Victorian Silver Gilt Artists Boxed Set Propelling Pencils - Various Lead Sizes

An extremely fine and rare Victorian silver gilt cased set of five Artists Drawing Pencils with extension tube handle, the plain rectangular case with pull-off cover engraved with a contemporary cypher, containing five propelling pencils with various sized leads / nozzles - HH, H, M, B, and BB.

By Eliezer Nash, London, 1859. The extension handle stamped - Butler & Co, London.

Joshua Butler established his business, Joshua Butler & Co in 1822 and in 1835 went into partnership with Thomas Wise. Shortly afterwards on 12 June 1836, Butler retired. Wise subsequently went into partnership with Eliezer Nash, at 30 Coppice Row, Clerkenwell, where in 1841 they were listed as manufacturers of Butler & Co's everpointed pencils and tortoiseshell workers. Wise and Nash dissolved their partnership on 31 December 1849 after which time Eliezer Nash continued on his own account, where he was still listed in 1852 as the manufacturer of Butler & Co's everpointed pencils.

Eliezer Nash, described as late Joshua Butler, designer and manufacturer, showed at the Great Exhibition of 1851. In class 23; Works of Precious metals and Jewellery, No 86, he displayed the following items:

"Pencil cases: Engraved, coloured gold and set with turquoise; elongated enameled; tortoiseshell, gold mounted; engine turned bright gold; engraved elongated; triangular; engine turned hexagon and engraved round silver. The elastic palladium point, or lead holder, an improvement applied to pencils, was invented by Mr Joshua Butler and has been in use 20 years""

Sold - £895.00