HOUSE OF GRAPHITE

The Black Polymer 999α (999 alpha) was the top-of-the-line version of Pentel's Black Polymer 999, a premium Japanese wood-cased pencil introduced in the late 1980s and produced until around 2000. Its lead is a polymer-bound carbon-graphite formulation rather than the usual clay-graphite, marketed by Pentel as "supreme quality for drawing lines of high density"; it lays down an exceptionally dark, smooth line and sharpens to a fine, durable, non-eroding point. Distinguished from the standard 999 by its glossy black lacquer finish with silver lettering, it was sold for drawing and drafting in degrees from 4B to 4H and is now discontinued and highly sought after by collectors. This specimen: Black Polymer 999α in grade 3H.

2B 2H 3B 4B 4H B F H HB