A Limited Edition pen is soon to be launched to mark this year’s significant Shakespeare milestone. Italian luxury pen makers Omas are creating the special writing instruments, which will go on sale on the 450th anniversary of his birth on April 23, under licence from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
The intricately-decorated pen, engraved with a range of images associated with the world’s greatest playwright, is made from oak and antique silver, with a cap showing the imprint of Shakespeare’s signet ring.
Only 450 Fountain Pens will be created, each retailing at £1,975, with a Rollerball being available at £1,965 and a solid gold version being made on demand for those enthusiasts who can afford the £38,000 retail price.
“This is an exquisite writing instrument which we expect to be snapped up by collectors all over the world – we have even chosen the limited edition number in celebration of the Shakespeare anniversary,” said John Hall, who is the UK distributor for manufacturers Omas.
He has worked with the Italian firm, which specialises in limited editions, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to design the pen.
“We are very grateful to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for allowing us access to their archives and treasures over the last few months whilst researching and developing the project – it has been a fascinating process and we are all delighted with the finished product,” John commented.
Decorated with friezes from Shakespeare’s time, the pen is also hand-engraved with a reproduction of one the most famous portraits of the playwright and a line from the original parish register marking his baptism: ‘Gulielmus filius Johannes Shakspere.’
Sue Croxford, Head of Retail at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said, “We were delighted to work with John Hall and Omas to create a rare and beautiful pen for this milestone anniversary – it is a fitting choice to honour our greatest writer. The design and decoration reflects some of the priceless treasures from our world-class collections related to Shakespeare’s works life and times here in Stratford-upon-Avon.”
John Hall added: “Shakespeare created art through his writing and enriched the English language with many turns of phrase which remain current today. His pen was therefore the perfect witness to his greatness so this is a very appropriate way to commemorate the 450th anniversary of his birth.”
To pre-order this limited edition series please Contact Us.
I’m in love with this pen! I’ll never be able to afford one though. There will be some very lucky people out there
Hello Janine,
It really is one of the most beautiful pens I’ve ever seen, Omas kindly let us see the prototype and the quality and the detail in the design are stunning. If i won the lottery it would be one of the first things I’d buy!
Regards,
Hannah
Wonderful. I just wish I could afford one. But like most and quite possibly Shakespeare himself at the time he wrote his works, I cannot afford to part with so much money.
It might have been better to have made a pen that an ordinary mortal could buy.