This writing tool formally dates to the days when real lead was used (today graphite forms the core of our wood-cased pencils). March 30 is National Pencil Day - the perfect opportunity to shed light on the often-overlooked implement. Early, crude examples consisted of nothing more than a graphite stick wrapped in string; later a hollowed wooden stick served as the forerunner to the wood-cased pencil. Germany birthed the first mass-produced pencils, with Faber-Castell, Lyra and Steadtler, as well as a few other companies, leading the way. According to the Nationaldaycalendar.com, Vladimir Nabokov rewrote everything he had ever published, usually several times, with a pencil.

Source: Forbes March 29, 2019 11:48 UTC