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
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.
