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Sale 65: The Gary Peters Collection of Hawaii

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Hawaiian Postal History

Lots 1-10 Lots 11-20 Lot 21

Lot 11    

"Care of Thomas Spencer", manuscript endorsement on buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, three margins, cancelled by manuscript squiggle and tied by red "Holmes Hole Ms. Aug 18" cds to Orlando Robinson on Bark Valparaiso at Honolulu, manuscript "25¢" rating apparently for forwarding services, couple small edge flaws, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Pietsch; signed and handstamped as genuine by Ashbrook.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE INBOUND USE FROM HOLMES HOLE TO HONOLULU IN CARE OF FORWARDER THOMAS SPENCER.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 12    

Forwarded By Thomas Spencer, Ship Chandler, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands., framed octagonal backstamp on 1856 buff cover to Charles P. Williams at Stonington Conn. with red "Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Mar 5" cds (MH# 236.05 (I), Gregory 28(1)), entered U.S. mails with "San Francisco Cal. 5 Apr" cds and red "Paid" straightline handstamp with red manuscript "52" cent rating for five times the new 10¢ rate plus 2¢ ship fee, reverse with manuscript "2½ oz" notation; cover refolded and reduced, light staining, Fine.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH THE THOMAS SPENCER FORWARDERS HANDSTAMP.

Letter was carried by American bark "Yankee" from Honolulu Mar. 5th to San Francisco arriving Mar. 20th. Cover postmarked on day of departure from San Francisco on PMSS "Golden Age", which departed Apr. 5th to Panama, then by USMSC "Illinois" from Aspinwall May 19th to New York arriving May 27th.

Capt. Thomas Spencer operated a ship chandlery in Honolulu from 1851 until 1861 when he moved to Hilo. B.F. Bolles moved into the site from Lahaina when Spencer vacated it.

The four recorded Thomas Spencer covers are:
1. 1855-11-30, Honolulu to Messrs. Lawrence & Co. in New London Conn. by Am. bark "Frances Palmer", ex-Golden, currently in Richard Malmgren Collection
2. 1855-12-28, Honolulu to New Bedford Mass. by Am. bark "Yankee", ex-Advertiser
3. 1856-03-05, Honolulu to Charles P. Williams at Stonington Conn. by Am. bark "Yankee", the cover offered here.
4. 1857-01-21, Honolulu to New Bedford Mass. by Am. bark "Fanny Major", ex-Advertiser.

Realized: $2,000

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Lot 13    

Forwarded by H.T. Fitch, Honolulu, bold strike of red octagonal handstamp on buff cover to John R. Thornton, New Bedford Mass., receipt docketing "Chs. Nichols, Navigator, 7/12. 55, Recd. 1/56" at lower left, carried privately to Honolulu where red forwarders handstamp applied by Fitch and matching "BARK FRANCIS PALMER" straightline handstamp (missing "n" in "Francis"), carried on that vessel which departed Honolulu Dec. 1st 1855 to San Francisco arriving Dec. 14th, reverse with "Forwarded by G. B. Post & Co., San Francisco" forwarders backstamp, entered U.S. mails with "San Francisco Cal. 20 Dec." cds with matching "SHIP" and "12" rating handstamps for the 10¢ rate for over 3,000 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate    $10,000 - 15,000.

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.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED STRIKES OF THE H.T. FITCH & CO. FORWARDER HANDSTAMP.

Samoa was called "Navigator Islands" by European explorers before the 20th century because of the Samoans' seafaring skills. The sender of this cover, Capt. Charles Nichols was master of the whale ship "Sea Gull" of New Bedford and the addressee, J.R. Thornton, was the ship's owner. The ship left New Bedford on June 9th 1853 and returned Aug. 26th 1857.

This cover, along with the July 18th cover (census #4) from Capt. Fuller of the whale ship "Ocean" that was also in the vicinity of Navigator Island, were probably carried by the American bark "Sky Lark" from Tahiti to Honolulu arriving Nov. 12th. These two covers, along with two others (census #2 and #5), were all taken by Fitch directly to the "Francis Palmer" in the G.B. Post letter bag bypassing the Honolulu post office. After arriving in San Francisco on Dec. 14th, this cover was carried on the PMSC "Sonora" departing San Francisco Dec. 20th to Panama arriving Jan. 3rd. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC "George Law" (renamed "Central America" in 1857) from Aspinwall Jan. 15th to New York arriving Jan. 24th.

References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 on proof. II 398-400, fig. 20-10.

The five recorded strikes of the H.T. Fitch forwarders handstamps:
1. 1854 Oct. 28, blue strike, Honolulu, Hawaii by "Restless" to San Francisco Cal., Fred Gregory collection.
2. 1855 May 12., red strike, French Rock (Pacific Ocean) via Honolulu Dec. 1st by "Francis Palmer" to New Bedford Mass., ex- Advertiser, currently Robert Hill collection.
3. 1855 Jul. 12, red strike, Navigator Islands (Samoa) via Honolulu Dec. 1st by "Francis Palmer" to New Bedford Mass., ex-Pietsch, the cover offered here.
4. 1855 Jul. 18, red strike, Navigator Islands (Samoa) via Honolulu Dec. 1st by "Francis Palmer" to New Bedford Mass., ex-Knapp, J. David Baker, Kramer and Walske.
5. 1855 Nov. 29, red strike, Honolulu, Hawaii Dec. 1st by "Francisco Palmer" to San Francisco Cal., Fred Gregory collection.

Realized: $11,500

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Lot 14    

"Forwarded by Gilman & Co., Lahaina", red truncated box handstamp on November 30, 1855 illustrated packing slip for Capt. Daniel Tucker of the Ship Montezuma for carriage on the Bark Louisa from Lahaina to New Bedford Mass.; slip torn vertically through marking and hinged, marking enhanced with red pencil, Fine, ex-Van Dyke.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF TWO RECORDED STRIKES OF THIS GILMAN & CO. LAHAINA FORWARDERS HANDSTAMP.

The two recorded strikes:
1. 1855 Nov. 29, red strike on reverse of packing slip, ex-Advertiser, currently in the Malmgren collection.
2. 1855 Nov. 30, red strike on reverse of packing slip, the example offered here.

References: Illustrated as listing example in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 on proof. III-68, no. 14.

Realized: $1,100

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Lot 15    

Gilman & Co., Lahaina Maui., Hawaiian Islands, colorless embossed oval on flap of buff cover to Capt. Daniel Tinker, care of S.N. West Esgr., New Bedford Mass. bearing 3¢ dull red, type I (25) tied by "New-York Aug 13" cds, manuscript "Lahaina Maui, Sandwich Islands" docketing, pencil "1857" year designation; flap and embossing with hinge mending, F.-V.F., ex-Chase, Krug, Advertiser.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS EMBOSSED GILMAN & CO. LAHAINA FLAP OVAL.

This cover was carried by American ship "Aspasia" from Honolulu April 4th to New York arriving August 12th 1857. It entered the mails the following day with a New York August 13th postmark.

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Lot 16    

Forwarded by Bolles & Co., Lahaina Maui, clear strike of red truncated box on cover to Adamsville R.I., red "Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, Nov 24" cds (HON HI35), black "San Francisco Cal '12' Dec 21, 1860" integral due cds for the 10¢ transcontinental rate plus 2¢ ship fee; cover worthy of proper restoration, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE BOLLES & CO. FORWARDERS MARKING.

Benjamin F. Bolles arrived and entered business at Lahaina in 1848 establishing a ship chandlery and general merchandise store that operated from 1848 to 1861. Starting in 1851, he was closely associated with Gorham Gilman and in 1861 he moved to Honolulu.

Letter was likely written by a whaler who deposited the letter with Bolles & Co. who took it to the Lahaina post office. The letter was sent to Honolulu by an interisland schooner and from there it was carried by the American Bark "Comet" departing Nov. 26th to San Francisco arriving Dec. 18th. It was postmarked Dec. 21st for the departure of the Butterfield overland mail to St. Joseph Mo. via Los Angeles, El Paso and Ft. Smith and then carried east on the railroad.

References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 on proof. II-364, fig. 19-17.

Realized: $3,750

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Lot 17    

Forwarded by H. Hackfeld & Co., Honolulu H.I., black forwarder's oval on back flap of Sept. 24, 1867 folded business letter from Hackfeld & Co. to Macondray & Co. at San Francisco Cal., endorsed "Per Str. Idaho" at top left and private red crayon "30" triple-weight rating with U.S. 30¢ orange (71) partially place over and later tied by two strikes of four-ring cancel, red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Sep 25" cds (Gregory HON US34), carried as endorsed by COMSS Co. Idaho from Honolulu Sep. 25th to San Francisco arriving Oct. 8th, "San Francisco Cal. Oct 8" arrival duplex with cogwheel cancel, pencil "456" box number; minor wear and light toning, Very Fine, ex-Advertiser; with 1996 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $10,000 - 15,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ 1861 ISSUE COVER SENT ON THE INAUGURAL STEAMSHIP SAILING OF THE "IDAHO" FROM HAWAII.

The California, Oregon and Mexico Steamship Co. began their steamship mail contract operation with the U.S. Post Office Department on September 5, 1867 when the "Idaho" sailed from San Francisco, arriving in Honolulu on Sep. 17 with 217 letters. The rate for letters was Hawaii 5¢ and U.S. 10¢ per ½ ounce, with this triple-weight cover showing Hawaiian postage paid in cash (3x 5¢ =15¢) and U.S. 30¢ orange (71) prepaying triple the 10¢ steamship rate. This letter was carried on the inaugural return voyage which departed Sep. 25th to San Francisco arriving Oct. 8th with $26.84 in sea postage paid.

The six recorded covers carried on the inaugural return voyage of the "Idaho":
1. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to San Leandro Cal. with #68 (2) prepaying double weight. (Gregory collection)
2. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to San Francisco with #71 prepaying triple weight, ex-Advertiser, Peters, cover offered here.
3. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to Bangor Me. stampless with "20" cent due for double rate. (Richard Malmgren Collection)
4. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to Boston Ma. with #68 pair prepaying the double rate.
5. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to McEwensville Pa. with #68 prepaying single rate.
6. Sep. 25, 1867, Honolulu to Westfield N.Y. with #68 prepaying single rate.

References: Illustrated and discussed in Gregory's Hawaiian Foreign Mail to 1870, p. II 222-223, fig. 17-79.

Realized: $8,000

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Lot 18    

Forwarded by Wm. G. Irwin & Co., Shipping and Commission Merchants, Honolulu, H.I., large fancy purple oval backstamp on Dillingham & Co. Honolulu, H.I. corner card cover to Sacramento Cal. bearing 5¢ blue (39) tied by San Francisco "FD" in circle handstamp (Foreign Department) as a loose letter, endorsed "pr. S.S. 'Suez' " at top left, reverse with "San Francisco Cal. Pd. All Aug 31" arrival cds and "Sacramento City, Cal. Rec'd. Aug 31" arrival cds; small flaw, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

A RARE USE OF THE WM. G. IRWIN & CO. HONOLULU FORWARDERS OVAL IN PURPLE.

Realized: $375

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Lot 19    

Forwarded by Wm. G. Irwin & Co., Shipping and Commission Merchants, Honolulu, H.I., large fancy purple oval backstamp on cover bearing 1¢ yellow (74) tied by four-rings cancel to Kilauea Sugar Co. at Kilauea, Kauai, reverse with red "Kilauea, Kauai, Aug 18, 1894" double-circle datestamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A GORGEOUS STRIKE OF THE WM. G. IRWIN & CO. HONOLULU FORWARDERS OVAL IN PURPLE.

Realized: $575

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Lot 20    

Forwarded by the Pacific Navigation Co. (Limited), Honolulu, H.I., clear strike of magenta red circular handstamp on Hawaii 2¢ black (UX2) postal card cancelled by "Honolulu H.I., Oct 31, 1885" cds and target cancel to Oakland Cal., red "San Francisco Cal. 'Pd. All' Nov 7" transit cds, Oakland (11.7) arrival backstamp; card stained and faulty, Fine and rare.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE PACIFIC NAVIGATION CO. FORWARDERS HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $675

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Lots 1-10 Lots 11-20 Lot 21

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