Pelikan · 1982–present · Piston
Green striped, old-style trim, 1982 to 1997
Pelikan stopped making its quality piston pens in 1965, and when it came back to fountain pens in 1982 it picked the old 400 to lead the way. The Souverän M400 copied the 1950s pen so closely that collectors say the feed is the only big change. The green-striped barrel with a black cap is the look most people picture when they hear the name Pelikan, and the stripes double as an ink window. A 1990 pen is an old-style one, made before Pelikan redid the trim in 1997. Look for a single cap band, no gold ring on the piston knob, an etched two-chick pelican on the cap top and a W.-Germany imprint. The 14-carat gold nib sits on a unit that screws out of the section, so a nib you don't get on with can be swapped. It's a standard-size pen and light in the hand, and we think it's the best first Pelikan.
A stiff or weepy piston is the usual problem, and it can mean the pen needs a clean and fresh grease or a new seal. Parts get mixed between old-style and new-style pens, so the trim should match the date the seller claims.
Buying guide
Our pick is a green M400 titled old style, with a 14C medium nib, at $282 delivered, just under the $290–380 band most of the 27 listed ask. A 1990 pen should have one cap band, no gold ring on the piston knob, an etched two-chick pelican on the cap top and a W.-Germany imprint, and parts get swapped between old and new styles, so check all four in the photos. None is titled serviced, so ask whether the piston turns smoothly and the pen holds ink without weeping. Skip the $519 pen from Japan, about $140 over the band with no reason given.
$230.93est. delivered
The lowest price on a green M400 at $231 delivered, titled West Germany with a 14K medium nib, so it should be an old-style pen. It had 1 bid and under two days left at capture, and we'd stop around $285 delivered, where old-style pens from Germany ask.
Pelikan M400 Fountain Pen Green GT 14k Gold Medium West Germany Excellent
$282.20est. delivered
Titled old style, in green stripes with a 14C medium nib, at $282 delivered, just under the band. Ask for photos of the cap top and barrel imprint to confirm the two-chick pelican and W.-Germany.
Pelikan M400 Old Style Piston Fountain Pen Green Striped With Medium 14C Nib
$373.32est. delivered
Titled the first variant, with a friction-fit 14K medium nib in place of the later screw-in nib unit, at $373 delivered, inside the band. Ask for a close-up of the nib and section to back up the claim.
FRICTION NIB PELIKAN M400 GREEN STRIATED Fountain Pen- FIRST Variant- 14k M Nib
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$230.93est. delivered
$225.00 + $5.93 shipping
Auction · 1 bid · ends in 1d 20h
Good buy
Titled West Germany, 14K medium nib. Auction with 1 bid.
Seller: chanhassen_design
100% positive
Used$282.20est. delivered
$264.27 + $17.93 shipping
Buy It Now$264.27
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
Titled old style. Green stripe, 14C medium nib.
Seller: berlin-collectible
99.9% positive
Used$373.32est. delivered
$333.33 + $39.99 shipping
Buy It Now$333.33
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
Titled first variant, friction-fit 14K medium nib. Ships from Serbia.
Seller: niko_zivk
98.9% positive
Used$299.99delivered
$299.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$299.99
Our take
14C medium nib, boxed. No date or trim style given.
Seller: nerinehappy
99.1% positive
Used$306.10est. delivered
$251.10 + $55.00 shipping
Buy It Now$251.10
Our take
14K fine nib, titled excellent. Ships from Serbia.
Seller: udruze92
99.1% positive
Used$324.49est. delivered
$279.49 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$279.49
Our take
Titled old style, West Germany and cleaned. 14C extra-fine nib.
Seller: hirari_japan
100% positive
Used$279.96est. delivered
$220.26 + $59.70 shipping
Buy It Now$220.26
Check the seller
Same title as three other sellers' listings, word for word. Ask for your own photos of the nib and imprint.
Seller: riversideworks_japan
98.4% positive
Used$519.16est. delivered
$459.16 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$459.16
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.
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.
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
Montblanc · 1950s–1960s
PistonGold-nib student pen, 1950s
Post-war golden age
$190–$290 typical ask
Pelikan · 1987–present
PistonBlack, old-style trim, before 1997
Modern
$500–$750 typical ask