Stop in for a cup of coffee

I didn't click disagree because I'm not absolutely certain, but I do think OEM were cork gaskets. Along with china rail gaskets and others.
The trick to success with cork gaskets is use a ball peen to dimple the bolt hole upward. Tighten the bolts only enough to flatten your dimple. Seal is supposed to be from bolt to bolt, along the flat spans, not and the bolt alone.
Agreed, I have never owned one from when it was new. The ones I started out with had the black rubber gaskets. As early as a 65 HP273 in 69. THey could have been cork originally.