Title

Copying Pencil

Creation Date

1870
1918

Description

A No. 73B Hard "Mephisto" copying pencil manufacturing by the Koh-I-Noor Pencil Factory. This copying pencil comes with a detachable metal clip that wraps around the cylindrical body. Originally purple, the paint has faded to a grayish blue and the pencil has been sharpened down that the "-G. MADE BY L&C. HARDTMUTH IN AUSTRIA." is now gone. 

A copying pencil uses a water-soluble permanent dye mixed with graphite. When a document is written using this pencil, a moistened tissue paper is laid down on top and pressed. The result is a mirror copy of the original document. Copying pencils were considered the precursor to the ballpoint pen as the graphite mix was indelible and could not be erased.