Added later: The nib unfortunately developed some problems. I will get a new nib from the seller, but you can read more about it here at FPN.
When it is freezing outside (-20 C today) it feels rather good to be indoors enjoying my pens instead of freezing my fingers off shooting photos (almost did yesterday) outdoors. One of my new favourites and bargains is my Stipula Suprema Pelago. If you want to view the photos in a bigger size – just click on them. UPDATE: I have now posted a full size review with (mostly) other photos at the FPN – click here if you want to have a look.
I hadn’t tried any Stipulas until I had the opportunity to buy some at bargain prices a month ago. One of these was the Stipula Suprema Pelago; a piston filler in a grey (with hints of dark blue) fishbone pattern.This one has an oversized fine steel nib. I didn’t know that it was a limited edition – this Pelago is a celluloid that was limited to 193 pens. It is the bigger (and more curved) sibling to the Ventidue which is the upmarket version of the Vedo.
Above: Suprema, Ventidue, Ventudie, Vedo.
The curve makes the ink reservoir of the Suprema huge and it must have one of the greatest ink capacities of the piston fillers of the market. Strangely enough these mustn’t have sold particularly well since they are possible to buy as NOS for a fraction of the original price. One part of the answer to the very low price is that is that these have been sported with a steel nib instead of the original 18 k gold nib. Aesthetically this nib is very beautiful and goes well with this understated, classic pen.
I like this kind of unornamented, clean nib and believe that it is much prettier than the original two tone nib. It felt a little bizarre to buy this quality pen for less than half the going market price for a Vedo. Bizarre or not -I’m very glad that I decided to try it out. The nib is not only pleasant to look at – it is a very nice writer too. Especially well suited for notes in the margin.
I was very happy to find that the Pelago lays down a very fine line – almost as fine as a Pilot fine nib (see comparison above). It writes on the dry side, but not too dry and is smooth considered its width and that it is a steel nib. I haven’t experienced any problems with the flow and the piston works fine and smooth.
The nib isn’t anything for those who detest stiff nibs – this is a quite stiff and very precise nib – which I like since it suits my writing – especially when it comes to margin notes. Considered what I paid for it it is a steal. A very nice encounter on the whole. Only big drawback is that it doesn’t post very securely, but I can live with that.
This pen set off a slight Stipula fever and I now have four Stipulas – three of them also bargains/steals.
This photo of a wind vane comes from another iron works that I passed on my way to visit a relative. About to post it – another nice photo – I came to think of a question I have been asked by a couple of acquaintances: why don’t I write about important things on my blog? Why not use my space, my speaker’s corner, to advocate a cause? Why post photos of these nice surroundings and (expensive) pens and wind vanes (of all things???)? I’ve asked myself similar questions. Always a hint of bad conscience (mixed with relief and gratitude for not having to struggle everyday to have a place to stay and food on the table) for living in a fairly rich, democratic country. Why spend money on fancy pens when people starve? Why look for beauty when a lot of people live under outrageous conditions? I won’t pretend that there is an easy answer to it. But I do think it is necessary with these nice, pleasant things/surroundings etc as a counter weight to the ugly parts of life and world. To embrace beauty as well as kindness (who on earth prefers to be friends with mean people?) and pleasure is a way to find energy to try to make the world a little better place. To like (and buy) beautiful pens doesn’t necessarily mean that one naïvely embraces consumerism and the luxury goods industry. My dear fountain pens add a big pleasure to my everyday living. 
They are not disposable – made to be thrown away when they are used – but can be refilled over and over again. A pen repairer (magician) can repair them if they break and there is a zillion of inks and ink colours to choose from and fill the pen with. Simple joys. I honestly believe that being able to find pleasure in (small) things is necessary to be able to acknowledge and cope with the painful parts of life and world. I think that the world could be a little better and kinder if people were a little happier and tried to find the things in life that make them happy and prosperous. Sounds simple and naïve, but if one looks at the stats over the prescriptions of anti depressants of all sorts in Europe and US, it is rather clear that people are very unhappy and uncomfortable in their lives. I don’t believe that there is one solution or a quick fix, but I do think it is important to try to find something every day that makes us happy or prosperous. Like an old iron works embedded in fairytale snow. Or a beautiful pen. Or a walk with a friend.
lady dandelion 