1896. Oblong 8vo, pp. 43 (including inside rear cover), with engraved frontispiece, two chromolithograph plates enhanced with gilt, and numerous illustrations within text; text within attractive blue border, with some additional text and ornamentation in blue; some occasional minor foxing soiling, but otherwise clean and bright; with additional double-sided chromolithograph advertisement embellished with gilt for the ‘Apollo-Blyertspennor’ pencil, 285 x 215mm and folded horizontally, slight split along fold with with a couple of marginal nicks and tears; sewn as issued in the original cloth backed printed and embossed card covers, head and tail of spine very lightly worn, with further minor wear to extremities, covers a little foxed and soiled; an attractive copy. A rare and elegantly produced trade catalogue, issued by the firm of Johann Faber AG, at the time of publication, a successful rival to the more established company of A. W. Faber AG, run by Johann’s brother Lothar von Faber. A list of successful exhibition appearances on p. 13 suggests that the present brochure, Pencils and how they are made. Historical treatise on the pencil alongside a description of the method for their production, was produced in around 1896. Copiously illustrated throughout, of particular note are the two chromolithograph plates, the second of which is enhanced with gilt. The historical section includes a number of vignettes of the workshops and the various stages of production, and it is interesting to note that a number of the later stages were carried out by a predominantly female work force.
The foundation of the renown pencil dynasty can be traced back to 1791, established by Kasper Faber in Stein, a small town south of Nuremberg. He was succeeded by his son, Anton Wilhelm, who took over the small workshop and incorporated the family business as A.W. Faber. Despite facing various challenges over the years, the company grew, and was passed down the generations. Lother von Faber, who initially worked together with his two brothers Johann and Eberhard, before both went on to establish rival companies. Johann started his firm in 1876, though as the present preface makes clear, used his prior experience as Managing Director of A.W. Faber, to establish his credentials. This elegantly produced brochure clearly attests to his own success, though ultimately the two companies joined forces in 1931, and remain today as Faber-Castell.
A further appealing, chromolithograph advertisement, has been loosely inserted promoting the ‘Apollo-Blyertspennor’ pencil. We are also pleased to offer in addition, a small silver-plated Faber ‘Liliput’ pencil holder, with remains of pencil, presumably made in Germany and dated ca. 1910-20. The holder is a little tarnished and dinked, consistent with age and use, but still an appealing example.