| Pencils |
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The items below are sorted by date; click here to sort by maker
7888: Lownds pencil: sterling silver, 10.4 cm long extended, marked on extending shaft "LOWNDS PATENT PHILADA"; to extend pencil, end knob is pulled out and turned, then pushed forward; reverse procedure to retract; a very early and important design, given US patent #32 (yes, #32) in 1836; initials on octagonal barrel, light marks and one notable dent, uses uses .9 mm lead lead, propelling mechanism works, nozzle extends and retracts, but will not lock in extended position.
DATE: c. 1838 • CONDITION: G* • $165
5917: Fairchild dip pen and pencil combination: early example in engine turned silver (no metal content marks, however), 9.2 cm closed, 15.4 cm extended; telescoping body with reversible pen holder and pencil insert; scattered shallow dings, pen holder has a crack on one lower edge (see detail); barrel marked "L.W. FAIRCHILD & CO.".
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: G-VG* • $160
6293: unmarked magic pencil: scarce oversize ringtop, 13.7 cm long extended, 7.6 cm long closed; bold fluted pattern, top quality, marked "STERLING PAT. APD FOR", uses 2 mm lead; US-made, probably by Fairchild or Johnson.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine • $325
7641: Fairchild magic pencil: large sterling silver cable twist pattern ringtop, 7 cm closed, 12.2 cm extended; smooth easy action, no dings, even wear, uses 2 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG • $225
5701: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: large, heavy sterling silver ringtop, 7 cm long closed, mechanically sound, scattered light marks, uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: G • $180
5428: American Pencil Co. pencil case: wooden holder, 28.3 cm long, in the form of a giant pencil with a screw-on nickeled brass end cap; faux woodgrained finish, real lead inset into end; marked with number "32" and "PATENT/APPL'D FOR".
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $100
5812: Hicks figural pencil: gold filled ringtop, 5 cm long retracted, in the form of a cannon; back end turns to extend pencil, mechanism good, scattered light dings to the surface, marked "W.S. HICKS"; a scarce American-made novelty.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: G • $250
7596: John Holland porte-crayon: miniature gold filled slide-action ringtop pencil, 4.25 cm long closed; unmarked, part of a hoard from the estate of a prominent New York jeweler who retired in the late 1940s; comes with a new ribbon (color may vary from that shown) and a fresh piece of 3mm marking lead.
DATE: c. 1890 •
CONDITION: mint • $16
4403: Mordan dip pen and pencil set in box: smooth sterling silver, marked "S. MORDAN & CO.", no hallmarks; pen 15.3 cm long excluding plated nib, pencil uses VS 1.5 mm lead; wear and scuffs to box exterior, pen and pencil very clean.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $385
6707: unmarked pencil: large, high quality, gold filled with long pearl slabs, nozzle extends by twisting front cap; 10.1 cm long extended, 8 cm retracted; mechanism works smoothly, pearl pristine, minimal plating wear to caps, tool marks on nozzle (see detail); uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine* • $165
6653: Mordan (?) novelty pencil: sterling silver, in the shape of a Bramah patent key (more on the Bramah lock here); 5.7 cm long retracted, uses VS lead, retracting mechanism fully functional but a bit stiff, scratches on the ring suggest that it was carried on a real keyring; not marked, but a catalogued Mordan design and by all appearances Mordan manufacture.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: G-VG • $500
5147: Edward Todd magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 9 cm long extended, maker's mark on ribbed shaft; nozzle mouth has two slits but also a third parallel split; mechanism works fine, metal crisp, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE:
c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $50
5361: Fairchild magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 10.2 cm long extended, marked "F/J", scattered fleabites and superficial scratches to barrel, mechanism works well, uses "VS" lead (1.5 mm).
DATE: c. 1900 •
CONDITION: G • $65
7642: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: large smooth gold filled ringtop, 6.4 cm long closed, 12.2 cm extended; very clean, with a smooth action, barrel engraved 'S. A. C." and "June 19 - 1906"; no marker's mark, uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $125
5101: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: oversized sterling silver ringtop, 8.7 cm closed, 14.6 cm extended; marked "STERLING", monogrammed "W.H.R.", some extremely shallow bumps; very solidly made, smooth action, uses thick 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG • $180
7522: unmarked drop-action porte-crayon: coin silver with niello decoration of stripes and fleurs-de-lys, 7.3 cm long closed, German (?) hallmarks with 900 mark on ring, mechanism solid, excellent quality of workmanship, niello all intact.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $200
4664: unmarked magic pencil: smooth rose gold filled ringtop, 10.1 cm long extended, US-made, operates smoothly, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $65
7156: Aikin Lambert pencil: smooth gold filled, clutch action, 12.7 cm long, uses 2 mm thick lead; Gothic "C" engraved on barrel, 2 mm test mark near crown.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $75
7546: Vickery extending sheath pencil: sterling silver, 7.7 cm long closed, 12.4 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead; London hallmarks rather worn, interesting presentation inscription: "H. BERRY./BEACONSFIELD FLOWER SHOW/1910"; Mordan quality, and possibly manufacture.
DATE: 1910 • CONDITION: fine • $325
7573: unmarked drop-action porte-crayon: sterling silver, 7.2 cm long closed, marked "STERLING FRANCE"; rotating band for perpetual calendar, days of the week denoted by English abbreviations, inlaid with colored enamel; lower barrel engraved with a picture of a building, actuator button engraved with intertwined monogram with letters C, L, I, N, and Y; comes with old Hardtmuth pencil insert with brass threaded ferrule end, marked "Czecho-Slovakia".
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $150
6175: Conklin pencil: gold filled ringtop, 10.6 cm long, checkerboard panels pattern, 1920 patent date imprint, a couple of dings to the front of the barrel; uses 1.1 mm lead, mechanism advances and retracts lead.
DATE: c.
1925 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $45
6176: Moore pencil: gold filled ringtop, 11.1 cm long, crisp chasing and imprints, 1922 patent date, fancy monogram in indicia, one very small flattened spot on the shoulder of the tip cone; uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925
• CONDITION: fine • $60
7193: unmarked magic pencil: gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel inlays, 7 cm long retracted, some enamel losses to back of head (see detail); uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG* • $265
7195: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition excellent, wear to plating, ring appears to have Arabic hallmark; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.8 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG • $275
7194: unmarked magic pencil: large, gold plated "mummy pencil" with multicolored enamel, 6.5 cm long retracted, fine detail and quality, enamel condition very good with minimal losses, wear to plating; less common with arms shown at sides; uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: G-VG • $225
7545: Mordan drop-action pencil: sterling silver, 8.2 cm long closed, 11.6 cm extended, Birmingham hallmarks, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: 1929 • CONDITION: fine • $180
5563: Eagle novelty pencil: giant "Zep" 263, red lead, picture of zeppelin in silver on side; 23.4 cm long including brass end loop.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $80
7054: Hicks combination pencil lighter: sterling silver, 13.4 cm long, uses 2.5 mm lead, lighter insert marked "Realite", with patent information, pencil fully marked with Hicks logo and name of New York jewelers Udall and Ballou; initials on indicia and scattered dings, overall appearance still handsome, size and weight impressive.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG • $125
7013: unmarked double-ended marking pencil: .900 hallmarked hexagonal silver body, red and navy blue cones at either end, 16 cm long; lead size appears to be around 2.9 or 3 mm, mechanisms propel and retract; no dings or wear to the engine turning pattern, but some chips to the very edges of the silver at either end (see details).
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine* • $205
5157: Eagle Giant Automatic pencil: oversize novelty, 27 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, some flaking to red paint.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: G* • $45
7543: Mordan drop-action porte-crayon: sterling silver, seven-sided, London hallmarks, 8 cm retracted, good weight and girth, body crisp, actuator button has dings and tool marks, overall condition otherwise excellent; mechanism in good working order.
DATE: 1935 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $165
6320: Eagle Automatic pencil: giant novelty, 27 cm long, red with Santa Claus in silver writing a letter using this same giant pencil; uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1936 • CONDITION: fine • $60
7016: Autopoint pencil: red pearl with black eraser cover, 11.6 cm long, name on barrel, strong imprints.
DATE: c. 1938
• CONDITION: fine • $50
7076: Ronson Penciliter: combination pencil and lighter, 14.3 cm long, black and rhodium plate; uses 1.1 mm lead, pencil mechanism propels, but does not retract.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: fine* • $95
7478: Mabie Todd Fyne Poynt pencil: blue, gold filled trim, 12.3 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, new old stock, minimal storage wear.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: near mint • $40
7479: Mabie Todd Fyne Poynt pencil: black, gold filled trim, 12.3 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, new old stock, minimal storage wear.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: near mint • $40
7486: Mabie Todd Fyne Poynt pencil: lavender pearl and black marbled, 12.3 cm long, chrome plated trim, Blackbird clip logo indicates originally sold as mate to Blackbird pen; uses 1.1 mm lead, new old stock, minimal storage wear.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: near mint • $60
7955: Cross pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 8.3 cm long, one scratch and one small ding to barrel (see detail); uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1948 • CONDITION: VG* • $40
7481: Mabie Todd Fyne Poynt pencil: striated red-brown, gold filled trim, 12.5 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, new old stock.
DATE: c. 1949 • CONDITION: near mint • $50
7488: Mabie Todd Fyne Poynt pencil: royal blue, gold filled trim, 12.6 cm long, original price band, new old stock, minimal storage wear, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1949 • CONDITION: near mint • $65
7494: Cross pencil: 1/30 10K gold filled vest pocket model, 8.7 cm long, uses .9 mm lead, fully marked, some scratches to the cone.
DATE: c. 1950 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $40
7653: Pelikan 450 injector pencil: green pearl stripes and black, 12.9 cm long, gold filled trim, earlier thick-barreled model with brass eraser holder, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $95
7676: Pelikan 60 pencil: dark green, 11.8 cm long, gold filled trim; singular "Knickbein" mechanism advances lead when pencil is "bent" between the fingers; a real conversation piece, quite scarce and desirable, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $465
7078: Pelikan 60 pencil: dark green, 11.9 cm long, gold filled trim; singular "Knickbein" mechanism advances lead when pencil is "bent" between the fingers; a real conversation piece, quite scarce and desirable; uses 1.1 mm lead, of additional interest in bearing the KLM airline logo.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: exc
• $500
7236: Pelikan 450 injector pencil: green pearl stripes and black, 13 cm long, gold filled trim, later slenderized model, top button pulls out to reveal eraser, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1960 • CONDITION: fine-exc •
$80
6644: Pelikan 450 injector pencil: green pearl stripes and black, 13 cm long, gold filled trim, later slenderized model, top button pulls out to reveal eraser, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1963 • CONDITION: exc • $85
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