I first heard about the legendary Blackwing pencil a few months ago.  I noticed a stupendous Blackwing gift box being sold on the Levenger website; I regularly came upon websites and postings and blogs that indicated a cult-like following of this soft-leaded wonder.  For instance, witness this site, which quotes John Steinbeck and notes that after the pencil was discontinued in 1998, individual Blackwings began selling for $40.00 on eBay.  Wow.  Now, I found this posting on the New Yorker's website about how Blackwings fit into the history of that magazine.  Very interesting, and very cool.