Top News

The silver Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 fountain pen carries a rich provenance. According to Singapore-based auction house Hotlotz, the pen was previously sold during the Lee Kuan Yew Family Collection charity auction in July 2003.`

A personal Montblanc fountain pen once owned by Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew is set to go under the hammer later this month, with auctioneers expecting it to fetch as much as S$50,000 (around US$39,000). The historic writing instrument, engraved with the words "SM Lee Kuan Yew," is among the highlights of an upcoming online auction.

The silver Montblanc Meisterstück No. 146 fountain pen carries a rich provenance. According to Singapore-based auction house Hotlotz, the pen was previously sold during the Lee Kuan Yew Family Collection charity auction in July 2003.`

For its upcoming sale, the auction house has assigned it an estimated value ranging between S$30,000 and S$50,000, with bidding opening at S$20,000 (approximately US$15,600). Interestingly, when it first appeared at auction over two decades ago, it had been valued at only S$4,000 to S$6,000, reflecting the significant appreciation of its historical importance over the years.

Lee Kuan Yew served as Singapore's Minister Mentor from August 2004 until May 2011 after stepping down as Prime Minister. Even after leaving the Cabinet, he continued serving as a Member of Parliament until his passing on March 23, 2015, remaining one of the nation's most influential political figures.