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-Waterbury
1c Buff (112). Bright color, unusually clear strike of Old Woman in Bonnet fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff E-10), completely sound
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE OLD WOMAN IN BONNET FANCY CANCEL OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. THIS CANCEL IS RARE, ESPECIALLY ON THE ONE-CENT STAMP.
Power Search contains only one other on the 1c stamp, offered in the Gross sales (Sale 1188, lot 78). The stamp offered here, with a perfect strike of the entire design on a sound stamp and with an impeccable provenance, is truly desirable.
Ex Hale (Sale 171), Dr. Jackson and Sale 680 (May 1987) where illustrated on the front cover. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
1c Buff (112). Clear strike of Holly Sprig fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff L-4), also small parts of red handstamp at lower left and top right, Extremely Fine strike of this elaborate fancy cancel, we have offered only one other example of this cancel on the 1c stamp, ex Knapp and Moody, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Buff (112). Perfs trimmed at sides, tied by perfect strike of Left-Handed Beer Mug fancy cancel (Rohloff O-9A) with equally clear strike of "Waterbury Ct. Jun. 27" (1870) circular datestamp on locally addressed cover to Wolcott Paper Co., with original enclosure of American Flask and Cap Company stationery, slightly reduced at left
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE WATERBURY BEER MUG FANCY CANCELLATION. THE BRIGHT BUFF STAMP PROVIDES THE PERFECT BACKGROUND FOR THIS RARE CANCEL.
The second state of the Left-Handed Beer Mug fancy cancellation shows clear breaks in the design at bottom and at left. The first state of the cancel was used in December 1869. This second state was used six months later.
Illustrated in the Rohloff book (p. 182). Ex Mattatuck Historical Society and "Connoisseur." With 1989 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Three singles, each with clear strike of Running Chicken fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff A-11), struck in a different place on the stamps, so the overall effect is of the chicken "taking off in flight" — we are offering these together to preserve Nick Kardasis's achievement in creating the effect — righthand stamp with vertical crease, left two stamps sound
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKES OF THE RARE WATERBURY RUNNING CHICKEN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND RECOGNIZABLE OF ALL FANCY CANCELLATIONS.
This fancy cancel is based on a popular return address imprint of the period showing a freshly hatched chick chasing a fly ("If you don't catch 'em in five days" etc.). Only four covers are recorded (including the famous 1c cover with three strikes). We have offered only four off cover on any 1869 Pictorial stamp since 1994.
The lefthand stamp is a renowned strike. It twice held the record in the 1970s as the highest price paid for an off-cover fancy cancel, in 1973 and again in 1975. It was also offered in our Sale 761 in 1994, where it realized $9,000 hammer for just the one stamp.
Illustrated in Nov. 2011 Chronicle (p. 352). Accompanied by Feb. 1976 1869 Times article discussing the lefthand stamp and the realizations. The righthand stamp is ex Eno (Frajola sale, Jan. 25, 1986). Each with P.F. certificate (years from left to right): 1994, 2002 and 1986.
3c Ultramarine (114). Bright color, cancelled by Small Bee fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff A-14), part of circular datestamp at left, showing most of the design in great detail, stamp with small tear and small crease at top left, Extremely Fine strike, with 1995 P.F. certificate
3c Ultramarine (114). Cancelled by well-struck Skull & Crossbones fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff R-3), small corner creases at bottom left
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE WATERBURY SKULL AND CROSSBONES FANCY CANCEL.
Ex Laehder. 1988 P.F. certificate (for stamp on piece) stating "stamp faulty" no longer accompanies and is irrelevant. With 2011 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Bold, virtually complete strike of Chrysanthemum fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff F-3), light corner crease of little consequence
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE WATERBURY CHRYSANTHEMUM FANCY CANCEL. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
We estimate there are fewer than ten off-cover stamps and three covers with the Waterbury Chrysanthemum cancel.
With 2009 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, cancelled by bold strike of cancelled by perfect strike of Rose Blossom fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff F-2), perfs scissors-separated at left but intact
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE DRAMATIC ROSE BLOSSOM FANCY CANCELLATION OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT. THIS IS THE MOST ELABORATE FLOWER DESIGN CARVED BY POSTMASTER JOHN W. HILL.
Several of the different Waterbury designs carved by postmaster John W. Hill are noteworthy for their elaborate designs, such as the Running Chicken, Bee, Eagle & Shield and some of the human faces. This Rose Blossom design is certainly one of Hill's finest floral creations.
Ex Cutts. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by perfect strike of "Congress Gaiter" Buttonless Shoe fancy cancel (Rohloff O-12) and "Waterbury Ct. Mar. 24" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Bridgeport Conn., barely reduced at left, stamp with small tears at top
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE AND DESIRABLE "CONGRESS GAITER" BUTTONLESS SHOE FANCY CANCELLATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCTIVE WATERBURY FANCY CANCELLATIONS.
According to Wikipedia, this style of buttonless shoe was invented for Queen Victoria in 1836, utilizing stretchable rubber (a new invention) at the sides in place of laces but still keeping the profile of lace-ups. Its feminine image was soon lost and the style was adopted by male wearers, at which time it was dubbed the Congress Gaiter or Boston Boot in the United States.
Ex Eno.
3c Ultramarine (114). Bright color, cancelled by perfect strike of strike of Left-Handed Beer Mug fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff O-9), first state of cancel
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE LEFT HANDED BEER MUG FANCY CANCEL OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, SHOWING EVERY DETAIL OF THE DESIGN.
Ex Cutts. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
3c Ultramarine (114). Rich color, cancelled by bold strike of Heart with Arrow Pointing Down to Right fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (Rohloff J-5), small piece added at upper left with portion of the postmark (not the fancy cancel) and stamp drawn in, still an Extremely Fine strike, rare cancel on the 1869 Pictorial Issue, ex Knapp, Eno, Cutts and Gross, with 2019 P.F. certificate