The Collector’s Two-Pencil Rule

Whenever possible, I buy two examples of a pencil I expect to care about.

The first is archival. I leave it unsharpened, photograph it, and preserve the imprint. The second is a working specimen. It goes through sharpeners, notebooks, long writing sessions, and comparisons.

This simple rule solves a common collector’s problem. With only one pencil, every sharpening removes part of the object. Keeping it pristine preserves the artifact but hides the writing experience. Two examples let both goals coexist.

The rule is especially useful with current production pencils that may later be discontinued. An ordinary model today can become difficult to find ten years from now. The unused copy documents its original form while the used copy carries practical notes.

I do not apply the rule rigidly. Rare vintage pencils may be available only once, and expensive sets make duplication unreasonable. But as a default for inexpensive current pencils, it is remarkably effective.

A pencil collection is richer when it contains both evidence and experience. One pencil tells me how the product looked. The other tells me what it was made to do.