W.S. Hicks – Pencil Leads

Box of mechanical propelling pencil leads advertising W.S. Hicks & Co.The box has the original labels and still has 8 of the 12 size VS leads inside as shown. The leads are 1.5mm in diameter and the box is 57mm x 35mm.
The back of the box indicates they are the “Finest prepared Cumberland Leads” and also has instructions for use in both English and French, I’m not sure when Hicks established a UK branch in London but I suspect that these date to mid 1800’s.