Retro 51 Rollerball Pen - Smithsonian Collection

When you visit the Smithsonian, you're entering the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with approximately 154 million artifacts and specimens in its trust for the American people. The Museums are dedicated to inspiring curiosity, discovery, and learning about the world through its unparalleled collections, exhibitions, and education outreach programs. Retro 51 is proud to produce officially licensed writing instruments inspired by the Smithsonian collection.

Corona (National Museum of African American History & Culture) Rollerball: The first design in the Smithsonian collection by Retro 51 is the Corona twist-top rollerball pen. Its deeply etched barrel is reminiscent of the ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice that covers the outside of the National Museum of African American History and Culture building in Washington D.C.. Lead designer David Adjaye pays homage to the intricate ironwork crafted by enslaved African Americans in Louisiana, South Carolina, and elsewhere through the use of this design. Each rollerball pen is numbered on the top ring and complete with matte black nickel accents and loaded in a commemorative Smithsonian NMAAHC tube. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pen will support and further the Museum’s educational mission on what it means to be an American, and to share how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture. 

Spirit of St. Louis Rollerball: On the morning of May 20, 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from New York City for Paris in his Ryan NYP monoplane on what would become the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Over thirty-three hours and 3600 miles later he would land in France to a roaring crowd. Lindbergh would later tour the US, Central and South American plus the Caribbean in the Spirit of St. Louis, where each country's flag was painted on the cowling. Its final flight was from St. Louis to Washington D.C. where Lindbergh presented the plane to the Smithsonian where it resides today. Retro51 is proud to present the Spirit of St. Louis to the officially licensed Smithsonian Collection of Fine Writing Instruments. The plane’s graphics and details have been recreated on this twist-top Tornado™ rollerball. All the details of this plane have been included through acid-etching and printing on the barrel that's complete with antiqued trim and the Smithsonian name and logo on top. Pick up this token of historical achievement and challenge yourself to unimaginable accomplishments. 

Dinosaur Fossil Rollerball: Think about someone you know that loves dinosaurs and will open this officially licensed Smithsonian rollerball pen. Inside the commemorative tube they will discover a metal pen where you can actually feel the bones. It’s been plated in stonewashed copper to give it an unearthed look and finally top printed in ivory to highlight the several dinosaurs that wrap around the barrel. The top ring has been engraved with the Smithsonian name, plus it’s numbered and then imprinted with the Smithsonian logo on the top disc. This pen is sure to make you roar!

Panda Rollerball: “The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will celebrate 50 years of unprecedented achievement in the care, conservation, breeding and study of giant pandas. Over the past five decades, the Zoo’s bears have become international icons, beloved both for their adorable antics and their ability to bring colleagues from the United States and China together to collaborate for a common goal: saving the species from extinction.” This Smithsonian collection pen by Retro51 not only writes with the dreamy rollerball refill, but it also has multiple charming pandas printed on the lightly textured barrel. Each Tornado is complete with antique silver accents, individually numbered top ring and the Smithsonian sun logo on the finial. Add The National Zoo Panda pen to your collection or wrap it up as a gift for family and friends, they’re sure to bring smiles for years to come. You can watch the The National Zoo Panda's Live Cam here!