Platinum x Mitsukoshi
From 2013 to 2018 or 2019, Platinum Pen collaborated with Mitsukoshi, a department store in Japan, to produce limited edition pens for their annual pen fair. There’s almost no information in English online for the Platinum x Mitsukoshi editions, but these are the pens I have identified, thanks to several helpful collectors:
- “Golden Bells”/”Forsythia” (2013) – 14th World Pen Festival (100pcs)
- “Lions” (2015, 100pcs)
- “Recolté” (2016, 300 pcs)
- “Blue Feather” (2016, 300pcs)
- “Burgandy Motifs” (2017, 300pcs)
- “Blue Water” (2018, 300pcs)
Golden Bells/Forsythia (2013)
This all-yellow resin pen was released for the 2013 Pen Fair, based on this account (which has additional photos). The first two collaborations were apparently limited to 100pcs each.
Lions (2015)
Bruno Taut of Crónicas Estilográficas snapped a photo of the marketing leaflet for this pen, which confirms the limit of 100pcs. Here we see a translucent body (based on the Bourgogne), no cap band and no ring above the end cap. The body and cap feature screen-printed lions inspired by the Nihonbashi Lion Bridge. The trim appears to be rose gold.
Recolté (2016)
In 2016, Isetan Mitsukoshi collaborated with Suntory, a brewing company, and Platinum Pen, to produce a fountain pen in celebration of their beer “Premium Malt Master’s Dream.” Nobuko Tsutsumi designed the pen, called Recolté. The packaging and font clearly take inspiration from Art Deco. The pen itself is the Wagner Lantern, but translucent with lamé glitter (reminiscent of the Carnelian or Pink Shine). The cap is black while the body is brown.
Instead of a clip, however, the pen has a roll stop: two wheat sheaves over a number 1. The #1 perhaps represents the first century of Isetan Mitsukoshi and the first collaboration with Suntory.
The nib features a beautiful etching of wheat sheaves and a leaf with hops(?).
The packaging is elaborate. Originally the pen came with a bottle of amber-colored ink, and two bottles of the Suntory Premium Malt Master’s Dream beer.
Blue Feather, Blue Water, and Burgundy Motifs
Blue Feather (2016 or 2017), Blue Water (2018), and Burgundy Motifs (2017 or 2019), were editions of (probably) 300pcs each. All three collaborations celebrated pen fairs at Isetan Mitsukoshi’s Shinjuku store. Isetan is part of a department store group (which includes Mitsukoshi) with several locations across Japan. The hanging motifs on the first floor of the Isetan Shinjuku store inspired the screen-printed designs on the three pens.
“Blue Feather” and “Blue Water” use the Chartres Blue body with palladium plated trim, while the “Motifs” uses the Bourgogne body with gold plated trim. Like the “Lions” pen, all three lack end cap ring and cap band.
The Summer 2021 edition of Pennant Magazine, produced by Pen Collectors of America, featured a cover story on rare Platinum editions, which included an image of these collaborations. The dates, however, do not correspond to the information I found on messageboards. If anyone knows the correct dates, please let me know.
Rarity and Availability
All six of these shop collaborations are very rare. I’ve seen three of the six on eBay a total of once. Thus, if you should see one, buy it. The Isetan editions sell for about $350 each, while you may pay up to $400 for the “Golden Bells” or “Lions” editions. I’ve never seen the Recolté for sale, so I cannot estimate the cost.