England, Scotland, Ireland Innovations

Scottish innovation beginning in the 16th century continued a revolution that started in Europe.  During the period of the Bishop’s Wars and Charles I’s campaigns against Scotland ending in 1640, the need for mobile calligraphy tools arose.

This seal is a part of an armorial Seal and Penner, struck with a maker’s mark only ‘T’ over ‘C’, English circa 1640-42. The venerable quill needed travel companions including quill cutter, inkwell, and storage for sealing wax and other scribe’s needs.

Britannia Silver was 95.8 percent silver and adopted between 1697 and 1720; however, this penner is .950 or greater silver.

Length – 14.70 cm.; Diameter – 2.10 cm.; Weight – 88.50 gms.

From top: Harrison Brothers and Howson, Cutlers to Her Majesty pen knife, mid-nineteenth century.

Early Sampson Mordan Gold quill and propelling pencil with only an engraved arrow mark (blade marked with Mordan’s mark).

Francis Mordan pen knife marked F. Mordan, with ivory bolsters.

Halstaff  pen knife with mother of pearl bolsters.

W.R. Rodgers Cutlers to His Majesty Patent tortoiseshell pen knife and letter opener.

James Rogers pen knife, quill holder, and pencil combo.

Osborn created this Revolutionary War era powder horn style penner in the late 18th century. 

Equipped with interchangeable pen-knife blades and a compartment containing a silver quill holder, the bolsters are antler and the spring-mounted end cap with embellishments is silver.

Thomas Willmore and James Alston, both independent craftsmen, partnered and marked their work through the Birmingham Assay Office from 1773 to 1801. 

Willmore specialized in buckle making, while Alston focused on button making. After Thomas Willmore's death in 1816, his grandson, Joseph Willmore, who had been marking his own work since 1808, took over. Joseph expanded the business, registering with the London Assay Office and opening showrooms on Bouverie Street and later at Thavies Inn in Holborn.

Joseph Willmore eventually formed a partnership with fellow Birmingham silversmiths John Yapp and John Woodward. The Willmore legacy in silversmithing concluded with Joseph's death in 1855.

The original seal matrix is beautifully carved.

Goldsmith A. J. Strachan produced 18th century writing instruments and a variety of snuff boxes and other items. 

Notable in this 18k gold porte crayon / Gold Pen nib equipped example of Strachan's workmanship is the locking closure for the Strachan made Gold Pen nib, circa 1790-1810.

This type of combination instrument allows the porte crayon/pencil to pass through the center of the Gold Pen nib, an 18th / early 19th century construction method.

Note the double end cap, the inner for application of wax seals. Weight 20.5 grams of gold. Length 132mm or 5.196in / 109mm or 4.29in / Diameter 8mm or .314 in

Samuel Pemberton silver porte crayon has the rule on one side, that measures up to 4 inches and it is ornately decorated with a detailed bright cut design on the other. Samuel Pemberton was a Birmingham silversmith.

Thomas Lund opened his premises at 56 & 57 Cornhill, London in 1814 but it is thought that his business was first established in 1804. The 1815 Post Office Directory lists him as: 'Lund Tho. Cutler & Manuf. Of Pens & Quills, Importer of Filtering Stones, fitted up for use, Warehouses, 56 & 57 Cornhill.' He soon moved onto selling writing and dressing boxes and became known for his chess pieces, whose pattern are referred to by his surname. An invoice of Lund's from 1838 shows an image of the shop front at 56 & 57 Cornhill with his signage listing his wares as 'Letter Copying Machines, Portable Writing Desks, Dressing Cases & Morocco Articles of Every Description'. The shop also has a sign calling it the London Cutlery Warehouse.

Lund soon built up a reputation for high quality goods and certainly the boxes we have seen have proved this to be true. Amongst other items known by Lund are tortoiseshell tea caddies, razors and gaming boxes. Lund are also known for their corkscrews and in 1838 Thomas patented a bottle grip corkscrew.

Thomas' son William was apprenticed to William Anderson a cutler and razor manufacturer at 24 Fleet Street. In 1835 William Lund took over the property and set up under his own name. When Thomas Lund died in 1845, his William inherited his business and ran it alongside his own. He expanded the Fleet Street address to encompass first number 23 and then by 1859 number 25.

William Lund was succeeded by his son Charles on his death in 1872 and the business continued under the name of William Lund & Son. 

Marked MORDAN  AUG  3 1842 No. 

In this 1843 advertisement Mordan & Co. presented The New Ladies Hand Holder.

Depicted is a bimetallic Gold & Silver Pen nib . 

This J. Longmore & Co. London combination pen and pencil is a 6-sided exhibit of the owner’s passions; sailing, dogs, and hunts. 

Approximately 4in./10cm. in length and crafted of 14k gold, the instrument is fully marked and equipped with a Francis Mordan Gold Pen nib.

Charles Knight (15 March 1791 – 9 March 1873) was an English publisher, editor and author. He published and contributed to works such as The Penny Magazine, The Penny Cyclopaedia, and The English Cyclopaedia, and established the Local Government Chronicle.

The nib insertion is simply slide it in and begin writing. Adjustments of the feel are accomplished by turning the knurled end.  Removing a nib is also quickly accomplished.