At the centre of the intellectual awakening of the 18th century was one man in particular whose written word has stood the test of time: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Polymath, giant of German literature, lawyer, government minister, theatre director and a prodigious collector and naturalist, he was in every way a revolutionary, intent on pushing back the boundaries of perception and learning. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his creative versatility knew no bounds. The philosophiccal depth of Faust, the lyrical subtlety of his poetry and the breadth of scientific exploration behind his colour theory and botanical treatises were of epochal significance and testify in their variety and far-reaching influence to Goethe’s genius.As a poet and statesman, advisor, friend and lover, he left an indelible mark on the world around him and serves to this day as a source of inspiration and vision.

With the support of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and the Goethe National Museum it houses, Montblanc is dedicating its Writers Edition Homage to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Limited Edition 1808 to this universal genius, focusing especially on his role as a statesman. Goethe shaped his time with words and deeds. The largest edition of his complete works and writings currently comprises 40 volumes, containing around 3,000 poems alone. His drama, Götz von Berlichingen, was published anonymously in 1773, but just one year later The Sorrows of Young Werther, written in less than four weeks, catapulted the 25-year-old lawyer to overnight fame. His reputation did not go unnoticed in Weimar, where the young duke, Karl August, was keen to transform his duchy into a ‘Court of the Muses’. Goethe’s move to Weimar marked a turning point in his life.

Here, he was no longer only seen as a renowned poet and philosopher but also acted as a statesman and reformer, reactivating the tradition of silver mining, reorganising economic and fiscal policy and rising rapidly to become chief advisor to the duke. Goethe was ennobled in 1782 in recognition of his services to the Weimar court and in 1816 was awarded the Order of the White Falcon, also known as the House Order of Vigilance. This star-shaped badge was the inspiration behind the gold-coated embellishment on the barrel of this limited edition. The carmine red lacquer underneath references the colour of the ceremonial sash worn by Goethe in the portrait by Gerhard von Kügelgen. The pattern in gold traced around the cap resembles the rounded arches which feature so prominently in a Rembrandt etching adapted for the frontispiece of Goethe’s ‘Faust fragment’ of 1790.