On Writing Well: The History of Blackwing Pencils

Among my friends, it’s a well known that I am a bit of a one trick pony when it comes to writing implements — specifically, wood pencils and only wood pencils.

To me, there is no better tool for capturing ideas and jotting notes than a decent quality pencil, and it is nearly universally agreed that the créme de la créme of pencils is the Blackwing range.

While these pencils are famous among aficionados like myself, many of our readers may not be familiar with their vaunted history. Therefore, an introduction.

The Original Blackwing 602: Favourite of artists and writers

The original Blackwing 602, with its distinctive rectangular eraser, was introduced by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company in 1934, aimed at artists, writers, and musicians for everyday use, and it quickly became a favourite of many famous artists of the day. John Steinbeck, Quincy Jones, Sondheim & Bernstein, Nabokov, animator Shamus Culhane (of Disney’s Snow White), and cartoonist Chuck Jones all famously favoured these pencils. 

According to his son, John Steinbeck’s ritual was to begin every writing session by sharpening 24 Blackwing pencils and placing them in a pot. He would write with one until it began to dull, then place it in an identical empty pot and take another until he had worked through all 24. Then he would sharpen them all and begin the process over again. 

Steinbeck said in an interview, “I have found a new kind of pencil — the best I have ever had. Of course, it costs three times as much too but it is Black and it is soft but doesn’t break off. I think I will always use these. They are called Blackwings and they really glide over the paper." 

Other authors concurred. When Nabokov adapted Lolita into a screenplay for Stanley Kubrick in the 1960s, he wrote out thousands of index cards with a Blackwing pencil for “rubbing out and writing anew the scenes I had imagined in the morning.” And Truman Capote was reputed to have his nightstand fully stocked fresh boxes of the 602 in case of need.

Cartoonists and animators also favoured the pencils. Ollie Johnston, who created Bambi and Thumper among others, kept his very first Blackwing taped to his studio window as a prized possession. Chuck Jones refused to use any other pencil in his works right up to his death in 2002. 

They were also popular with musicians. Music producer Quincy Jones reportedly always had a Blackwing 602 on him to make changes to music scores. Stephen Sondheim thought that the Blackwing might be discontinued or become obsolete, and so reportedly bought enough pencils in the 1960s to last the remainder of his career.

Disaster and Discontinuation: The end of the Blackwing 602?

Sondheim’s impulse turned out to be prescient. In 1994, disaster struck when the machine that produced the unique rectangular ferrule and eraser system broke down. The company decided to sell out the remaining stock, and the Blackwing 602 was officially discontinued in 1998. 

But, as sometimes happens, the dwindling supply turned these pencils into almost mythical objects, reportedly fetching as much as $40 US for a single pencil on Ebay. Notably, the people paying these exorbitant prices were avid users, not collectors.

For several years, Blackwing 602s appeared lost to the pencil connoisseurs of the world. 

In 2010, when the original trademark had expired, CalCedars company released their own Palomino Blackwing, as a tribute. Their version featured California incense-cedar, premium Japanese graphite and the rectangular eraser, but reviews were mixed.

In response, they went back to the drawing board and released the Palomino Blackwing 602, true to the features of the original. This time, reviews were excellent, and the 602 is enjoying a revival.

Why Would Anyone Pay $40US for a Blackwing?

So what is it about the Blackwing that inspires such passion? 

The Blackwing range including the standard 602, matte, pearl and natural pencils (pictured) as well as the limited ‘Volumes’ releases are designed to be luxury items. They feature a hexagonal barrel which is generally lacquered - with the exception of the natural pencils - and is about half an inch longer than a standard pencil. They include gilt hardware and an embossed logo. 

But the most unique feature is the rectangular eraser held in place by a squared off ferrule. This allows the eraser to be extended once it has been worn down by sliding out the clasp to extend the eraser. 

In my experience, I find these to be the best pencils and my favourite writing implement for any use. They always write smoothly, hold a point well, and rarely break. 

I hope to convert at least a few readers to the Blackwings, and if I have intrigued you, I encourage you to come in and give one a try. Luckily, we can offer them at a much reduced price than their value at auction in the early 2000s.