For those in the know, the Graf von Faber-Castell Pen of the Year tells a story of an epoch and people whose deeds have made a strong impression on the history of mankind. This year, 2018, it centres on an empire that, step by step from the 8th century BC, extended over three continents: Europe, Africa, and Asia. Even today, in the early 3rd millennium, it still exerts immeasurable influence on our world: the Imperium Romanum.
According to legend, Rome was founded in the year 753 BC by Romulus, who had earlier been the subject of a remarkable drama: he and his twin brother Remus had been abandoned as infants but were discovered and suckled by a wolf. That was the start of a rise to fame without parallel in the ancient world. The city on the Tiber reached the zenith of its power in AD 117. Its vast field of influence extended from Scotland in the north to Nubia in Africa, from Portugal in the west to Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq. With its numerous peoples, the Roman empire embodied the idea of an “imperium sine fine”, a boundless empire, ruled from the “eternal city”. Rome’s symbol is the Colosseum: the legendary arena where the gladiators fought is an architectural wonder that has survived the changes and upheavals of the age.
For the ‘Imperium Romanum’ Pen of the Year 2018 two pens have been unveiled. Each individual pen is produced by hand with masterly skill in the Stephan jewel studios. Inserted between the marble segments of the " White Edition" barrel are platinum-plated rings decorated with laurel wreaths, symbolizing fame and success, and lending the pen its inimitable elegance. A further unusual detail in this edition is the elaborately worked cap with an engraving of the famous Colosseum and a miniature Roman penny (denarius). The denarius in the cap of this edition is modeled on a very rare silver coin from the year 44 BC depicting Caesar’s head.
The radiance of the “Black Edition” stands in fascinating contrast. In the search for a suitable opposite number to white statuario marble we made a lucky find in the Iberian peninsula, once part of the Roman empire. Nero Marquina from the Vizcaya (Biscay) region in the Basque country combines in a refined way a basic black colour with pronounced white veins. It harmonizes perfectly with the anthracite-grey titanium PVD coating that gives an ever-changing appearance in use. The fountain pen is fitted with a ruthenium-plated 18-carat gold nib, already run in by hand, which matches perfectly the very masculine appearance of the barrel. The cap of the “Black Edition” is also adorned by an engraving of the Colosseum and a miniature Roman penny (denarius). The platinum-plated fountain pen with its 18-carat gold nib is a limited edition of 400. Only 120 of the roller-ball pen are being made. The exclusive “Black Edition” is limited to 330 fountain pens and 100 roller-ball pens. All are individually numbered and come in a highly polished black wooden case. A certificate bearing the signature of Count Charles von Faber-Castell attests that these are all strictly limited editions.
Founded in the 18th century, by the middle of the 19th century Faber had grown to become the largest manufacturer of wood-cased black-lead and colour pencils. Baron Lothar von Faber turned the humble pencil into the world’s first brand-name writing implement and created a series of fascinating products that remain classics to this day.
To order these limited edition pens priced from €4,500.000 visit Graf von Faber-Castell on their web site (www.graf-von-faber-castell.com).
