Sale 1375 — The Nick Kardasis Collection of the 1869 Pictorial Issue, Part One
Sale Date — Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
Category — The PSE #1 All-Time Finest Set of 1869 Re-issues with Original Gum
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Original gum, bright shade, well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, SCOTT 123, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only three others.
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Original gum, fresh color and crisp impression, beautiful centering with unusually wide and even margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE STAMP WITH SUCH WIDE AND WELL-BALANCED MARGINS.
Although by no means the rarest of the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue set, the 2c is surprisingly difficult to obtain in sound, original-gum condition with wide margins. This stamp was acquired by the Halls from dealer H. A. Robinette in 1943 and has been offered only once since then (Sale 837).
Ex Hall. With 2002 and 2018 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85). We are bewildered by the P.S.E. grade—even the P.F. XF 90 grade seems too conservative.
3c Blue, Re-Issue (125). Original gum, deep rich color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. A STAMP OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER, THIS IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND ONLY TWO OTHERS SHARE THIS GRADE.
Original sales figures show that among the 1869 Pictorial Re-Issues, the 3c and 90c stamps accounted for the smallest number of units sold (1,406 and 1,356, respectively). Overall, the 1869s were popular with stamp collectors, far outselling the 1851-60 and 1861-66 Re-Issue sets. However, the 90c stamp's high denomination and the availability of ordinary 3c stamps limited demand. Today, both are rare, and handling over the years has not been kind to most of the surviving examples. The stamp offered here is the finest we have ever encountered.
With 1989 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share this grade. The last in this grade we offered was in our 2009 Whitman sale.
6c Blue, Re-Issue (126). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2000 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only four others. This is the first in this grade we have offered since our 2009 Whitman auction.
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Original gum, single hinge mark, essentially perfect centering with wide margins, vivid color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The 10c and 30c 1869 Pictorial Issues and their Re-Issues are two of the most difficult designs to obtain in higher grades. Part of the reason for this is their asymmetrical designs, which do not lend themselves easily to precise mathematical centering, the basis for numerical grading.
With 1990 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). Only one grades higher (at 100, we have never offered it) and two others share this desirable grade.
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
With 1987 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade. This is the first in this grade we have offered since our 2016 "Hanover" sale.
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue (129). Mint N.H., pristine natural crackly gum that has remained unblemished for 151 years, deep rich colors and detailed impressions, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS EASILY THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE — THE GUM IS IN PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION, THE COLORS ARE AS FRESH AS THE DAY THEY WERE PRINTED AND IT HAS PERFECT CENTERING. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — IT IS THE ONLY GRADED MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP AND THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY SCOTT 129 WITH GUM.
This is the only Mint N.H. example of Scott 129 we have ever offered. To those tempted to say this stamp was brushed to achieve Mint N.H. status, we point to our Sale 389 held in 1971. This stamp, offered in that sale as lot 291, was among those featured on the front cover. It was described in 1971 as “Brilliant & Mint” — back then, the Siegel firm only used the term “Mint” to describe Never-Hinged gum. The gum on this stamp is in post-office Mint N.H. condition, just as it was 151 years ago when the stamp was sold by the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office and 55 years ago when it was described by our firm. Anyone who might claim otherwise is wrong.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the only graded Mint N.H.stamp. For hinged, there are three graded 95 which is the highest grade in that gum category. Unpriced as Mint N.H. in SMQ.
24c Green & Violet, Re-Issue (130). Original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
With 1989 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is the only example to achieve it.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Original gum, deep rich colors and detailed impressions on bright paper, fantastic centering with unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
With 1989 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and four others share it. This is the first in this grade we have offered since our 2013 Curtis sale.
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, beautiful bright colors and incredibly sharp proof-like impression, extremely well-centered with enormous even margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE EXTANT. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by two others. This is the first in this grade we have offered.
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Mint N.H., rich color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 RE-ISSUE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
We have offered only nine unduplicated Mint N.H. examples of this issue since keeping computerized records. None are as nice as the example offered here.
Ex "Hanover". With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition. It is also unpriced in hinged condition above the grade of 95). This is the highest grade awarded in any category and the only example to achieve it. The next highest grade is 90 (one known, offered in our Sale 930)