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Magic pencils have long been out of production, but the way they extend at both ends when pulled is timelessly appealing. Their heyday was the last quarter of the 19th century and the examples we have listed here exemplify the craftsmanship and stylistic variety of the era. For more on magic pencils, see our new Pen Profile page
16991: Aikin Lambert magic pencil: sterling silver, suspension sheath holder, double-extension pencil, 6.3 cm long closed, 13.7 cm extended, hand-chased scrollwork, uses 2 mm lead; large and fully marked.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • SOLD

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

16979: E. S. Johnson magic pencil: gold filled with lustrous pearl overlay, engine turned shaft with Dec. 5, 1871 patent imprint; 12.65 cm extended, unusually long, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1872 • CONDITION: exc • SOLD

16984: E. S. Johnson magic pencil: beautiful gold filled ringtop with checkerboard abalone inlays, hand-engraved diamond starbursts, engine turned shaft; 8.9 cm extended, Oct. 29, 1872 patent imprint, name and monogram neatly engraved on end piece; uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1875 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • SOLD

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

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

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

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
16990: Hicks magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 4.9 cm long closed, 9.1 cm extended, uses standard 1.1 mm lead; unusual decoration of alternating panels of relief scrollwork and engine turning, crisply preserved.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: exc • SOLD

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

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

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
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

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

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
16989: Mordan (?) sheath pencil: sterling silver, three-draw extension tail, 10.8 cm long extended, 6.9 cm closed in suspension holder; marked only with British design registration number, excellent quality, uses thick "W" lead (2 mm). Scattered shallow marks to the holder, otherwise excellent.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $295

16993: Murat magic pencil: gold filled ringtop with patterned silver barrel, gold filled applique escutcheon engraved with initial "G", French manufacture, 5.65 cm long closed, 10.7 cm open, uses 1.5 mm lead, marked "C.M." for Charles Murat.
DATE: c. 1905 • CONDITION: exc • SOLD

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

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

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

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

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

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
17002: unmarked magic pencil: sterling silver ringtop, 5.4 cm long closed, 10.6 cm extended, crisp barleycorn engine turned barrel, USA manufacture, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • SOLD

16994: unmarked magic pencil: silver ringtop, 4.4 cm long closed, 8.2 cm extended, engraved fleur-de-lys pattern with inset seed pearls; French manufacture, mechanism extends and retracts lead, uses standard 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • SOLD

17045: Cross 150th Anniversary limited edition set: sterling silver fountain pen and ballpoint, reproduction of iconic and extremely rare 1930s Signet model, fountain pen with converter, 18K gold nib. As new, in a standard Cross box rather than the special limited edition packaging, not originally a set as the two pieces do not have matching numbers (fountain pen is from an edition of 2100, ballpoint from an edition of 1750).
DATE: 1996 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium • $695
17066: Faber Castell Intuition Platino ballpoint: black lacquer, platinum-plated trim, 13.6 cm long; as new, no packaging.
DATE: c. 2020 • CONDITION: near mint • $200
17048: Montblanc 149: classic oversize black piston-filler, 14.8 cm long, gold plated trim, ebonite feed, two-tone 14K nib is smooth and responsive; pen has been disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated, nib tuned.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium fine • SOLD
17044: Montblanc Meisterstück Classique ballpoint: black with gold plated trim, 14 cm long with tip extended.
DATE: c. 1995 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $165
17046: Montblanc 149: classic oversize black piston-filler, 14.65 cm long, gold plated trim, two-tone 18K nib is smooth and responsive; has been fully disassembled, cleaned, and relubricated, nib checked and tuned.
DATE: c. 1998 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium fine semiflex • SOLD
17036: Montblanc Starwalker Fineliner in box: black fiber tip, platinum plated trim, clear top end with "floating" Montblanc star emblem; in box with service guide brochure including filled-out dealer warranty form, as new noting Fineliner refill is dried out.
DATE: c. 2003 • CONDITION: mint • NIB: fine • $450
17040: Parker Vest Pocket Duofold desk pencil: jade green, scarce model with black letter-opener taper; 16.7 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, good imprints and excellent color, long nose cone.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: exc-near mint • $175
17034: Redipoint lever-filler: gold filled all-metal construction with hard rubber section, 12.4 cm long, fleur-de-lys engine turning pattern, blue enamel logo in cap top for The Home Insurance Co. of New York. Smooth and responsive nib, easy flexibility, lever action a little stiff, needs to be pushed back manually to sit flush with barrel.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: VG-fine* • NIB: medium fine flex • $120
17038: Sheaffer Targa Lacque Red Ronce Classic 1034 in box: hand-lacquered cartridge filler, gold plated trim, 13.55 cm long, upturned 14K gold inlaid nib is a notably smooth and wet writer; instructions under pad.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium broad • $250
17037: Sheaffer Targa GT 1003 in box: matte black first edition cartridge-filler, 13.6 cm long, gold plated trim, 14K gold inlaid nib is a smooth writer, section marked "M" but nib is on the finer side. Includes squeeze converter, spare cartridges, paperwork.
DATE: c. 1985 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium fine • $165
17032: Stratford Magnetic: unique and futuristic design, with the cap held in place at either end of the barrel by magnetic action; black button-filler, 13.2 cm long, gold plated trim, 14K gold Stratford nib, barrel imprint includes "PAT. PEND." indicating manufacture prior to Feb. 15, 1949 issuance of patent D152717.
DATE: c. 1948 • CONDITION: VG-fine • NIB: medium fine flex • $175
17069: Tiffany ballpoint: black lacquer, sterling silver trim, 14 cm long, notable size, quality, and heft, uses standard Parker refills; twist-action mechanism, some usage scratches, overall excellent appearance.
DATE: c. 1980 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $250
17070: Tiffany rollerball: sterling silver, 12.3 cm long, chrome front barrel is a bayonet-style mount, uses standard Schmidt/Visconti refills.
DATE: c. 1995 • CONDITION: exc • $150
17051: Waterman 12 in box: black chased hard rubber eyedropper-filler, 13.4 cm long, crisp and glossy, long-tined star imprint nib, pre-1903 Spoon Feed with 1899 patent imprint; rounded ends, cap with bold 1898 patent imprint, box and instructions intact with wear and ink stains.
DATE: c. 1902 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: fine flex • $450

17071: unmarked The Royal Prince: red chased hard rubber lever-filler, 14 cm long, made in England, an economy pen with gold-plated nib and trim, but interesting and unusual; cracks from lever slot (see detail), clip moves from side to side, otherwise showing little sign of actual usage.
DATE: c. 1920 • CONDITION: VG* • NIB: fine • $80