1851, 2c Blue (1). Crocker Type II, deep shade, large margins to just touched, bold strike of large grid of squares cancel, expertly repaired at top left adding only a small portion of the design, small tear at right

A VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE LEGENDARY HAWAIIAN 1851 2-CENT MISSIONARY, ONE OF PHILATELY'S RAREST STAMPS. ONLY FIFTEEN EXAMPLES OF THIS WORLD-RENOWNED RARITY ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH TEN ARE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE MUSEUMS.

The first postage stamps of the Hawaiian Islands are known to collectors as the "Missionaries" because of their use on mail sent by early missionary settlers on the islands in the 19th century. The Missionaries were authorized by the Honolulu postmaster, Henry M. Whitney, a prominent merchant and printer. They were printed in 1851 at the offices of Honolulu's newspaper, The Polynesian, using printer's type currently on hand.

Stamps were printed from a "plate" consisting of two subjects. The left stamp was Type I and the right stamp was Type II. The two types can be distinguished by the position of the letters in the top label: in Type I the letter "P" of "Postage" is slightly indented; in Type II it is directly beneath the letter "H" of "Hawaiian".

The Missionaries consist of three denominations: 2c, 5c and two styles of 13c. The 2c is the rarest. It was used primarily on newspapers and other printed matter which was often destroyed. Its other function was to prepay the 2c ship fee on mail to the United States -- the only recorded 2c cover demonstrates this ship fee usage.

Fifteen 2c Missionary stamps are recorded, including the unique unused stamp and the unique cover. They can be seen at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/HI1/HI1.pdf . Of the thirteen used copies, five are in museums, leaving eight used off-cover stamps available to collectors (including one on piece). None of the eight available used copies is entirely sound.

Census No. 1-II-CAN-10. Ex N. C. Nash, New England Stamp Co. (1896), C. H. Colket, J. M. Paul (1910), P. Parrish, D. L. Pickman (1913), Warren H. Colson, Admiral Harris and Isleham. Illustrated in the Meyer-Harris book on p. 96. With 1995 P.F. certificate.

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