The oldest surviving pencil in the world was found during restoration work in the rafters of a Swabian peasant house, which was built in 1630. It is now part of the Faber-Castell archive. Source
Given that there is a theory amongst relatives and fellow Swapp’s that the name may have come from Schwabia (Schwaab Merkins look out for us!?) this amused the heck out of me . . . . . . the theory? Piffle!
The pencil? Perfick!
