Lee Kuan Yew’s ‘SM’ engraved Montblanc pen heads to auction with a $50,000 high estimate

SINGAPORE – A silver Montblanc fountain pen, once belonging to the personal collection of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, is up for auction with a high estimate of $50,000. The Meisterstuck No. 146, engraved with ‘SM Lee Kuan Yew,’ traces its origins to Lee’s tenure as Senior Minister from 1990 to 2004. This pen is part of a later chapter of his statecraft after his 31-year tenure as Prime Minister. The pen features a sterling silver cap and body accented with yellow-toned metal highlights, and an 18K gold nib. It was originally sold more than two decades ago during the Sotheby’s landmark 2003 auction of the Lee Kuan Yew Family Collection, where it was auctioned for a modest estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. The winning bid amount was not detailed in public records. The pen is now being offered again by Singapore-based auction house Hotlotz, with an updated estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It will be showcased at the Hotlotz Saleroom in Bukit Merah for in-person viewing, with an online auction closing on August 16 at 6 PM. The auction, titled *Interiors & Collectibles – August, Fine Art Focus*, also includes works by Chua Mia Tee, Chen Wen Hsi, and Lim Tze Peng, among other art pieces.