Blackwing Palomino “Volumes” John Steinbeck Limited Edition 24. Appearance: The packaging on this John Steinbeck Edition is very simple and elegant. Basically the same as the regular 602’s, but with the simple edition of a slip of onionskin detailing the concept behind this limited edition. Lead: I find the lead on these is lighter and harder than on the regular Blackwing Palomino Pencils I have (Blackwing Pearl White 602), which I find to be very soft and closer to charcoal. So much so that I think they are not so useful as a pencil, but more suited to drawing instead, with their shading and smudging capacities. I much prefer the firmer graphite of this John Steinbeck edition to the regular edition. The pencil’s themselves, unsharpened… The onionskin/ tracing paper/ baking paper detailing the concept behind the John Steinbeck Edition… Verdict: Simple, modern and classic. The best a pencil can be in 2016. IMO