Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — Specialized 2c Black Jack Collection: Stamps
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1567°
2c Black (73). Original gum, outstanding centering with uncharacteristically wide margins, intense shade on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM 1863 2-CENT "BLACK JACK", GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. and it is shared by no others. By way of comparison, 95 is also the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report (six)
350
3,000
1568
2c Black (73, 93). Two stamps, No. 73, unused (no gum), choice centering and margins, tiny corner perf tip crease at bottom left, appears Extremely Fine, No. 93 with segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $110.00)
205
160
Back to Top1569
2c Black (73). Bright shade and detailed impression, beautiful centering with balanced margins, unusual cork cancel, retaining most of its original gum, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin and Morton, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $750.00), only five grade higher
55
800
Back to Top1570
2c Black (73). Choice centering with Jumbo margins, neat strike of 1866 Pa. double-circle datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke and Morton, with 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $425.00)
55
600
Back to Top1571
2c Black Jack, Imprints. 13 items from both the ungrilled and grilled issues, each bearing a portion of the National Bank Note Co. imprint, including both in selvage and captured due to radical misalignment of the perfs, one unused vertical pair and the others used (including a horizontal pair), few small faults, attractive and visually striking group
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E. 750-1,000
700
Back to Top1572
2c Black Jack, Varieties. Approximately 120 items, mostly used singles but also some multiples and covers, each showing a variety, consisting mostly of pre-printing paper folds, perforation freaks and interpane margins (most of those showing a portions of the centerline), mixed condition with flaws to be found but overall an interesting and unusual accumulation, Scott value as all normal No. 73 in excess of $6,500.00
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E. 2,000-3,000
1,500
Back to Top1573
2c Black Jack, Shifts and Double Transfers. Approximately 100 items, mostly used singles but we note several unused stamps and a few covers, most identified by the collector or prior collectors (including Fosdyke-Ray) as demonstrating varying degrees of shifts or double transfers, condition is quite mixed with faults to be expected and we cannot guarantee the shift identifications are correct, nevertheless a fascinating group which offers many hours of study, Scott value as all normal No. 73 stamps more than $5,000.00
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E. 1,000-1,500
2,400
Back to Top1574
2c Black Jack, Fosdyke-Ray Collection Balance. Single binder of neatly mounted stamps and covers, one of the balances of the Barbara Fosdyke-Ray Black Jack collection, begins with large engraving of Jackson and the Hermitage as a frontispiece, as well as a couple of plate proofs and a few unused copies, continues with stamps and covers showing uses, colored cancels, varieties including position dots, shifts and double transfers, perforation varieties, illegal use of a 2c Express Revenue stamp on a Black Jack cover as well as illegal uses of Black Jack stamps as revenues (including three checks), mourning covers, concludes with a broad cancel study, mixed condition with some flaws to be found, overall a Fine and attractively presented collection balance
E. 1,500-2,000
1,800
Back to Top1575
2c Black (73). Intense shade, cancelled by negative "Lincoln" and Stars in Circle fancy cancel of Albany N.Y. (Skinner-Eno LC-NP 15), couple short perfs, Very Fine strike of this fancy cancel, the New York State Comptroller in 1866 was Thomas Hillhouse and the Albany postmaster in 1866 was George Dawson, both were ardent pro-Union Republicans
E. 200-300
225
Back to Top1576
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Wide natural straight edge at right nicely shows bold strike of Eagle and Shield fancy cancel of Corry Pa., reperfed at left, Very Fine strike and desirable on the 2c Black Jack
E. 200-300
275
Back to Top1577
2c Black (73). Centered to left, bold strike of Blue Bird fancy cancel of Rockford Ill. (Skinner-Eno PA-B 18), single unpunched perf at right, Very Fine strike which is nearly always found on the 3c, very desirable on the 2c Black Jack, this is the only example listed in Power Search
E. 300-400
400
Back to Top1578
2c Black (73). Choice centering, neat quartered cork cancel, also with magenta "Exd TLM POW" at center, small thins, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare Black Jack with a manuscript examiner's marking, this was on a cover mailed by flag-of-truce during the Civil War, ex Morton, with 2018 P.F. certificate
E. 200-300
180
Back to Top1579
2c Black (73). Centered to top right, couple small faults, bold strike of Japanese Chop cancel, Very Fine strike and rare on the 2c Black Jack (see Sale 1181, lot 1630, for this cancel on cover)
E. 300-400
400
Back to Top1580
2c Black (73). Bright shade, small manuscript "X" and British "904" in barred oval cancels, fresh and Fine, scarce with the British cancel, ex Saadi, with 2014 P.F. certificate
E. 150-200
150
Back to Top1581
2c Black Jack, Fancy Cancels. 13 stamps culled from a group of hundreds of better cancels, these represent the truly "fancy" cancels of that accumulation, including three different Bees/Insects (one in blue), Masonic, Clover Leaf, Flower Petal, French Anchor in a Diamond of Dots, Shields, also a few stars that are more elaborate than the usual, few small faults to be expected and centering was not the goal, overall Very Fine strikes, see website PDF for a complete scan
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E. 1,000-1,500
1,500
Back to Top1582
2c Black Jack, Star Cancels. Approximately 90 stamps, each with a Star fancy cancel, including about a dozen examples in red or blue, wonderful variety with every imaginable type, including star within star, negative, outline, extra geometric elements, circles, etc., typical faults to be expected as these were collected for the cancels rather than centering or condition, overall a fantastic group of Black Jack Star cancels, Scott value as all No. 73 more than $5,000.00 without regard to the Star cancels
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E. 3,000-4,000
2,100
Back to Top1583
2c Black Jack, Green and Magenta Cancels. Seven stamps, three cancelled in green including one with a fancy geometric, three cancelled in magenta including a pair, final stamp has a bold magenta cancel that is not genuine and not counted in our estimate, small faults including one with clipped perfs, Fine appearance, green cancels carry a $600.00 premium in Scott
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E. 500-750
850
Back to Top1584
2c Black (73). Block of four, attractive centering and margins, unusual small circular cork cancels, Fine-Very Fine, a lovely used block and much scarcer than an unused block despite the similar Scott value
2,000
1,000
Back to Top1585
2c Black (73). Block of four, well-centered, bold circle of wedges cancels, bottom right stamp either an additional cancel or a small stain in corner, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive used block, much scarcer than an unused block despite the similar Scott value
2,000
450
Back to Top1586
2c Black (73). Block of four, bold geometric cancel, Fine and scarce used block, which is more attractively cancelled than nearly any other listed in Power Search
2,000
375
Back to Top1587
2c Black (73). Block of twelve, bright shade, manuscript "Stamped in my presence 9th July 1866 J.G. McKessan, C.C. Pago" revenue cancel, few faults including center horizontal row crease and some perf flaws, Very Fine appearance, reputed to be the largest used multiple of the 2c Black Jack, Scott 73, ex Curtis, Scott value as used blocks and pairs
4,240
600
Back to Top1588
2c Black Jack, Multiples. More than 30 used multiples, largely pairs but also strips of three and two blocks of four, mostly No. 73 with a few grilled multiples noted including one of the blocks, handstamp cancels except one block pen-cancelled, very mixed condition with flaws to be expected, some appear Fine, Scott value more than $6,000.00
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E. 500-750
500
Back to Top1589
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Intense shade, centered to bottom right, cork cancel, tiny perf thin at bottom and small narrow crack in grill, otherwise Fine example of this scarce stamp, with 1975 P.F. certificate, Scott value $5,000.00
E. 500-750
550
Back to Top1590
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unusual grid in circle cancel, margins to touched, Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1,100
425
Back to Top1591
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Attractive margins, 5-Point Star fancy cancel, small tear at bottom, Fine appearance
1,100
400
Back to Top1592
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Neat strike of Geometric fancy cancel, intense shade, small corner thin spot at bottom left, appears Fine
1,100
180
Back to Top1593
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Balance of eight stamps, each with a different handstamp cancel including a couple quite attractive, all with perfs touching to in on at least one side, small faults, overall Very Good-Fine appearing group with more than adequate space-fillers
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8,800
1,300
Back to Top1594
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Unused horizontal strip of four (no gum) with "ENGRAVED BY THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY CITY OF NEW YORK" imprint and "No. 29 Plate." plate number at bottom, right stamp has major double transfer of top left corner, including numeral "2", circle around it, acanthus leaf below the circle and the scroll above it, and in the letters "US", well-centered for this issueVERY FINE AND AN OUTSTANDING 2-CENT E GRILL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLE WITH MAJOR DOUBLE TRANSFER. NO PLATE BLOCKS OF THIS ISSUE ARE KNOWN.
The Chapin census records more than 30 plate number multiples for Scott 73, 87 and 93. However, only seven come from Plate 29, and of those, only four are plate blocks. More significantly, only three plate number multiples of the E Grill (Scott 87) are recorded, and none are blocks. This strip includes the major double transfer position, which is present on the imprint positions of only one side of Plate 29.
Chapin census no. 281. Ex "Country Gentleman," (Siegel Sale 422, lot 221), Metzger, Chapin and Gross (Siegel Sale 1200, lot 78). With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value as unused imprint and plate no. strip $9,750.00
E. 3,000-4,000
4,500
Back to Top1595
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Block of 24, original gum, many stamps lightly hinged, left column slightly short gum and pencil notation on gum, each stamp shows a clear grill, much better centering than normally encountered on large multiples of this issue, perf separations sensibly reinforced including largely rejoined between second and third columns, some short perfs at leftFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL.
The 2c F Grill is known in large multiples. However, most examples we have encountered larger than a block of four have poor centering, with cut-in stamps the norm. This block had an additional two rows at bottom when it was sold in the 1956 Caspary auction.
Ex Caspary and Faust. Scott value as six blocks of four
16,500
3,250
Back to Top1596
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Horizontal strip of five, natural straight edge at right, choice centering, circle of wedges cancels, Very Fine-Extremely Fine and scarce multiple, Scott value as two pairs and a single
295
600
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