MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - A pencil that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin supposedly used at a recent news conference has gone on sale on the Internet auction site eBay, the newsru.com website said on Thursday.

Bids for the pencil - advertised under the heading "Vladimir Putin's pencil, anyone?" - have so far reached $1,025.

The pencil went on sale five days ago, and was put up for auction by a seller who claims to be a journalist from the Russian city of Tula, some 200 kms south of Moscow.

"Recently Vladimir Putin visited city Tula and I attended his press conference," the lot info began. "When it was over, I went to the table where he sat and picked up the pencil he used to make notes. The pencil looks like new, just might need a little sharpening."

Bidding for the pencil ends on November 14.