Harnden & Co. Clear strike of circle handstamp in black, "Harnden & Co./of Liverpool/Have Paid Postage/TO LIVERPOOL/TRANS-ATLANTIC/TO BE COLLECTED/by HARNDEN & Co. of U.S." with manuscript charges, on folded letter datelined "Honolulu July 24, 1848," sender's route directive inside and at lower left "via China", from S.H. Williams who writes "The recent discovery of a Gold Mine in California, which promises extraordinary results, has induced a brisk demand for iron, clothing, shoes and we think provisions of all kinds will soon follow from the immense concentration of population in consequence of the discovery, and the neglect of crops... We think the Island will derive much advantage from this mania for Gold Digging, by taking from us a certain kind of population of no very reputable character as well as creating a demand for our surplus stock of mdze. The whaling fleet will congregate here from fear of desertion of their crews on the coast, and the impossibility of recruiting there while the excitement lasts." etc., sent via China, this letter was charged 2 shillings for the Hawaii to Liverpool postage, and 2 shillings for the transatlantic transit, with 4 shillings collected in Boston, docketing on back indicates received on Dec. 15, 1848

VERY FINE. A RARE USE FROM HAWAII TO BOSTON, SENT VIA CHINA AND ENGLAND RATHER THAN VIA SAN FRANCISCO OR MEXICO. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A CONTEMPORARY REFERENCE TO THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN CALIFORNIA.

According to Fred Gregory's unpublished manuscript, letters from Hawaii were sometimes sent to the United States on ships traveling to Asia, and from there to England and across the Atlantic to the East Coast. This route via China and England was a shorter distance than the sailing route around Cape Horn. The British P & O Line started running service to China in September 1845, further decreasing transit times. The letter offered here was likely carried to China on the American schooner Indiana, which cleared Honolulu on July 25, 1848.

News of the gold discovered at John Sutter's sawmill on February 24, 1848, spread slowly. It was Mormon Elder Sam Brannan, a shrewd San Francisco businessman, who set off the rush for gold on May 12, 1848, when he was heard shouting in public, "Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!", after having spent weeks quietly buying up large quantities of any merchandise miners would need.

Ex Ishikawa and Honolulu Advertiser. With 1996 P.F. certificate.

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