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Not too long ago, Faber-Castell were celebrating 260 years since their founding in Nuremberg by cabinet maker Caspar Faber. 'Many people don’t know this,' says Count Charles von Faber-Castell, 'but Faber-Castell has been around longer than the United States of America. Our company was actually founded before the enthronement of Catherine the Great and even before the invention of the steam engine. Therefore our company has been around during many monumental historical events – however we also have a rich history of our own.'

Graf von Faber-Castell is the luxury arm of Faber-Castell, in some cases making elaborate hand-crafted fountain pens in very limited editions; in others, making the most basic of items, like simple wooden pencils, but making them perfectly.

The company started out as a pencil manufacturer, and pencils remain a major part of their business, so much so that they have their own forest in Brazil, a third of which is home to hundreds of indigenous species with the rest providing 86% of the wood they need. When you're the producer of two billion pencils a year, you need your own personal forest!

One of the best known Graf von Faber-Castell products is the Perfect Pencil. It's a combined pencil extender, tip protector and sharpener, made with the finest of materials and craftsmanship.

Adds Count Charles: 'The Perfect Pencil is the centerpiece of our Graf von Faber-Castell Collection. This particular product was based around a pocket pencil that was created by my ancestors in the 19th century.'

They also produce their highly sought-after Pen of the Year - a very special edition each year, usually inspired by historical events or achievements, and made from rare materials by the very best artisans in their field. Previous editions have included the Aztecs, Knights and the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. Some editions from previous years are still available - if we list them, they should still be orderable, but just contact us if you'd like us to confirm stock is available in the UK before you order.

A guest blog from our friends at Tree of Hearts

'Dear Auntie Mabel, thank you for coming to our wedding. It was very kind and we liked your present. Lots of love.' NO! No, no, no! That's a thank you, to be sure, but it's a bit... well... uninspiring, to say the least and a bit of a [insert name here] sort of thing. Auntie Mabel may be a long distant relative who might not know you from a bar of soap, and she may have given you the sort of present that is likely to languish undisturbed in a dark corner of the understairs cupboard until your golden wedding anniversary, but she made the effort to celebrate your day. She deserves a little more thought when it comes to thanks, doesn't she?