On Wednesday, June 8th, California Republic Stationers’ will officially launch the Palomino Blackwing 602, a pencil modeled after the Eberhard-Faber Blackwing, one of the most highly coveted pencils ever made.

The Blackwing 602 will go on sale exclusively to subscribers of the official Pencils.com newsletter on Wednesday, June 8th before being released to the general public on Thursday, June 9th. Newsletter subscribers will receive an email the day before with instructions on how to purchase.

When the Eberhard-Faber Blackwing 602 was still in production, it was widely used by artists and illustrators, with many calling it the best pencil ever designed. The product line was eventually sold and production of the Eberhard-Faber Blackwing 602 pencil ceased in 1998. Even so, artists and illustrators still continue to track down these pencils, many paying upwards of $40 per pencil.

Last October, California Republic Stationers rolled out the Palomino Blackwing, which used the same unique design as the Eberhard-Faber, but featured a soft and smooth lead formulation and black finish. The new Blackwing 602 is modeled closely after the original, using a firm and smooth lead while maintaining the iconic rectangular eraser and metallic gray shaft color.

The new 602 includes the original slogan “half the pressure, twice the speed” printed on the shaft. In addition, despite being shipped with a unique black eraser, traditionalists will be happy to learn that pink replacement erasers are now available.

For media inquiries or retailers wanting information on how to order Palomino Blackwings, click here.

To sign up for the Pencils.com newsletter and receive notification about the exclusive presale, click here.