Got Any Black Jacks?

I Brake For Stamps - your Black Jack has a very nice Short Transfer at bottom. Not real common. Congratulations!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/38102443779....m1560.l2649


Here is my contribution to this interesting thread. Earlier someone (Randy?) posted comments about how this stamp was bisected, and here is a fine example. It also reminded me that it was nearly 50 years ago that I too fell in love with this stamp and formed a specialized collection of them. And I paid exactly $300. for my bisect cover and could only afford it in 1968 because the dealer (Jack Molesworth of Boston) was kind enough to allow me to pay him in monthly installments (6 months at $50. per month if I remember correctly!). And even though I only collected them for a few years, I was able to form a gold medal-winning exhibit before selling it in 1971 in order to have a down payment on our first house! I have always held a special place in my heart for Black Jacks since it was the first (of many) specialized collections I formed over the last half a century and to this day it remains my favorite stamp!

New here! My first post. Here are my two Black Jacks...

Welcome Phreakanature. It looks as if the right stamp has a grill but image is a bit small to be sure. Can you upload a larger photo of the back of it? If it does have a grill we might be able to help you identify it. If you are unsure what a grill is, it looks similar to a tiny embossed waffle like pattern.

Thanks for the welcome and the reply. Yes the stamp on the right definitely has a grill on it. The one on the left is in pretty rough shape, but still sits cozy in my album. Here are slightly larger images, including one of the back(s).

I'm pretty sure the stamp on the right has a 14x15-16 point E-grill, which would make it a #87.

While I'm at it I may as well offer up a couple of #73s I picked up along the way, just to have a smattering of the stamps ahead of the Banknotes.

Thanks Phreakanature for posting better images. I believe essayk has made an accurate id of the grill.

Dug up this old thread for the numerous examples of the Blackjack. Have this one that seems to be the result of a dry plate. Posting images of what I think could be voted one of the worst examples around.

I have a couple black Jacks. Not sure if right stamp is unused badly weathered, looks like was sitting in a swamp. Should there be a grill on these stamps?

Postalattic

Can only imagine what that stamp has been through. Looks like it may have been removed from cover with a grinding wheel. The image I posted appears to show the ink has flecked off the stamp. Perhaps the ink was defective in some way? Again, can only imagine. I think the condition of it suggests there may not have been enough ink on the plate when printed.