Did you know that pencils can have a left or a right - point, that is, not hand? A right-pointed pencil will have the point on the right as you read the text or logo, and visa versa for a left-pointed specimen.

Small, light-weight, and affordable, the pencil has developed a devoted coterie of collectors who search the globe, usually via the Internet, for specimens to add to their hoards. Even if you're not a collector, you've probably held on to more than a few pencils as mementos of special occasions or destinations, as many companies, resorts, and organizations have often dispensed free pencils with their imprinted logos as a form of inexpensive advertising.

As you probably know, the lead pencil does not contain lead, but is made from graphite, a form of carbon. Styli of lead with which to write were often used from ancient times, but the discovery of a mother lode of graphite in Cumberland, England, sometime in the middle third of the 16th Century, lead to the development of the pencil as we know it. Graphite is easier to use than lead, but more brittle, and thus requires a protective sleeve. Tightly wound string was purportedly first used as an outer casing, but was soon supplanted by wood.

Few early pencils have survived to make their way into collections. The oldest known example is a carpenters pencil found in the roof of a 17th-century German house and now in the collection of the Faber-Castell company. (Why are carpenters pencils flat? So they can't roll out of reach!)

So, what are collectors today seeking, aside from the usual manufacturer, special logo, or country of origin? Some look for short-term (discontinued) production lines or specialty instruments. Especially hot right now are the Eberhard Faber No.602 "Blackwing" pencils produced until 1998. Single pencils are selling online for up to $20+ each, and one box of 12 recently garnered a final bid of $244.50!

Others concentrate their efforts in acquiring mechanical pencils, aka "propellers." First appearing in England in 1822, mechanical pencils have undergone a number of design refinements and are highly collectible. Like fountain pens, with which they are often paired, propellers can sell for several hundred dollars each, depending on rarity and manufacturer.

And don't forget pencil sharpeners, advertising pieces, and even mechanical pencil refills. Yes, believe it or not, some people do collect those little tubes with the rattling graphite rods!

For more information on collecting pencils, the following resources are recommended:

Books

"The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance," by Henry Petroski
http://tinyurl.com/5jnhx6

"Victorian Pencils: Tools to Jewels," by Deborah Crosby
http://tinyurl.com/5bucko

Websites

The American Pencil Collectors Society
http://www.pencilcollector.org
Founded in 1958. Hosts a biennial convention, and members receive a newsletter, The Pencil Collector.

Cumberland Pencil Museum
http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk
Touring the UK? You may want to visit this museum - located in Keswick, Cumbria - located on the grounds of the Derwent pencil factory.

Dave's Mechanical Pencils
http://davesmechanicalpencils.blogspot.com
The title says it all!

Early Office Museum
http://www.officemuseum.com
Has an informative page on the history of pencils.

The Pencil Pages
http://www.pencilpages.com
Doug Martin's site is an undeniable "essential" to anyone interested in collecting pencils. Especially valuable are the articles, manufacturers' info, links, more!

Pencil World
http://www.squidoo.com/pencilworld
An interesting selection of links to pencil-related articles, blogs, and other resources.

Pencils.com
http://www.pencils.com
Check out The Story of Pencils and Timberlines blog.

The Philosophy of Pencil Collecting
http://www.pencilpages.com/articles/mjgrace.htm
Article by Michael J. Grace offers suggestions for cataloging your collection.