Sale 1375 — The Nick Kardasis Collection of the 1869 Pictorial Issue, Part One
Sale Date — Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
Category — Scott 123-133a Superb Examples, Varieties and Multiples
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Rich color on bright paper nicely complemented by blue quartered cork cancel, choice centering with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), only six grade higher (five at 95 and one at 98) and only four others share this grade
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Bright color, well-centered within wide margins, unusual hollow circular rim cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Helton, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), only six examples grade higher (five at 95, one at 98)
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Rich color, neat blue Wisconsin town datestamp, few expertly improved perfs at top not noted on any certificates, Very Fine appearance, ex Saadi, with 1980, 1989, 1999 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF 90), Scott value without premium for the blue cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Rich color on bright paper, blue target cancel which looks more ultramarine to us, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate, Scott value without premium for the cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Perfectly centered, deep shade, purple cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Renne and Dr. Morris, with 1988, 1999 and 2018 P.F. certificates (XF 90), the first two certificates describe the cancel as violet, the most recent certificate describing it as purple is more accurate, Scott value without premium for the better cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Rich color, bold face-free strike of purple segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value without premium for the better cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Radiant color, nicely complemented by red segmented cork cancel described on most recent certificate as "red floral cancel", Very Fine and choice, ex Haas, with 1996 and 1999 P.F. certificates, the P.F. has only certified two cancelled in red, Scott value without premium for the cancel
1c Buff, Re-Issue (123). Choice centering, intense strike of "NK" fancy cancel, small corner crease at bottom right not noted on certificates, Extremely Fine strike of this unusual fancy cancel, with 1993 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates, we applaud Nick Kardasis for allowing someone else with the same initials to have the opportunity to own this remarkable stamp, Scott value without premium for the better cancel which is surely unique
2c Brown, Re-Issue (124). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, long and full perforations all around, gorgeous strike of egg-shaped 6-bar oval grid cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, long and full perforations all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH SUCH AN UNUSUAL CANCELLATION.
The 2c 1869 Pictorial Re-Issue is one of the most difficult values of the set (after the 3c and 12c) to obtain in such superb condition and with such wide margins. SMQ estimates that approximately 45 are known in total, and we would estimate the number at perhaps 60. Most have oval registry cancels, and most are heavily cancelled. We are aware of only one or two others which compare favorably to the stamp offered here. The example offered here is the only we have encountered with anything that might be considered a fancy cancel; the design of the cancel is similar to scarabs mostly seen on classic issues.
Ex Floyd and "Natalee Grace". With 1989, 2001 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Rich color on bright paper, bold strike of New York registry oval cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1977 and 1999 P.F. certificates
12c Green, Re-Issue (128). Rich color and proof-like impression, lightly cancelled by New York datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. THIS IS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH CHOICE SOUND CONDITION.
The 12c 1869 Pictorial Re-issue is the one of the rarest of the set in used condition (the 3c is the rarest). This sound used example is an extraordinary stamp.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
15c Brown & Blue, Re-Issue, Imperforate Horizontally (129a). Original gum, deep rich colors and remarkably detailed impressions, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1869 RE-ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Jonathan W. Rose, in his book United States Postage Stamps of 1869, stated that only one sheet of 100 was issued without horizontal perforations. All were cut into singles by a clerk in the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office. It is not known how many were sold, but many seem to lack gum. This stamp has full original gum.
The recently published census of Scott 129a by Andrew Morrison records 40 in total (two used), including one in the Miller Collection at The New York Public Library.
Morrison census no. 129a-OG-15. With 1990 P.F. certificate.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Re-Issue (131). Intense colors on bright paper, wide margins, bold strike of New York registry oval cancel
VERY FINE and choice USED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
With 1994 and 1999 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Original gum, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Only 1,356 were sold, and it is safe to say that this is one of the finest. Illustrated on front cover of 1990 Ivy sale catalogue. With 1990 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher (one at 95J and three at 98).
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Unused (no gum), very distinctive dark frame shade (described on 1982 certificate as Dark Carmine), phenomenal centering with unusually wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WITH AN UNUSUALLY DARK FRAME COLOR.
With 1982 and 2021 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Rich colors, unusually choice centering, manuscript squiggle line cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, WITH WIDE AND BALANCED MARGINS, WONDERFUL COLOR AND A CANCEL THAT LEAVES THE DESIGN CLEARLY VISIBLE.
SMQ estimates that approximately 40 used copies exist. Our estimate is higher but most are either off-center or have small faults.
With 1996 P.F. certificate.
90c Carmine & Black, Re-Issue (132). Horizontal pair, superb margins and centering, neat target cancels, brilliant frame color and intense vignette impression on bright white paper
EXTREMELY FINE. BY FAR THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED USED PAIRS, WHICH ARE THE ONLY KNOWN USED MULTIPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE.
This pair is part of a "set" of bicolor 1869 Re-issue pairs—15c, 24c, 30c and 90c values—each cancelled by targets. The 15c and 24c from this group also have portions of blue crayon strokes applied to registered mail passing through the British post office. The existence of this set was revealed in an Aug. 1985 Chronicle article. It is believed that the four pairs were originally used on one or more pieces of registered mail addressed to the English stamp collector, Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, from whose collection the four pairs emanated. The other used pair has cork cancels and was offered in our 2016 auction of the Don David Price collection (Sale 1118, lot 157).
Ex Waterhouse, Juhring, Sheriff (Sale 642, where illustrated on front cover), Weill Brothers sale and Zoellner. With 1978 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Block of four with left selvage, top right and bottom left stamps Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, hinge remnant in selvage, radiant color
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF FOUR WITH SELVAGE OF THE 1880 ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE, CONTAINING TWO STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A MARVELOUS BLOCK.
We have offered only eight unduplicated singles in Mint N.H. condition (including lot 289 in this sale). Not all are well-centered.
With 1995 P.F. certificate. SCV $1,750 without premium for the two Mint N.H.stamps.
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). With bottom plate no. 33 selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, rare with the plate number selvage, with 1986 and 2005 P.F. certificates
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Rich color, bold strike of "OAKTOWN/INDIANA MAY 16" three-line datestamp, wide margins, Very Fine and choice use from this very small town which had a population of 608 in 2010, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF 80), SCV $550 with ordinary cancel
1c Buff, 1880 Re-Issue (133). Rich color, bold strike of negative Propeller in Small Circle fancy cancel, central thin spot, Very Fine appearance, the 1869 Re-Issues are rare with anything approaching a fancy cancel, with 2017 P.F. certificate, SCV $550 with ordinary cancel
1c Brown Orange, 1881 Re-Issue (133a). Without gum as issued, rich color, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 1994, 1999 and 2019 P.F. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo), SCV $425