Pelikan fountain pens have recently become some of my favourites. I initially started looking at them because I thought that a Pelikan Souverän would be the most thematically appropriate pen to pair with Wearingeul Hamlet ink. I’ve yet to try out that combination, however…

Laertes
To his good friends, thus wide I’ll ope my arms,
And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

Pelikan M200 vs M400

Here are three Pelikan fountain pens from my collection. A Pelikan M400 White Tortoiseshell, a Pelikan M200 Smoky Quartz, and a Pelikan M150 in Black/Green*.

The M200 and M400 are identical in size, but the M400 has a 14k two-tone gold nib, while the M200 has a gold-plated steel nib. The Pelikan M400, as its place in the “Souverän” range suggests, has a higher build quality, but the M200 is already such a well-made pen that you would be forgiven for not noticing any difference.

One subtle variation you can see from the photo, though, is that the M400 has an additional slim gold band on the cap and piston knob.

* I think this colourway is sometimes referred to as “M151”, though the label on my pen states M150.

Pelikan M200 vs M150

The M150 is smaller than the M200, and has a smaller nib. On my versions of these pens, the M200 has a greenish ink window, and the M151 a smoky grey, though of course when the pens are filled, the colouring isn’t visible.

The M150, M200, and M400 are all piston filler pens, but there is a P200 version that takes cartridges – very handy when travelling!

I find the designs of these Pelikan fountain pens so elegantly understated, and the idea of offering them in different sizes is pure genius. I’m looking forward to trying out the larger M600 and maybe even the M800, too.