I’ve mentioned before that except for a handful of old Blackwings and a few historical items, I don’t collect pencils per se; I like to use what I find even if they are rather old. But, I’m unsure about this pencil.

This Castell has an unusual top. It’s rather deteriorated but the rest of the pencil is in good shape. As to the date—I don’t know exactly. I get the feeling this was part of a premium set (I have a few others that are copying pencils with the same tops), or at least it was a kind of showcase item. I’ve seen pencils from the late 19th century with ivory tops, but none so bulbous.

I don’t know how rare this type might be, but it’s the first time I’ve seen one (I have a vague recollection that I might have seen one as an illustration in an old catalog, though). It seems kind of wasteful to use it, especially since it’s not like I’m short on pencils. For now, I’ll just make it a non-member of my non-collection until I can find out more about it.