Although a kind of pencil existed in ancient Rome, the wood pencils as we know them were developed relatively late in the history of writing, in the late 1500s. Scribes in Rome wrote on papyrus, an early form of paper, with a stylus, or thin metal rod, which left a light but readable mark. Styluses were also made of lead; this is the origin of calling the center of a pencil the “lead,” even though it is made from graphite, which isn’t at all dangerous or toxic.

In 1564, a large graphite deposit was discovered in England, resulting in its widespread use. Graphite was soft and brittle, so holders were developed to prevent it from breaking. At first, sticks of graphite were wrapped in string, but eventually, graphite was inserted into hand-made wooden sticks. This was the first wood-cased pencil.

The first mass-produced pencils were made in Nuremberg, Germany in 1662. As the Industrial Revolution wore on, an active pencil industry in Europe developed. The first pencils in American were made in 1812; author Henry David Thoreau was one of the first Americans to make and sell them. By the end of the 19^th century, there was a strong pencil-manufacturing industry in the US. The first eraser-tipped pencil was patented in 1858.

Most wood pencils in America are yellow, and the reason for that makes for an interesting story. In the 1800s, the best graphite in the world came from China, and American pencil manufacturers wanted their product associated, in the minds of their customers, with high-quality graphite. It was well-known at the time that in China, the color yellow was associated with royalty and respect. As a result, pencil manufacturers in China began to paint their promotional pencils bright yellow to communicate a “regal” feeling and their association with China.

As the website Pencils.com (http://www.pencils.com/) states, the pencil is “the most useful yet least appreciated writing instrument of all time: the world's only portable, lightweight invention that can draw a line 35 miles long, write an average of 45,000 words, absorb 17 sharpenings and delete its own errors.” The promotional pencil is an ideal tool for advertising and promoting businesses and products as well; it has a space for your name, logo, and contact information waiting to be filled. The lowly pencil could prove to be an invaluable part of your business’ advertising campaign.

Perhaps you’ve had this same kind of experience. Every time my kids come home from a party, whether a party at school, or one of their friend’s birthday parties, they bring home a bag full of all kinds of party favors. Invariably, at least one of these items (usually more) is a pencil with some kind of logo or decoration on them. Sometimes, these pencils have the name of their school (and phone number) or even the name and number of some business. I can’t tell you how many of these personalized pencils we have about the house, usually in every drawer in the house. I have to admit, though, they do come in handy, if they’ve been sharpened.

The other thing that happens a lot to me is that I seem to collect pencils (and pens) with these logos, names, and decorations on them. I walk away from a store and find that I’ve taken their pencil! I’m not a thief, really. Somehow, these pencils find their way into my purse. I’m sure that I’ve done it, but I have no memory of it. Perhaps it happened when I was putting my checkbook or wallet back into my purse. It’s an accident, I swear!

I have a feeling, though, that most businesses know that this will happen. I suspect that’s why they invest in hundreds of pencils and pens. They want their customers to take them away, so that they have a reminder of their store or product every time they use the pencil they’ve “stolen.” When you think about it, it’s a very effective way to promote their business. Perhaps they count on people like me thinking, “I stole their pencil; I really should go back to their store and purchase something else to make up for it.”

Investing in promotional pencils and pens is a good way to market your business or product. It keeps your name in front of the customer. They say that it takes looking at something 20 times to implant it in your memory. A typical pencil can write 45,000 words; it’s certain that any customer will remember what’s written or imprinted on that pencil. It’s to a business’ benefit to take advantage of how long a pencil lasts by using these pencils as cheap advertising.

There are all kinds of pencils that could help advertise your business or product. Considering the following, for example: promotional carpenter pencils, customized golf pencils, jumbo pencils, mechanical pencils, and of course, wood pencils. These pencils are usually inexpensive (a few pennies per pencil), but they can also be more expensive—more “high-end,” if you will, from the highly-used yellow #2 wood pencils with the eraser at the end, to a mechanical pencil, to the high-quality drawing color pencils.

There are all kinds of interesting but little-known facts (i.e., trivia) about pencils. Did you know that John Steinbeck was an obsessive pencil-user? He didn’t even use a typewriter; instead, he would use up to sixty pencils a day to writer his novels. It is said that he used over 300 pencils to write East of Eden.

Graphite pencils are the most common types of pencils. They’re made from a mixture of clay and graphite, and their darkness varies from light grey to black. Charcoal pencils, which are made from charcoal, provide a fuller black than graphite pencils, but they tend to smudge easily and are more abrasive. They tend to be used mostly by artists. Carbon pencils are also commonly used by artists. They’re made from a mixture of clay and lamp black, and are sometimes blended with charcoal or graphite. They produce a fuller black than graphite, but are smoother than charcoal.

Colored pencils are used by artists and children. They have wax-like cores with pigment and other fillers. Multiple colors are often blended together. There are erasable colored pencils, but they aren’t wax-based. Grease pencils, also called “china markers,” can write on almost any surface (i.e., glass, plastic, metal, and photos). They are most commonly encased in paper, but are also encased in wood. Watercolor pencils are used by artists creating watercolor paintings. These pencils are dunked in water, used to draw lines, and spread out with brushes.

Pencils are categorized according to their use. For example, carpenter’s pencils have a shape that prevents them from rolling, and their lead is strong. Copying pencils, invented in the late 1800s as a substitute for fountain pens, are graphite pencils with an added dye that creates an indelible mark. They were replaced by ball-point pens in the early 1900s. Non-producing, or non-photo blue, pencils make marks that aren’t reproduced by photocopiers. Stenographer’s pencils have break-proof lead. Golf pencils, also called library pencils, are short (usually about 9 centimeters) and very cheap.

One of the most popular non-wooden pencils is mechanical pencils. They use mechanical methods to push lead through a hole at the end. The erasers are removable (and replaceable) and cover the space that holds extra lead. They’re popular for their longevity and because they never need to be sharpened.

Promotional Pencils come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. They can be triangular, hexagonal, round, and even bendable. The most common type of pencil is a hexagonal, #2 pencil. It’s ¼-inch (6 mm), with a slightly larger outer diameter (about 9/32-inch, or 7 mm). The biggest pencil in the world was made in 2007 by Ashirita Furman, the holder of the most Guinness world records in the world. His pencil was 76 feet (23 meters) long and weighed 18,000 pounds (8,200 kg).

Promotional pencils, or pencils that have been printed with a company’s name, logo, or contact information, are everywhere—in desks and pen/pencil holders in offices, schools, and homes, in backpacks, in student lockers. There are hundreds of companies selling thousands of all kinds of shapes and sizes of pencils, for very economical prices. The important thing with promotional pencils is to make sure they’re eye-catching. Your logo on them is crucial, but it’s even more important to have a fun, bright, vibrant pattern printed on them. Promotional pencils are an ideal marketing strategy; it literally puts the name of your company in the hands of customers and potential customers.

One of the most common uses of personalized pencils is to print the name of schools on them. As one website that sells this kind of promotional pencils state, this really generates “school spirit.” Some teachers even order pencils with inspirational and motivational messages on them—messages like “Good luck on your test,” and “Juniors rule!” It makes sense to use this spirit for businesses and companies.

One of the most fun and unusual promotional pencils I found in my research is a “mood pencil.” Like the mood rings made popular in the 1970s, mood pencils actually change color based upon your mood. They change from a base color to a heat-activated color in seconds. And they’re cheap—about 35 cents apiece.

The fun thing about pencils is that not only can you have any design or image imprinted on the wooden part; you can even choose any shape for its eraser. For example, you can put a feather on top. Your eraser toppers can come in the shape of a dog, or a heart, or even a boy or girl. Kids love these kinds of novelty promotional pencils.