A Fake Blackjack Or Something Else?

Hi again. I am almost afraid to ask now after my 'big boat' post :) But before I go to bed I will post this and would like some opinions on what I have here. The paper is white, thin and the impression is clear..but there is no star on his cheek- nice as that would be.. I will show the stamp on its own and then in the middle of some others. All opinions welcome. Thank you all, I would be lost without you.

Looks trimmed and reperfed to me.

Hi. This may sound like a beginners question but why would somebody trim and reperf a stamp, or this stamp in particular? And I do understand that the design rules out a 103, and yet the paper seems harder and whiter than the normal 73. Thanks
Here a picture with back lighting and a closer look at the back of the stamp- no grill.

I think you answered your own question. Add perforations to proofs, and try to fool someone into thinking it is a special printing or reissue. I have an example or two of this "fake" maneuver to n my collection. I will try to dig up this week and share

My guess: all genuine, no re-perforations, the imperforate/clipped sides may have occurred when the stamps were first used or by careless collectors - in either case, serious damage. Typical unexceptional condition with faults.

I agree with rgstamp; in the past I have encountered a few proofs (which have whiter paper) that have had perforations added and then been scissor cut to simulate rare special printings. Believe me, these are out there in the marketplace.

Since the subject example is used and the cancel looks washed out, perhaps someone started with a non-proof and bleached the paper (instead of using a proof).

Just from the feel of it I might agree with a reperfed proof. But I have never held a proof so I have no basis for saying t But if making a fake then why nohat, only that is feels and looks to different from the normal 73 paper.t add the extra lines to the cheek to make that 'star'?

sorry that got a bit confused with my fingers. Never held a proof, why not draw in the star on cheek?

I don't know for proofs or reperfed, but your blackjack at the top of the image with the five stamps, with Andrew peeking through the bullseye cancel, is beautifully centred. That's the one you should be focusing on.

Decrynne - I've seen a older post about the star on the cheek on #73 and always wondered how that might affect its value as it's not listed in Scotts specialized.

Hi Caper. As far as I know the star on the cheek is the defining factor on the 103. no star, no reprint. At least that is how I understand it. And yes James, the target cancel stamp is a beauty, but I already know what that is :)