Aurora - 88k AQUILA - PLACCATA ORO 23KT - Fountain pen

Aurora 88K AQUILA – A rare vintage fountain pen with a gold-plated cap and barrel in 23 kt, circa 1950

Beautiful Aurora 88K AQUILA, from around 1950, represents one of the early stylistic evolutions of the famous Aurora 88, one of the most important models in the history of Italian fountain pens.

The peculiarity of this specimen is its special configuration, initially intended exclusively for shops located in the city of Naples. The pen features a double-body construction: the inner body is made of black celluloid, while the outer body consists of a metal skin entirely gold-plated in 23 kt.

The completely gold finish gives the pen an elegant and precious appearance.

The piece is in very good condition with some small signs (bumps) on the plating, perfectly in line with the age of the object.

Ink window:** original, with the characteristic amber color and the striped structure. The transparency is excellent and there are no obvious ink stains.

Nib and filling system

The pen retains its original components, including the ebonite junction with Aurora 88K marking, the ebonite feeder, and the solid 14 kt gold nib with Extra Fine (EF) point.

The filling system is the original leverless (screw) type, functioning and without reported ink leaks. The filling knob is made of knurled metal.

The fountain pen is ready to be used.

An iconic model of Italian design

The Aurora 88 series, designed by Marcello Nizzoli, holds a prominent place in the history of 20th-century writing instruments. Introduced in the postwar period, it established itself on international markets thanks to its build quality, reliability, and an innovative aesthetic language.

Nizzoli was one of the most important Italian designers of the 20th century. Among his most famous creations are products that would become icons of industrial design, such as Olivetti Lexikon 80 and Lettera 22 typewriters and the Divisumma 24 calculator.

The 88K represents the first major evolution of the original Aurora 88, while the rare AQUILA variant stands out for its particular construction and exclusive gold finish.

A specimen of notable interest for Aurora fountain-pen collectors, for enthusiasts of Italian design, and for those seeking rare and hard-to-find variants of the famous 88 series.

Marking: Aurora 88K # 25.08.33.0 EF

Indicative dimensions

Length with cap on: 13.7 cm
Length of the body without cap: 12.5 cm
Length with cap posted at the back: 14.6 cm
Cap length: 6.4 cm
Diameter: 11.8 mm

Measurements are approximate.

Aurora 88K "Aquila" A rare variant of the legendary Aurora 88K, enhanced by the gold finish and offered complete with documentation and the original packaging. An interesting opportunity to enrich a collection devoted to Italian fountain pens of the twentieth century.