Rare ""Union is Strength"" Aesops Fable Telescopic Propelling Pencil

A rare early 20th century telescopic Propelling Pencil of detachable sheath form. The silver pencil with ribbed barrel and ball finial, the gold plated sheath formed as a faggot or bundle of sticks below a crown finial. The sticks wrapped with a banner enamelled with the phrase ""Union is Strength"". The symbols of a rose, a thistle and a shamrock chased on the body between the sticks and the crown. The piece may well have been made around the time that Ireland left the Union of Great Britain in 1922. The legend taken from Aesops Fable ""The Bundle of Sticks"".

The pencil stamped S Mordan & Co, Sterling Silver.

Unmarked c1920

Aesops Fable - The BUNDLE OF STICKS

An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: “Break it.” The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful. “Untie the faggots,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.” When they had done so, he called out to them: “Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. “You see my meaning,” said their father.
“UNION GIVES STRENGTH.”

Sold - £600.00