Sampson Mordan (1790 – 9 April 1843) was a British silversmith and a co-inventor of the first patented mechanical pencil. During his youth, he was an apprentice of the inventor and locksmith Joseph Bramah, who patented the first elastic ink reservoir for a fountain pen.
In December 1822, Mordan and his co-inventor John Isaac Hawkins filed the first patent (Pat No 4722) in Great Britain for a metal pencil with an internal mechanism for propelling the graphite "lead" shaft forward during use, as an improvement on the less complex leadholders that merely clutched the pencil lead to hold it into a single position. In June 1823 Mordan registered his first silver mark alone. However, the
"SM" mark on its own was only used from June 1823 until April 1824 because in October 1823 Mordan bought out Hawkins and formed a partnership with Gabriel Riddle, a wealthy stationer. Following the new partnership Mordan entered a joint silver mark with Riddle in April 1824 -
"SMGR". From 1824 to 1836, they manufactured and sold silver mechanical pencils with the marking "SMGR". On the 20th of December 1836 the partnership with Riddle was dissolved and Mordan continued trading as S. Mordan and Co. After the partnership with Riddle dissolved Mordan continued to sell his silver pencils as "S. Mordan & Co.", adding many other types of silver and gold items to his product line. Mordan often made his pencils in whimsical "figural" shapes that resembled animals, Egyptian mummies, or other objects; like his other silverware and gold ware, these pencils are now highly collectible. The first mechanical Pencils produced also carry a a premium and are not easy to find.
It is easy to deduce from the above the scarcity of the "SM" maker's mark on its own, accompanied by the London date letter "h" (for 1823), it has become something of a "Holy Grail" for collectors of mechanical Pencils. Early Mordan Pens/Pencils were made in both gold and silver and were not always hallmarked. They did however carry stamps and patent marks that allow us to date items almost as accurately. Pieces with the earliest stamps have also become highly desirable.
MORDAN & Co PATENT (No 'S') S.MORDAN'S IMPROV'D S.MORDAN & Co:s PATENT
Used 1823-1824 Used 1824 Used 1824-1830
The "Holy Grail" - Sampson Mordan, London 1823. The earliest recorded date for a Mordan mechanical pencil preceding the Riddle partnership of 1824.
The four early Pencils/Pens illustrated above are now all available from stock - please see the Pens / Pencils / Writing Equipment category on the STEPPES HILL FARM ANTIQUES web site.
Featured Items - Trick Opening or Puzzle Vesta Cases
Clever early 20th century silver Vesta Cases designed to preserve their valuable contents and frustrate would-be intruders...!
Edwardian Silver Trick Opening / Puzzle Vesta Case by Louis Willmott, London 1907
Victorian Silver Trick Opening / Puzzle Vesta Case by George Wilkinson, London 1890
Victorian Silver Trick Opening Vesta Case by Sampson Mordan, London 1882
