{
  "id": 1424621,
  "title": "Lee Kuan Yew’s Montblanc pen fetches S$461,500 at Singapore auction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/lee-kuan-yews-montblanc-pen-fetches-s-461-500-at-singapore-auction",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T05:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/world/126267/lee-kuan-yews-montblanc-pen-fetches-s461500-at-singapore-auction"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A SILVER Montblanc fountain pen once owned by Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew sold for S$461,500 at an online auction hosted by Singapore auction house Hotlotz on August 4, 2026. The pen, custom-engraved with \"SM Lee Kuan Yew,\" far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of S$30,000 to S$50,000, garnering 111 bids from around the world. The pen, dating to Lee's years as Senior Minister from 1990 to 2004, features sterling silver and gold-tone details, with an 18K gold nib. The auction also featured several other Singaporean artworks, with a painting by pioneer artist Chua Mia Tee selling for S$107,900, setting a new auction record for the late social-realist artist.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Singapore",
        "title": "Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's Montblanc pen sold for S$461,500 at auction after 111 bids",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/founding-prime-minister-lee-kuan-yews-montblanc-pen-sold-for-s-461",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:22:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}