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Book Your Virtual ConsultationSampson Mordan who was born in 1790 and died in 1843. He was a silversmith and a co-inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil. During his youth, he was an apprentice of the inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who patented the first elastic ink reservoir for a fountain pen.
In 1822, Mordan and his co-inventor John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent in Great Britain for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite “lead” shaft forward during use, as an improvement on the less complex lead holders that merely clutched the pencil lead to hold it into a single position. These pencils are now highly collectible.
Mordan bought out Hawkins and entered into a business partnership with Gabriel Riddle, an established stationer. From 1823 to 1837, they manufactured and sold silverA metallic element which is malleable and ductile, and white in colour, making it ideal for use in jewellery. It is usually mixed with copper to improve its hardness.
mechanical pencils with the marking “SMGR”. After the partnership with Riddle dissolved, Mordan continued to sell his silver pencils as “S. Mordan & Co.” This gold pencil is markedA small hallmark or punchmark either on the inside or outside of the shank which indicates the metal is platinum, gold or silver. If the metal is gold, it could also indicate the carat, e.g. 18 carat gold. S.Mordan & Co. It can be worn on a medium length chain on its own or with other items.
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We calculate all customs, taxes and duties at checkout, to ensure a smooth journey with no unexpected fees along the way.
When purchasing items over 100 years old:
- Customs, taxes and duty DO NOT apply
- We will mark your package as 'antique, over 100 years old', to ensure no unexpected additional fees
When purchasing items under 100 years old:
- Customs, taxes and duty DO apply
- All customs, taxes and duties will be calculated at checkout and added to the total cost of the order
- Small, shipment-related fees, in the region of $40.00-$80.00, can also be added later and vary from state to state. The AJC cannot take responsbilitiy for these fees.
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Customers from the USA will pay for return postage and any customs, taxes and duties applied.
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