Introduction

Visconti’s latest creation celebrates the 90th anniversary of the opening of the great Route 66, the famous American highway spanning 2,448 miles beginning in Chicago, Illinois and ending in Santa Monica, California. The famous road served as a major route for westward migration until the early 1970s, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and for the transportation of people and goods during and after World War II. In later years it symbolized freedom and adventure, providing a new way for Americans to reach the West. Many businesses were founded and thrived on Route 66, helping to drive the economies of the small towns by the numerous drivers passing through.

Although the Route 66 is no longer considered a part of the United States Highway System, most of the road still exists and is a cherished destination for travelers. The road is celebrated through popular culture references including Bobby Troup’s song “(Get your Kicks) on Route 66”, the 1960s television show Route 66, and more recently as the setting in the Disney movie Cars.

America’s most famous highway is affectionately referred to as the “Mother Road” and this title is wrapped in sterling silver with enamel on the ring of the ivory resin cap. The pen’s body features a Route 66 highway marker emblazoned in red and blue enamel. A scrimshaw scene of Route 66 showing the states it intersects along with a scene of the road approaching Sedona, Arizona surrounded by its iconic mountains is carved into the pen. The pen is trimmed with matte palladium.

The pen is packaged in a special collector’s edition wood box embossed with the highway’s symbol on the top. The inside of the lid features a depiction of the road, highlighting symbols of America and landmarks found along the way. A parchment map of Route 66 is also included illustrating popular rest stops, restaurants and hotels on the highway. The Route 66 is limited to 366 pens worldwide and is available in rollerball or fountain pen with 23kt palladium nib and the Visconti double reservoir power filler system.