Skip to main content

This auction has ended. View lot details

You may also be interested in

Lot 1090

ASTORIA: Huge No. 6 "Goliath" Button-Filler Safety Pen, c.1935

16 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San Francisco

Sold for US$4,375 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

ASTORIA: Huge No. 6 "Goliath" Button-Filler Safety Pen, c.1935

Vintage Astoria No. 6 "Goliath" push-button filler, black and pearl marbled celluloid, two gold-plated cap rings, Astoria "racing flag" captop emblem, 14K gold #6 Astoria nib with heart vent. 125mm. Excellent condition, fully operational with newly replaced rubber sac.

Astoria was founded in 1921 by Montblanc's director of production, George Ilgner. The new company enjoyed immediate success offering pens that were as well-made and attractive as Montblancs. In 1932, Astoria was bought by Montblanc, who continued selling pens under the Astoria imprint until 1936.

Jens Rösler comments:
"This amazing pen was a gift from Mr. Sigmund Popper (an important financial backer of Astoria) to my grandfather Ernst Rösler, several years after Astoria was bought by Montblanc. After the company acquired Astoria, Mr. Popper worked as an agent of Montblanc. The pen is near mint and quite rare in this condition."

Provenance: From the Jens Rösler Montblanc Collection.

-Wallrafen, Stefan & Jens Rösler. Collectible Stars I: Montblanc 1908-1947. [Cologne: 2014], pp. 140-141. The present lot is the actual example pictured in the book.
-Lambrou, Andreas. Fountain Pens of the World. [Westchester: 2005], p. 256.

Additional information

Bid now on these items

WATERMAN: Black & Gold Rollerball & Mechanical Pencil Pair