Sale 1389 — The Nick Kardasis Collection of the 1869 Pictorial Issue, Part Two
Sale Date — Wednesday, 30 September, 2026
Category — 24¢ Signing of Declaration of Independence (Scott 120)
24c Green & Violet (120). Original gum, deep rich color, long and full perforations all around, almost perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS GRADED XF 90 "XQ" FOR "EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY" BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The 24c vignette was engraved by James Smillie from John Trumbull’s oil painting Declaration of Independence. There are two versions of this painting; one hangs in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and the other at Yale University. Contrary to the popular belief that this painting depicts the signing ceremony, Trumbull actually painted a romanticized image of the presentation of the Declaration draft. There are 47 individuals portrayed in the painting, and the tiny engraving captures virtually all of them in minute detail. A similar engraving appears on the back of the 1863 First Charter $100 note, and the vignette is also found on 10c 1869 essays.
Ex Hewitt (realized $9,000 hammer in Ivy's 1986 Ameripex sale, containing the Hewitt collection). With 1985 and 2014 P.F. certificates (OGph, XF 90 XQ for Extraordinary Quality). SCV $8,000.
24c Green & Violet (120). Beautiful wide margins and choice centering, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, lightly cancelled by segmented cork, Extremely Fine, ex Klein, Floyd and Mayer, with 1988 P.F. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1988 PF No. 0201626 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Nearly perfect centering with Jumbo margins, fresh colors, cancelled by circle of Vs, Extremely Fine, a magnificent used example of the 24c 1869 Pictorial, ex Klein, with 1992 P.S.E. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1992 PSE No. 18647 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Choice centering, beautiful rich colors and sharp impressions, cancelled by segmented cork, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF 90), and 2018 P.S.E. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
2021 PF No. 574960 Graded 90 View Cert
2018 PSE No. 01343129
1992 PF No. 0262845 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Choice centering, fresh colors, clearly struck circle of Vs cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1997 PF No. 0320629 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Essentially perfect centering, bright colors, segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1995 PF No. 0291714 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Choice centering, bright colors, Crossroads cancel, Extremely Fine, SCV $675
24c Green & Violet (120). Beautiful centering, rich colors, quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1999 PF No. 0339883 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Wide margins, well-centered, clear strike of Rosette cancel, Very Fine, similar to Waterbury Rosettes, with 2003 P.F. certificate (declines opinion as to Waterbury origin), SCV $675
Certificate
2003 PF No. 0395620 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, unusually bright and fresh colors, Crossroads cancel, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate, SCV $675
Certificate
1992 PF No. 0253198 View Cert
24c Green & Violet (120). Well-centered, bright colors, circle of Vs cancel, reperfed at bottom (not noted on either certificate), appears Very Fine, with clear 1997 and 2021 P.F. certificates, SCV $675