Pencil lead links: order - sizes and sources
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
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
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
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
16697: unmarked figural spirit lamp: nickel-plated brass, 8.15 cm tall, alcohol burner in the form of a champagne bottle, for melting sealing wax (or lighting a cigar). European manufacture, bottom unscrews to fill.
DATE: c. 1890 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $120
4163: Eagle Just for Fun: giant wooden novelty pencil, 27 cm (10 1/2 inches) long, brass ferrule; slight gaping of longitudinal seam from age shrinkage of wood.
DATE: c. 1895 • CONDITION: VG • $30
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
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
15581: unmarked novelty stylographic pen: large brown hard rubber eyedropper-filler in the form of an artillery shell, 10.95 cm long, sprung needle is intact, no sign of the pen ever having been filled. Tool marks to section, however, especially to the milled flange (see details). Red-brown color is original, not faded black, likely made in England.
DATE: c. 1910 • CONDITION: fine* • NIB: medium fine • $195
12827: De La Rue bottle stylo: black hard rubber novelty pen, 7.4 cm long, eyedropper-filler, imprinted "FROM/ALDERMAN A. BYRNE.T.D./DUBLIN" -- famous Irish politician Alfie Byrne, later Lord Mayor of Dublin. "TD" stands for Teachta Dála, a member of the lower chamber of the Irish Parliament.
DATE: c. 1923 • CONDITION: fine • NIB: fine • $165
14898: Edward Todd telescoping ruler pencil: sterling silver, 13.15 cm long, extends to 32.3 cm; square body ruled to 4 1/2 inches, 12 inches extended. Older production version has hand-engraved numbers, full imprints with maker's mark and 1897 patent date, uses standard 2 mm lead, mechanism propels only, does not retract lead. Name engraved on side, some light marks, nozzle tip somewhat out of round, stress line does not affect function (see details).
DATE: c. 1925 • CONDITION: fine • $250
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
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
14735: Ruxton Multi-Vider slide rule pencil: black bakelite with silver-filled trim, 16.5 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, lead reservoir revealed by sliding open the body, eraser cover locks in place with a partial twist. Instructions and further info here..
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $165
14606: Ruxton Multi-Vider Executive slide rule pencil: ivory marbled Bakelite with gold-filled trim, 16.4 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, eraser cover with bayonet-style twist lock. Instructions and further info here. Cracking at top, dent to cap crown, but fully functional. Multi-Viders in colors other than black are rare.
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: VG* • $165
13555: Ruxton Multi-Vider slide rule pencil: black bakelite with silver-filled trim, 16.5 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, lead reservoir revealed by sliding open the body; some plating wear, used but not abused, fully functional. Instructions and further info here..
DATE: c. 1929 • CONDITION: VG • $145
16422: unmarked Graf Zeppelin dip pen: rare figural holder, probably made to commemorate the Graf Zeppelin's visit to Estonia in 1930; .875 fine silver, Estonian hallmarks, 14.6 cm long excluding nib, nicely detailed, excellent quality, scattered nicks and dings.
DATE: c. 1930 • CONDITION: VG • $450
14840: H. C. Hook torpedo pencil: chrome plated brass, 11.2 cm long, brass propellors, engraved initials, light scratching from clip; excellent quality and workmanship, uses 1.1 mm lead. The source of these pencils has only recently been discovered to be the H. C. Hook Company of Auburn, Massachusetts.
DATE: c. 1946 • CONDITION: fine-exc • $105
15024: H. C. Hook torpedo pencil: chrome plated brass, 11 cm long, brass propellors, excellent quality and workmanship, uses 1.1 mm lead. The source of these pencils has only recently been discovered to be the H. C. Hook Company of Auburn, Massachusetts. Minor marks, bump to nozzle mouth does not affect function.
DATE: c. 1948 • CONDITION: VG-fine • $120
16678: Halco lighter pencil: gold plated and black, 13.7 cm long, uses 1.1 mm lead, unused but some storage wear; uses standard flints and lighter fluid.
DATE: c. 1948 • CONDITION: exc • $80
16692: unmarked novelty pencil: wood and nickel-plated brass, 13.1 cm long with nozzle retracted, uses standard 2 mm lead held in a clamp-style holder; pull the trigger and nozzle assembly springs out of the barrel.
DATE: c. 1955 • CONDITION: fine • $40
