2c Black, Vertical Half Used as 1c (73d var). Three vertical halves, two bisects still intact as a pair at right, lefthand bisect is affixed to create the appearance of a whole stamp at left, cancelled across the cuts by neat open cross and tied by "Loch Sheldrake N.Y. Jun. 8" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Port Jervis N.Y., letter enclosure dated June 7, 1869, opened roughly at right but not affecting stamps, lefthand bisect with faint crease

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE "TRIPLE BISECT" USE OF BLACK JACK STAMPS ON COVER TO PAY THE 3-CENT RATE.

This is a most unusual cover, with three vertical bisects used together, and one bisect carefully positioned to create the appearance of a whole stamp -- the slight misalignment of the framelines shows that they are not halves of the same stamp. This configuration was not noted when we offered this cover in the 1969 sale of the Katharine Matthies collection, but the accompanying certificate confirms the arrangement of three vertical bisects. We are not aware of another "triple bisect" with the Black Jack or any other classic U.S. stamp.

Ex Matthies, Dr. Rorke and Faust. With 1972 P.F. certificate as the old Scott 73b

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