Collections Item Detail

Scope and ContentMagazine advertisement for Venus Pencils; "The American Drawing Pencil." American Pencil Co., Hoboken, N.J. No date, circa 1942. Black-and-white half-page ad from unknown publication, page 302. Donor's source stated 1942 as the year and articles seen on the reverse refer to World War II military production. Clipped leaf, 5" wide x 11-1/2" high. The ad was an offer for two free pencils selected from the 17 degrees of hardness depicted in the ad. Venus pencils was a brand-name product made by the American Lead Pencil Company, but here it was using the name, American Pencil Company. Address for this ad is stated as 500 Willow Ave., but other times it was given as 508 Willow Ave. (and sometimes stated as just Fifth St. & Willow Ave.; factory covered most of that block and extended onto other blocks.) Note that the drawn pencils are imprinted: American Pencil Co. New York. It is fairly typical for the location indicated on products, packaging or advertising to be variously stated as New York or Hoboken.