Montblanc No. 285 Clip Vintage Lever Ballpoint Pen, Unused – Mint in Box with Papers, Germany 1970s

An exceptionally well-preserved example of the vintage Montblanc N° 285 ballpoint pen, produced in Germany during the 1970s.

The 285 is distinguished by its unusual clip-operated lever mechanism. Rather than using a conventional push button or twist action, the clip itself serves as the lever for extending and retracting the writing point.

Its slender profile, contrasting bark finishes and clean modernist styling make it a particularly attractive example of 1970s Montblanc design.

The cap has a finely textured silver bark finish, complemented by a black ebony bark-finish barrel and highly polished metal trim.

The contrasting silver and black surfaces give the pen an elegant and distinctive appearance, while the traditional white Montblanc snowcap emblem crowns the end of the pen.

The cap band is clearly marked: Montblanc N° 285

The pen has never been used and remains in mint vintage condition.

• Original barrel sticker still present
• No cracks
• No visible damage
• Clean and clearly legible Montblanc marking
• Original white Montblanc snowcap emblem
• Original presentation box
• Original papers

The survival of the original factory sticker, presentation box and papers makes this a particularly complete and desirable example.

The enlarged photographs form an important part of the description and allow the pen’s excellent condition, textured finishes and original accessories to be examined in detail.

A DISTINCTIVE 1970s MONTBLANC With its unusual clip-lever mechanism, contrasting Silver Bark and Ebony Bark finishes and remarkably complete unused presentation, this Montblanc N° 285 is an especially attractive example for the Montblanc collector—or for anyone seeking a distinctive vintage writing instrument from one of the company’s most interesting design periods.

Montblanc’s origins date to 1906, when technician August Eberstein joined Hamburg entrepreneurs Alfred Nehemias and Claus-Johannes Voss in developing a new line of reliable writing instruments.

Their first pen, introduced in 1909, was called the Rouge et Noir. The following year, the name Montblanc was adopted, inspired by Europe’s highest Alpine peak, while the white snowcap emblem became the company’s enduring trademark.

In 1924, Montblanc introduced the Meisterstück, the model that would become its best-known writing instrument.

Produced in Germany during the 1970s, the Montblanc No. 285 offered here belongs to a later period of clean, modern design. Its contrasting bark finishes and unusual clip-operated mechanism make it a distinctive expression of that era.