Dear Readers,
Today I want to present two pens made by one of Italian first pen manufacturer. The company has been established in May 1918 by two brothers, Eugenio and Alfredo Verga. They have started with black ebonite Safety Pen N. 1. Through the years they have introduced new overlays, new materials (celluloid), new designs (some were inspired by Eversharp skyline, Waterman 42 or famous Parker 51), new filling systems (lever filler, the reverse syringe). Pens were reasonably priced with good quality so trademark was well recognised not only on home market but also internationally. The company has survived difficult years (including the bombing of the production site in Milan) and has reborn under new owners in the beginning of the ninties.
In 1929 Columbus introduced new Extra line, name which has evolved into designation of premium, high end models.
Today I wil present two desk pens Columbus Extra 14. They are enormously long 192 mm (green pearl and black) and 196 mm (gray pearl and black) this means that there is a lot of the pen. Due to material which is celluloid they are light 16,2 g (green pearl and black) and 15,9 g (gray pearl and black).
Beautifull, big, flexible “F” 14K (585) gold nibs, produced by Columbus, with engraved name Columbus Extra 152 (I do not know what does 152 stands for) and 585.
Some interesting rumours are about the second pen, especially about celluloid, which is supposed to be produced exclusivelly for Montblanc by Bayer, is it true? How does it happen that Columbus got it also? If anyone has more information, sources, photos, marketing materials about this model I will be very gratefull for possibility of getting familiar with it.
Filling system – lever filler with brand new rubber ink sac
Stand used in photos unfortunatelly is not produced by Columbus, it was used only as a photo prop.
Please take look at the celluloid, in reality it looks much better.
This is how Columbus looks in comparison with modern design.
Columbus pens compose nicely with stationery, of course Italian one.
Both Columbus pens are beautifull and in an ideal condition. This is what you can call a vintage charm.
Not only pens 
One of the biggest surprises with Columbus is the quality. It gives the sense pens were made years ago. Theye were solid, well balanced and exhilarating! Thank you cery much for the article. A pleasure to read.
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Dear Marcin, thank you for your kind words. You are right but today you may also find nice and solid fountain pens for example Meisterstück collection from Montblanc or a few ones described on the blog.
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