I can’t help it. No matter how many pens I sell, or how recently I’ve bought wondrous pens like the Visconti Medici and Onoto Magna… there’s always something else. Here’s what I’ve got my eye on today.

Aurora 888 Nettuno

Aurora releases a million special editions, particularly in this, its centenary year. I normally don’t pay much attention, but the blue-green auroloide of this edition really appeals to me, and the cursive Aurora logo on the cap band is much prettier than the block text on the Optima.

Pelikan M1005 Stresemann

OK, I cancelled my preorder for this beast, and its release has been pushed back to the summer anyway. But I still keep thinking about it. The M1000 series is large, but not comically so. It has all the practicalities of its smaller brethren: screw-out nib unit, quick-off cap, reliable piston filler, good clip. And the large nib is unusually soft.

Wahl Eversharp Decoband Jade

A bit of a cheat this one, since I’ve already committed to buy it. Wow, what a pen. Beautiful sea-turquoise, huge superflex nib, vintage styling on steroids. A pen to experience, even if it’s not exactly practical.

Graf Classic Macassar

I love my Pernambucco Classic, and I keep daydreaming about this beautiful blacked-out version. It doesn’t help that fellow blogger Londonfountainpens received one as a gift recently and loves it. Why does nobody buy me expensive pens?!

And out of the door…

I should salute the fallen, while I’m writing. This week I’ve said goodbye to a few beautiful, wonderful pens:

Montblanc George Bernard Shaw

A phenomenally beautiful pen that I had to admit to myself wasn’t comfortable in my hands. I’m pleased that it’s gone to someone who wanted this as their grail pen, not to add to a shelf of collections.

Montblanc Rouge et Noir

Perhaps my favourite EF nib of all time, this was hard to say goodbye to. But now I have an EF nib in my Montblanc Petit Prince (which is more comfortable to hold), I should reduce the duplication in my collection.

Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Deepcut Palladium

Another pen I loved. I have no idea why these Sheaffers get so little attention: the inlaid nibs are beautiful, the construction is bulletproof, and the stout shape is extremely comfortable. Luckily, I have a second, and I’m hanging on to that one for sure.

Platinum President

This was never going to be a lifetime keeper. A good pen, with a good nib, but my tastes have (sadly) rarefied…

Kaweco Art Sport Coral

A wonderful pen, incredibly tactile in the hand, but the colour wasn’t what I was expecting. I’ll stick with my Art Sport Alabaster.

Visconti Van Gogh Dr Gachet

In came the Visconti Medici at the pen show — out goes the Van Gogh. A lovely pen, with a willing broad nib and practical design, but I’d always rather use one of my Homo Sapiens.