As the dollar appreciated against the Euro earlier this year, it became economical to order some of the more expensive inks such as Montblanc and Pelikan Edelstein from Europe. I placed an order with La Couronne du Compte in Tilburg, the Netherlands, and the inks I picked up included Montblanc’s new addition to their “regular” line of inks, Corn Poppy Red.
One of the knocks on Montblanc’s ink stable is that until now, they did not have a “true red” in their lineup. In the late 1990s/early 2000s, Montblanc did offer a “Ruby Red,” which I’ve reviewed and did not care for. Ever since they’ve stuck with the burgundy/bordeaux wine themes for their red option, which is just fine with me as I typically prefer darker reds to use in my everyday writing. Once I saw this one, though, I jumped.
The ink looks somewhat orange when photographed, but when it dries on paper the color is what I would consider a "pure red."
Corn Poppy Red is definitely what I would consider a “true” red. There are no pink or orange undertones going on here, as sometimes happens with other inks labled “Poppy.” Because of their all-around excellent properties, Montblanc inks are among my favorites, and this one is no exception. Even though I loaded the Corn Poppy Red into a fairly wet Stipula stub nib, the ink worked well on all but the cheapest papers, and even then any feathering and bleed-through was minimal. There is some shading, but it’s not particularly pronounced, and I imagine that it will only come out with broader nibs on the right paper.
You get the full 60ml! I've heard conflicting rumors about whether or not Corn Poppy Red is a limited edition or an addition to the regular lineup. While some retailers list this ink as a LE, since it's offered in the larger 60ml bottle my money is on Corn Poppy Red as a new regular. That said, there's a reason I don't gamble.
Because this ink is (presumably) an addition to Montblanc’s regular line, it comes in the 60ml “shoe” or squared bottle, as opposed to the smaller, 30ml “special edition” bottles. The pricing is standard (14.80 Euros or $19.00 US), making it a better value than the special edition inks that are similarly priced but give you half as much (14.30 Euros or $19.00).
As I mentioned, I purchased this ink from La Couronne du Compte, whom I highly recommend. If you prefer to purchase in the U.S., you can find this ink at most Montblanc retailers, including Anderson Pens and Penboutique.
Writing sample with some comparisons on Clairefontaine French-ruled (Seyes) paper. The closest comparison is the Edelstein Garnet, which is a slightly darker color.
Disclaimer: I purchased this ink with my own funds, and was not compensated in any way for this review.