These Never Get Old

This article has been edited and included in The Leadhead's Pencil Blog Volume 5; copies are available print on demand through Amazon here, and I offer an ebook version in pdf format at the Legendary Lead Company here.

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I don’t remember whether these came from Ed Fingerman, but they did come home from the DC Show last August

I’ve dropped a lot of pictures of Hicks pencils here.  Usually they aren’t technically very interesting, and the same is true of these - a standard rear twist pencil, and a run-of-the-mill magic pencil.  I can’t help myself whenever I see a nice Hicks though.  There’s just something about how well made they were, and how beautifully constructed . . . so close to the line between utilitarian object and art that you have to wonder whether their original owners spent more time writing with them or admiring them.