At 17, Tushar Lakhanpal has made an entry into the Guinness Book of Records, writes . Lakhanpal began collecting pencils in various hues and designs as a child. The unusual hobby has led to a collection of more than 19,500 pencils from more than 60 countries, including the UAE, France, Germany, Hungary, Thailand, Australia, Italy and Croatia.

Pointing out some of his prized possessions, Lakhanpal says: “I was fortunate to acquire the two pencils used by Queen Elizabeth II. A friend of my mother[s] came to know the pencils of the Queen of England were being put on sale. She immediately contacted us and we bought them at the auction for £400 [Dh2,193].”

Normal wooden pencils, mechanical pencils, pencils with caps, with furs, handmade paper pencils, recycled newspaper pencils, spoon shaped pencils, thermometer pencils, scented pencils, Swarovski-studded pencils, 24-karat gold designer pencils and an award-winning pencil from Japan that is disability-friendly — the collector has them all in shades of red, blue and yellow, and others. The smallest pencils are a mere 3cm in length and the longest is 2,4 metres long.

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