The Octavian is one of the sought-after Montblanc limited editions and has consistently changed hands in four figures, even second-hand. As of 2009, a complete example in flawless condition at 2,500 euros was regarded among collectors as a bargain; the figure then quoted as the lower benchmark for a good piece was closer to 2,700 euros, and considerably higher asking prices were also to be seen on the market. The fact that a pen is no longer sealed and has already seen ink does little to depress the price of this edition, as long as it is undamaged.
Completeness is decisive: besides the pen itself, the original case, the outer box and the accompanying papers all belong to the package, and with limited editions in particular missing paperwork tells on the price more than it does with production models. There is no official price list for the second-hand market; market value follows solely from sales actually concluded. Anyone looking to buy should therefore follow offers and hammer prices for a few weeks and read every price figure against the year it dates from, since the level for limited editions can shift considerably.