Mordan Internet Resources

There are many entries on the web for Mordan – often with items for sale but I will pick out a few which have more historical details of the firm.
The otherwise accurate Wikipedia entry for Sampson Mordan, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampson_Mordan  is marred in that it has merged the dates of Sampson Mordan the elder and his son Sampson the younger - "Sampson Mordan (1790 - May 9, 1881)" . Sampson Mordan the elder was born around 1790 and died in 1843.
There is also a useful entry in Mark Hill's blog on Mordan,
http://markhillcollects.blogspot.com/2009/04/sampson-mordan-pencils.html
with further details to be found on Wheathill's "A List of Silversmiths' Hallmarks & Silver Makers' Marks",  http://www.wheathills.com/pages/silversmith-hallmarks_2.aspx this is complemented by an entry on the silvercollection.it site with specific examples of Mordan hallmarks
http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSXS3.html
Even more detailed accounts can be found on the Koopman Rare Art, http://www.koopmanrareart.com/Mordan-Sampson-DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=45&tabindex=44&artistid=8563 and the Heirlooms Antiques sites http://www.heirloomsantiques.com.au/sampson-mordan-a-47.html

Perhaps one of the most useful sites for general information about the company and their products, and for specific information on individual items is the Silver Forums, http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8569

John Isaac Hawkins

Sampson Mordan jointly obtained the patent for the propelling pencil in December 1822 with John Isaac Hawkins. The inventive partner was Hawkins. John Isaac Hawkins was born on the 14th March 1772 in Hillfarrance, a small parish four miles west of Taunton in Sommerset. The son of a clockmaker, also called John Isaac, the family was closely involved in the early days of the non-conformist movement and Methodism. There are records showing that John Welsey visited the village and stayed with the Hawkins family. Wesley's Journal shows that he visited the homes of other members of his Taunton Society who lived in outlying villages and which were used for preaching.

The younger John Isaac Hawkins studied to become a civil engineer; he travelled to America as a young man, where he corresponded with other inventors, such as Thomas Jefferson, returning to England in 1803. For the next 45 years he worked as an inventor, museum proprietor, civil engineer, and patent agent, travelling at home and abroad. In 1848 he returned to the United States, where he sought to re-establish himself, but instead died in relative obscurity in 1854 (not 1855 as widely reported).

Early Mordan Pen Pencils Combinations

One of the most sort after Mordan items is are early examples of pen pencil combination with a J Bramah style pen holder for quill slips. These came in both ornate and plainer forms. The sliders of the earlier examples are often more substantial and engraved with the terminal ends for the double open ended holder are also engraved.

The end of the Mordan and Riddle partnership December 1836

Not much seems to be known about the ending of the partnership between Sampson Mordan and Gabriel Riddle. It has been established to last for fourteen years from 1823 to provide the capital  for Sampson Mordan to be able to buy out John Isaac Hawkins from his part of their joint patent for the propelling pencil. These two advertisments from the Literary Gazette and Journal suggest the parting may not have been that easy!

Notice – Advertisements having appeared within these last few days calculated to, and which may, mislead the Trade, S Mordan and Co., in justice to themselves and the Public, beg to inform their Friends, and the Trade generally, that their Business is conducted as usual at 22 Castle Street, Finsbury, London.

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The partnership which has subsisted for the past fourteen years between S. Mordan and G. Riddle under the firm of S. Mordan and Co. Mechanists, and Manufacturers of Patent and other Articles, having expired this day, G Riddle therefore deems this a suitable opportunity for returning his grateful thanks to his Friends, and the Public at large, for the encouragement the Firm has received, and begs to inform them that he will continue to Manufacture the Patent and other Articles, at no 172 Blackfriar’s Road, to which address he respectfully requests that Orders and Communications may be in future address

London Dec 20th 1836

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The Literary gazette and journal of the belles lettres, arts, sciences for the Year 1837

Mordan Marks

Mordan pieces are often marked with both a hallmark and a makers stamp. These stamps were changed over time so are particularly usefull in dating item when the date letter of the hallmark is rubbed or there is no hallmark present.

Hallmark Sponsors Mark

Pre 1824               SM

1825-1836            SM.GR

After 1837           SM

Makers Stamp

1823-1824            Mordan & Co Patent

1824-1830            S. Mordan and Co’s Patent

1830-1845            S. Mordan and Co Makers & Patentee

1845-1852            S. Mordan and Co Makers

Post 1852             S. Mordan and Co.

Sampson Mordan and Co.

Sampson Mordan and Co were the company that introduced the first propelling pencil. Sampson Mordan with John Isaac Hawkins patented their invention in 1822. The company thrived from their base in London for well over a century. This blog is intended to look, from a collectors point of view, at the history of the company and their diverse range of products.