I love the darkness of the lead. My manuscripts photocopy very well without adjusting the darkness on the photocipier. They do require more frequent sharpening but are worth the extra effort and cost.

These are really among the best pencils I've ever used. They are a pleasure to hold, to sharpen, to write with, and are, for all that they are humble pencils, as pleasing to the eye as to the hand. The lack of an eraser or even a ferrule is among their merits, in keeping with de Saint-Exupery's principle of perfection.

These pencils are well made, attractive, and perform well above their price point. It’s easy to see why they’ve endured for so many years.