› fountainpen.de FAQ Overview Vintage Finder Counterfeits DE ›

What does the lying J (or the letters D, E) on old Montblanc special nibs of 14K mean?

General questions on writing instruments Fountain-pen nibs FAQ entry

Since at Montblanc no original documentation from this time has survived, the meaning of the letters can today no longer be unambiguously clarified. In the 1920s several makers (possibly Kaweco, Soennecken) also offered J nibs to which certain writing properties were ascribed. A confusion with a reversed 1 for left-hander nibs does not exist; for left-handers these nibs are not designed.

Note: The fountainpen.de FAQ knowledge base is based on collector discussions from over 20 years. Specific market prices may be outdated — the underlying methodology remains valid. Back to FAQ overview ›

« Browse all FAQ entries