The Eras series has been particularly important to Blackwing from the start. Its mission was to honor the brand's pencil heritage, particularly the distinctive design that makes Blackwing pencils instantly recognizable.

The Van Dyke 601 pencil, designed by Eberhard Faber in the 1920s, is sometimes called the grandfather of the Blackwing 602 – primarily due to its hexagonal barrel and retractable eraser housed in a flattened metal ferrule. This innovation was completely new at the time, and even spawned a series of Van Dyke 601 advertisements, intended to teach users how to properly use the eraser over long periods of time.

This year's ERAS edition pays homage to the Van Dyke 601 pencil in its design. The hard graphite, sunny yellow barrel, and dark gray cap with a gold stripe give the Blackwing Eras 2023 a unique retro feel. The side of the barrel features the silver-embossed inscription "Pull out clamp to lengthen eraser" and a small double-flying arrow.

Identical embossing could be found on the barrels of Van Dyke 601 pencils. Eras 2023 and Van Dyke 601 – these two pencils are separated by 100 years, during which the world has developed at a pace that even the most courageous science fiction creators could not have predicted.

However, no matter how modern current creative methods are, almost every first step, every first word, sketch, or drawing is created with a pencil. And Blackwing Eras 2023 reminds us of this.