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Ali al-Mandalawi arranges colored pencils in his artist supply shop at the al-Saray market in central Baghdad, Iraq, 08 October 2022. Al-Mandalawi owns more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and uses in his store, where he began amassing products in 1985 as both hobby and passion. The store became a destination for calligraphers, painters and tourists in the historic Saray market in Baghdad. EPA / AHMED JALIL

Ali Al Mandalawi uses the torchlight of his mobile phone to search for a pencil in his shop at the Al Saray market in central Baghdad. All photos: EPA

What began as a hobby - collecting ballpoint pens and pencils - has grown to a collection of more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and colours.

His store, where he began collecting pens and pencils in 1985, has meanwhile become a destination for calligraphers and painters, and a tourist attraction, in the historic Saray market in Baghdad.

Ali Al Mandalawi speaks to a customer.

Ali Al Mandalawi in his artist supply shop.

Ali al-Mandalawi arranges colored pencils in his artist supply shop at the al-Saray market in central Baghdad, Iraq, 08 October 2022. Al-Mandalawi owns more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and uses in his store, where he began amassing products in 1985 as both hobby and passion. The store became a destination for calligraphers, painters and tourists in the historic Saray market in Baghdad. EPA / AHMED JALIL

Ali Al Mandalawi uses the torchlight of his mobile phone to search for a pencil in his shop at the Al Saray market in central Baghdad. All photos: EPA

What began as a hobby - collecting ballpoint pens and pencils - has grown to a collection of more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and colours.

His store, where he began collecting pens and pencils in 1985, has meanwhile become a destination for calligraphers and painters, and a tourist attraction, in the historic Saray market in Baghdad.

Ali Al Mandalawi speaks to a customer.

Ali Al Mandalawi in his artist supply shop.

Ali al-Mandalawi arranges colored pencils in his artist supply shop at the al-Saray market in central Baghdad, Iraq, 08 October 2022. Al-Mandalawi owns more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and uses in his store, where he began amassing products in 1985 as both hobby and passion. The store became a destination for calligraphers, painters and tourists in the historic Saray market in Baghdad. EPA / AHMED JALIL

Pencil and ballpoint pen collector Ali Al Mandalawi in Baghdad - in pictures

Ali has a collection of more than a million pencils and ballpoint pens of various sizes and colours

The National

October 09, 2022

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Updated: October 09, 2022, 1:35 PM