General’s Layout Extra Black 555

An extra smooth, black, thick graphite pencil used to create preliminary sketches, to “layout” drawing before painting over, or add intense blacks and shading in graphite drawings. Also good for writing if you like a very dark and soft line.  Equivalent to an Ebony Pencil.

The General Pencil Company has been in operation since 1889 and has remained family owned and operated across six generations.  Currently it is one of the last pencil factories in the USA, operating in New Jersey. You can see inside the General Pencil factory here.

Made in the USA.