National Rubber Eraser Day

National Rubber Eraser Day is an American holiday dedicated to the eraser. Thanks to this rubber product, we can easily remove pencil marks, making it especially useful for pencil drawings and blueprints. The holiday is celebrated every year on April 15.

History

The history of National Rubber Eraser Day is somewhat sparse. Before the invention of the rubber eraser, people used wax to remove charcoal or lead marks from paper. With the advent of graphite and pencils, there was a need for a more effective solution to erase marks. This solution was discovered in 1770 by Edward Nairn, an engineer from England. He created the first rubber eraser and sold it for 3 shillings. The product was a cube with a thickness of 0.5 inches.

However, these early erasers were extremely unreliable and quickly deteriorated. The discovery of the rubber vulcanization process by Charles Goodyear made erasers stronger and more durable. Since then, the eraser has become an indispensable component of any stationery set.

Today, there are countless varieties of erasers. Manufacturers produce them in various colors, with different designs, and in various shapes (e.g., cars, watermelon slices, etc.).

Interesting Facts

• The vulcanization process gives rubber its elasticity and hardness. Today, this process is used in all rubber processing plants.
• Before the invention of the rubber eraser, bread crumbs were used to erase marks, sometimes moistened with wax.

How to Celebrate

Upgrade your stationery set with a few new erasers. Take the time to learn more about this everyday product today.

Share the holiday on social media. Ask others how often they use an eraser in their daily lives.

When is National Rubber Eraser Day in 2025?

National Rubber Eraser Day is observed on April 15 each year.

Observations