Blackwing

Blackwing Vol. 71 Pencils

Single or Boxed?
Regular price $2.67
The Blackwing 71 is a tribute to Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural ambition. Each pencil features a silhouette of one of Wright’s iconic perforated boards printed in a muted, midcentury palette. The area around the board is unfilled, letting the natural wood of the pencil shine through. Each pencil includes a copper ferrule and extra-firm graphite.

Few of the structures built by Frank Lloyd Wright during his historic career exemplify his never-ending pursuit of beauty better than his Usonian homes. Wright created the Usonian design philosophy to show that a practical and affordable home can still be a beautiful home. He brought best-in-class architecture to the middle-class when he built his first Usonian home at the age of 71.

Wright sought harmony between form and function, natural and artificial construction, and positive and negative space. The perforated boards that adorn the windows and laylights of these Usonian homes have become symbols of his unique design approach.
  • Iconic aluminum ferrule design in gold
  • Genuine Incense-cedar casing that sharpens evenly and easily
  • Specially formulated extra-firm Japanese graphite that writes smoothly
  • Replacement erasers available separately
  • Sold as a a single pencil or a box of 12

Blackwing pencils are a renowned product in the pencil world, with a rich history that stretches back nearly a century. They were first introduced in the 1930s, became unavailable in the 1990s and early 2000s, and then made a comeback in 2010. Originally produced by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Blackwing earned a reputation for being the smoothest and darkest pencils available. Their unique square, replaceable erasers also became a coveted feature.

However, in the 1990s, as office-supply companies struggled, Blackwing was discontinued. Despite that, demand for the pencils never faded. Over time, the price of remaining Blackwing pencils surged, with artists paying up to $40 per pencil for the old stock. Professional animators, in particular, had a strong attachment to Blackwing, seeing it as a vital tool for their work.

The revival of Blackwing came thanks to CalCedar, a leading American supplier of pencil wood based on the West Coast. Known for providing incense cedar wood to pencil manufacturers, CalCedar had already found success with their Palomino pencil brand. They acquired the rights to Blackwing's name and design, then set out to recreate the beloved pencil.

Today's Blackwing pencils rank among the best worldwide. Made in Japan with a proprietary graphite formula and an American incense cedar body, they are both luxurious and dependable. Artists and writers everywhere can relax knowing that Blackwing has been back since 2010 and will be around for the long term.

Additionally, Blackwing releases four limited edition pencils annually, called Volumes. These special editions are made in small batches, and once they're gone, they're gone. Each edition features a unique design and model number, celebrating cultural icons and events.