Thanks so much! I really thought I would return the black if/when I received the Anthra, but there's no way I could ever let it go!
Although the color differences are more subtle than I had expected -- Anthracite has blue stitching and blueish undertones, while the black has black stitching & is a pretty evenly deep dark black -- its the leather thats so different. The black one has leather thats almost like 2007 leather (the first year Balenciaga made leather moto jackets), which had the most incredible leather of all the years, IMO. I was lucky enough to snag one years ago, but sadly I've gained weight and it no longer fits. I don't know if I'll ever be able to wear it again -- hoping that happens (or that I can find an 07 in a larger size), but if not I'll pass it on to my granddaughter (I already gave her my grey one!). But anyway, the leather on the quilted black is so wonderfully soft and mushy and wrinkley. The leather on the Anthracite is smoother, less distressed and more consistent. Still wonderfully soft, but very different from the black.
I'm actually surprised that after all these years no one has ever shared comparisons of the two! There were always so many questions & confusion about the difference in the two colors. Obviously the color codes from the tag inside are different (Black = 1000, Antha = 1240), but a lot of resale sites don't share pics of those tags so it was always "is that black or anthra?" - hopefully these pics help (in case anyone is ever looking for one or the other -- like I was a few weeks ago!)
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The leather on the black looks totally lush!
Great to have the comparison pics too! 
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