Montblanc · 1950s–1960s · Piston
Gold-nib student pen, 1950s
Monte Rosa was Montblanc's budget line, a school pen of the 1950s and 1960s named after another Alpine peak. An early-1960s flyer shows it at almost half the price of the small Montblanc 3-42 G. The plain 042 came with a gold-plated steel nib, and the 042 G, with the G on the piston knob, has a 14C gold nib stamped Monte Rosa and 585. Both are piston fillers with a clear ink window that often turns bluish with age, and neither has the white star on the cap top. One serious collector counts at least nine cap imprints. Some say only Monte Rosa, some add Montblanc, and Swiss-market pens read Astoria because another company already owned the Monte Rosa name there. Colors ran to black, gray, green, burgundy and an export blue. It suits someone who wants a working 1950s Montblanc piston filler without paying for a Meisterstück, and the gold nib is the version to hunt for.
Gold plating on the cap trim and clip wears through with use. The piston seal and the nib or feed can be gunked up or worn after decades in a drawer, so many need cleaning before they write well.
Buying guide
Hunt for the 042 G, the version with a 14C gold nib, and expect about $175 to $250 delivered for one from a seller with near-perfect feedback. There are 24 listed and most ask $190–290 delivered, with steel-nib 042s mixed in, so read the nib in the photos for 14C or 585 and the piston knob for the G. This page covers the 1950s and 1960s pens, and we left out the later 401S, 402 and hexagonal models that share the name. Plating worn off the clip is only cosmetic, but ask the seller to turn the knob, since pistons and feeds often come gummed up after decades in a drawer.
$50.00delivered
The lowest delivered Monte Rosa here at $50, but a gold-colored nib usually means the plated steel nib of the plain 042, not the 14C of the 042 G. Ask for a nib photo and whether the piston turns and draws water.
VINTAGE MONTBLANC MONTE ROSA FOUNTAIN PEN 776 NIB TIP Gold Colour
$226.01est. delivered
A 14K fine nib makes this the gold-nib version you want, at $226 delivered in the lower half of the band. Ask the seller to turn the piston and confirm it draws water.
MONTBLANC Fountain Pen Monte Rosa Nib F 14K Writing instrument Tool
$250.00est. delivered
A gray Monte Rosa, one of the colors beyond the usual black, titled early 1950s with a 14K 585 gold nib. At $250 delivered it's still inside the band, though $50 of that is shipping from Singapore.
Montblanc Monte Rosa Early 1950s Grey Piston Fountain Pen 14K 585 Gold Nib
$120.00est. delivered
Sold as not working, for parts, but it has a 14K 585 gold nib and asks $120 delivered, well under a working 042 G. Budget for a piston service and a cleaning.
Montblanc Monte Rosa Black Piston Fountain Pen 14K 585 Gold Nib No Work As Parts
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$50.00delivered
$50.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$50.00
Good buy
Gold-colored nib, likely the plated steel 042. Ships from the US.
Seller: kunarooney
99.5% positive
Used$226.01est. delivered
$186.01 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$186.01
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
14K fine nib. Ships from Japan.
Seller: shop_japan_collection
99.7% positive
Used$250.00est. delivered
$200.00 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$200.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Gray, titled early 1950s, 14K 585 nib. Ships from Singapore.
Seller: singaporemechanicalpencils
99.5% positive
For parts$120.00est. delivered
$70.00 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$70.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Titled not working, for parts. 14K 585 nib. Ships from Singapore.
Seller: singaporemechanicalpencils
99.5% positive
Used$53.80est. delivered
$45.00 + $8.80 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 4d 1h
Our take
Auction at $45 with no bids and four days left at capture. Titled 14C gold nib.
Seller: tidewaterfinds
100% positive
For parts$146.60est. delivered
$137.25 + $9.35 shipping
Buy It Now$137.25
Our take
Titled damage on the barrel. 14K nib. Ask for photos of the damage.
Seller: win_win999
100% positive
Used$174.00est. delivered
$150.00 + $24.00 shipping
Buy It Now$150.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 042G, no nib grade. Ask for a photo of the nib stamp. Ships from Slovakia.
Seller: j44643
100% positive
Used$341.52est. delivered
$301.52 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$301.52
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled 042G with a 14C fine nib, about $50 over the band top. Ships from Japan.
Seller: zakinnjapandirect
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA pen that’s sat in a drawer for decades wants a flush before it sees ink. A bulb syringe, pen flush and a bottle of well-behaved ink cover most of it. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
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Montblanc · 1952–present
PistonPrecious resin, 1980s
Modern
$525–$775 typical ask
Montblanc · c. 1950–early 1960s
PistonCelluloid, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$1,275–$1,625 typical ask
Montblanc · 1950s
PistonCelluloid, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$725–$1,050 typical ask
Montblanc · c. 1968–1978
PistonPiston-filling 22x series, 1970s
Modern
$130–$230 typical ask
Pelikan · 1982–present
PistonGreen striped, old-style trim, 1982 to 1997
Modern
$290–$380 typical ask
Pelikan · 1987–present
PistonBlack, old-style trim, before 1997
Modern
$500–$750 typical ask