Blackwing Volume XIX Pencil (Set of 12) [2024 Edition]

The second edition of Volume XIX, the 19th Amendment / Voting Rights pencil. This edition of the pencil features our extra-firm graphite and includes the graphite grade stamped on its barrel. 

The Story

On August 18th, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment. After nearly a century of lobbying, marching, and protesting, it was finally illegal to deny anyone the right to vote on the basis of sex. This was a massive step forward for equal voting rights in the US, but it was not without its flaws.

Some members of the suffrage movement had sought to exclude Black women from the protection of the Amendment. And even after the 19th Amendment passed, the voting rights of Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latinx Americans continued to be repressed, often violently. Although the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate these practices, gerrymandering and other voter suppression techniques continue to threaten all Americans’ right to the elective franchise.

The Blackwing XIX is our tribute to the 19th Amendment and the ongoing fight for voting rights in the United States and around the world. Each pencil features a purple barrel and three-sided white and golden-yellow imprint inspired by the suffrage flag, striped silver ferrule, and purple eraser. The 36 yellow stars represent the 36 states that ratified the amendment. 

This second edition of the pencil features our extra-firm graphite and includes the graphite grade stamped on its barrel. It's (even more) perfect for writing a letter to your Representatives or making your voting plan. A portion of the proceeds will go to the League of Women’s Voters and their ongoing mission to protect and expand voting rights in America.

About the brand

The Blackwing pencil has a rich history dating back to 1934. In 2008, Palamino acquired the brand and began production of the Blackwing range as we know it today.

Blackwing pencils are famously known for their quality of graphite and the unique softness and smoothness of their lead. The Blackwing pencil has an instantly recognisable semi hexagonal body and interchangeable eraser. The original 602 pencil single handedly inspired the works of some of history's greatest throughout the years. It is said that Disney animator Shamus Culhane asked to be buried with his Blackwing 602.