Sale 1375 — The Nick Kardasis Collection of the 1869 Pictorial Issue, Part One
Sale Date — Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
Category — Fancy Cancellations and Illustrated Covers-Shields and Stars
1c Buff (112). Rich color, tied by perfect strike of blue Shield in Circle fancy cancel of Watkins N.Y. (Skinner-Eno PS-FC 44), matching "Watkins N.Y. Sep. 27" circular datestamp on locally addressed cover, slightly reduced at left, Extremely Fine strike and a pretty cover, ex "De Luxe" (Sale 189, lot 617), with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Rich color nicely complemented by blue Shield fancy cancel (similar to Skinner-Eno PS-SD 15), Extremely Fine strike, a pretty stamp, with 2006 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, cancelled by well-struck Shield fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), Extremely Fine strike, ex Dr. Heimburger and Gorham, with 2013 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, cancelled by bold strike of Shield fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), tiny corner perf creases at top right and bottom left, Extremely Fine strike of this large cancel, ex Juhring and Cutts, with 2008 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Deep rich color on bright paper, cancelled by bold strike of Shield and Stars fancy cancel of Wooster O. (Skinner-Eno PS-ST 21), small corner crease at bottom left, Extremely Fine strike, ex Cutts, with 1998 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Rich color, cancelled by bold strike of "Paid" Shield with Stars and Stripes fancy cancel of Dedham Mass. (Skinner-Eno PM-PE 4), pulled perf at upper left is meaningless, Extremely Fine strike of this elaborate and unusual fancy cancel, with 1995, 1995 and 2013 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow (116). Vibrant color, nicely complemented by blue Shield in Frame fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), small tear at bottom, light perf creases at top, still an Extremely Fine strike, probably Chicago origin but we do not have corroborating evidence
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Rich colors, cancelled by bold strike of Shield fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno PS-O 14), small thin spot at right center, Extremely Fine strike of this Shield fancy cancel struck over the shield design of the stamp, the 30c is rare with any sort of fancy cancel, ex Wunsch and Eno, with 1998 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Bright color, cancelled by perfect strike of red segmented Star fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), small corner crease at top left, still fresh and Very Fine, a wonderful stamp, illustrated on the cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle, ex Rose, with 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Bright color, well-struck Hollow Star fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno ST-E 52), Extremely Fine strike on a pretty stamp, with 1995 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (113). Rich color, intense strike of negative Star in Circle fancy cancel (possibly Boston) leaves horse and rider of the design neatly framed within the star, light horizontal crease at top, a Very Fine strike and a stamp with great eye appeal
2c Brown (113). Crisp impression, clear strike of negative Star in Circle fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), Very Fine and choice strike, illustrated on the front cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Detailed impression, bold strike of blue Hollow Star fancy cancel (looks similar to several in Skinner-Eno), small tear at right center, an Extremely Fine strike, illustrated on front cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle, ex Juhring, with 2003 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
3c Ultramarine (114). Detailed impression, well-struck segmented Star within Star fancy cancel of Putnam Conn. (Skinner-Eno ST-St 10), Extremely Fine strike on an attractive stamp, ex Grunin where illustrated on front cover of the catalogue, with 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, tied by magenta 4-Point Star fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno ST-4P 7 or ST-4P 8), matching "Hartford Wis. Jan. 3" circular datestamp on cover to Windsor Vt., barely reduced at right, Extremely Fine strike in an unusual color, ex Eno and Cutts
6c Ultramarine (115). Rich color, bold strike of blue Hollow Star fancy cancel (looks similar to several in Skinner-Eno), small corner creases at bottom right, Very Fine appearing stamp and a Very Fine strike of this fancy cancel, with 2011 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Rich color, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Star cancel, Extremely Fine stamp and cancel, ex Saadi and "Angel", with 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Vibrant color, choice centering, cancelled by bold strike of Hollow 6-Point Star fancy cancel (possibly Skinner-Eno ST-6P 6), an Extremely Fine stamp and cancel, with 2006 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Vivid color, bold strike of 5-Point Star in Circle fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno), Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp with impressive provenance, ex Sale 158 (1952 auction), Haas, Grunin, Saadi and Ishikawa, with 1993 and 1999 P.F. certificates
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Bright colors, well-balanced margins, clear strike of Star fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno)
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT TYPE I 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH A STAR FANCY CANCEL. VERY FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS STAMP WITH A STAR CANCEL ARE KNOWN.
The Philatelic Foundation has certified only two 15c Type I stamps with a Star fancy cancel. The other has a thin spot.
Illustrated on the cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle. With 1998 P.F. certificate.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Beautifully centered with wide margins, rich colors, vignette and frame are perfectly aligned, bold strike of Star fancy cancel (similar to Skinner-Eno ST-S 8), Extremely Fine stamp and cancel, the 15c is scarce with a Star fancy cancel, illustrated on front cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle, with 1993 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Deep rich colors, well-balanced margins, bold strike of 4-Point Star (or Propeller) in Circle fancy cancel of Irwin Station Pa. (Skinner-Eno GE-C 132), small closed tear at bottom left, Very Fine appearance, a rare cancel, ex Klein, with 1996 P.F. certificate
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors, cancelled by blue Star with Large Central Dot fancy cancel (unlisted in Skinner-Eno)
VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE BLUE STAR FANCY CANCEL ON THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
Star fancy cancels are rare on the 24c. It is especially rare struck in blue.
Illustrated on the front cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
90c Carmine & Black (122). Unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, bright colors, cancelled by Star in Circle fancy cancel (apparently unlisted in Skinner-Eno) which is clearly visible at lower right
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WHICH IS THE RAREST DENOMINATION WITH A FANCY CANCELLATION. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY BOTH THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION AND P.S.E.
Due to the high denomination of the issue, it seems that many used examples of the 90c 1869 Pictorial Issue were cancelled by heavy corks, which were designed to prevent the reuse of the stamp. We have offered only a handful cancelled otherwise, and these are almost never seen with anything approaching a fancy design. When one factors centering and overall condition into the equation, the rarity of this stamp is multiplied exponentially.
Illustrated on front cover of Nov. 2011 Chronicle. Ex Kelley (Steve Ivy Mar. 16, 1989 auction). Illustrated on front cover of March 12, 1992 Ivy, Shreve and Mader catalogue. With 2007 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (both graded XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher, and the fancy cancel on this stamp should propel it to a higher grade. The SMQ value is for a stamp with an ordinary cancel.