HAWAII, 1866, 5c Blue (32). Tied by large 7-bar grid cancel, used with United States 1861 10c Green (68), clear strikes of red “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Oct. 5” (1868) circular datestamp and red "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp on cover to Richmond Indiana, 10c stamp cancelled by quartered cork, "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 19" circular datestamp, original contents dated Oct. 4, 1868

VERY FINE. A CHOICE AND DESIRABLE “HAWAIIAN STEAM SERVICE” COVER WITH THE 1866 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA V AND UNITED STATES 10-CENT 1861 ISSUE MIXED FRANKING.

This was carried on the Idaho, which departed Honolulu Oct. 5, 1868, and arrived in San Francisco Oct. 18. According to the Gregory book, this was the last regular North Pacific Transportation Company sailing to use the “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid” marking.

During the contract steamer period, mail addressed to the U.S. was charged 5c Hawaiian and 10c U.S. postage, regardless of destination. As such, lower rates to San Francisco no longer applied. The “Hawaiian Steam Service” oval was applied regularly to contract steamship mail from November 1867 to August 1869.

Gregory Census no. 45. Illustrated in Gregory (Vol. 3, p. 75). With 1978 H.P.S. and 1979 Friedl certificates. Scott Retail as No. 32 on cover with any stamp of 1861-68 Issue is $5,000.00

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