A Victorian John Sheldon Improved Patent Unique Pocket Companion

A Victorian John Sheldon Improved Patent Unique Pocket Companion,

Birmingham 1852,

cylindrical form, engraved decoration, the terminal with a agate seal matrix, with screws-off to reveal a lead reservoir, the body comprises: a pen, pencil, toothpick, and coin gauge, the body unscrews to reveal a letter scale calibrated for the East Indies market in T (Tole), and R (Rupees), length closed 10.4cm, plus a metal John Sheldon Paragon Letter and Coin balance and Pencil and Pen Case, Rd1184, reeded cylindrical form, the letter balance calibrated for the English market., length closed 10.2cm. (2)

Provenance: The KB Collection of Pencils.

Illustrated in Bull, K., The KB Collection of Pencils, private publication, 2012, page 38 and 39.

The metal used in the Paragon pencil was also known at the time as 'German Silver'. This was in fact an alloy of Copper, zinc and nickel.