Got Any Black Jacks?

It certainly is on my list and I did enjoy seeing the block of nine black jacks. Here is an interesting story on the Black Jack.

The most famous bisected Black Jack stamps are known as "stage cents" bi-sects, and occurred after the Civil War when Southerners would cut 2-Cent stamps vertically in half between the "O" and "S" of the word "POSTAGE" at the top of the stamp. The result was that the wording that was left on the right-hand portion of the stamp would say "STAGE CENTS" – subtly referring to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by the actor John Wilkes Booth. If anyone had any questions, the creator of the bi-sect would simply tell him that he was only intending to use the left-half portion of the stamp, which read "U.S.PO TWO"; and footnoted it saying that he was truly sympathetic towards the causes of the poor and The Union.

Maddux Brothers, Dealers in Manufactured and Leaf Tobacco, and Cigars. 27 West Pearl Street, Cinncinnati.

Great cover Tom

Dianne

That did it! This stamp is now on my want list, used of course.

Here is one of mine.

Only got one...
I like it so much, I made it my avatar.
It has an inverted star cancel.

Here is a pair of Black Jacks on a July, 1864 cover from Louisville, Kentucky to Illinois.
They make for a bold cover. Note how all the "s" letters in the address are written with the old style "f".

This Black Jack cover has the seal of Massachusetts with the state motto
"Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem,"
"By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty."

Great covers Tom I will have to find me some of these I do have the stamp but no covers and congratulations on the red jack mate well done regards Harry

Thanks Harry!



This Black Jack cover from Bristol, Rhode Island to Liverpool, England is a little ragged.
It is addressed to Caleb Grimshaw & Company, which was a successful firm engaged
in the emigrant and freight business between Liverpool and New York during the mid 1800s.



The pair of Black Jacks make an interesting combo with the pair of green Washingtons.



The back of the cover has an Liverpool receiving mark dated April 16, 1865 (which happens
to be the day after President Lincoln was assassinated).

Very nice covers!

Wow t360! That is a most interesting stamp! I would love to look into getting some confederate stamps.

Score!



The centering isn't great, but I still love him!

Nice cancellation on that one Stefani

Harry

Oh P.S.Stefani the majority I seen haven't been centered and yours still has that fresh look about it.


Edited for the P.S.

I agree, Stefani. Many of these seem to not be well centered and yours has a very good appearance!