Pen Profile: Magic Pencils -- More figural and novelty items here
Pencil lead links: order - sizes and sources
16709: Cross magic pencil: gold filled ringtop with engine turning and typical Cross-style black enamel bands; 5.4 cm long closed, 10.2 cm long extended, uses standard 1.1 mm lead; some inpainted losses to the bands (see details), fully marked.
DATE: c. 1900 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $145
16972: Cross (?) magic pencil: gold filled ringtop with engine turning and typical Cross-style black enamel bands; 5.55 cm long closed, 10.7 cm long extended, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $120
16995: E. S. Johnson magic pencil: sterling silver, suspension sheath holder, 5.4 cm long closed, 10.2 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead; fully marked, several shallow dings.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine • $95
16974: Fairchild magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, 5.1 cm long closed, 10.75 cm extended, uses 1.4 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $65
12224: Fairchild magic pencil: unusual ringtop, 6.75 cm long closed, 11.8 cm extended, alternating rose gold filled and black celluloid ribbed rings; slight gap between end rings due to age shrinkage of celluloid, mechanism works smoothly and positively, uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $150
11957: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: unmarked gold filled ringtop of good size, 6.3 cm long closed, 12 cm extended, black lacquered bands and fluted center for a sculptural effect, attached badge for Delta Omega Sigma in low carat rose gold; uses standard 1.1 mm lead, mechanically perfect noting hairline crack in front cap (see detail).
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine* • $125
16399: Foley magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, special commemorative for the United States' 1876 Centennial, 5.25 cm long closed, 10.1 cm extended, made to use 1.5 mm lead, can be used with more readily available 1.4 mm lead.
DATE: 1876 • CONDITION: G-VG • $150
16978: Gorham magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop with noteworthy deeply-cut hand chasing, 5.25 cm long closed, 9.9 cm extended, uses 1.95 mm lead; fully marked, silver is unusually thick and heavy.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • $450
16714: Hicks magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, 7.05 cm long closed, 12.7 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead, unmarked but for March 21, 1871 patent date -- a Hicks patent.
DATE: c. 1872 • CONDITION: fine • $125
16698: Hicks magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 4.95 cm long closed, 8.6 cm extended, hand-chased scrollwork decoration, fully marked, uses 1.05 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • $80
16702: Hicks magic pencil: sterling silver, suspension sheath holder, 4.3 cm long closed, 8.65 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead; initials engraved on outer holder, a couple of shallow bumps to inner pencil, fully marked with crisp line chasing.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $120
13928: Hicks magic pencil: rare oversize ringtop, 8.7 cm long closed, 15.3 cm extended, uses 2.5 mm lead, advances and retracts; no maker's marks but of distinctive construction, scattered pinprick dings, one larger bump and test mark on end (see details), mechanism works solidly and smoothly.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG • $245
16696: Hicks magic pencil: large, gold filled, with sheath carrying suspension ring; 12 cm long extended, uses standard 2 mm lead, propels and retracts; fully marked, scattered shallow bumps and a couple of test marks (see details), functionally excellent.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: VG • $220
14131: Hicks magic pencil: large sterling silver ringtop, hexagonal body, 7.8 cm long closed, 13.7 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead; acorn mark on front ferrule, scattered dings to periphery of end knob.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • $205
13081: Hicks magic pencil: large smooth gold filled ringtop, 7.9 cm long closed, 14.4 cm extended, uses 2.5 mm lead, extends and retracts; interesting and elegant 1915-dated presentation inscription, maker's mark and "10K GOLD PLATE" imprint. Some small marks and dings to the end of the extending shaft, and to the ends of the barrel.
DATE: c. 1914 • CONDITION: fine • $195
16694: Hicks magic pencil watch fob: gold filled, ring fitting at center for use as watch chain toggle; 4.5 cm long closed, 8.9 cm extended, fully marked, made to use 1.5 mm lead but can use more common 1.4 mm as well.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG • $120
16971: Hicks (?) magic pencil: sterling silver, 7.45 cm long closed, 13.2 cm extended, hand-chased scrollwork, uses 1.4 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $175
16695: Hicks (?) magic pencil: sterling silver, 6 cm long closed, 11.8 cm extended, acid etched Art Nouveau decoration, uses .075 inch (1.9 mm) lead, mechanism propels and retracts lead; back end is open, likely originally had a soldered-in closure disk with ringtop fitting.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • $165
16986: Mabie Todd (?) magic pencil: sterling silver twist pattern ringtop, 5.8 cm long closed, 11.25 cm extended, marked only "STERLING"; propels and retracts lead, uses standard 2 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $200
16985: Mabie Todd (?) magic pencil: sterling silver twist pattern ringtop, 5 cm long closed, 9.4 cm extended, marked only "STERLING"; some shallow dings, uses standard 2 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $150
15266: Mordan figural magic pencil: silver novelty using a genuine early 18th-century Dutch needle case; 9.2 cm long closed, 13.1 cm long extended, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead. Mechanism in good working order, tiny and almost invisible stress line at very mouth of nozzle, needle case shows independent level of wear including minor dings and a repaired crack (see details).
DATE: c. 1870 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: * • $425
16244: Mordan magic pencil: oversize twist pattern ringtop, sheath suspension style, 7.5 cm long closed, pencil extended 11.9 cm long, uses "VS" 1.5 mm lead. Massive construction, pencil shaft end has been repaired, mostly obliterating the maker's mark and leaving the end knob off center (see details).
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG* • $205
16205: Mordan magic pencil: solid gold but not hallmarked, coarse barley pattern ringtop, 5.35 cm long closed, 9.5 cm extended, uses "VS" 1.5 mm lead; weighs 15.12 grams.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine • $985
16976: Murat magic pencil: ringtop in vermeil and hammered silver with rose gold filled applique work, French manufacture, 5.6 cm long closed, 10.5 cm open, uses 1.9 mm (.075") lead, marked "C.M." for Charles Murat.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine • $165
14405: Tiffany magic pencil: large sterling silver ringtop, hexagonal body, 7.8 cm long closed, 13.7 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm "VS" lead, made by Hicks for Tiffany, and nearly identical to our item 14131. Presentation inscription from Commonwealth Insurance Company with dates of 1886 and 1911. Test mark on shaft, dings to nozzle.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: VG* • $265
16708: unmarked magic pencil: gold filled fine barleycorn pattern including shaft, 7.5 mm long closed, 12.55 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead; an earlier design, unusual form.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $125
16975: unmarked magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, 5.3 cm long closed, 10.3 cm extended, unusual hand-engraved and chased figural decoration of nesting birds; some plating wear to edges, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $265
17003: unmarked magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, 4.7 cm long closed, 8.6 cm extended, engine turned barrel, smooth action, uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $75
16973: unmarked magic pencil: gold filled, 6.95 cm long closed, 12.5 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: fine • $145
16700: unmarked magic pencil: ringtop with alternating figured pearl and rose gold filled flutes, 4.9 cm long closed, 8.5 cm extended; works smoothly, tip of nozzle slightly squashed, uses 1.0 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1880 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $165
16721: unmarked magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, black celluloid barrel sleeve with inlaid piquet work; 4.8 cm long closed, 8.9 cm extended, uses 1.0 mm lead; dents to tip of nozzle, otherwise clean.
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $225
11815: unmarked magic pencil: a rare and desirable American-made ringtop figural novelty pencil in the form of an owl, 3.3 cm long retracted, 6.1 cm extended, gold filled trim, lapis blue celluloid body, red (ruby?) eyes; excellent detail and workmanship, probably Fairchild or Aikin Lambert, uses standard 1.1 mm lead. Action is a bit sticky but mechanism fully functional, usual age shrinkage to body has led to the side seam opening on one side and partially opening on the other (see details).
DATE: c. 1885 • CONDITION: VG* • $565
16416: unmarked magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 5.4 cm long closed, 9.8 cm extended, uses 1.4 mm lead, acid etched decoration reading "Bachelors' Circle" in lettering reminiscent of the posters of Toulouse-Lautrec; excellent working condition, some dings.
DATE: c. 1899 • CONDITION: VG • $125
14469: unmarked magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 6.1 cm long closed, 10.8 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead, propels and retracts; beautiful relief work with ribbons and inverted torches around an oval cartouche, appears to be French manufacture, excellent quality, one small bump at front end.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $165
14856: unmarked magic pencil: small figural novelty ringtop in the form of an Egyptian obelisk, blue enamel decoration on what appears to be gold-plated silver; 3.8 cm long closed, 6.4 cm extended, German made, uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $150
10895: unmarked miniature safety set in box: beautiful ensemble, German manufacture, purple transparent enamel over silver. Black hard rubber safety pen is 7.2 cm long, fully functional, and appears never to have been used (we have replaced its cork seal and repaired a small crack in the internal spiral). The magic pencil is 5.25 cm long and bears an 835 silver content stamp on its ring; shaft and nozzle are gold-plated, and it uses standard 1.1 mm lead. The enamel is intact on pen and pencil, but is damaged on one side of the matching wax seal (see detail). Box is marked "Joyeria Zerbino", a retailer in Montevideo.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: exc* • NIB: fine • $795
14188: unmarked mummy and obelisk magic pencils: silver (?) with multicolored enamel, mummy is 6.1 cm long closed, obelisk 6 cm; mechanisms work smoothly, traces of gold wash visible on mummy. These are larger than typical examples, especially the obelisk. Mummy uses 1.5 to 1.7 mm lead, obelisk 1.1 mm.
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $495
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
