Blackwing pencils have been around since the 1930s when the 602 was introduced by Eberhard Faber in the USA. It became a favorite of such famous users as author John Steinbeck, Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones, and Disney animator Shamus Culhane. In 1998, after several corporate acquisitions, it was discontinued, though its fans still sought out every last available pencil, paying as much as $40 for a single Blackwing on eBay.
 
In 2010, Palomino, a company with over 100 years of family history in pencil-making decided to re-introduce the Blackwing brand, using genuine incense cedar from California, Japanese graphite and brass for the iconic eraser holder.
 
Choose the Blackwing Natural for extra-firm graphite, suitable for technical drawing and note-taking.
 
The iconic 602 is firm, and promises "half the pressure, twice the speed". This one is for writing like Steinbeck and sketching like Chuck Jones.
 
The Blackwing Pearl is "balanced", a little softer than the 602, and is the choice of calligraphers, illustrators, musicians and journallers.
 
Finally The Blackwing Matte is soft, dark and smudgy, for artists and woodworkers.
 
Choose a set of four pencils to suit you: four of any single pencil, one of each in the 'Audition' Set or 4 different Limited Edition pencils. They come packaged in a beautiful cherry-wood box.