This set includes 12 special edition pencils inspired by some of the earliest Blackwings ever produced. Each pencil features a dark grey barrel, iconic dark gold ferrule with a black stripe, pink eraser, and our extra-firm graphite. The finish on these Eras pencils feels more matte compared to the 602 finish.
In 2020, we launched our first Eras pencil celebrating 10 years of the Blackwing revival with a design pulled straight from the 1930s. In 2021, we released our second Eras pencil paying tribute to the Palomino pencils that inspired the Blackwing revival. In 2022, we honored the arrow-punched ferrule found on Blackwing pencils in the mid-20th century. In 2023, we released a design inspired by the Van Dyke 601. In 2024, we paid tribute to the Microtomic 603, and in 2025, we revived the design that first began the Blackwing revival 15 years ago. This year, we're paying homage to the first iterations of Blackwing pencils complete with retro-inspired packaging.
Blackwing pencils were favored by award-winning creators throughout the 20th century. Despite a cult following, they were discontinued in the 1990s. Devotees began paying as much as $40 on eBay for a single pencil. We acquired the brand in 2010 and brought it back for a new generation of artists, musicians, and everyday people looking to unplug and live more mindfully.
