AURORA ETIOPIA - WHITE CELLULOID BUTTON FILLER
The Aurora Etiopia is a contradictory pen which still stimulates discussions among collectors. The original assumption that this model was designed specifically for Officials involved in the Abyssinian war (1936/1941), was later on denied by further research which demonstrated that the model was actually marketed through Aurora retailers and that pen's introduction at the time of the war was likely a calculated move by Aurora to capitalize on the heightened interest in Ethiopia due to the war and subsequent occupation.
By marketing the pen as a symbol of the Empire, Aurora was tapping into the nationalist and imperialist sentiments prevalent in Italy at the time. Original Aurora ads to promote this model were in fact found, to confirm the fact that this pen was not a limited production and that Aurora was taking advantage of the general interest for the war to enlarge it market.
Etiopia's main features make it look like a military pen, designed to be used in the desert. Unfortunately the model was a flop and it was subsequently manufactured as a button filler, too and used as promotional to advertise medicaments (Bayer, Recordati) and even exported to the USA as a promotional for the Colonial Sand and Stone company.
Interesting aspects of this model are:
- The Color: the selection of white celluloid appears clearly to have the harsh Ethiopian environment in mind. The white color would reflect sunlight and heat, helping to keep the pen and ink cooler in the hot desert climate. This was a practical consideration for a writing instrument intended for use in Africa.
- Military style of the cap top: The flat cap top, designed to be hidden in a pocket, recalls the military style of many clips by other manufacturers.
- Solid Ink Pellets: the use of solid ink pellets for refilling in extreme situations was an innovative solution to the problems posed by liquid ink in a hot, dry environment. Liquid ink could dry out quickly or leak, while solid pellets would be more stable and easier to transport.
The Etiopia is nowadays a desirable collectible which is of interest both to pen collectors and war memorabilia aficionados. It can be found with white section as eyedropper, to be filled with ink pellets or with black section as a button filler.
It is undoubtedly a fascinating pen, both for its unusual features, its evocative power and for the partial mystery which is still part of its identity.
It is also a good writer and its nib offers an M line with some flex.
This pen is in excellent condition with no cracks nor parts missing. The white celluloid shows some darker areas but as a whole the color is pretty even.
