Tomsk Pencil Co. C0103 TM (HB) Vintage Soviet Era Pencil, c. 1988

Tomsk Pencil Factory produced this classic Siberian pine pencil during the late Soviet Perestroika era, circa 1988-1991. The markings tell its story: the fractional price of 11.3 kopecks reflects the economic reforms of the late 1980s when state pricing began to shift. TM88 denotes the твёрдо-мягкий (hard-medium) grade—equivalent to HB—with 88 indicating the 1988 production standard. ТКФ (Томская Карандашная Фабрика) identifies the Tomsk factory, while C0103 is the internal Soviet article number for this specific casing style. A rare window into Soviet manufacturing during its final years, this pencil carries authentic period markings and the quality craftsmanship Tomsk was known for. Condition reflects age and use; provenance confirmed by original Soviet-era markings.