AURORA 88 SILVER CAP - ORIGINAL BOX

Introduced in 1946, the 88 represents a watershed in the history of fountain pen production in Italy. This model, designed by Marcello Nizzoli, soon became  the most successful Italian fountain pen ever produced, but it also set the standards  of modernity and technological innovation for many Italian manufacturers.

The 88 was designed having the Parker 51 in mind, the famous Parker model which arrived in Italy with US soldiers and which was supported by huge advertizing campaigns. Its slender and aerodynamic design, the contrast between the shiny metal cap and the solid color of the body as well as the small hooded nib, were re-interpreted by Nizzoli to develop the 88. The 88 is thicker than the 51, it is a piston filler, has a transparent ink window and pays homage to tradition with a celluloid body and ebonite section and turning knob. The sense of innovation did not affect only the pen but also its packaging. The 88 was placed inside a metal "cylinder" (actually the box has a  triangular shape with rounded corners) which is completely different from any packaging of the time.

The 88 was initially introduced with a "Nikargenta" cap, a silver-colored  metal alloy. Later versions comprise gold filled, solid silver, and solid gold caps as well as models with compete gold filled or solid gold overlay.

The 88 was in addition used as promotional by many companies. The silver cap was in fact perfectly suitable to accommodate advertising engravings. 

This Aurora 88 is a perfect example of the line with silver cap. This pen advertises the Roma-based FATME company (Fabbrica Apparecchiature Telefoniche e Materiale Elettrico) and its spinoff SIELTE and has its original aluminum container/box which includes an instruction leaflet and yellow soft cloth.

The pen and the box have the same serial number and are both in excellent condition.

A real time capsule!