When I got into the wonderful world of collectible writing instruments (mostly mechanical pencils), I learned phrases such as 'This is one of only three known examples' or 'This is the only known example', etc. 😃 Remember 'known' is an important part of these sentence structures. Today I'm showing the only known example of a Tibaldi mechanical pencil. Tibaldi made quality fountain pens in Italy from approximately 1916 into the 1960s. The pencil shown here is made of celluloid trimmed with gold-filled metal. It was made in the 1920s, possibly early 30's.  The piece is 4 7/8 inches long.  

 

For the golfer who has everything but a mechanical pencil with clubs on the top. No, it's not for sale. 😀 This pencil is likely made in England, circa late 19th-early 20th century. The material is sterling. The clip is inscribed but not so readable. Fore! 

  Today I'd like to show three highly decorated Italian mechanical pencils. Many of these seemingly endless exterior design patterns were sold with matching fountain pens. Circa 1920. All shown here are approximately 4 1/2 inches in length. 

  Sampson Mordan produced this sterling figural mechanical pencil representing Nelson's Column statue on Trafalgar Square in London, England. Like the statue, the pencil features a standing Lord Nelson placed directly below the writing tip. The tip deploys by the slider button/channel method. Circa, second half of the 19th century. The piece is 3 5/8 inches long closed and 5 1/4 inches extended.

   Today is a small group of Moore mechanical pencils, with a fountain pen, from my stash. Circa late 1930s - early 1950s. Lengths range from 4 1 1/4 inches to 5 1/16 inches capped, for the bottom model Fingertip fountain pen.

  Today is a figural mechanical pencil disguised as an ear of corn. It is unmarked, likely made in England or the U.S. Material is silver. Circa 1880 - 1890. The writing tip is deployed by pulling the ring out and simultaneously, by magic, pushing the tip to the writing position. The pencil without the ring assembly is 1 inch long closed and 3 1/16 inches extended.

  A few mechanical pencils and a pencil holder for Sunday. Circa 1920s - 1930s. Fin-Sharp, VUCU, Parker, Waterman's, Parker, Chilton, noname, Sheaffer's, Conway Stewart, Gold Bond, Wahl-Eversharp, and Sheaffer's. The display box is 6 inches by 8 inches.