What is/was Lyons Calendar Wax used for?

[JJB2904]

I have found several different coloured sticks in an old box of pencils that came from my father. They have either the words Lyons Calendar Wax or Stephens' Fancy Wax imprinted on the side and I just wondered what they might be? Are they for putting a seal on documents and if so, what is the relevance of different colours? Some are unused but others show signs of use. My father was in the Royal Artillery in Wales during the war - could they be something relevant to this?

[sg]

I wonder if it is something like an equivalent of Chinagraph pencils, used to mark on any surface.
You say they are pencils, suggesting they have an outer casing of wood or paper, but then the name is imprinted on the side, so sounds like they are all wax, like a crayon, so might be just as you say, a type of letter sealing wax.
What colours are they?

[Buenchico]

Stephen's Fancy Wax was sealing wax, used on official documents:
http://www.trademe.co...auction-309739423.htm

There are several web references to manufacturers producing 'calendar wax paper' (although I can't find out what it's used for) . Perhaps 'calendar wax' was used to treat ordinary paper for some particular purpose???

Chris

[jno]

it isn't calender wax? Treats fabrics

[theprof]

Buenchico is absolutely right about Stephen's Fancy Wax. I've got three sticks of the stuff at home which I acquired at secondary school. I remember my art teacher saying that it was sealing wax, but we used it in art for something else which i can't remember right now
I've also got a couple of academic certificates that I was was awarded early in my career on my wall at home that have seal impressions on them that bear a remarkably good resemblance in colour to Stephen's fancy wax after it's set. Modern academic certificates just aren't the same!

[sandyRoe]

Could they have been used for Brass Rubbings?