Blackwing Volume 223 – Single

“All you can write is what you see.”

On February 23, 1940, Woody Guthrie scribbled these words at the bottom of a lyric. Above them was a song he had just written about the inequality he witnessed in his travels across the United States. This Land Is Your Land would go on to become one of the most poignant and iconic folk songs in history.

The Blackwing 223 is a tribute to Woody Guthrie and his immutable optimism. Each pencil features a design inspired by This Land’s “ribbon of highway,” “endless skyway” and “golden valley.” The matte black ferrule and earth-toned eraser are a nod to the many miles Woody travelled.

Graphite: Balanced.  Released March 2021.

Click here to learn about the Blackwing brand and the differences between each variety.

In 2015 Blackwing introduced the Volumes series, a limited edition pencil released each quarter celebrating the people, places and events that have defined our creative culture. Blackwing have paid tribute to everything from John Steinbeck’s writing ritual to Ada Lovelace’s contribution to computer science. A summary of Blackwing Volumes are presented here.

Note that Blackwing pencils are longer than most pencils, at around 20cm.  Blackwing is an American brand under Palomino.  The pencils are made with Japanese graphite and Californian cedar.