The Blackwing 602 pencil began production in 1934 by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company. Stamped on the side, opposite the brand mark, was the slogan "Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed". This claim was meant to appeal to stenographers, as the 602 possessed the unique softness and smoothness of a 3B/4B lead but with the rate-of-wear of an HB. However the 602 quickly evolved from an office tool to that of the artist. Among these were animators Chuck Jones and Don Bluth, authors John Steinbeck and Truman Capote, and composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.
By the 90's, the pencil was being ordered at such a low volume, that when the machine that produced its unique ferrule and eraser tip broke, the decision was made to cease production and sell off the remaining stock. It was officially discontinued in 1998. Meanwhile, individual Blackwing 602 pencils regularly commanded $40 or more on auction sites like eBay.
In 2008, California Cedar Products Company acquired the Blackwing name and introduced the imitation Blackwing 602 pencil, a close approximation of the original. A portion of all pencils sold benefits the Blackwing Foundation, which was established to support music and art education in schools. We love this brand, and stock each special edition volume as they are released.
Blackwing Replacement Erasers
$2.95 USD
Blackwing Replacement erasers come in packs of 10
Blackwing Vol 64 (Box of 12)
$28.00 USD
The Comic Book Book pencil In 1837, Swiss teacher Rodolphe Töpffer published a collection of illustrated stories chronicling the adventures of a character named Mr. Vieux Bois. Each page featured...
Blackwing Vol 6 The Neon Pencils (Box of 12)
$26.50 USD
Blackwing Volume 6 The Blackwing 6 celebrates independent businesses and their entrepreneurial spirit. Each set comes with six neon red and six neon blue pencils inspired by the iconic neon...
Blackwing Point Guard
$10.50 USD
The Blackwing Point Guard is designed to ensure your Blackwing pencil gets wherever you’re going in one piece. Crafted out of lightweight, machined aluminum, the Point Guard goes over the point of your...
Blackwing Vol 223 Woody Gunthrie (Box of 12)
$28.00 USD
This Land is your Land. The Blackwing 223 is a tribute to Woody Guthrie and his immutable optimism. Each pencil features a design inspired by This Land’s “ribbon of highway,”...
Blackwing Matte (Box of 12)
$25.50 USD
For anyone who prefers a soft, dark line, the Blackwing Matte is the softest of the four core Blackwing models. Matte black finish Iconic square ferrule and black erasure Soft...
Blackwing Vol XIX (Box of 12)
$28.50 USD
Blackwing Volume 6 The Blackwing XIX is a tribute to the 19th Amendment and the ongoing fight for voting rights in the United States and around the world. It features a...
Blackwing 602 (Box of 12)
$25.50 USD
Blackwing 602 features a firm and smooth graphite. Gunmetal grey finish Iconic square ferrule with pink eraser Firm graphite Comes in a box of 12 that doubles as a pencil...
Blackwing Vol 840 California Coast (Box of 12)
$28.00 USD
Surfing arrived on the coast of northern California in 1907, but was not popularized until Duke Kahanamoku arrived decades later. This Blackwing is a tribute to California's 840 mile coastline...
Blackwing Natural (Box of 12)
$25.50 USD
Blackwing Natural features an exposed incense-cedar barrel Clear matte finish with gold imprint Iconic square ferrule and grey eraser Extra-firm graphite Comes in a box of 12 that doubles as...
Blackwing Pearl (Box of 12)
$28.00 USD
Blackwing Pearl features a balanced and smooth writing that is softer than the 602 but firmer than the graphite found in the Matte Blackwing. Pearl white finish with gold imprint...
Blackwing Vol 3 Ravi Shankar (Box of 12)
$27.95 USD
A tribute to the Godfather of World Music The Blackwing 3 is a tribute to Ravi Shankar on his 100th birthday. George Harrison met Ravi Shankar in Bath, England, 1966....