Most of us know what a patent is, but some of us dont know the difference between a utility patent and a design patent. "The Difference Between Design and Utility Patents In general terms, a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works, while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks. (www.uspto.gov)

The lilst below is a (complete? - I think, let me know if there is something missing) list of all design patents from 1836 to 1873. Most patents are for pencils and inkstands with couple of them for dip pens, but several 'known names" appear in the list: W. H. Hicks, E. Faber, E. Todd, and L. W Fairchild. If you want to find the name in the list just do control-F smile.gif I think that those of you interested in the early pen history may enjoy it.

(only few patents has a drawing - to see it click on the tab Mosaic when you go to that page.

24, Pencil Case, Smions, G. W., Philadelphia, , 11/18/1844

780, Pen Metallic, Granger, A., New York, NY, 4/15/1856

861, Pencil Case Ever Pnt, Knapp, J. H., New York, NY, 1/6/1857

1078, Bottle Ink, Davids, T., New York, NY, 1/11/1859

1229, Trademark Lead Pencil, Rosenthal, J., New York, NY, 4/3/1860

1230, Pencil Stamp Lead, Rosenthal, J., New York, NY, 4/3/1860

1475, Trademark Lead Pencil, Faber, E., New York, NY, 10/8/1861

1652, Inkstand, Phineas, M., New York, NY, 8/18/1862

1747, Pen Medallion, Granger, A., New York, NY, 4/21/1863

1997, Bottle Ink, Percival, G. G., Brooklyn, NY, 11/8/1864

1998, Bottle Ink, Bailey, F., New York, NY, 11/15/1864

2063, Trademark Lead Pencil, Schedler, J., New York, NY, 5/9/1865

2211, Inkstand, Moore, J., Warren, MA, 10/31/1865

2243, Trademark Pen Pencil, Waring, J. B., New York, NY, 1/16/1866

2307, Pen, Marsh, E. A., Chicopee, MA, 5/8/1866

2326, Trademark Lead Pencil, Flersheim, L. H., Chicago, IL, 5/29/1866

2610, Inkstand, Harris, H., Newark, NJ, 4/2/1867

2753, Bottle Ink, Holmes, B. P., Philadelphia, , 8/20/1867

2937, Inkstand Sponge Cup, Hudson, T. S., East Cambridge, 2/18/1868

3128, Tray Ink, Underwood, G. L., Boston, MA, 7/21/1868

3129, Tray Ink, Underwood, G. L., Boston, MA, 7/21/1868

3219, Trademark Pencil, Faber, E., New York, NY, 11/3/1868

3342, Inkstand, Hudson, T. S., East Cambridge, 1/18/1869

3469, Desk Lid Writing, Beck, B. I., Brooklyn, NY, 5/4/1869

3723, Inkstand Pen Rack Cmb, Whitney, H., East Cambridge, 10/18/1869

3812, Inkstand, French, A., Philadelphia, , 1/11/1870

3871, Bottle Ink, French, A., Philadelphia, , 3/1/1870

3874, Inkstand, June, J. W., Wheeling, WV, 3/1/1870

4291, Inkstand, Tower, L. L., Somerville, MA, 8/9/1870

4292, Inkstand, Whitney, H., East Cambridge, 8/9/1870

4408, Inkstand, Merritt, D., Philadelphia, , 10/11/1870

4566, Pencil Receptacle Cmb, Wickham, H. J., Manchester, CT, 1/10/1871

4642, Pencil Lead, Reckendorfer; Muller, New York, NY, 2/7/1871

4705, Inkstand, Hudson, T. S., East Cambridge, 3/14/1871

4720, Inkstand, Woodruff, L. L., Cleveland, OH, 3/14/1871

4836, Inkstand, Alling, F. D., Rochester, NY, 4/25/1871

5183, Pencil Sharpener Slt, Kennedy, C., Philadelphia, , 8/8/1871

5377, Pen Pencil Case, Johnson, E. S., New York, NY, 11/21/1871

5805, Inkstand, Tower, L. L., Somerville, MA, 4/16/1872

5851, Pencil Case, Hicks, W. S., New York, NY, 5/14/1872

6192, Pencil Point Protect, Faber, E., New York, NY, 10/8/1872

6229, Pencil Case, Johnson, E. S., Jersey City, N, 10/29/1872

6523, Pencil, Johnson, E. S., Jersey City, N, 3/25/1873

6528, Inkstand, Muller, W. F., New York, NY, 3/25/1873

6539, Pen Sign, Fairchild, L. W., New York, NY, 4/1/1873

6878, Inkstand, Brower, B., New York, NY, 9/9/1873

6879, Inkstand, Brower, B., New York, NY, 9/9/1873

7003, Inkstand, McGill, G. W., New York, NY, 11/25/1873

7006, Pencil Case, Todd, E., Brooklyn, NY, 12/2/1873