Matte Black pencils are THE original Blackwing pencils. Ideal for illustrators and musicians who prefer a soft, dark line, the Blackwing was launched by California Republic Stationers in October 2010 as a modern version of the iconic Eberhard-Faber Blackwing pencil that was favoured by artists such as Stephen Sondheim and Frank Lloyd Wright. Made in Japan with FSC-certified cedarwood, it is amazingly smooth and beautiful. Blackwing IS the worlds best pencil. The Blackwing Matte pencil is recommended for drawing, sketching and shading. If you want a writing pencil, check out the Blackwing 602 pencil.