Though simple in appearance, the pencil is one of the most enduring and versatile writing tools in history. It has accompanied artists, students, architects, and writers for centuries, quietly shaping ...

On March 30, 1858, inventor Hymen L. Lipman patented the first pencil with a built-in eraser—then sold it for $100,000. Believe it or not, this is not the first time in history that a little stick of ...