Third version of the 400, 1956 to 1965
Pelikan's 400 came out in May 1950, and it went through two updates before it was done. The 400N arrived in December 1955 with a longer, rounder piston knob, and in April 1956 the 400NN took over. You can spot the NN by its more pointed cap top, which blends into the cap, and by an even longer, pointed piston knob. It ran until July 1965, longer than the other two put together. The barrel is striped celluloid, and green stripes with a black cap is the classic look, though brown tortoise, black and a gray export version were made too. The 14-carat nib is the draw. Vintage Pelikan nibs carry less tipping than modern ones and range from springy to semi-flexible, so they write with more character than an M400. Pelikan relaunched this same design in 1982 as the M400, which is why the two look so alike. It's the one to get if you want the original.
From the early 1960s some 400NNs got a polystyrene collar at the section, and that plastic is now brittle and cracks easily. Early synthetic piston seals can shrink, so an unserviced pen may not hold ink.
Buying guide
Our pick is a green-striped 400NN with a 14C fine nib at $225 delivered, under the $260–340 band most of the 24 listed ask. None is titled serviced, and early synthetic piston seals can shrink, so ask whether the seal has been replaced and price an unserviced pen accordingly. Tell a 400NN from the earlier 400 and 400N by its pointed cap top that blends into the cap and its long, pointed piston knob, and on 1960s pens look for cracks in any plastic collar at the section. Skip the brown-striped pen at $480 delivered, about $140 over the band with no reason given.
$175.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered 400NN at $175, titled very good with a 14C extra-fine nib. It's the plain black version, so ask whether the piston has been serviced and for a close-up of the tines.
Pelikan 400NN M&K Black 14C EF Fountain Pen Very Good
$225.00est. delivered
Green stripes with a 14C fine nib, titled very good, at $225 delivered, about $35 under the band. Ask whether the piston seal has been replaced and for a writing sample, since nothing here is titled serviced.
Pelikan 400NN M&K Green Striped 14C F Very Good Fountain Pen
$259.99est. delivered
Green stripes with an oblique broad 14K nib, a collector favorite on vintage Pelikans, at $260 delivered with no bids and nearly seven days left at capture. It should climb, and we'd stop around $340 delivered, the top of the band.
Vintage Pelikan 400NN Green Stripe 14K OB Fountain Pen West Germany (J)
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$175.00est. delivered
$150.00 + $25.00 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.
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Good buy
Black, 14C extra-fine nib, titled very good.
Seller: yuudai-30
99.9% positive
Used$225.00est. delivered
$185.00 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$185.00
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
Green stripe, 14C fine nib, titled very good.
Seller: yuudai-30
99.9% positive
Used$259.99est. delivered
$249.99 + $10.00 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 6d 23h
Good buy
Green stripe, 14K oblique broad nib. Auction with no bids yet.
Seller: booksfromca
99.7% positive
Used$298.00est. delivered
$290.00 + $8.00 shipping
Buy It Now$290.00
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
Green, dated 1963, and you pick the nib width.
Seller: fuellhalter-zentrale
100% positive
Used$314.60est. delivered
$257.60 + $57.00 shipping
Buy It Now$257.60
Our take
Green stripe, 14K medium nib titled flex. Ask for a writing sample.
Seller: kota-antique
99.5% positive
Used$314.60est. delivered
$257.60 + $57.00 shipping
Buy It Now$257.60
Our take
Brown tortoise, 14K extra-fine nib. Ships from Serbia.
Seller: kota-antique
99.5% positive
Used$354.99delivered
$354.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$354.99
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.
Check the seller
Seller has zero feedback. Brown stripe, 14C nib.
Seller: ryni_5416
No feedback yet
Used$479.84est. delivered
$424.84 + $55.00 shipping
Buy It Now$424.84
Priced high
About $140 over the band with no reason given.
Seller: hana.n67
99.6% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
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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
Montblanc · 1950s–1960s
PistonGold-nib student pen, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$190–$290 typical ask
Pelikan · 1982–present
PistonGreen striped, old-style trim, 1982 to 1997
Modern
$290–$380 typical ask