The History of the LAMY Special Limited Edition Safari
Over the past few years in the pen community (probably more than that), it seems as though we have become overwhelmingly obsessed with yearly limited and special edition pens and inks. Big names like Pelikan and Sailor have jumped on the bandwagon of doing limited editions, as well as smaller custom makers, like Edison. But really, where did this craze for limited edition pens come from? To me, the quintessential limited edition that really kicked it all off in the pen community is the yearly release of the LAMY Safari. They are affordable and reliable, making them some of the most collectible pens on the market. So how about we take a stroll down memory lane and look at the highlights in the LAMY Safari Special Edition history!
First Generation:
The first generation of the LAMY Safari was launched in 1980 with 3 color options available. Those 3 colors were Terracotta Orange, Savannah Green, and Charcoal Black. They all came in textured finishes, with the classic LAMY faceted grip section and stainless steel LAMY nib (for the fountain pen version). While these were not technically the “limited edition” Safaris that we all know and love today, I thought they were worth mentioning, as they were what started LAMY’s longstanding tradition of limited edition Safaris.
2016 - LAMY Safari Dark Lilac:
After a few years of releasing neon finishes and bright colors for their yearly limited edition Safaris, LAMY decided to step-up their game by introducing the Dark Lilac Safari, one of the all-time favorite limited editions of any brand in our community. It is a gorgeous, deep, dark purple color with a black clip and black nib. Additionally, after many years of glossy-finished limited editions, the Dark Lilac came equipped with the very classy textured finish that LAMY offers on some of their Safaris. Lots of people prefer the textured finish, as they think it makes the pen look nicer and feel better in the hand. Plus, the texturing doesn’t get nearly as slippery as the glossy Safaris do after longer writing sessions.
2017 - LAMY Safari Petrol
Another crowd favorite, the Safari Petrol was a dark, teal color that leans more on the blue side. Again, it came with the black clip and black nib, keeping with LAMY’s understated and simplistic design principles. With such understated designs, LAMY has really mastered the art of restraint, which I think shines through especially well with the simple, dark color of the 2017 Safari Petrol.
2021 - LAMY Safari Savannah and Terra
To bring it around full circle in 2021, LAMY announced the re-release of their original colors, the Savannah and the Terra! Upon making the re-release a reality, there were a few differences made apparent between the new Safaris and the first generation. The colors of the pens are just slightly different, along with the names. Instead of being “Savannah Green” and “Terracotta Orange, ” they now have the sleeker, more modern names seen above. I think LAMY really hit it out of the park with this year’s limited editions, making it even more difficult for them to one-up themselves next year, as they seem to do every year!
All in all, I believe the Fountain Pen community has enjoyed collecting these limited special editions! LAMY always finds a way to create something new and exciting that gives the community something to look forward to and anticipate going into the new year. What have been your favorite LAMY Safari limited editions over the years? Please let me know in the comments below!
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Arlo Palmer
