S. Mordan & Co.

Sampson Mordan is recognized as the co-inventor of the mechanical pencil, having filed the first patent (#4742) in England, in 1822, jointly with John Isaac Hawkins. Shortly after filing the patent, Mordan bought out Hawkins and established a partnership with London stationer, Gabriel Riddle. The Mordan Riddle relationship was dissolved in 1836, with each going their own way and both continuing to be pencil case makers. Following Sampson's death in 1843, the business was carried on by two of his sons, Sampson Jr. and Augustus.