Compiled from 5 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
General's "The Original" Charcoal Drawing Kit No. 15 is a 13-piece charcoal set from General Pencil Company of New Jersey. It holds five 557 charcoal pencils (HB, 2B, 4B and two 6B), a Charcoal White pencil, three charcoal sticks, a white stick, a carbon sketch pencil, a kneaded eraser and a sharpener. Amazon says it is made in the USA.
On this page10 sections
The 13 pieces of the kit, drawn in proportion.
Product facts
Product
General's "The Original" Charcoal Drawing Kit No. 15
Charcoal and carbon pencils in wood, compressed charcoal sticks, kneaded eraser, sharpener (General's contents list)
Price range
$$$$20–75 per item
Rate it
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate this product.
Notes on these facts
Made by General Pencil Company (New Jersey). Made in United States: Amazon US's listing says "Made in USA" and "This product is manufactured in united states" (read October 23, 2026). General's own site was behind a bot check when we tried to read it; PencilTalk describes General's New Jersey factory. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
The kit has 13 pieces: 6 charcoal pencils, 4 sticks, a carbon sketch pencil, a kneaded eraser and a sharpener.
The five black 557 pencils come in HB, 2B, 4B and two 6B, per a retailer's copy of General's contents list.
General's says its Charcoal White can be worked over black charcoal, used on colored paper, washed with water, fixed or erased.
General Pencil Company was founded in 1889 and makes pencils in its own New Jersey factory, built in 1924.
On October 23, 2026, Amazon's listing showed 4.7 stars from 828 ratings and a 21st-place rank in Drawing Charcoals.
What is General’s Charcoal Drawing Kit No. 15?
It’s a 13-piece starter set of charcoal pencils, sticks and accessories from General Pencil Company, the New Jersey pencil maker, which calls it “The Original” Charcoal Drawing Kit.
General’s says its charcoal pencils, made to its original formula, give rich, black lines for drawing and sketching. The kit adds white charcoal for highlights, sticks for broad areas, and an eraser and sharpener.
What’s in the kit?
Seven pencils, four sticks, a kneaded eraser and a sharpener. This is General’s contents list, as a retailer reproduces it:
Piece
Code
Count
Charcoal pencil, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B
557
5 (two 6B)
Charcoal White pencil
558
1
Carbon sketch pencil
595
1
Charcoal stick
957
2
Compressed Charcoal White stick
958
1
Wide compressed charcoal stick
960
1
Kneaded eraser
139E
1
All-Art sharpener
S-650
1
Another retailer’s listing gives slightly different pencil grades, so check the box if you need a particular one. Amazon lists the package at 9.3 × 3.8 × 0.5 in (236 × 97 × 13 mm).
Five grades of black, two whites, one carbon pencil.
How do you use charcoal pencils and sticks?
Block in large areas with the sticks, refine with the pencils, and lift highlights with the kneaded eraser or add them with white charcoal. In general, the softer 6B gives the darkest, smudgiest line and HB holds a finer point.
General’s says its Charcoal White can be worked directly over black charcoal to lighten it, used on colored paper, washed with water and a brush, fixed or erased cleanly. White charcoal shows best on toned paper such as the Strathmore 400 Toned Tan pad or the Canson Mi-Teintes pastel pad.
How does charcoal compare with graphite?
In general, charcoal is blacker and matte but smudges and breaks more easily; graphite is shinier and cleaner to handle. Many artists combine the two: graphite for linework, charcoal for deep darks.
Can you buy General’s charcoal pencils separately?
Yes. General’s sells its 557 charcoal pencils by the box of 12 in single grades, and its white charcoal pencils in packs of 12. That’s the cheaper route once you know which grades you use.
On October 23, 2026, Amazon’s box of twelve 557 pencils in 6B showed 4.5 stars from 168 ratings and 100+ bought in the past month. Amazon also lists a 557 bundle in 2B, 4B and 6B, and a 12-pack of General’s white charcoal pencils with 314 ratings.
General’s also sells larger charcoal sets, such as its five-piece charcoal pencil kit. In our Amazon US search, the No. 15 kit had the most ratings of any General’s charcoal listing.
How much does the kit cost?
It sits at the bottom of our $$$ band ($20–75), counted as one item. Open-stock General’s charcoal pencils are cheaper one by one if you only need a few.
On October 23, 2026, Amazon’s kit listing showed 4.7 stars from 828 ratings, 100+ bought in the past month and a 21st-place rank in Drawing Charcoals.
Where is General’s charcoal made?
In the United States: Amazon’s listing says the kit is made in the USA. General Pencil Company was founded in 1889, and PencilTalk describes its New Jersey factory, built around its machinery in 1924.
Frequently asked questions
What is in General's Charcoal Drawing Kit No. 15?
Thirteen pieces: five 557 charcoal pencils (HB, 2B, 4B and two 6B), one Charcoal White 558 pencil, two 957 charcoal sticks, a Compressed Charcoal White 958 stick, a wide 960 compressed stick, a 595 carbon sketch pencil, a 139E kneaded eraser and an S-650 sharpener.
Is General's charcoal kit good for beginners?
Yes. It covers pencils, sticks, white highlights and an eraser in one inexpensive box, enough to try every way of working with charcoal.
What paper should I use with charcoal?
Paper with some tooth that holds the powder, such as a toned sketch pad or a pastel pad. Toned paper lets the white charcoal show.
How do you sharpen charcoal pencils?
Gently, with a sharp blade or the kit's sharpener; charcoal cores break more easily than graphite. Many artists sharpen with a craft knife and shape the point on sandpaper.
Does charcoal need fixative?
Charcoal smudges until it's fixed or framed under glass. General's says its Charcoal White can be fixed like black charcoal.
Is General's charcoal made in the USA?
Yes. Amazon's listing for the kit says made in USA, and General Pencil Company makes its pencils in New Jersey.
What's the difference between charcoal and carbon pencils?
They're different formulas with a different feel on paper. The kit includes one 595 carbon sketch pencil, so you can compare the two yourself.
