Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Stamps and Multiples
2c Black, Imperforate (73 var). Large margins including part imprint margin at right, large manuscript "X" across face
EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN IMPERFORATE 2-CENT BLACK JACK STAMPS.
The 1861 Imperforates with manuscript "X" cancels are generally considered to be presentation copies. All are rare, and there are fewer than five known of the 2c Black Jack. This part imprint copy is the finest known example of the 2c.
Ex Metzger, Faust and Gorham. With 1973, 1988 and 2018 P.F. certificates
2c Black, Laid Paper (73g). Showing clear vertical laid lines, centered to bottom with perfs in, light strike of just the rim of a circular datestamp, reperfed at top
FINE APPEARANCE. THE 2-CENT ON LAID PAPER IS ONE OF THE RAREST BLACK JACK VARIETIES. ONLY six COPIES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
The 2c Black Jack on laid paper is one of the rarest production varieties (as opposed to a plate variety). The other rare Scott-listed variety is printed on both sides. Our census of the laid paper Black Jack stamps, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/73g, records just six used copies and no unused.
Census no. 73g-CAN-05. Ex Faust.
2c Black, Atherton Shift, Major Double Transfer of Top Left Corner and "Postage" (73 var). Clearly showing the dramatic double transfer at top, bottom margin clipped into design and replaced with portion of different stamp, used with 1c Blue (63), tied by target cancels with "Raymond O. Nov. 26" circular datestamp on cover to Woodstock Vt.
FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE ATHERTON SHIFT -- THE MOST PRONOUNCED DOUBLE TRANSFER OF THE BLACK JACK ISSUE.
According to the Allen book, the Atherton shift got its name from Stanley B. Ashbrook, who first discovered it in the summer of 1923 in the collection of H. P. Atherton. Concerning this double transfer, Mr. Ashbrook wrote: "Here we have one of the most remarkable double transfers on U. S. stamps that I have ever seen. I have for years classed the One Cent 1851, Type II, 89R2, as the No. 1 among remarkable examples of this variety and in my opinion this 2c Black Jack could well rank as No. 2. Perhaps some would even rank it equal to the 1c..." He stated further that it was his opinion, supported by other authorities whom he had consulted, that the variety must surely have come from an early or first condition of one of the plates, and that later it had been burnished out and a fresh entry made. The fact that every line in the Atherton Shift "is razor sharp" led him to conclude that the plate from which it came was very new.
Ex Russo, Col. McClellan, Dr. Rorke and Faust. With 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott value $12,000 for off-cover
2c Black, Preston Shift (73 var). Block of four with bottom selvage and left interpane margin, Positions 81-82/91-92R30, original gum, barely hinged, strong offset on gum perpendicular to the stamps, top left stamp Position 81R30 clearly shows doubling along the entire right side, especially in the numeral "2" and the acanthus leaf below and in "Cents"
FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS BLACK JACK PRESTON SHIFT. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN, AND THIS EXAMPLE IN A PLATED MULTIPLE IS THE FINEST AND MOST IMPORTANT.
Little has been written about the Preston Shift—a search of the Chronicle database turned up nothing. The best source is the Allen Black Jack book (p. 125), which states the "shift" was originally noted by Marvin Preston of Ferndale, Michigan. In a letter to J. David Baker, columnist for Stamps, Preston explained: "I was amazed, while perusing a dealer's stock in 1951, to discover this outstanding major double transfer."
In 1953 Stanley B. Ashbrook wrote "This is a double transfer of the 'Black Jack' which is very rare in my opinion. It is the only copy that I have ever been able to find and is evidently much scarcer variety than the well-known 'Atherton Shift.' I communicated with a number of the leading students of this stamp thru-out the country and none of them had ever seen a copy of this variety. The following were consulted: H. P. Atherton, Anthony Russo, the late Ignatz Reiner, W. H. Kiefaber and Maurice Cole, author of a book on the stamp. These as well as a number of prominent dealers. It does seem strange that none of the above had ever seen a duplicate of this stamp."
The Allen collection contained the discovery single, which was perforated on all sides and with perfs strongly cutting into the design at top. The ex-Faust cover offered in lot 6451 was also in the Allen collection but went unrecognized as the Preston Shift. None were offered in the Dr. Rorke sale. Richard Drews showed a used single with straight edge at left in a talk at the Collectors Club in 2010 (offered in this sale as lot 6450). Barbara Fosdyke-Ray owned a used single with perfs strongly cutting into the design at bottom and straight edge at left. The multiple offered here, with sheet margin and wide interpane margin, is the finest we have encountered and is especially desirable since it identifies the position of the Preston Shift on the plate.
From our 2014 and 2016 Rarities sales and ex Drews.
2c Black, Preston Shift (73 var). Position 81R30, showing doubling along the entire right side, especially in the numeral "2" and the acanthus leaf below and in "Cents", natural straight edge at left as usual, cork cancel, diagonal creases at bottom right, tiny tear at left
FINE appearance. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK WITH THE PRESTON SHIFT. VERY fEW ARE KNOWN.
Ex Drews.
2c Black, Preston Shift (73 var). Positions 81/91R30, vertical pair, the top stamp showing doubling along the entire right side, especially in the numeral "2" and the acanthus leaf below and in "Cents", natural straight edge at left as usual, tied by blue Checkerboard fancy cancel and "New-York City 25 Apr." duplex datestamp on cover to local address, 1867 receipt docketing at left, minor corner wear not mentioned on accompanying certificate
VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BLACK JACK "PRESTON SHIFT." VERY FEW ARE KNOWN IN ANY FORMAT AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT.
Little has been written about the Preston Shift—a search of the Chronicle database turned up nothing. The best source is the Allen Black Jack book (p. 125), which states the "shift" was originally noted by Marvin Preston of Ferndale, Michigan. In a letter to J. David Baker, columnist for Stamps, Preston explained: "I was amazed, while perusing a dealer's stock in 1951, to discover this outstanding major double transfer."
In 1953 Stanley B. Ashbrook wrote "This is a double transfer of the 'Black Jack' which is very rare in my opinion. It is the only copy that I have ever been able to find and is evidently much scarcer variety than the well-known 'Atherton Shift.' I communicated with a number of the leading students of this stamp thru-out the country and none of them had ever seen a copy of this variety. The following were consulted: H. P. Atherton, Anthony Russo, the late Ignatz Reiner, W. H. Kiefaber and Maurice Cole, author of a book on the stamp. These as well as a number of prominent dealers. It does seem strange that none of the above had ever seen a duplicate of this stamp."
The Allen collection contained the discovery single, which was perforated on all sides and with perfs strongly cutting into the design at top. The cover offered here was also in the Allen collection but went unrecognized as the Preston Shift. None were offered in the Dr. Rorke sale. Richard Drews showed a used single with straight edge at left in a talk at the Collectors Club in 2010 (offered in lot 6450). Barbara Fosdyke-Ray owned a used single with perfs strongly cutting into the design at bottom and straight edge at left, as well as this cover. The original-gum block of four containing the variety, from the Drews collection, is offered in lot 6449.
Ex Allen (illustrated on p. 87 of Lane book without attribution as the shift), Metzger, Fosdyke-Ray and Faust. With 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Bottom imprint and plate no. 29 strip of four, original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression and bright shade, second stamp from right light vertical crease (probably natural), few expertly reinforced perf separations not mentioned on accompanying certificate
FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 2-CENT UNGRILLED BLACK JACK SHOWING THE COMPLETE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER.
Fourteen full plate blocks of eight are recorded in the Chapin census, but very few have been offered on the market -- Power Search contains only three offered in our auctions since 1994 and all of our Rarities sales. Plate 29 is especially rare, as only three full plate blocks are recorded in the Chapin census, including one listed as stolen.
Ex "Sevenoaks" and Wingate. With 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). With bottom part imprint and plate no. 29 selvage, centered to bottom right, tied by "Washington D.C. Mar. 20" circular datestamp and quartered cork duplex on albino embossed corner card cover to local street address, Fine and scarce plate number example on cover, ex Mackey (Sale 441), Metzger and Faust
2c Black (73). With bottom part imprint and plate no. 31 selvage, centered to left and tied to small piece by Philadelphia duplex cancel, Fine and scarce, ex Metzger and Faust
2c Black (73). With bottom part imprint and plate no. 31 selvage, couple nibbed perfs at right, tied by waffle grid cancel on buff cover with albino embossed corner card for produce and commission merchant and addressed to Calais Vt., 1865 prices current enclosure, cover with some edgewear and soiling, Fine appearing and scarce plate number example on cover, ex Allen, Metzger and Faust
2c Black (73). With bottom part imprint and plate no. 50 selvage, choice centering with well-balanced margins, Circle of Diamonds fancy cancel, just a hint of soiling, still Very Fine, a premium plate number single, especially rare from the elusive Plate 50 — only a handful are known in any format, ex Metzger and Faust
2c Black (73). Block of eight with bottom part imprint and plate no. 51 selvage, unused (no gum), the "1" of "51" is directly aligned under the perfs, reinforced separations including much of the horizontal perfs between rows, appears Fine, a scarce plate no. 51 block
2c Black (73). Vertical pair with bottom part imprint and plate no. 51 selvage, original gum, perf faults in the selvage affect the "1" of "51" but it is still clearly visible, Fine and scarce example with plate no. 51
2c Black (73). Original gum, attractive centering and margins particularly on the bottom pair, left pair vertical crease, overall Fine-Very Fine, with 1999 A.P.S. certificate
2c Black (73). Pair with top full imprint selvage, original gum, h.r., light creases, pulled perf at bottom left and couple short perfs at right, appears Very Fine, a scarce imprint pair, Scott value $750 as normal pair
2c Black (73). Top and bottom selvage blocks of four, original gum, h.r., top block with vertical crease thru left pair and hinge adherence in selvage, overall Fine, Scott value $5,500
2c Black (73). Two corner selvage blocks, including bottom left corner selvage block of six, original gum, multiple h.r., about Fine, top right corner selvage block of four in a distinctly different shade, original gum, multiple h.r. including reinforcing horizontal perf separations, Very Good, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value $6,250
2c Black (73). Horizontal block of six, original gum, several h.r. reinforcing some perf separations, Very Good-Fine, Scott value $3,500
2c Black (73). Horizontal block of eight, original gum, multiple h.r. including some reinforcing perf separations but still intact and decent centering for such a Black Jack multiple, Fine with a couple stamps pushing Very Fine, Scott value $5,500
2c Black (73). Horizontal block of ten, original gum, h.r. slivers, good centering for such a Black Jack multiple, top right stamp short perf at right, overall Fine with a couple Very Fine, Scott value $6,250
2c Black (73). Block of 16, disturbed and redistributed original gum, bottom row almost completely separated and rejoined, otherwise Very Good, with 2017 P.F. certificate, Scott value $7,000
2c Black (73). Balance of three blocks, including right selvage block of six, block of four with part imprint top selvage and block of four with bottom selvage, first two original gum with heavy h.r. reinforcements, including for significant perf separations in the block of six, these two appear Very Good-Fine, bottom selvage block no gum but actually the best centered block of the three, Very Fine
2c Black (73). Original gum with dramatic offset on gum, capturing the full Jackson portrait, well-centered, Very Fine and displayable from either side
2c Black (73). Jumbo margins and choice centering, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo)
2c Black (73). Neat manuscript "2 July 63" cancel used on the second day of the Black Jack issue, Fine, ex Faust, with 1983 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Cancelled by perfect strike of Devil and Pitchfork fancy cancel of West Meriden Conn., tear at bottom, small corner crease at bottom right, a choice strike of this intricate fancy cancel, especially scarce on the Black Jack issue, ex Gorham, with 2010 P.F. certificate, a fascinating article on this subject by William Duffney appeared in the 2017 Congress Book
2c Black (73). Three wide margins with natural straight edge at right, bold strike of "Paid 22" in circle rate handstamp, small adherence at left of first "2" of "22", Extremely Fine strike and undoubtedly rare on the Black Jack, ex Faust and Gorham, with 2018 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Choice margins and centering, cancelled by blue Wells, Fargo & Co. oval datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Morton, with 2009 and 2014 P.F. certificates
2c Black (73). Extra wide and balanced margins but achieved through reperfing at right, clear strike of orange Masonic Square and Compass fancy cancel, Very Fine strike on an Extremely Fine appearing stamp, the Black Jack is very rare cancelled in orange, ex Metzger and Faust, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Cancelled by black four-ring target, red New York transit and blue foreign transit cancels, Fine and striking, rare with three different color cancels, ex Koppersmith and Saadi, with 1989 and 1991 P.F. certificates
2c Black (73). Neat strike of red Masonic Square & Compass fancy cancel (possibly Skinner-Eno FR-Mc4), fresh and Fine
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Unused (no gum), with right selvage, intense shade and clear grill, single pulled corner perf at bottom left
FINE appearing and scarce unused example of the 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 2021 P.S.E. certificate. The Scott Catalogue states the value for No. 84 is for a stamp in the grade of Fine
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Three wide margins, intense shade, neat four-ring target cancel (often found on the 2c D Grill), short perf at top, appears Fine, an attractive example and very difficult to find with acceptable centering, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Sharp impression, light quartered cork cancel, trivial corner crease and a couple short perfs, appears Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Corner strike of red cancel, reperfed at right and top not mentioned on old certificate, otherwise Fine, with clear 1958 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Wide interpane margin at right, clear grill, choice centering, unusual strike of Circle of Squares cancel, small thin spot at right, Extremely Fine appearance, a stamp with great visual appeal, ex Drews
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Horizontal strip of eight, unusually choice margins and centering for such a large multiple, perf separations reinforced with hinges, a few stamps with minor non-obvious faults, Fine-Very Fine, a rare used strip in this size, ex Ishikawa and Faust
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Strip of three with bottom part imprint and plate no. 30 selvage, original gum which is disturbed and with h.r. reinforcing perf separations in several places, couple perf faults as well, still a presentable and scarce strip with plate number
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Bottom imprint and plate no. 53 strip of four, unused (no gum), centered to left, h.r. rejoining the strip at middle, otherwise Fine and rare full imprint and plate number strip, the Chapin census records only one full plate number 53 block, ex Dr. Rorke and Faust
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Mint N.H. block of four with part imprint selvage at left, h.r. in selvage only, natural gum bends, clearly-defined grills, one or two minor perf separations at top, Fine, a scarce and attractive block, with 2008 P.F. certificate, Scott value $2,600 as hinged block without premium for the part imprint
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Vertical block of six with part imprint right selvage, disturbed original gum with the right three stamps showing only part original gum, left row vertical crease, right row few small toned spots, otherwise Fine, Scott value $3,550 as a block and a pair
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Mint N.H. block of ten with bottom right corner selvage showing part imprint and "Plate.", positions 5-7 and 10 with slightly short gumming, some creases and perf separations with significant separations between rows 3-4, appears Fine, an exceedingly rare Mint N.H. part imprint block of the 2c Black Jack F Grill, with 2007 P.F. certificate stating Mint N.H., Scott value $6,150 as hinged blocks and a pair
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Block of 15, original gum, crisp impression, natural short gum at left described on accompanying certificate as "top left vertical pair with part o.g.", portions of other 2c stamps adhering to gum, each stamp shows clear grill, bottom right stamp toned spot not mentioned on certificate, light horizontal crease affects bottom row, Fine appearing multiple, ex Wingate, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott value $8,500 as two blocks of four, three pairs and a single
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Excellent margins and centering for this tightly spaced issue, unobtrusive cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2003 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Sharp and clear double-strike of Rosette fancy cancel, attributed to Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff P-14), reperfed at bottom, Extremely Fine strike, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill, Double Grill (93 var). Lightly impressed grill—it is difficult to discern that the grill is doubled but offered based on the accompanying P.F. certificate—outstanding centering and margins, light cancel, Extremely Fine regardless of the nature of the grill, with 2017 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Original gum, three wide margins and decent centering, lightly toned, otherwise Very Fine, only 979 sold, with 1973 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Intense shade and impression, centered to right, faint bluish violet grid cancel
FINE AND RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK RE-ISSUE. ONLY 29 USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 2c Re-Issue was printed from a new plate of 100 subjects, compared to the original plate of 200 in two panes. 10,000 stamps were printed (100 impressions). Only 979 of the 2c were sold; the remaining 9,021 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. Our census of Scott 103 used, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/103, records only 29 examples. It is known with a variety of cancels. Approximately half are sound but several of those are not well-centered.
Census no. 103-CAN-29. With 2006 A.P.S. and 2017 P.F. certificates, both as "grid cancel" without describing the color, which is clearly bluish violet.