Venus Velvet 557

The Venus Velvet was the flagship pencil produced by Venus Pencil Company Ltd. in Canada. The most common version of this pencil is the yellow painted 6557 (the 3557 in the US). The Velvet pencil however came in other versions. One was a "natural finish" version. It was stamped with the number 557 both in Canada and in the US.  A 1914 American Lead Pencil Company catalog shows this pencil made in "4 degrees", each one with a different number: 556-soft, 557-soft-medium, 558-medium and 561-hard.  A 1937 catalog shows both the 3557 and 557 made in a variety of degrees.

"3557 VENUS-VELVET. The country's leading commercial pencil. This is the standard tipped Venus-Velvet in yellow finish. 5 degrees-1, 2, 2 2/3, 3, and 4. Edgeless. Boxed dozens, 1/2 gr. to carton - weight - 1 ob., 5 ozs. $7.20 per gr.

557 VENUS-VELVET. This is the standard tipped Venus-Velvet in cedar finish. 5 degrees - 1, 2, 2 2/3, 3 and 4. Edgeless. Boxed dozens, 1/2 gr. to carton - weight - 1 lb., 5 ozs. $7.20 per gr."

I have no idea of the age of the pencils pictured below.