You can check various catalogs (Sears and Montgomery Wards) for prices and some description.  The 1902 Sears repro catalog omits the pencil pages but years ago Sears actually sent me a copy of them.  They sold cedar encased slate pencils at $.08/dozen.  

I recently found a 1 inch nub of a slate pencil with a grove carved around the base.   A worn out pencil that was once tied to something.   Mostly their presence is noted without much comment.  

Keith R. Doms
Newlin Grist Mill 
Site Manager
219 S. Cheyney Rd.
Glen Mills, PA  19342
(610) 459-2359
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-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Meg Gorsline
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 1:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Slate pencils

Good afternoon,

I'm trying to gather some information about slate pencils. I've come across a few publications about writing slates (including Davies 2005 and Swords
2008) and I'm wondering if folks have any additional suggestions for literature about slate pencils?
There are a few slate pencils in a 19th century northeast U.S. domestic collection I'm analyzing, and I am curious to hear what others have made of any slate pencils they've recovered. Thanks in advance for any references, information, or insight you may have to share!

Best,
Meg Gorsline
Doctoral Candidate
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, NY