Questions On 2c Jackson #73

This is now my oldest stamp and I have a couple questions.
1) there is white space in the black area around the upper right numeral 2; is this a defect, is it normal/common?
2) someone wrote a date(?) on the back in pencil; does this "damage" the stamp?
I've seen pencil marks on backs of stamps before; makes me cringe, but maybe it's no big deal to most collectors.
Thanks for your help.
P.S. I tried to upload a picture of the front and back but got an error. Any help on uploading files would be appreciated

Without a picture it would be hard to tell what the white spots are.

The most common problems with picture is
1. Format must be .jpg
2. File name cannot contain spaces or special characters.
3. File size must not exceed 90KB. ( there is a picture optimized tha will resize your picture)
There is a link on the left side fro "Tutorials" and "Uploading Photos"

Thanks, Russ.
Hopefully this pic will work:

very nice stamp..
the writing on the back shouldn't hurt the stamp. as long as it is pencil and not ink.
The marks above the numeral 2, look under magnification, does it look like it has been scraped away?
If not it might be a plate flaw.

The white spots are simply an inking/polishing anomily which were common in the flat plate printing process.

Thanks for replying, folks. I don't know how to tell scraping, but the paper seems fine under 100x mag. I think Russ has it pegged. Should I try to erase the pencil marks or just leave them?

Erasing risks damaging the stamp. I'd leave them alone.

Stampvirgin, it is nice to hear that you like this stamp. I was nervous buying it. It wasn't very much at all, but I still felt a bit on edge. I'm very happy with the purchase.

tomiseksj, ok, I won't take an eraser to the pencil markings. Thanks.

The pencil marks are very common on these older issues and you shouldn't be too concerned about it enough to erase them. IF you do decide to try then consider the use of a "clickie" type pencil. The kind you have to "click" the top to advance the graphite/lead out to write with- (It's an automatic type pencil) and the reason for this is primarily that they usually come with a very soft white eraser on top. Only go one way and don't press! Do it only VERY LIGHTLY. Do NOT go back & forth or you will most likely wrinkle the stamp, as well as rub a possible thin onto the back. If I were you I would just leave well enough alone.
On another note: That's a nice looking #73 Straight edge and all.