Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — Hawaii, including Missionary Stamps
Clipper Ship Advertising Cards. Five different multicolored cards, includes the following ships: Dispatch Line Akbar, Glidden & Williams’ Line Fearless (Watson’s Press imprint), Panther (Nesbitt & Co. imprint), Shipper’s Line Sea Serpent (Nebsitt & Co. imprint), and Coleman’s California Line Volunteer with Civil War theme (Nesbitt & Co. imprint), a couple with trivial flaws, overall excellent conditionA VALUABLE GROUP OF CLIPPER SHIP CARDS, INCLUDING THE FEARLESS, ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING AND DESIRABLE OF ALL DESIGNS.
Clipper ship cards were produced during the 1850s and 1860s as an advertising tool used by shipping lines to promote freight service. Competition was keen, and companies used spectacular images and colorful printing to get attention. Speed of delivery and careful handling were of the utmost importance to merchants, thus the text emphasized attributes such as record trips of “107 Days,” “A1 Ship,” “Fast sailing and good delivery of cargo,” and so on. A collection of clipper ship cards was offered in Siegel Sale 725 (PDF of catalogue is available on our website).
Ex Pietsch and Gross
SCHOONER 'VAQUERO'. Partial strike of the first type with single quotation marks on folded letter datelined "Papete 13 Marz 1855", addressed to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, docketing on back "forwarded San Francisco May 22 by E. Bottcher pr Vaquero", contents in French, carried on the clipper ship John Land to San Francisco, neat strike of "FORWARDED BY G. B. POST & CO. SAN FRANCISCO" octagonal handstamp, carried on the schooner Vaquero which sailed for Honolulu on May 23 and arrived on June 5, receipt docketing on back, faint vertical file foldsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE SCHOONER VAQUERO MARKING. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THIS STYLE OF MARKING ARE KNOWN. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE, ORIGINATING IN TAHITI, IS UNIQUE.
The Gregory book notes three examples of this marking with single quotation marks and two with double marks, all addressed to Honolulu. The other two with single marks were used on the Jan. 16, 1855 sailing from San Francisco. According to The National Watercraft Collection, the Vaquero was built in 1853 at the height of the clipper-ship boom and was as large as many ships and barks of the time. She gained a reputation as the fastest vessel out of San Francisco, and was the first vessel to carry passengers from San Francisco to Melbourne and plied that route with stops at Hawaii. The Vaquero was lost at sea in 1859 after only five years in service.
Ex Peters. Illustrated in the Gregory book (Vol. 2, p. 412).
Honolulu, Hawaiian Is./April 30, 1851. Well-struck two-line datestamp on buff cover to Miss A. E. Bond in Boston, neat "San Francisco Cal. 1 Jun." (1851) circular datestamp, red crayon "42" rate (40c via Panama rate plus 2c ship fee), barely reduced at right, cover with small scuff at center from wax sealVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL CLEAR STRIKE OF THE HONOLULU STRAIGHTLINE DATESTAMP ON A 42-CENT RATE COVER TO THE EAST COAST.
This cover was carried to San Francisco on the British clipper ship John Calvin, which departed Honolulu on Apr. 30, 1851, and arrived on May 24. It was carried to Panama on the Constitution, which departed on Jun. 1 and arrived on Jun. 23. After crossing the isthmus by mulepack and riverboat, it left Chagres on the Empire City, which departed on Jun. 26 and arrived in New York on Jul. 6 after stopping at Kingston, Jamaica.
Gregory census no. 24. Ex Van Dyke, Ishikawa and Golden. With 2011 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1851, 2c Blue (1). Type II--the right position in the setting of two--unused, full deep impression on bright fresh paper, large margins with framelines complete all around and just touched at lower left, a few spots of blue printer’s ink on back, completely soundTHE ONLY KNOWN UNUSED EXAMPLE OF HAWAII'S FIRST STAMP, AND THE FINEST OF THE FIFTEEN RECORDED COPIES. ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
This remarkable stamp appeared in the first sale of the Count Philippe de la Renotiere von Ferrary collection, held at the Hotel Drouot in Paris on June 23, 1921, under the supervision of M. G. Gilbert. In the sale this stamp was described “probablement le plus bel exemplaire qui existe de ce timbre” (“probably the most beautiful example of this stamp that exists”); the describer mistook the printer’s ink on back for a light blue cancel, an error of judgment that was repeated in the Meyer-Harris book (p. 112). The 2c Missionary was purchased in the Ferrary sale by Maurice Burrus, an Alsatian tobacco magnate, for the U.S. dollar equivalent of $14,700—the highest price ever paid for a single stamp at that time. By comparison, in subsequent Ferrary sales the Swedish 1857 3-skilling banco Yellow color error was sold for $3,095, the Baden 1851 9-kreuzer Blue-Green color error on cover sold for $8,087, and an unused Mauritius 1847 One-penny “Post Office” realized $9,733
In the Ferrary sale, the reality about this 2c Missionary stamp—that it is unused—was apparent to the bidders and to its buyer, Maurice Burrus. When the stamp was featured in Life magazine’s “World’s Rarest Stamps” (May 3, 1954), courtesy of Burrus, it was clearly identified as unused and valued at $20,000. The massive Burrus collection was dispersed after his death in numerous auctions in the 1960s, and the Hawaii was sold by H. R. Harmer of New York on May 27, 1963. In that sale the stamp’s unused condition was confirmed by a 1963 Philatelic Foundation certificate. Bidding drove up the price to a world record of $41,000 hammer. The buyers of record, Raymond and Roger Weill, stated at the time, “[The stamp is] one of the two or three sound copies of an extremely rare stamp, unique in unused condition, intriguing through ancestry, issued by an American postmaster for what is now the 50th state in the union, and almost certain to realize a record price for single stamp.”
The record-breaking 1963 sale was reported extensively in the news media, but nowhere so imaginatively as in Life magazine (November 29, 1963), which devoted a full page in color to proclaim, “This, pound for pound, is the most valuable substance on earth.” Weighing in at a mere one two-thousandths of an ounce, troy, its value was calculated at $1,195,833,395.61 per pound.
The unused 2c Missionary was placed by the Weills in the collection of Benjamin D. Phillips, where it joined the equally rare 2c Missionary cover. After the Weills acquired the Phillips collection in 1968 for $4.07 million, these two stellar rarities were acquired by Alfred J. Ostheimer III. Soon after, Thurston Twigg-Smith, a descendant of the first missionaries, acquired the stamp from Ostheimer. It was next sold in the 1995 Siegel sale of the Honolulu Advertiser collection, where the winning floor bid of $600,000 was executed by Walter J. Mader on behalf of Greg Manning. Two years later, the stamp was sold by Manning to William H. Gross (through the Shreves), following the Ivy & Mader auction at the Pacific ‘97 stamp show. The stamp was one of Mr. Gross’s personal favorites, and he held it for 21 years. It was acquired by Mr. Przybyl in our 2018 Gross United States Treasures auction.
There is a story associated with the early history of this stamp that has been reported as fact by several philatelic authors, but disputed as fiction by others. Prior to Ferrary’s ownership, the stamp is said to have been owned by a Parisian collector named Gaston Leroux. The story continues that Leroux was murdered by an envious philatelic colleague, who coveted the 2c Missionary and later confessed to killing Leroux to obtain it. The Missionary earned fame in another murder-mystery story when the motion picture Charade was released, casting the fabled Hawaiian stamp in a starring role with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn (we will not tell the ending).
Described and illustrated in Stamps of Fame, L. N. and M. Williams (pages 96-97, plate 15). Ex Gaston Leroux (?), Philippe de la Renotiere von Ferrary, Maurice Burrus, Benjamin D. Phillips, Alfred J. Ostheimer III. Thurston Twigg-Smith and William H. Gross.
Census numbers: Siegel 1-II-UNC-1; Meyer-Harris 8; Brewster 1-II-Unused-1. With 1995 P.F. certificate.
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/106.pdf
HAWAII, 1851, 5c Blue (2). Type II--the righthand position in the setting of two--unused, expertly repaired at top, usual faults associated with this fragile paper but of far better appearance than normally seenVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWELVE RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE HAWAIIAN 1851 5-CENT MISSIONARY, OF WHICH ONLY TEN ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Hawaii No. 2, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/census/hawaii/scott/2 , contains twelve unused copies, two of which are in the Tapling Collection at the British Library. Of the twelve copies, only one is completely sound (recently offered in our sale of the Gross collection).
Siegel census no. 2-II-UNC-19. Ex Tows and from our 2016 Rarities sale. With 1948 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1851, 5c Blue (2). Type I--the lefthand position in the setting of two--three large margins, touched along frameline at left but the line is intact, tied by clear strike of red “Honolulu * Hawaiian- Islands * Jul. 12” (1854) circular datestamp on front only from Charles H. Wetmore to William R. Gay in Lebanon, Connecticut, clear strikes of “San Francisco Cal. 16 Aug.” circular datestamp with “SHIP” and “12” handstamps (10c U.S. collect rate plus 2c ship captain’s fee), the stamp has been lifted and backed with protective tissue for preservation purposes, there is a sealed tear at right and a couple of tiny flaws, but no paper addition or repainting, the front itself has the right edge extended slightly and skillful cosmetic restoration, the overall appearance is quite beautifulVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY 5-CENT HAWAIIAN MISSIONARY STAMP TIED BY THE HONOLULU DATESTAMP AMONG THE TEN RECORDED COVERS OR, IN THIS CASE, COVER FRONT.
Ten 5c Missionary covers (including this front) are recorded in our census and the Gregory census. Included in this total are the Dawson 2c/5c cover and the 5c cover acquired by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in the Honolulu Advertiser sale, leaving eight 5c covers for collectors. The front offered here is the only one on which the stamp is tied by the Honolulu datestamp. In this case, it is the “Honolulu * Hawaiian Islands *” version, since the United States postage was not prepaid.
This cover was carried on the schooner Restless, which cleared Honolulu on July 13, 1854, and arrived in San Francisco on August 9. The San Francisco datestamp was applied on the same day it was carried by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s Oregon, departing on August 16 and arriving at Panama City around August 30. The mail was carried across the isthmus to Aspinwall, and from there it left on the U.S. Mail Steamship Company’s Empire City, departing September 2 and arriving in New York on September 12. The recipient, William R. Gay of Lebanon, Connecticut, paid the 12c United States postage, which included 10c for the unpaid transcontinental rate and 2c for the ship captain’s fee.
Although there is no content or docketing, this was sent by Dr. Charles H. Wetmore. The recipient was a member of the Wetmore family, and the writing precisely matches the writing on the letter offered in lot 7 in our Sale 1126 (in particular, the “U.S.A.” with underscoring).
John K. Bash recorded this Missionary as owned at one time by Frank J. Dutcher (1850-1930). Dutcher, a wealthy member of the Hopedale Community in Massachusetts, was the first president of the Draper Corporation, which later became a division of the Rockwell Corporation. Little has been written about Dutcher’s stamp-collecting activity, but he was a collector of substantial means in the 1890s and a member of the Collectors Club of New York. The Millbury postmaster’s provisional cover we sold in our sale of the Frelinghuysen collection (Sale 1020, lot 15) was also owned by Dutcher.
The item passed from Dutcher to Caspary, possibly through an interim owner. The careful preservation measures were probably done during or possibly before Caspary’s ownership. Its appearance has not changed since the 1957 Caspary sale catalogue was published. In the 1963 Burrus sale catalogue, it was described as “picturesque,” a perfect adjective to describe its colorful character.
Siegel census no. 2-I-COV-68. Illustrated in Gregory book (page 397). Ex Dutcher, Caspary, Burrus, Middendorf, Ishikawa, Pietsch and Gross. Also stated to be ex Krug in past sale catalogues, but Krug’s Hawaii was sold privately and we have no way to confirm that provenance.
With 1963 (copy) and 2016 P.F. certificates. Scott value for cover $90,000.00
HAWAII, 1851, 13c Blue, “Hawaiian Postage” (3). Type I--the lefthand position in the setting of two--huge margins at top and bottom, touching at sides but framelines intact, small skillful repair at bottom right corner with minor paper addition and small bit of frameline touched up, beautiful deep shade and impression on fresh paper, cancelled by blue “PAID” in italicized caps, impression of letters ties stamp to the envelope, addressed to Miss Gertrude Van Ingen, in care of Mrs. D. Crosby, East Hartford, Connecticut, sender’s notation “Paid through”, no Honolulu circular datestamp (the devices ordered by Postmaster Whitney did not arrive until early 1852), faint red San Francisco datestamp and matching “6” rate handstamp with bluish-black “PAID” handstamp, prepaid 8c U.S. but the ship fee is not reflected in the rate marking (consistent with San Francisco’s practice from July 1, 1851, to May 1, 1852), cover creased but not affecting stamp, faint waterstain at top right just touches corner of stampVERY FINE. ONE OF NINE RECORDED 13-CENT “HAWAIIAN POSTAGE” MISSIONARY COVERS, SEVEN OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED HAWAIIAN MISSIONARY COVER WITH AN INTACT STAMP OF ANY DENOMINATION OR TYPE. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY COVER WITH THE BLUE ITALIC “PAID” HANDSTAMP--ONE OTHER EXAMPLE IS RECORDED ON AN OFF-COVER 13-CENT “HAWAIIAN POSTAGE” MISSIONARY.
There are nine recorded genuine covers with full 13c “Hawaiian Postage” Missionary stamps, of which this is the earliest. Not counted in the total of nine is a January 3, 1852, folded letter with a fragment of a 13c “Hawaiian Postage” Missionary. It is illustrated in the Gregory book (page 274) and described as “the first recorded cover franked with a Missionary stamp,” but despite its significance as a dated item, the missing three-quarters of the Missionary stamp limits its collector value. The strip of three on cover acquired by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in our 1995 Honolulu Advertiser sale is also a very early use (February 20, 1852), but the cover offered here predates it, as we shall explain.
This cover is addressed to Miss Gertrude Van Ingen. There is no content or docketing to indicate the sender’s name, location or mailing date, but it is very likely that it was addressed by J. S. Van Ingen, a well-known merchant on the islands. His name is listed in advertisements for C. F. Hussey & Company, located at Kahului.
The dark brown paper makes it difficult to see the markings on this cover, but with simple digital enhancement, the red San Francisco circular datestamp and red “6” rate handstamp (to the right of the “Paid”) are visible. San Francisco marked prepaid covers from Hawaii with the “6” cent rate marking from July 1, 1851, to May 1, 1852. Starting then, the “8” cent marking, which reflected the 2c ship captain’s fee, was used on prepaid letters from Hawaii. Unfortunately, the date of the San Francisco marking is not readable on this cover. However, the digital enhancement shows that there are no other markings on the cover, a significant fact that allows us to date its origin to sometime prior to February 10, 1852. Postmaster Whitney ordered datestamps from the mainland in May 1851, but the devices were not received in Honolulu until several months later. The first recorded example is dated February 10, 1852. Whitney might have started using them even earlier.
The letter with the fragment might help narrow the date range. That letter was mailed at Kahului and carried overland to Lahaina, where the Lahaina postmaster, George Gower (Collector of Customs and the postmaster 1851-54) affixed the stamp to show that postage was fully prepaid (it is cancelled with pen marks). The Lahaina post office probably applied the distinctive “Paid” cancel in bold italicized capital letters. Lahaina had a tradition of using blue ink for postal markings, and loose type was readily available to create a temporary “Paid” handstamp. One other example of this cancellation is recorded, also struck on a 13c “Hawaiian Postage” Missionary (3-I-CAN-99).
The January 3, 1852, letter with the fragment has the same San Francisco markings--red datestamp and “6” and bluish-black “Paid”--and the San Francisco date is February 18 (1852). The Gregory book (page 274) provides sailing vessels and dates for the mail containing the January 3 letter. The combination of red and black ink for the markings applied at San Francisco is very unusual. It is possible that the cover offered here, with the same red and black combination, was in the Hawaiian mail that was postmarked at San Francisco on February 18. Based on the Van Ingen connection, there is also a strong possibility that this cover, like the other, originated in Kahului.
Siegel census no. 3-I-COV-136. Illustrated in Gregory book (page 397). Ex Admiral Harris, Ishikawa, Golden and Gross. With 1994 and 2016 P.F. certificates. Scott value $75,000.00 on cover
HAWAII, 1851, 13c Blue, “Hawaiian Postage” (3). Type I--the lefthand position in the setting of two--unused, tear and small repair with part of the top right corner added and design painted inFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF EIGHT POTENTIAL UNUSED 13-CENT “HAWAIIAN POSTAGE” MISSIONARY STAMPS, OF WHICH HALF ARE REPAIRED TO VARYING DEGREES.
Our census of Hawaii No. 3, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/hawaii/scott/3 , contains eight unused or potentially unused examples, but three have not been seen for a long time and need to be examined.
Siegel census no. 3-I-UNC-77. Ex Ferrary, Golden and Gross. Illustrated in Gregory book (page 247). With 1994 and 2016 P.F. certificates. The Scott Catalogue notes that “values are for examples with minor damage that has been skillfully repaired”
HAWAII, 1852, 13c Blue, "H.I. & U.S. Postage" (4). Type II--the righthand position in the setting of two--indistinct cancel leaves entire design clearly visible (certificate states cancelled in red), repaired at top adding portions of the inner and outer framelines, repaired above "13", certificate states discolored from oxidation but this is probably traces of staining from mucilage used to affix the stampFINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1852 13-CENT "H.I. & U.S. POSTAGE" MISSIONARY.
Our census of Hawaii No. 4, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/hawaii/scott/4 , contains 35 used stamps off cover or on piece plus nine covers.
Siegel census no. 4-II-CAN-155. Ex Peyton ("Isleham") and Schwenk. With 2001 P.F. certificate.
HAWAII, 1853, 5c Blue, Thick White Wove (5). Large margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, ample at bottom, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins, both stamps uncancelled at Honolulu, tied by "San Francisco Cal. 5 Jan." (1857) circular datestamp on buff cover to Titus Munson Coan at Yale College in New Haven Conn., red "Honolulu*U.S. Postage Paid*Dec. 6" (1856) circular datestamp, cover with manufacturing paperfold beneath stamps but in no way affecting them, missing part of top flap, tiny cover stain and tear at topVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH THE 1853 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III ISSUE AND UNITED STATES 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
This cover was carried on the schooner L. P. Foster, which departed Honolulu on Dec. 6, 1856, and arrived at San Francisco on Dec. 22. From there it was then sent to Panama on the Jan. 5, 1857, sailing of the John L. Stephens.
Gregory census no. 5-30. Ex Baker, Haas and Golden
HAWAII, 1853, 5c Blue, Thick White Wove (5). Horizontal pair, close margins clearing framelines in places, tiny scissors-cut at top between stamps, uncancelled at Honolulu, clearly struck red “Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Sept. 4” (1856) circular datestamp, used with horizontal pair of United States 1851 12c Black (17), margins clear to touching framelines, tied by “San Francisco Cal. 6 Oct.” circular datestamp on light buff cover to Mrs. Ann B. Archer at Port Gibson, Mississippi, red pencil “32c” crossed out, some minor spots of wear at edgesVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED COVER BEARING A PAIR OR ANY MULTIPLE OF THE 1853 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III FIRST PRINTING. AN OUTSTANDING UNITED STATES AND HAWAII MIXED-FRANKING COVER.
This cover comes from the Archer correspondence, which includes the unique Missionary/Kamehameha mixed franking from our Honolulu Advertiser sale (now part of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum collection). The small red pencil “32c”, a Hawaiian post office notation, accurately reflects the necessary postage for a double-rate letter (2 x 5c Hawaiian and 2 x 10c U.S. plus the 2c ship captain’s fee). The pair of U.S. 12c 1851 stamps involved a 2c overpayment, but overpayments were not unusual.
This cover was carried on the American bark Yankee, which cleared Honolulu on September 4, 1856, and arrived in San Francisco on September 21. It was carried by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s Golden Gate, departing on October 6 and arriving at Panama City on October 20. The mail was carried across the isthmus to Aspinwall, and from there it probably caught the October 20 sailing of the U.S. Mail Steamship Company’s George Law, which arrived in New York on October 30. The George Law was renamed Central America in 1857, the year that she sank in a hurricane, claiming hundreds of lives and tons of gold.
Ex Gibson, Admiral Harris, Ostheimer, Honolulu Advertiser, “Sevenoaks” and Gross. Weill backstamp. Illustrated and discussed in Meyer-Harris (pages 36-37)
HAWAII, 1853, 5c Blue, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (5, 6). Each with large margins to just barely in, affixed at Hilo and left uncancelled on lady’s small embossed cover to Titus Munson Coan at Bridgeport, Connecticut, forwarded to New Haven, red “Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Jul. 26” (1856) circular datestamp, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large top right corner sheet margins to slightly in at left, affixed in Honolulu and left uncancelled, 5c and 12c tied by “San Francisco Cal. 5 Sep.” circular datestamp, 12c partly lifted to show 13c underneath, tiny lightened stain spot at top edge of cover, beautiful and fresh conditionVERY FINE. A PETITE AND REMARKABLY ATTRACTIVE DECORATIVE COVER WITH THE HAWAIIAN 5-CENT AND 13-CENT 1853 KAMEHAMEHA III FIRST PRINTING AND UNITED STATES 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE, WHICH WAS AFFIXED AT HONOLULU OVER THE 13-CENT HAWAIIAN STAMP.
This cover was carried on the American bark Fanny Major, which cleared Honolulu on July 26, 1856, and arrived in San Francisco on August 25. From there it was carried on the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s Golden Age, which departed September 5 and arrived in Panama City on September 18. After crossing the isthmus to Aspinwall, it was carried on the U.S. Mail Steamship Company’s Illinois, which departed on September 19 and arrived in New York on September 27.
Following the United States rate change, effective April 1, 1855, the 13c Kamehameha III stamp could no longer prepay the full rate from Hawaii to the U.S. East Coast, which increased from 13c to 17c. In consequence, the patrons of Hawaii’s postal system began using 5c stamps plus 12c U.S. stamps, or 13c stamps plus 4c cash, or, in this case, 5c and 13c stamps together, incurring a one-cent overpayment. During the period starting in April 1855, it was already a regular practice to affix U.S. postage stamps to outbound letters on which the U.S. rate had been prepaid.
Ex Krug, Middendorf, Rust, Pietsch and Gross. Illustrated in Gregory book (page II-49). Signed Ashbrook
HAWAII, 1853, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (6). Position 3 with major double transfer visible in the top label and to the right of "8", original gum, lightly hinged, large to full margins, color oxidized, Very Fine appearance, the only double transfer on the plate, ex Steiner, with 1995 H.P.S. certificate, listed but unpriced in Scott, Scott value for normal
HAWAII, 1853, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (6). Full to large margins, tiny scissors-cut at lower right, uncancelled at Honolulu where horizontal pair of United States 1851 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A) was affixed over the 13c stamp, left uncancelled in Hawaii, red “Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Jul. 11” (1854) circular datestamp on buff cover to William Moore at Reed’s Ferry, Merrimack, New Hampshire, 3c pair has ample margins to slightly in a top, lifted to reveal 13c stamp and hinged in place, edgewear and a few small tears in cover, but the stamps are unaffected and soundVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND VERY RARE “PASTE-OVER” MIXED FRANKING WITH THE 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III ISSUE PREPAYING POSTAGE AND THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE PAIR APPLIED BY THE HONOLULU POST OFFICE TO CREDIT THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS SHARE OF POSTAGE.
This cover was carried on the American schooner Restless, which cleared Honolulu on July 13, 1854, and arrived in San Francisco on August 9. From there it was carried by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s Oregon, departing on August 16 and arriving at Panama City on August 31 after a stop at Acapulco. The mail was carried across the isthmus to Aspinwall, and from there it was carried by U.S. Mail Steamship Company’s Empire City, departing on September 2 and arriving in New York on September 12.
The 13c stamp prepaid the 5c Hawaiian postage, 2c ship captain’s fee and 6c transcontinental rate. The short-lived practice of applying United States stamps (6c postage) over the 13c Hawaiian stamp was likely intended to avoid confusion over whether or not U.S. postage had been prepaid. The postmaster in Honolulu affixed the U.S. stamps to cover up the Hawaiian postage, and the letter was postmarked in San Francisco without applying a “Ship” or rate mark. The 2c ship captain’s fee was paid by the Honolulu post office.
Fred Gregory records eight such paste-over frankings (plus one earlier Missionary cover). There are two other covers from the Moore correspondence, one with a similar paste-up (Honolulu July 29) and the other with a 13c stamp (Honolulu July 12) and “Ship 22” double-rate due marking applied at San Francisco. All three were carried on the same vessels from San Francisco to New York via Panama.
Ex West, Admiral Harris, Rust, Pietsch and Gross. Illustrated in Meyer-Harris book (page 39). With 1988 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1857, 5c on 13c Dark Red (7). Type I surcharge applied by Alvah Clark (Postmaster Jackson’s clerk), large margins to clear, vertical creases at right, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins to barely in, small vertical tear at bottom right, red “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Jan. 19” (1858) circular datestamp, both stamps left Honolulu uncancelled, tied by “San Francisco Cal. Feb. 20” circular datestamp on cover to Elias Wilcox in Bakersville Conn., cover with some toned spots and edgewearVERY FINE APPEARING COVER WITH THE HAWAIIAN 1857 “5” ON 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III PROVISIONAL STAMP USED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE. ONE OF TEN SUCH COMBINATIONS RECORDED BY FRED GREGORY. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO COVERS WITH THE 5-CENT SURCHARGE USED IN 1858.
This cover was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu Jan. 20, 1858, and arrived in San Francisco Feb. 7. From there it was carried on the PMSC John L. Stephens, which departed San Francisco Feb. 20 and arrived in Panama March 6. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC Star of the West, which departed Aspinwall March 6 and arrived in New York March 15.
The 5c provisional surcharge was necessary due to a shortage of 5c stamps just after the transition from Postmaster Whitney to Jackson. Most were made by Jackson’s clerk, Alvah Clark, around the start of 1857. New supplies of the 5c stamp (Scott No. 8) were received at the end of June 1857.
The Gregory census lists 18 covers with the 5c on 13c surcharge. Ten are used with the 12c stamp. This is the latest such use, and one of only two examples of the 5c surcharge used in 1858. It was written to Elias Wilcox, a member of the prominent Wilcox missionary family.
Gregory census no. 17 (illustrated and described in Volume II, page 59). Ex Walske. With 1963 and 2005 P.F. certificates. Scott value $45,000.00.
HAWAII, 1857, 5c Blue, Thin White Wove (8a). Position 2 with line thru "Honolulu" at left, large to ample margins, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins to just barely in outer frameline at upper left, intense shade, red "Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Apr. 21" (1858) circular datestamp on light buff cover to Miss Mary E. Hastings in South Hadley Mass., stamps uncancelled when they left Honolulu, both tied by light strike of "San Francisco Cal. Jun. 5" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE AND 1857 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III SECOND PRINTING FROM POSITION 2--THE LINE THRU "HONOLULU" TRANSFER VARIETY.
This cover was carried on the schooner Liholiho, which departed Honolulu on Apr. 26, 1858 (mail was datestamped on Apr. 21) and arrived in San Francisco on May 21 (mail for the East Coast was datestamped on June 5).
Ex Col. Green and Golden. Signed Ashbrook.
HAWAII, 1861, 5c Blue, Thin Bluish Wove (9). Large margins to clear on three sides, clear to just in at right, tied by red square grid on small cover to Honolulu, stamp with pre-use vertical crease, Fine appearance, a rare use of the 5c Kamehameha III issue either intra-island on Oahu or from another island to Honolulu, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value $4,500.00
HAWAII, 1868, 5c Blue, Re-Issue (10). Complete sheet of 20 with sheet margins all around, identified by David Golden as third printing, original gum, h.r., bit heavy horizontal crease between second and third rows, few small thin spots and toned spots, otherwise Very Fine, ex Taylor, Golden and Middendorf, Scott value as blocks and singles
HAWAII, 1859, 1c Light Blue, Bluish White (12). Plate 2-A, Type IV (Westerberg Position 8) with battered numeral, unused (no gum), large to ample margins all around, beautiful pastel Light Blue shade and sharp impression, tiny tear at top and two small thin spots, both of which are negligibleVERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 ONE-CENT BLUE HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ISSUE.
With 1984 P.F. certificate.
HAWAII, 1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Type III (Westerberg Position 1), huge margins to barely touched at bottom right, dark shade nicely complemented by red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval handstamp, small filled thin spot at centerVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 2-CENT BLUE HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ISSUE.
Ex Wilcox, Pietsch and Steiner. With 2009 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1863, 1c Black, Grayish (15). Plate 4-B, Type X (Westerberg Position 10), unused (no gum), enormous margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem
HAWAII, 1859-63, 2c Black, Grayish (16). Plate 3-E, Type III (Westerberg Position 1), large to huge margins, unobtrusive strike of grid cancel, small thin spots, expertly sealed tear at top, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Crocker and Atherton
HAWAII, 1864, 1c Black (19). Plate 6-A, Type I (Westerberg Position 1), unused (no gum), large margins, bright paper, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Lapham and Geisler, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
HAWAII, 1865, 5c Blue on Blue (21). Plate 9-A, Type II (Westerberg Position 10), original gum, large even margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, a beautiful example of this issue, ex Geisler, with 1999 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1865, 5c Blue on Blue, "Interisland" (22). Four singles, Plate 12-A, Types VII, III, V and I (Westerberg Positions 3, 8, 9 and 10), full margins to just in, each with bold cancel including three with grids and one with target, one on small piece, few small faults including one on piece with small holes, faint toning, Fine appearance, ex Crocker and Atherton
HAWAII, 1865, 5c Blue on Blue, "Interisland", Tete Beche (22a). Plate 12-A, Types VI and I (Westerberg Positions 10 and 2), large margins all around, large part original gum, some toning from gum shows thru, vertical crease between stamps, another affecting one stamp, small thin spot and corner crease in right stampVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT BLUE "INTERISLAND" NUMERAL ISSUE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate
HAWAII, 1864, 1c Black, Laid (23). Plate 8-A, Ty. VIII (Westerberg Position 7), unused (no gum), large to huge margins, Extremely Fine
HAWAII, 1864, 1c Black, Laid (23). Plate 8-A, Types II/IV (Westerberg Positions 1/3), vertical pair, original gum, h.r., large margins to full, light horizontal creases, Very Fine appearance, ex Crocker and Atherton, Scott value as singles
HAWAII, 1865, 1c Black, Tete-Beche (23b). Plate 8-A, Types I-IXc (Westerberg Positions 2-10), unused (no gum), huge margins to full including wide sheet margin, bright shade, few faint toned spots above the stamps of no consequenceEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1865 ONE-CENT HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ON LAID PAPER. THIS IS THE ONLY TETE-BECHE MULTIPLE CONTAINING THE RESET STATE OF TYPE IX.
The type at left, “Hawaiian Postage”, is known in three states on this plate. State A only shows the “Ha” and “e”. State B shows only the “Ha”, with the rest of the type dropped out. State C shows the type fixed so all letters are visible.
According to the Westerberg book, this was the first plate with the odd numbered types on the right side of the plates. This and other characteristics indicate it was the last plate used before the form was reset for the first 5c Numeral. In the order of printing, it follows the 2c, Scott 24.
Ex Ishikawa, Pietsch and Gross. With 2020 P.F. certificate
HAWAII, 1864, 2c Black, Laid (24). Plate 7-A, Type IV (Westerberg Position 4), unused (no gum), large and even margins, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90)