Mitsubishi's 9852 writing pencil has a classic pencil look, with the body lacquered thickly in golden yellow with a pink eraser.

But this is a premium writing tool. Mitsubishi 9852 offers a smooth feel and leaves dark, clean marks. The lead is perfectly centred in the cedar body so that it sharpens evenly.

And that eraser? Well it's soft and effective, not dried-up and smudgy.

The typography on the pencil's barrel (it's foil-stamped with "Master Writing" on one side and the model information on the other) is attractive with several typefaces. The ferrule is an unusual purplish colour, which adds one more unique element to this deceptively old-fashioned pencil.

Made in Japan and packaged in a retro pink-and-green box. One dozen unsharpened pencils per box.