Parker “Bird” Roller Ball Pen, Limited Series (04 of 35), Sterling Silver, France 1980

Exceedingly Beautiful and Exclusive ** Vintage New Old Stock Parker Pen “Bird” Limited Series (Numbered 04 of 35) Sterling Silver and Enamel Ballpoint Pen, France 1980 **

In the early 1980s, Parker Pen Company France’s CEO, Pierre Laffly, personally designed for the Company, a prestigious solid sterling silver and enamel roller ball pen targeted to compete with Montblanc. Two models were executed: one in smooth silver, with an enamel stripe on either side and a second one in fluted silver. Parker had great expectations for these new pens, producing a limited hand-crafted series of 35 pens to start with. However, manufacturing costs, even for such a luxury model, were deemed excessively high and the pen was never broadly commercialised.

Thereafter, in 1989, when Parker sponsored the International Antique Pen Salon and Auction in Geneva Switzerland, the Company decided to confide this “Limited Edition” for auction. Each of the pens was numbered with two examples being retained by Parker for their company archives.

This pen is accompanied by a Certificate from Parker France, provided in 1993, testifying to the origin of this very exclusive piece.

• Overall length: 13.5 cm / 5 inches
• Hallmarked: Sterling silver
• Condition: Mint. Never used. Fully tested

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Parker Pen Company history

The Parker Pen Company was founded by George S. Parker in 1888. Dissatisfied with the pens available at the time, Parker’s mission was to produce an eminently reliable pen. This tradition continued admirably in the decades that ensued, with the Company becoming the number one leader in writing instrument sales from 1920 through the 1960s.

Parker also continued to regularly revolutionize the fountain pen and all that accompanied it. In 1931 Parker launched Quink, an ink that did away with the need for blotters. This breakthrough also paved the way for Parker’s launch in 1941 of the Parker 51, that would go on to become the most popular fountain pen of all times.

The Parker Pen Company also came to epitomize prestige, as well as the highest standards of craftsmanship, technology and design. As such, Parker pens were frequently selected to sign important documents, including the Armistice following World War II and the INF Treaty between President Ronald Regan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987.