death in 1817. Her written legacy, comprising six completed novels, a handful of short stories, and countless letters, may not be vast, but its impact is profound. Translated into dozens of languages, Austen’s work has not only conquered world literature but continues to inspire literary adaptations and successful theater, film, TV productions, and festivals. Her legacy is also commemorated through items like the two-pound coin issued for the 200th anniversary of her death, featuring her silhouette. Silhouette portraiture, typical of the Regency and Victorian periods, captured the natural contours of a face long before photography.