Minerva pens were introduced by Omas in the early 1930's as a subbrand or better as a parallel line of writing instruments to diversify their offer.

Early Minerva pens were button fillers, very similar in shape and finish to Parker Duofold streamlined models.

In 1932 the Minerva Classica series was introduced; it comprised only lever fillers and pens were produced in fancy celluloids with a wide variety of colors and combinations. A few years later, Minerva piston fillers were marketed and named Trasparente to meet the demand of the market for more modern filling mechanisms and ink visibility. They were offered in two sizes only, standard and oversize. The model had a very innovative look with a tall cap top and a sturdy structure, one single plain cap bad and a curved clip.

They remained on the market  only for a few years and were discontinued immediately after WWII.These pens are nowadays very rare especially the oversize models.

The range of colors of Minerva piston fillers comprised gray pearl, tortoise brown, green marbled and black. 

During war years Minerva pens, like all Omas models,  were produced with chrome trim and fitted with steel nibs ( namely Permanio) as the use of gold was forbidden in Italy. Later on many wartime models had their  nibs replaced  with 14 ct gold ones.

This brown tortoiseshell Minerva piston filler is a beautiful example of the line of Minerva piston fillers. The pen is an oversize model in brown tortoiseshell celluloid and it is fitted with a large and beautiful Minerva nib. The nib has a generous tip and it is very flexible.

A very rare collectible piece and a fantastic writer.