How long have pencils had erasers?

Answer 1

In 1776, scientist Joseph Priestley noted, "I have seen a substance excellently adapted to the purpose of wiping from paper the mark of black lead pencil." Also in 1770, Edward Naime, an English engineer, is credited with creating the first rubber eraser, and reportedly sold natural rubber erasers for the high price of 3 shillings per half-inch cube. According to Naime, he inadvertently picked up a piece of rubber instead of breadcrumbs, discovered rubber's erasing properties, and began selling rubber erasers. Incidentally, this was the first practical application of the substance in Europe, and rubbing out the pencil marks gave it its English name. The first patent for attaching an eraser to a pencil was issued in 1858 to a man from Philadelphia named Hyman Lipman. This patent was later held to be invalid because it was merely the combination of two things, without a new use.