On October 27 and 28, 1999 her throng of admirers descended upon Christie’s Auction House in New York City to find and acquire a memento of the beloved American icon Marilyn Monroe. Christie's Auction House prepared and publicized the event world wide with as much prestige and respect that is due to the namesake of Marilyn. Even her most seemingly insignificant possessions were bid to the stratosphere in a frenzied circus.

I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night, "There must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them.

I'm dreaming the hardest."

Marilyn Monroe’s image as you look through the stanhope window at the top of the cap.

Yona Zeldis McDonough, author and editor of "All the Available Light " has written a remarkable insight of a movie star who absorbed all the available light and made it her own.

Ms McDonough describes the infamous $13 million auction held at Christie's.

”There was a black tiered makeup case. The case was loaded with the tools of her trade, lipsticks and cream eye shadows in golden tubes with names like Pearly Blue and Autumn Smoke. These were hardly the pristine, fresh from the department store cosmetic packages that we might recognize from the world of advertising. Instead, it was clear that everything had been opened, used, and even slightly abused. These artifacts silently attest to the unmistakable humanity of their owner. They also remind us of the artifice-another name for magic-that she used to invent herself. Her cosmetics hold a dual meaning. They underscore her mortality while at the same time they were the very means by which she would ultimately escape it.”

No one can deny that Marilyn was more than a movie star. She was a worldwide sensation in her time, but it seems close to forty years after her death, her popularity has extended beyond sensation to icon. No star in any genre has affected the world as deeply or has lasted as long without fading as Marilyn Monroe.

"There was my name up in lights. I said, 'God, somebody's made a mistake.' But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, 'Remember, you're not a star.' Yet there it was up in lights."

After her tragic death Marilyn Monroe remains as remarkable now as when she was alive. Why is her image so enduring? Photography. Photographs that trace her life from a teenage Norma Jeane and following her rise to stardom are compelling not only for their artistic quality but because they capture a singular unique image of an all to brief moment of a shining light. Her natural brilliance transcended any photographer’s artistic talents. Many of these photographs are now recognized as some of the most famous images of the Twentieth Century.

Krone brings products into the pen market that make a statement---products that evoke discussion and even controversy. With this approach, Krone has captured the attention of pen collectors worldwide, and expanded the market to those who not only appreciate aesthetics but who have an emotional bond with the history to which Krone brings them closer. Because of Krone, pen collecting is not exclusively for pen collectors anymore.

When Krone released the William Shakespeare Pen, a new market for pens was born. Artifacts directly associated with Shakespeare are extremely rare. The opportunity to own a piece of the famous Mulberry tree, which Shakespeare himself planted outside his house at Stratford-upon-Avon, created a link with the “Immortal Bard” for such diverse types as literarians, actors, lawyers, doctors, collectors and Shakespearean enthusiasts worldwide.

A Krone Limited Edition Pen is not just a pen. Customers relate to their Krone pen in their own unique way. While the pen collector is a welcome customer, Krone takes great satisfaction in selling those who find the pen to be more than just another beautiful writing piece. It is a conduit for those who seek a connection between themselves and the great people or events of the past.

The lipstick is encapsulated under a clear dome and surrounded by hand set pave diamonds

The Krone Marilyn Monroe Limited Edition pen is created as an artifact to honor the name, the legend and the myth. Here is a relic of an honored American screen legend that can be owned by any individual that chooses to honor their love of Norma Jeane.

Marilyn Monroe’s signature is deep engraved into the barrel of the pen and filled with gold

The cap and barrel is crafted from a velvet smooth ivory celluloid. The cap of the pen has a golden filigree overlay, covering the top which contains a touch of Marilyn Monroe’s personal red lipstick. The lipstick is encapsulated under a clear dome and surrounded by hand set pave diamonds. Marilyn Monroe’s image is what best represents her and Krone has captured that moment of time as you look through the stanhope window at the top of the cap. You will see her classic image which we have all come to recognize. Her signature is deep engraved into the barrel of the pen and filled with gold. With the cap removed, a unique gold ringed section is revealed with an 18KT gold nib.

The Marilyn Monroe is a limited edition of only 288 fountain pens (piston filler) and 18 rollerball.
Fountain pens are available in F, M and B nibs.

Text and Photos © 2003 Len Provisor.