Chatterley Montegrappa Legacy Extra Large Bamboo Celluloid Limited Edition Fountain Pen
This pen has been used with care; it comes with its box and documents. It is equipped with an 18-karat gold nib (size "Fine", No. 8) and uses a "Power Push" filling system.
This is the limited edition "Montegrappa Legacy Extra Power Push". This collection is available in 24 varieties of celluloid, many of which are now completely, or almost completely, sold out.
A word about celluloid, a rare material highly prized by collectors: although it has been used in pen manufacturing for over a century, it is no longer produced today. The constraints associated with its manufacture and curing process make it practically impossible to produce. This material is highly toxic to work with and extremely flammable; therefore, even if a manufacturer capable of producing the large quantities required were found, the costs would be astronomical. The minimum quantities required for a single model or color are such that they would allow for the manufacture of thousands of pens. Furthermore, celluloid must undergo a curing phase in the form of sheets—a process that can last several years, with no guarantee that the result will be optimal. Premature cutting would ruin the material, and the celluloid would risk warping shortly after the pen is shaped.
Once the celluloid has matured, it is cut into bars and then shaped into different parts. These parts must then undergo another curing phase: at Montegrappa, for example, they are placed in a low-temperature oven for at least one year to ensure perfect quality and exceptional durability. It therefore takes about 3 to 4 years—and a substantial financial investment for a single color—before one can hope for a return on investment, and that is provided the entire curing process goes correctly. For all these reasons, no one produces genuine cellulose nitrate anymore; the existing stocks are therefore all that remains.
Below you will find a photograph of the curing oven at Montegrappa, taken during our visit in April 2019. As you can see, the celluloid was stored there for several years of curing, thus guaranteeing impeccable quality.
This collection is a tribute to the beauty of celluloid!
The pen features a "Power Filler" filling system, which differs from the classic piston mechanism found on the "Extra" model. You access the "Power Filler" system through the central part of the section, as illustrated below.
Each celluloid variant features, on its clip, a tastefully engraved emblem—reminiscent of a class ring—and is adorned with an elegant stone matching the color of the material. This engraving indicates the year as well as the name of one of the most remarkable and prestigious pen models for which this celluloid was used. Each celluloid edition is limited and numbered, with only 10 copies.