Pelikan 140, Green Stripe Celluloid Binde GPT, 14C Flex OB

HM2602016
This was my first real vintage flex pen, and letting it go feels a little like passing along a favorite book — bittersweet, but it deserves someone who will use it as much as I did. The 140 is the successor to the Pelikan IBIS, and the green stripe is the colorway most collectors picture when they think of this model. Produced from 1952 to 1965, the 140 was never plated as generously as the 400 — given its lower price point and market position. This example's trim is fully brassed, which might not be for everyone. However, he warm gold-brown of aged brass against green stripe celluloid gives the pen a character that a minty example wouldn't have.

The 140 is just the perfect size for calligraphy and writing flourished letters to friends and family — it adds so much character and makes inks shade and sheen like you would not believe. The nib unit threads out easily for cleaning, and the piston seals are super smooth, so flushing inks (even shimmers) is quick and painless. The oblique broad has a learning curve — it was designed for writers who held their flex pens at an angle rather than fully perpendicular to the paper. Lean into the oblique stance and you get a beautifully smooth, consistent experience. But if you do hold it square with the paper, you unlock amazing line variation: 0.35mm crossstrokes and 0.75mm downstrokes. Once you find the angle that works for you, this nib is an absolute delight.

Tested with Diamine Sherwood Green on Rhodia 90gsm.