Though wooden pencil use has declined since peaking in 1966, these manufacturers' relentless pursuit of perfection created writing instruments that remain unsurpassed half a century later.

Mitsubishi Pencil Co. will buy out German high-end ... fountain pens priced at several thousand yen in Europe and the United States. Its products are popular among stationery enthusiasts.

14 times as much as a similar box of Crayola colored pencils. And some brands price their sets at over $550. That's because of the time and attention put into creating pencils whose colors are ...