• Login (enter your user name) and Password
    Please Login. You are NOT Logged in.

    Quick Search:

  • To see new sales and other StampAuctionNetwork® news in your Facebook newsfeed then Like us on Facebook!

Login to Use StampAuctionNetwork®.
New Member? Click "Register".

StampAuctionNetwork® Extended Features
 
You are not logged in. Please Login so that we can determine your registration status with this firm. If you have never registered, please register by pressing the [Quick Signup (New to StampAuctionNetwork)] button. Then Login. Listen to Live Audio!


 
logo

The Steven C. Walske Collection of Hawaiian Postal History continued...

Third Treaty Period
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
26 c ImageHAWAII, 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 and George J. Kramer. Signed Ashbrook. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $21,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
27 c ImageHAWAII, 1857, 5c on 13c Dark Red (7). Type I surcharge applied by Alvah Clark (Postmaster Jackson’s clerk), large margins to clear, vertical creases at right, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), large margins to barely in, small vertical tear at bottom right, red Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Jan. 19” (1858) circular datestamp, both stamps left Honolulu uncancelled, tied by San Francisco Cal. Feb. 20” circular datestamp on cover to Elias Wilcox in Bakersville Conn., cover with some toned spots and edgewear

VERY FINE APPEARING COVER WITH THE HAWAIIAN 1857 5” ON 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III PROVISIONAL STAMP USED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE. ONE OF TEN SUCH COMBINATIONS RECORDED BY FRED GREGORY. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO COVERS WITH THE 5-CENT SURCHARGE USED IN 1858.

This cover was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu Jan. 20, 1858, and arrived in San Francisco Feb. 7. From there it was carried on the PMSC John L. Stephens, which departed San Francisco Feb. 20 and arrived in Panama March 6. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC Star of the West, which departed Aspinwall March 6 and arrived in New York March 15.

The 5c provisional surcharge was necessary due to a shortage of 5c stamps just after the transition from Postmaster Whitney to Jackson. Most were made by Jackson’s clerk, Alvah Clark, around the start of 1857. New supplies of the 5c stamp (Scott No. 8) were received at the end of June 1857.

The Gregory census lists 18 covers with the 5c on 13c surcharge. Ten are used with the 12c stamp. This is the latest such use, and one of only two examples of the 5c surcharge used in 1858. It was written to Elias Wilcox, a member of the prominent Wilcox missionary family.

Gregory Census No. 17 (illustrated and described in Volume II, page 59). With 1963 and 2005 P.F. certificates. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 20,000-30,000

SOLD for $26,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
28 c ImageHAWAII, 1857, 5c Blue, Thin White Wove, Line Through Honolulu” (8a). Position 2, large margins all around, tiny scissors-cut at lower left, tied by red Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Aug. 31” circular datestamp, used with United States 1851 12c Black (17), three large margins, clear to just in at top, both stamps tied by San Francisco Cal. Oct. 1” (1857) circular datestamp on buff cover to Mr. Lafayette Strobridge in Peacham Vt., trivial edgewear

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH THE 1857 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III SECOND PRINTING FROM POSITION 2 -- THE LINE THRU HONOLULU” TRANSFER VARIETY -- AND UNITED STATES 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE. ONLY FOUR COVERS WITH THIS VARIETY ARE RECORDED BY FRED GREGORY.

This cover was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu Aug. 31, 1857, and arrived in San Francisco Sep. 24. It was then carried on the PMSC Golden Gate, which departed San Francisco on Oct. 5, but broke down, so the mails were transferred to the PMSC Golden Age, which arrived in Panama Oct. 24. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC Star of the West, which departed Aspinwall Oct. 24 and arrived in New York Nov. 4.

Fred Gregory records only four covers with the 5c Kamehameha III Second Printing with the Line through Honolulu” variety. All are used with the United States 12c 1851 Issue. This cover is illustrated and discussed in Gregory Volume II, page 71.

Ex Pietsch. With 2007 P.F. certificate. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
29 c ImageHAWAII, 1861, 5c Blue, Thin Bluish Wove, Line Through Honolulu” (9a). Position 2, large margins to ample, small tear at bottom right and light horizontal crease at top, used with United States 1861 12c Black (69), pulled perf at top right and tiny surface scrape, both stamps left Hawaii uncancelled, red Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid May 16” circular datestamp at left, stamps cancelled and tied by cogwheel and San Francisco Cal. Jun. 3, 1863” double-circle datestamp on cover to Miss Olive Rowland, Perry O., with original enclosure datelined Hana April 26th 1863”, barely reduced at right, gently cleaned

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED COVER BEARING THE 1861 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III THIRD PRINTING WITH THE LINE THROUGH HONOLULU” VARIETY.

This cover was carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu May 16, 1863, and arrived in San Francisco June 3.

Fred Gregory’s census of Scott 9 covers, available at http://www.hawaiianstamps.com/latetreatys9.html , records a total of 50 examples of Scott 9 on cover. This is the only cover with the 5c Kamehameha III Third Printing Line through Honolulu” variety.

Ex Kramer. With 2003 P.F. certificate. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
30 c ImageHAWAII, Samoa to United States via Honolulu -- Forwarded by/H.T. Fitch./Honolulu”. Bold strike of red octagonal handstamp on bright buff cover to John R. Thornton, New Bedford Mass., receipt notation at lower left Capt. Fuller, Navigator Islands, July 18/55. rec’d Jan. 7, 1856”, endorsed by sender Per First Vessell” and carried privately to Honolulu where red forwarder’s handstamp applied, BARK FRACIS PALMER” straightline handstamp (missing n” in Francis”) applied in Honolulu by Fitch, carried on that vessel which departed Honolulu Dec. 1, 1855, and arrived in San Francisco Dec. 14, Forwarded by G. B. Post & Co., San Francisco” backstamp, clearly struck San Francisco Cal. 20 Dec.” circular datestamp with matching SHIP” and 12” handstamps, trivial edgewear

VERY FINE. A PHENOMENAL COVER FROM SAMOA (NAVIGATOR ISLANDS) TO MASSACHUSETTS VIA HAWAII, WITH BOTH THE H.T. FITCH OF HONOLULU AND G.B. POST & CO. OF SAN FRANCISCO FORWARDER MARKINGS. A UNIQUE POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT.

The sender, Capt. William C. Fuller, was captain of the whaler Ocean, and the addressee, John R. Thornton, was the ship’s owner. The ship left New Bedford on May 27, 1853, and returned June 29, 1856, not long after this letter was received. The delay between the origin date (July 18, 1855) and the departing trip from Hawaii (December 1) indicates that the mail was given to a whaling vessel on its return trip to Honolulu.

After arriving in San Francisco on Dec. 14, this was carried on the PMSC Sonora, which departed San Francisco Dec. 20, 1855, and arrived in Panama on Jan. 3, 1856. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC George Law (renamed Central America in 1857), which departed Aspinwall Jan. 15 and arrived in New York Jan. 24.

Illustrated and discussed in Gregory book (Volume II, pages 398-400).

Ex Knapp, J. David Baker and Kramer. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $19,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
31 c ImageG. B. Post & Co. Clear strike of San Francisco octagonal forwarder’s marking at lower left of United States 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U18) to Edmund J. Everett in Wrentham Mass., sent by Abijah P. Everett, entire cancelled by San Francisco Cal. 21 Jan.” (1856) circular datestamp, carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu Dec. 28, 1855, and arrived in San Francisco Jan. 21, 1856, few light file folds and some minor overall wear, Very Fine, Everett did business as a forwarder several years earlier (1851-53) and must have made arrangements for this to be sent to San Francisco to G. B. Post where it was put into the mails, Gregory Fig. 20-5 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction
32 c ImageHonolulu Hawaiian-Islands Nov. 18. Bold strike of circular datestamp on blue 1858 folded letter to Messrs. White & Wilson in San Francisco, sender’s directive pr Yankee” at upper left, neat strike of San Francisco Cal. Dec. 2, 1858” circular datestamp, partly clear strike of Ship 6” clamshell handstamp at upper right, fresh and Very Fine, carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu Nov. 18 and arrived in San Francisco Dec. 1, ex Tows (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 300-400

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction
33 c ImageHonolulu U.S. Postage Paid Oct. 3 (1859). Bold strike of red circular datestamp on folded letter datelined Puuiki, Hana, Maui, 7th Sept. 1859” and addressed to R.W. Cameron of the Australian Packet Line in New York, red San Francisco Cal. Paid 12 Oct. 24, 1859” integral-rate circular datestamp, also with bold strike of OVERLAND” straightline handstamp at upper left (Type I), contents from John Rae includes postal-related comment I am district judge here, please direct to me as Lunakanawai as I believe former letters have miscarried through the mistakes of the natives and they will not mistake that title”, some slight wear, minor internal hinge reinforcements

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE OVERLAND” STRAIGHTLINE HANDSTAMP ON A PREPAID STAMPLESS LETTER FROM HAWAII.

This cover was analyzed by Michael Perlman and Richard Frajola in their article on the overland mail directives published in the June 2011 issue of Western Express. The cover was prepaid 17c in cash (5c Hawaiian postage, 2c ship fee plus 10c transcontinental postage). It was carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu on Oct. 3, 1859 and arrived in San Francisco Oct. 21. This was one day late for the twice-monthly Panama steamer departure. The cover was then handstamped OVERLAND” by the San Francisco post office to identify the chosen route. It was carried by the Butterfield stage service to St. Louis via Los Angeles, which arrived in St. Louis on Nov. 18. The article compares transit time by steamship via Panama -- mails on the steamship that left Oct. 20 arrived in New York on Nov. 21. Perlman records 14 covers from Hawaii with the OVERLAND” handstamp, including five carried on this same trip of the Yankee. This is the only stampless cover.

Ex Krug, Rust and Pietsch. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction
34 c ImageHAWAII, Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Dec. 5. Clear strike of red circular datestamp on cover to Capt. Asa R. Gifford in Edgartown Mass., red San Francisco Cal. 12 Paid Dec. 26, 1859” integral-rate circular datestamp, barely reduced at left, Extremely Fine, a pretty cover, carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu Dec. 16 and arrived in San Francisco Dec. 24, then overland by Butterfield stagecoach, ex Tows and Wiltsee (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction
35 c ImageHAWAII, Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Apr. 25. Clear strike of red circular datestamp on cover to Mr. Gethro Ripley in Edgartown Mass., with original enclosure datelined On board the ship Erie at Lahaina, Sandwich Is., April 8th 1860”, red San Francisco Cal. 12 Paid May 21, 1860” integral-rate circular datestamp (latest recorded use of this marking according to Gregory, see Fig. 16-45), interesting whaling content, enclosure with some scotch tape reinforcement, cover with tiny edgewear, Very Fine, written on board a whaling ship off the coast of Lahaina, carried on the Francis Palmer, which departed Honolulu May 1 and arrived in San Francisco May 19, then by overland stagecoach leaving May 21 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction
36 c ImageHAWAII, Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Sep. 15 (1858). Red circular datestamp on cover to Paris, France, magenta 32” prepaid rate (2c ship fee to San Francisco plus 30c double weight to France), red San Francisco Cal. Paid Oct. 5, 1858” circular datestamp, red New York Paid 16 Oct. 30” credit datestamp, red boxed PD” handstamp, Havre and receiving backstamps, Very Fine, scarce use to France, carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu Sep. 15 and arrived in San Francisco Sep. 27, in New York this was put on Vanderbilt’s Ariel, which departed Oct. 30 and arrived in Havre Nov. 19 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. 500-750

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

Previous Page, Next Page or Return to Table of Contents

StampAuctionNetwork® is a registered trademark of Droege Computing Services, Inc
StampAuctionCentral and StampAuctionNetwork® are
Copyright © 1994-2025 Droege Computing Services, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Mailing Address: 20 West Colony Place
Suite 120, Durham NC 27705
Back to Top of Page