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Counterfeit features of the F. Scott Fitzgerald
The reproduction of the F. Scott Fitzgerald that surfaced in 2004 changed hands in an internet auction for 234.52 euros, far below the retail price of a Writers Edition. The packaging alone is striking: the book-shaped outer box is labelled for a ballpoint pen, although a fountain pen lies inside.
The filling system is decisive. The genuine F. Scott Fitzgerald is a piston filler; the copy is a cartridge or converter pen whose barrel is translucent, whereas the original is made of black precious resin on the inside. In the barrel of the copy there is also a Bohème lettering, which has no place on this model, and the section too recalls a Bohème in its shape.
Further features: the nib is not platinum-plated and bears a completely different stamping. Montblanc does not inscribe nibs with IRIDIUM POINT, and a PARIS is pure invention; the nibs of the Writers Editions always bear 4810, 18 KT and the year of the edition. The cap of the copy is almost straight instead of rounded, cannot be posted securely on the barrel and in doing so leaves the black conical area exposed; the cap bands look chrome-coloured, whereas the original has bands of silver. On these counterfeits the limitation number always reads 04602 / 16500, although the edition size comprised 14,000 fountain pens and 4,500 sets. The clip is made of bent sheet metal. Later the same counterfeits also appeared in blue, black and red.
Source: Comparison report, original versus fake · Original issue as PDF › · Photo comparison, original versus fake ›