1865, 5c Bluish Black, Grayish White, "Hawaiian Postage" (21b). Plate 9-A, Type V (Westerberg Position 5), unused (no gum), large even margins, a tiny negligible thin speck shows in fluid

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE BLUISH-BLACK 5-CENT "HAWAIIAN POSTAGE" NUMERAL, SCOTT 21b.

This stamp is printed on thin yellowish white wove paper, which is similar in color and texture to Scott 20 but slightly thinner. The color of the printed design is superficially black; however, when held to intense light the ink shows a hybrid mixture of blue and black, which suggests that the printer was experimenting with ink and paper colors when this stamp was printed. Whether it is a proof (no Numeral proofs are known) or an issued stamp (only one other example is known, used and defective), we cannot say.

Ex Crocker, Atherton and Honolulu Advertiser.

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