HAWAII, 1853, 5c Blue, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (5, 6). Both with three full to ample margins, just in to clear at bottom, tied by well-struck red “Honolulu*U.S. Postage Paid*May 27” circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined “Hilo May 13, 1856” and written by Benjamin Pitman, Postmaster of Hilo, addressed to Mrs. Sally Pitman (his mother) in Boston “Care of Mills & Forristall, No. 6, 7 & 8 Market Sqr.” (Sally Ann Pitman and Philander Forristall were married), sent from Hilo to Honolulu where the 5c and 13c stamps were cancelled and a United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins to in at upper right, was affixed, tied by “San Francisco Cal. 20 Jun.” circular datestamp, letter mentions lava flow from erupting volcano, 12c stamp slight overall toning and small tear across bottom right corner, 13c small tear at upper left

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER BEARING THE 5-CENT AND 13-CENT 1853 KAMEHAMEHA III FIRST PRINTINGS, SENT FROM HILO TO MASSACHUSETTS AFTER THE APRIL 1855 RATE CHANGE RENDERED THE 13-CENT INSUFFICIENT FOR ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.

This letter was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu May 27, 1856, and arrived in San Francisco June 16. From there it was carried on the PMSC Sonora, which departed June 20 and arrived in Panama July 4. After crossing the isthmus, it was carried on the USMSC George Law, which departed Aspinwall July 5 and arrived in New York on July 14. 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.

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.

The writer, Benjamin Pitman, was the son of Benjamin Cox Pitman, who was married to Chiefess Kino’ole o Liliha. The younger Benjamin Pitman started the Volcano House and owned large plantations in Hawaii. He also served as customs collector and the postmaster at Hilo. Around 1861 he sold his plantations and returned to Massachusetts.

Illustrated in Meyer-Harris (page 42). Gregory Census No. 13-21 (Fig. 16-21). Ex Henry C. Gibson, Adm. Frederic R. Harris, Philip G. Rust, Leonard Kapiloff, George J. Kramer and Steven C. Walske. Signed Ashbrook.

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