Rare & Beautiful, with Unusual Provenance ** Antique Figural “Magic Pencil” in the Form of a Champagne Bottle, an Important Artifact of Automobile Racing History, Victorian circa 1890 **
This particularly rare type of polychrome – red gold, silver and rhodium – propelling pencil was referred to by Victorians as the “Magic Pencil”.
Thanks to its technically ingenious secret mechanism, this pencil “magically” can be transformed between two alternative forms: “Now it is a decorative object of virtue. Abracadabra, it is a practical writing instrument!”
Indeed, when one pulls back on this Champagne Bottle Magic Pencil’s base, the pencil nozzle and pencil top telescope out from the Champagne bottle. Then, subsequently – upon command – retract inside, morphing back into a decorative object-of-virtue small enough to be worn as a pendant… akin to a magician’s illusion…
Also of note, in its retracted “state”, this magic pencil represents a bottle of A & G LEMAITRE CHAMPAGNE, a renowned Champagne brand in Ay, France. See also the attached photo of the Company’s advert.
For information, Ay is a foremost center of Champagne production. The vineyards are classified as “100% Grand Cru” in the Champagne vineyard classification. Many prestigious Champagne houses still own vineyards in the immediate vicinity, and several are located directly in Ay, including Ayala and Bollinger.
- Length: fully 12.5 mm / 4 ¾“ long when extended, but only 7 mm / 2 ¾“ when retracted. Hence, in its retracted state, this Victorian magic pencil may also be the “smallest propelling pencil” you’ll ever see.
- Condition: Excellent. Near mint. Tested. Functional
Shipping: Worldwide. Duty-free shipping within Europe
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An amazing background story
There is a fascinating, albeit partially “chilling”, background story in relation to the provenance of this magic pencil.
Albert Lemaître of A & G LEMAITRE CHAMPAGNE was born circa 1864 in Ay, Marne, France, a village outside Épernay. There, he worked in partnership with his brother in the Champagne industry. Circa 1901 he married Miss Lucie Dumény, after her first engagement was broken-off for family reasons. Following four years of marriage, Lucie rekindled feelings for her ex-fiancé and, in February 1906, filed for divorce as well as moved out of the marital residence.
On 7 May 1906, Albert murdered Lucie with two gunshots (she was 28 years old and had no children) and then shot himself in the head. Upon hearing the news of Lucie’s death, her lover also shot himself.
Albert Lemaître was rushed to the hospital, and survived. Then, in September 1906, he was acquitted on all charges because the jury ruled it had been “a crime of passion.”
However, Albert Lemaître already was a celebrity well prior to these events. In July 1894, when Pierre Giffard organized the Paris to Rouen “Horseless Carriage” Race, which is considered the world’s first competitive automotive event, Albert Lemaître was one of the competitors.
The first leg of the 126 km race started at Porte Maillot in Paris and ended in Mantes where all the participants stopped for lunch. At that point, Albert Lemaître was in 1st place, having achieved the fastest time – for all vehicle categories – of only 2 hours 36 minutes.
He then completed the second and final 80 kilometer leg of the race, arriving with his three passengers at the Champ de Mars in Rouen in 4 hours 15 minutes. Thus Lemaître with his overall time of 6 hours 51 minutes and 30 seconds in his 3 hp Peugeot Type 7 petrol powered car, won the Main Prize, 13 minutes ahead of Auguste Doriot’s Peugeot.
The fastest vehicle, and the first back home, was the steam powered De Dion-Bouton driven by the Comte Jules-Albert de Dion, but was ineligible for the main prize because there was a “stoker” onboard to feed the car’s coal fuel!
Albert Lemaître continued to pursue a glorious career in pioneer automobile racing well into the 20th century, winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in numerous major car racing competitions.
