Aurora pays tribute to the Italian aviator and explorer Umberto Nobile (1885-1978). In 1928 he planned and directed the exploratory expedition of the Airship Italia with the aim of flying over the North Pole and landing on the ice.

The sixteen member crew did not have a safe landing--they crashed into a mountainous iceberg. The ten survivors had only a radio and a camping tent, which they dyed red with aniline hoping to be seen by rescuers. It took 48 days for them to be found. The log of this expedition was recorded by General Nobile with an Aurora pen.

	The number 925 indicates that the base metal is 925 parts out of 1000 silver. On top of this is the 18K gold plating.

The barrel and end caps are machined from solid rods of woodgrain hard rubber, a material favored in the 1920's for its durability and beauty. Many pens from that period are still in excellent condition, as hard rubber was not subject to the same shrinkage problems that celluloid experienced.

The cap and bands are vermeil, 18k gold over sterling silver.

Aurora's imprint is cut into the side of the barrel. Note the new "AURORA ITALIA" logo.

The cap design incorporates a tight wavy line and diamond pattern alternating with clear panels. Note the same engraving figure in the hard rubber as can be seen in the gold barrel and cap bands.

This is a retractable safety pen in the tradition of many pens of the 1920's. They were favored by stenographers and writers who spent long hours with pen and paper. Because they do not employ filling mechanisms, they hold more than twice as much ink, 3.0 ml., as other pens of this size.

The pen fills with an eye dropper from an ink bottle while the nib is in the retracted position. When the nib is extended, the barrel seals, creating a "safety pen" from which no ink will drip. When the nib is retracted and the cap screwed on, a tight sealing vial is created.

An elaborate presentation box accompanies this pen. Within the inner box a red canvas tent, complete with a tent pole, shelters the pen. Also included is an eyedropper for filling, a bottle of Aurora ink, and complete paperwork describing the remarkable feat of this early air explorer, Umberto Nobile.

Available in Medium nib only.

This pen was produced in the very small number of 1919 pens.
The retail price: $1,600.00

Our Price: $1,280.00