Blackwing Matte Soft Lead Professional Pencils

What can be said about Blackwing pencils? If you are a very serious artist or do a lot of graphite drawings/sketchings this IS the best pencil you can buy. The soft Japanese lead will take your art to the next level, you can easily tell the difference when using these. Ideal for musicians, woodworkers and anyone who prefer a soft, dark line, the Blackwing Matte is the softest of the four core Blackwing models. Each pencil features a timeless matte black finish, iconic square Blackwing ferrule and black eraser. PLEASE READ!!! FOR THE ERASERS AND THE SHAPENERS - These come in black and white, if you have a preference please add a note to the order otherwise we will send a random color Blackwing Matte pencils 12-pack has a gift box that also doubles as a pencil cup. THE STORY OF THE $40 PENCIL Learn how Chuck Jones, John Steinbeck, and others helped transform the Blackwing 602 pencil into a cult object. THE RISE & FALL Legendary Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer and Academy Award winners have created with the Blackwing 602 pencil. The list of known users includes John Steinbeck, Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones, and Disney animator Shamus Culhane who, according to animation historian Charles Soloman, asked to be buried with his Blackwing 602. Blackwing’s roots go back to the 1930’s when the 602 model was first introduced by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company. Over the years, the pencil with the unique rectangular eraser became synonymous with quality. Then, in 1998, after several corporate acquisitions, it was discontinued, but not forgotten. In fact, fans began paying as much as $40 on eBay for a single Blackwing pencil. THE REVIVAL In 2007, we introduced our Palomino range of pencils using Genuine Incense-cedar and premium Japanese graphite. Artists and writers started comparing them to their beloved Blackwing 602s, and folks began asking us to consider reviving the Blackwing brand. We tapped into over 100 years of family-run pencil industry experience to re-introduce Blackwing pencils in 2010. In the 10 years since its revival, Blackwing has grown from a single pencil into a culture. It’s a culture that's all about living mindfully and finding balance in our fast paced lives.