When you think of luxury writing instruments, the innovative, snow-capped world of Montblanc immediately springs to mind. With its iconic logo representing the highest quality design and craftsmanship, Montblanc has been a beacon of luxury and class since the turn of the 20th century.

With its ingenious designs for the ink-filled fountain pen, came a celebration of the written word; championing the power of ideas and the notion that, as readers and writers, we are explorers on a quest to the highest peak of the imagination.

And nowhere embodies the power of the written word and the knowledge, ideas and adventure we can glean from it than the library. Montblanc’s latest campaign, The Library Spirit: Episodes from Around the World, encapsulates the essence of the dynamic and diverse identity of cities across the globe through their literary spaces. It is a way to honour the explorers who chose to navigate the bookshelves in search of new ideas. On a journey from Milan to London, Paris to Shanghai and New York, Montblanc uncovers the unique spirit of each city.

‘Libraries are such compelling and fascinating windows into the soul of a city, a country, a culture. They are places of enlightenment, inspiration and creation where stories are stored, ideas are treasures waiting to be discovered or rediscovered,’ explains Marco Tomasetta, artistic director of Montblanc. ‘Our campaign journey has taken us around the world because, while the power of words is universal, every city has its own influences expressed in its libraries, and the explorers who inhabit them have their own unique personality and styles with Montblanc as part of their journey of discovery.’

Shanghai is one of the cities chosen to represent the campaign, thanks to its seamless mix of tradition and modernity. Actor and global brand ambassador Jing Boran can be seen in a traditional bookstore, beautifully juxtaposed with the modern Lujiazui skyline in the background, surrounded by tomes filled with enlightening passages. These contrasts tell a story of their own.

Meanwhile, the iconic New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan was just the place to echo the reading habits of explorers in the Big Apple. For the campaign, world-renowned photographer Mariano Vivanco artfully captures models Garrett Neff and James Turlington alongside actress and book enthusiast Liya Kebede surrounded by the infamous collection of books and maps held within the walls of the Beaux-Arts landmark. Kebede writes in a leather- bound notebook from the Montblanc Extreme 3.0 collection, recording the notions she encounters with the Montblanc StarWalker SpaceBlue metal fineliner writing instrument. The significance of putting pen to paper is something Montblanc has been innovating since 1906; an expression of the insatiable search for inspiration.

A celebration and extension of The Library Spirit is Montblanc’s Extreme 3.0 collection – a range of leather goods to complement its writing instruments, designed to meet the demands of everyday life. A combination of function and elegance, the bold range – available in teal, blue, British green, black and forged iron – maintains the technical innovation at the heart of Montblanc, seen in the original M LOCK 4810 buckle. Developed in Plexiglas to expose the internal mechanism of the lock, it is inspired by the climbing world and goes one step further in enhancing your journey to enlightened ideas inspired by the written word.

Learn more about the campaign and discover the Montblanc Extreme 3.0 Collection, from £75, at montblanc.com