This page lists pencils from the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, sorted by date. Magic pencils, porte-crayons and other wood pencil holders, and pencils from 1900 to date are listed on their own pages
Pencil lead links: order - sizes and sources
14327: Butler extending pencil: early slide-action, sterling silver, 9 cm long closed, 11.7 cm extended, bloodstone seal; nozzle marked "H", denoting 0.8 mm lead, characteristic form with steel tip insert.
DATE: c. 1840 • CONDITION: fine • $220
14788: Collins (?) extending pencil: very early American production, unmarked as to metal content but by all appearances solid gold of relatively low karatage, 8.7 cm long closed, 11.1 cm extended, steel tip insert, bulbous crown characteristically early, uses 1.0 mm lead, "M. Collins" in tiny letters on shaft, could be either maker or owner. Scattered shallow dings, even wear to shaft, tiny spot of solder over slider pins.
DATE: c. 1840 • CONDITION: G • $225
15951: Mordan pencil: early sterling silver slide-action, 11.3 cm long extended, 9 cm retracted, fluted pattern, hexagonal crown with carnelian seal stone; early markings: "S. MORDAN & CO. MAKERS & PATENTEES", "M" marked nozzle uses 1.0 mm lead. Worn but sound, light marks, fine appearance, refined design.
DATE: c. 1842 • CONDITION: VG • $265
15734: John Sheldon dip pen and pencil compendium in box: scarce and desirable Birmingham-made combination dip pen, pencil, coin gauge, toothpick, wax seal, and letter scale (British weights and rates, ounces and pence), 10.3 cm long closed, nickel silver, clean condition noting "SHELDON" imprint nearly polished away, though February 1842 patent date stamp strong and clear.
DATE: c. 1845 • CONDITION: fine • $600
16273: unmarked pencil: early example in nickel silver rather than sterling, 8.75 cm long closed, thin flat waffle-pattern seal end, barrel seam along slot has been rather casually soldered, typically American nozzle with steel tip insert uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1845 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $120
16707: unmarked extending pencil: gold-plated silver, of distinctively French design, 9.35 cm long closed, 12.2 cm extended, brocade chased barrel, perpetual calendar, flat rectangular seal end with reverse-engraved monogram; tiny Paris hallmarks, inset steel nozzle tip, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: G-VG • $165
16275: unmarked extending pencil: early American slide-action, unusually large and of excellent qualilty, 13.5 cm long open, 10.1 cm closed, high gold content, hardstone seal, inset steel nozzle tip; even wear but overall sound, one slider pin missing, uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1850 • CONDITION: VG* • $295
15948: Mordan (?) pencil: sterling silver, hexagonal barrel, elegant acanthus trim, 10.5 cm long extended, 9.1 cm retracted; yellow faceted seal is probably glass, chip to rim. Scattered shallow dings, even wear, slender and graceful, "H" marked nozzle uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: VG • $165
15952: unmarked extending pencil: large and striking, sterling silver with hand-chased floral decoration, carnelian seal stone, 12.1 cm long extended, 9.7 cm retracted; uses 1.0 mm lead, "M" marked nozzle, unusual tab slider mechanism. Unmarked but of excellent quality.
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $275
15306: unmarked extending pencil: slender gold filled American slide-action, 7.3 cm long closed, 9.7 cm extended, uses 1.0 mm lead; purple glass end, excellent quality and fully functional but wear commensurate with age, one slider pin missing, spot of solder on side of nozzle (see detail).
DATE: c. 1860 • CONDITION: VG* • $65
15949: unmarked extending pencil: large, sterling silver, fluted line and dot barrel, 11.8 cm long extended, 9.7 cm retracted, shield-shaped bloodstone seal stone, "M" marked nozzle has dings at its end, tool marks, uses 1.1 mm lead. Styling and quality are Mordanlike, overall condition is sound but wear and dings to sliding collar and lip worn away from front end cap (see detail).
DATE: c. 1865 • CONDITION: G-VG* • $145
16262: Mordan pencil: sterling silver ringtop with porcupine quill barrel, 6.6 cm long closed, 8.8 cm with nozzle extended; nozzle marked "VS" at base but uses standard 2 mm thick lead, tip has a crack but still fully functional.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: VG* • $120
16261: unmarked extending pencil: probably English, horn barrel sleeve with nickel silver trim, 8.65 cm long closed, 11 cm with nozzle extended, uses 1.5 mm lead, unusual form, cracks in horn do not affect function.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: VG* • $85
15166: unmarked extending pencil: sterling silver12.2 cm long extended, 9.4 cm retracted, French hallmarks, excellent quality with plain unengraved rectangular seal end. Nozzle unmarked, unusual propelling pin with socket end holds 1.0 to 1.1 mm lead for both extending and retracting action (may be an added feature, as the nozzle end opening is larger, around 1.4 mm.
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $150
15605: Mordan three-color pencil: large sterling silver twist-pattern ringtop, 7.15 cm long closed, 9.4 cm extended. Most unusually, the maker's mark is placed under the red transparent enamel of one of the color-coded sliders. Nozzles marked "W", take 2.0 mm lead. One small ding towards the front of the barrel (see detail).
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • $450
15603: Mordan three-color pencil: unusually large sterling silver ringtop, 10.2 cm long retracted, 11.9 cm extended, some minor bruises to colored enamel on sliders, nozzles marked "W", use 2.0 mm lead. Only blue nozzle propels lead properly, other two need attention to internal mechanisms. Overall condition otherwise fine or better.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG* • $465
14376: Mordan retracting dip pen and pencil combination: reeded solid gold, 9.1 cm long retracted, pencil nozzle uses "VS' lead; weight is 12.5 grams.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $495
15955: unmarked extending pencil: small, sterling silver with faceted end stone, 7.9 cm long extended, 6 cm retracted, English made with line and dot engine turning, uses 1.0 mm lead; excellent quality but scattered marks and crown has been soldered in place unevenly, clearly an old repair.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG* • $80
16715: 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 shallow marks and dings, plating wear; uses 1.1 mm lead. A scarce fully marked American-made novelty pencil.
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: G • $225
15263: Mordan desk pencil: sterling silver, cable twist pattern, 15.4 cm long, fully marked, a couple of pinhead bumps at the end; uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine • $245
11991: unmarked desk pencil: long and elegant, gold filled trim with twist pattern black hard rubber barrel sleeve, 15.1 cm long, propels and retracts, uses 2.65 mm lead (lead clutch could be squeezed slightly to allow use of more readily available 2.5 mm lead).
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG • $95
11943: unmarked pencil: slender, barleycorn pattern with what appear to be traces of gilding (material appears to be solid silver and not plate), 9.3 cm long, uses 1.4 mm lead, probably American.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $70
16303: unmarked pencil: gold filled ringtop, 8.3 cm long closed, clamping lead holder, uses 2 mm lead, end is turned to tighten and loosen (lead is not mechanically propelled).
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $60
15262: unmarked dip pen and pencil set: sterling silver, cable twist pattern, pen is 16.6 cm long excluding plated nib, desk pencil uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead; English manufacture, excellent quality, possibly Mordan; condition excellent but for tool marks to pencil nozzle.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $425
14418: Mordan pencil: sterling silver, 9 cm long retracted, large reeded body, plain trim, bloodstone seal, fully marked with London hallmarks for 1894-95; nozzle is for "VS" lead, has tool marks and dents, propelling mechanism not functioning.
DATE: 1894-95 • CONDITION: VG* • $95
13449: Mabie Todd desk pencil: sterling silver, pearl taper, 14.6 cm long, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $120
15841: Mabie Todd dip pen and pencil set: sterling silver and gold filled two-tone twist pattern with pearl taper, 11.7 cm long excluding #4 Mabie Todd ventless gold nib; matching desk pencil accepts standard 2.0 mm lead though originally designed for .076".
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc • NIB: fine flex • $425
13629: Edward Todd telescoping ruler pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 11.3 cm long, square body ruled to 3 5/8 inches, extends to 32.5 cm to measure a full 12 inches; hand-engraved numbers, 1897 patent date, uses standard 2 mm thick lead. Early production, unusual size, only example we have handled that is three-draw, rather than two. Ringtop attachment appears to have been resoldered in the past (see detail).
DATE: c. 1898 • CONDITION: fine* • $350
14416: Mordan pencil: sterling silver, 9.2 cm long retracted, reeded barrel, unusually large and hefty (just under 29 g) and crisply preserved, proportionately large nozzle uses "VS" 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1898 • CONDITION: exc • $265
12225: Aikin Lambert sheath pencil: sterling silver, 8.2 cm long, engraved "APOLLO CLUB", fully marked, suspension ring.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: fine • $65
16446: Cross (?) clutch pencil: gold filled ringtop, 7.9 cm long, uses 3 mm thick lead; unmarked, no mechanical lead advance function, crown is twisted to clamp and unclamp lead.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: exc • $60
14858: Mordan (?) pencil bracelet: sterling silver novelty, pencil is 4.2 cm long retracted, twist-action to extend nozzle, uses 1 mm lead, bracelet is 6.1 cm across. Unmarked, but very similar Mordan-marked examples are known.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $450
11024: unmarked pencil and pencil topper: small sterling silver ringtop, uses standard 2 mm lead, 6.6 cm long, with similarly marked silver topper for a wooden pencil -- chased sleeve slides up to hide eraser, has some roughness and a small split at the top edge (see details). Both pieces probably New York manufacture.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $65
15305: Aikin Lambert dip pen, pencil, and manicure set in box: a most unusual presentation set, all in sterling silver, the three pieces engraved "M.M.", "to", and "Maiza". The reversible dip pen carries a ventless gold #4 Aikin Lambert nib, while the pencil uses .075 inch lead and extends and retracts. Some small dings here and there (see details), faceted colored glass end stones. Pencil is 12 cm long, other two pieces are 9.3 cm long, closed.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $650
15395: unmarked dip pen, pencil, and stamp compendium: nickel-plated brass, 11.1 cm long closed, made in Germany, clamp-style pencil nozzle takes standard 2 mm lead; self-inking reversing rubber stamp in end is spring-loaded.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG • $50
14769: unmarked dip pen, pencil, and stamp compendium: nickel-plated brass, 11.7 cm long closed, clamp-style pencil nozzle takes standard 2 mm lead; reversing rubber stamp in end is self-inking..
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG • $80
16641: Ripley & Gowan pencil and pocket knife compendium: gold filled, 6.6 cm long, with two knife blades, pencil nozzle extends when end knob is turned, uses 1.4 mm lead; excellent quality, similar to items retailed by Tiffany, Edward Todd, and others.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: fine • $120
12229: unmarked sheath pencil: white metal, 10 cm long, Egyptian-themed enameled badges applied on each side; dings overall, corrosion hole in holder (see details).
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: G* • $45
15231: unmarked mummy pencil: silver figural with multicolored enamel, 5.3 cm long retracted; mechanism works smoothly, screw-in nozzle tip is missing but works fine with standard 2 mm lead inserted. Scattered losses to enamel, fine overall appearance.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: VG* • $225
14189: unmarked mummy pencil: unusually small figural magic pencil, gold plated with multicolored enamel, 3 cm long retracted, top ring, fine working order, uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $195
