The items below are the most recent additions to our catalog; they are listed
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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
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
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
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
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
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 • $685
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
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 • SOLD
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
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
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
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
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
17101: A. A. Waterman 38M-3: clipless black chased hard rubber twist-filler, 13.55 cm long, infamous "NOT CONNECTED WITH" imprints on barrel and nib, chasing crisp and imprints bold, hard rubber black and glossy; nib fits perfectly but is a #2 rather than a #3 as would be expected from the imprinted model number, notable writer with a semistub tip, tight hairline from the vent hole (see detail), pen condition otherwise near mint.
DATE: c. 1912 • CONDITION: fine-exc* • NIB: medium fine semiflex • $225
17111: Cattaraugus knife pencil: red-veined cream celluloid body, nickel plated trim, 12.8 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead; one cutting blade and one nail file, good snap to both, file marked "PAT. 852399" but should be US1852399, issued April 5, 1932. Name on barrel, "PAT. PENDING" imprint worn but legible.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: fine-exc • SOLD
17091: Fairchild magic pencil: gold filled with unusual foliate hand engraving with considerable fine detail; longer model, 7.1 cm long closed, 12.4 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $275
17092: Fairchild (?) magic pencil: gold filled ringtop, unusual double-draw telescoping design most commonly seen in English pencils; 5 cm long closed, 12.45 cm extended, uses 1.5 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: fine • $220
17100: Mabie Todd Swan Leverless: gold filled overlay twist-filler, 13.7 cm long, new old stock; made in England, crisp engine turned panels, overlaid section; came to us without nib or feed, #2 Swan nib is correct but not mint, notable rounded stub with shallow oblique profile.
DATE: c. 1938 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: broad stub oblique semiflex • $695
17112: Parker Duofold Junior: red hard rubber button-filler, 11.7 cm long, gold filled trim, large imprint, intact Lucky Curve feed, end milling clean, some wear to banner part of imprint, otherwise clearly legible.
DATE: c. 1924 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium firm • $275
17106: Parker Duofold Senior pencil: streamlined in Burgundy, 13.1 cm long, gold filled trim, later production with nose cone drive, lead cartridge insert, clip without patent date; uses 1.1 mm lead.
DATE: c. 1935 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $165
17103: Parker 21 Super pencil: black twist-action, gold plated cap, 12.7 cm long, new old stock, uses .9 mm lead.
DATE: 1952 • CONDITION: near mint • $50
17107: Parker Classic Laque ballpoint in box: early production French lacquer, "Tortoiseshell" with Chinese two-character signature on barrel, narrow gold plated bands at joint, and band at top marked "PARKER" and "MADE IN FRANCE".
DATE: c. 1979 • CONDITION: exc • $275
17113: Parker 180 Imperial: gold plated cap, barrel, and trim, grouped parallel lines pattern; US-made, includes squeeze-filler slender convertor, 14K gold two-way triangular nib (offers two nib grades in one, with a thinner line when the nib is used inverted).
DATE: c. 1982 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: medium/extra fine • $150
17090: Wahl Signature: scarce red chased hard rubber lever-filler, 13.1 cm long, gold filled trim, roller clip, Wahl #2 nib; cap lip has been replaced using original material (repair invisible from exterior). Beautiful but fragile, barrel end has a crack that does not affect function (see detail), possibly from having been dropped, condition otherwise like new, with sharp chasing and imprints, glossy surfaces.
DATE: c. 1927 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: extra-fine flex • $265
17104: Waterman 12: mottled hard rubber clipless eyedropper-filler, 13.2 cm long, imprint patent dates to 1903 including well-imprinted Spoon Feed, long-tined #2 New York nib is a needle tip fine.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: extra-fine flex • $275
17098: Waterman JiF glass-cartridge pen: high Art Deco classic, made in France, black celluloid with full sterling silver overlay, 12.5 cm long, includes original (empty) glass cartridge, can be refilled with syringe and reused indefinitely; Waterman 18K gold #3 nib is a postwar replacement, responsive with just enough flex for a nicely shaded line. Typical scattered marks overall but no serious dings, a clean example of a scarce and iconic design.
DATE: c. 1939 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: medium stub flex • $850
17096: Waterman Gentleman in box: textured stainless steel cartridge-filler, 14.1 cm long, bright chrome clip. Large two-tone 18K gold Super 6 nib, an Alain Carré design, the first model to bear this name, entirely different from the version introduced in the 1980s; uses standard refills, non-Waterman converter included.
DATE: c. 1974 • CONDITION: near mint • NIB: broad semiflex • $250
17094: unmarked dip pen: souvenir of the Pacific Northwest in the form of a totem pole, 15.2 cm long excluding bronze nib, hand carved and painted bone, hard rubber grip section.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: fine • $120
