Élysée Dragon Special Edition 1998-2000

by Jim Mamoulides, December 27, 2001 - Updated March 31, 2005 and July 5, 2023

Élysée Dragon Special Edition fountain pen 1998-2000

Enter The Dragon

The run up to the year 2000 inspired many commemorative pen designs. There were the upcoming millennium celebrations, or fears, depending on if you were in the IT business, giving birth to millennium year limited and special editions. It also coincided with the Chinese Year of the Dragon, the fifth of the twelve-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac calendar. Each year also includes an elemental sign, from the five elements earth, metal, water, wood and fire, with 2000, from February 5, 2000 through January 23, 2001, being a year under the sign of metal.

This Élysée Special Edition honors the year and mystical image of the Chinese dragon. It’s executed in gold silk screen print on a black lacquer background. The earliest mention I have found on the Dragon Special Edition was the April, 1998 Élysée catalog.

Élysée Dragon Special Edition from 1998 catalog

Unlike the previous Élysée Limited Editions, which were based on the excellent Parthenon series, the Dragon Special Edition is based on the model design used on the 30, 40, and 50 series pens that included the Barleycorn, Epoque, Corona Gold, Damascene, En Vogue, and Laque models. The cap top emblem is 3.7mm across and has four prongs. The section trim ring slides under the cap lip and cannot be seen when the cap is in place. The clip is spring loaded. This model gives the Dragon Special Edition a sleek look allowing the screen printed decoration to stand out against the black lacquer base instead of competing with the trim.

There are no edition numbers on the writing instruments. The Parker Duofold Greenwich Special Edition was done in this manner, having all the trappings of a numbered limited edition without the pesky numbers. Free from edition limits, the manufacturer would be free to add to the run, if the line turned popular.

Identification guide and features

Élysée Dragon Special Edition fountain pen 1998-2000

Single or multiple writing instruments were presented in a special version of the Élysée bright red display package that opens like a bookcase. It is adorned with the same Chinese characters as the pen. The Dragon Special Edition was offered singly and in sets as unnumbered writing instruments in four writing modes (prices are from the 1998 catalog in Deutsche Marks, including VAT):

• Fountain pen with 14k gold nib – DM 260.00
• Twist action ballpoint pen – DM 130.00
• Rolling ball pen – DM 170.00
• 0.7mm Twist action mechanical pencil – DM 150.00

Élysée Dragon Special Edition from 1998 catalog

The 1998 catalog description of the Dragon Special Edition description of the finish states, “the fascinatingly fine dragon motif is worked out from several layers of lacquer.” The 1999 Élysée Catalog adds, "the image of the Chinese Dragon has been transferred onto the writing instrument with an innovative technique in very fine, detailed structure and afterwards plated with precious gold."

The Dragon Pen is fitted with a highly decorated solid 14 karat gold nib in eight point sizes, including extra fine, fine, medium, broad, double broad, oblique medium, oblique broad and oblique double broad.

• Brass base cap and barrel painted in black Chinese lacquer with special Dragon screen printed design
• 1/8 inch wide gold plated cap band
• Gold plated innerspring clip
• 14 karat gold open nib, with special Élysée logo stamping
• Eight nib grades included extra-fine, fine, medium, broad, double broad, oblique medium, oblique broad, and oblique double broad
• Black resin section with 1/8 inch wide gold plated band
• About 5 5/8 inches long capped and 6 1/8 inches posted
• Cartridge / converter, using international type cartridges
• Sold in special edition version of red leatherette presentation box

Performance

Since this particular pen was in mint, unused condition, I will rely on tests with the Élysée Limited Edition pens I have to give the writing impression for this review. They are the same size and weight and use the same nib unit.

The Dragon Special Edition, like the Élysée Limited Edition pens, is all brass construction, and thus has a similar weight and feel in the hand as the slightly larger Cross Townsend line. It is a long and slender pen, 5 5/8 inches capped and 6 1/8 inches posted. The cap adds weight to a fairly heavy pen, but it turns out to be well balanced in the hand either way. Having all three of the Cloisonné pens to review along with this pen, allows a composite view of my impressions of all of them, with the specifics of the Dragon pointed out.

Élysée Dragon Special Edition fountain pen 1998-2000

The Dragon Pen is decorated using gold screen painting over black Chinese lacquer. The metal surfaces appear to be heavily plated, which should make them wear well.

The cap snaps securely both on the section and the barrel end, another similarity to the Cross Townsend. The cap adds weight to a fairly heavy pen, but it is well balanced in the hand either way. The clip is not very springy, so it probably won't clip well to a flannel shirt or a coat pocket, but it does the job well. It lacks the decoration at the fulcrum that the Élysée Limited Edition and Parthenon based models have. The pen sits fairly deep in the pocket, but one should consider a starched shirt, as the pen's weight may cause it to flop around. The gold cap top ornament lacks the wider prongs of the Limited Edition pens but is still a very bright statement against the black lacquer and keeps this pen in the pocket jewelry category.

Élysée nibs are typically smooth, wet, and even writers. Each of the Limited Edition pens I tried confirms this. Élysée pens are all fitted with the same section, with the only difference among them is the nib finish. The Dragon Pen's 14 karat gold nib is ornate, with the same detailed stamping, but in plain gold. The pen fills easily with a piston converter or standard international cartridges.

My one real gripe with the Élysée Limited Edition pens is the plating loss I've experienced at the end of the section. This problem is not unique to Élysée pens, but with most other high-end brands with this trim element. The problem seems to be controllable if the section is judiciously wiped after each filling, but it's a problem that should not happen.

The Élysée Limited and Special Edition pens make good daily users with a very arty flair. As Élysée is out of business as of mid 2000, these pens and their Parthenon based siblings may become harder to find, making this a pen to consider before they get away.

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Acknowledgement

Thanks to Ronny Largenfalk for providing the 1998 Élysée catalog and new information on the Dragon Special Edition. Thanks to Howard Cohen for additional identification material on the various Elysee models. If you are interested in Élysée pens, I recommend élysée Pens Identification, History, Gallery by N. Dean Meyer. A ton of work went into it.

References

Élysée Catalog 1998

Élysée Catalog 1999

élysée Pens Identification, History, Gallery by N. Dean Meyer, March 25, 2023