Lot
43 
Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, Nov 9, red cds on cover bearing uncancelled 5¢ blue, thin white wove (8), margins to slightly in at right, pos. 11, to David Maxfield, North Dartmouth Mass., "San Francisco Cal '12' Dec 9, 1859" integral due cds for 10¢ transcontinental postage plus 2¢ ship fee and matching "OVERLAND" straightline handstamp at bottom; 5¢ light corner crease and nick, Very Fine, ex-Plass. Gregory No. HON HI35 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A RARE USE OF THE 1857 5¢ KAMEHAMEHA III SECOND PRINTING ON COVER WITH THE "OVERLAND" ROUTE DIRECTIVE MARKING.
This cover was carried on the American schooner "Milwaukee" from Honolulu departing Nov. 11th 1859 to San Francisco arriving Dec. 7th. San Francisco marked it with the "OVERLAND" handstamp to indicate alternate routing on the next Butterfield stagecoach, which departed San Francisco every Monday. The Dec. 12th overland mail coach reached St. Louis on Jan. 2, 1860 where it connected with the railway system.
There are only 14 covers recorded from Hawaii with the "OVERLAND" straightline handstamp.
Lot
44
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Mar 17, red cds (MH 242.03) on cover to Mrs. H.W. McCoughtey at New Bedford, Mass., red "San Francisco, Cal., Paid, Mar 30, 1860" cds and matching "12" rating handstamp for 10¢ transcontinental postage plus 2¢ ship fee; no flap, Very Fine strikes. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A SCARCE USE CARRIED FROM HONOLULU BY THE USS "POWHATAN" TO SAN FRANCISCO WHILE ESCORTING THE FIRST OFFICIAL EMBASSY OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN TO THE UNITED STATES.
This cover was carried by the U.S.S. "Powhatan" from Honolulu departing Mar. 18 to San Francisco arriving Mar. 29th. Cover was then sent overland to New Bedford. The U.S.S. "Powhatan" had sailed from Yokohama, Japan Feb. 13th 1860 accompanied by Japanese capital ship "Kanrin Maru" stopping at Honolulu Mar. 5th to Mar. 18th enroute to San Francisco as part of the first official embassy of the Empire of Japan to the United States of America. The Japanese embassy was formally composed of three men: Ambassador Shinmi Masaoki, Vice-Ambassador Muragaki Norimasa and Observer Oguri Tadamasa.
Lot
45
Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, May 30, remarkable bold strike of red cds on cover to Swanzey Village Mass. bearing uncancelled 5¢ blue, thin white wove (8), four margins, "San Francisco Cal Jul 6 1860" cds with matching "SHIP" and "12" rating handstamps, Very Fine, ex-Wiltsee, Harris, Rust; with 1987 and 2015 P.F. certificate. Gregory No. HON HI35 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE USE OF THE 1857 5¢ KAMEHAMEHA III SECOND PRINTING ON COVER WITH SAN FRANCISCO "SHIP" & "12" DUE MARKINGS.
Carried by British bark "Isle de France" from Honolulu departing May 30th 1860 to San Francisco arriving Jul. 4th. Entered mails with San Francisco Jul. 6th cds with 12¢ due for 10¢ transcontinental postage plus 2¢ ship fee, sent by the default overland route of the Butterfield stage via Los Angeles, El Paso and St. Louis.
References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 as fig. 16-74 on II-90.
Realized: $6,000
Lot
46
Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, Jun 14, red cds with U.S. 12¢ black (69) placed over and tied by cogwheel cancel, additional strike of "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Jun 14" red cds (Gregory HON US34) at center, endorsed "pr 'Yankee' " at top right, "San Francisco Cal Jul 11, 1862" cds, forwarded upon arrival with partial "Perry Me Aug 7" cds to Pembroke Me., Very Fine, ex-Tows, Harris, Rust. Gregory No. HON HI35 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE AND INTERESTING USE OF THE U.S. 12¢ 1861 ISSUE FROM HAWAII SHOWING BOTH HONOLULU CDS TYPES.
The 5¢ Hawaiian postage was paid in cash and the U.S. postage was originally marked unpaid as shown by the "Hawaiian Islands" cds, but then prepaid in cash shown by the "U.S. Postage Paid" cds. Upon arrival in San Francisco the 12¢ 1861 issue tied by San Francisco cogwheel fancy cancel for the 10¢ via Panama rate plus 2¢ ship fee. Cover was carried as endorsed by American bank "Yankee" from Honolulu Jun. 14th to San Francisco arriving Jul. 3rd. Another similar use with the 12¢ 1861 issue also carried on this same sailing was offered in the Golden sale (lot 2209).
Lot
47
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Jun 18, red cds on cover to Pheobe Hughes, Richmond Ind. bearing 5¢ blue, thin bluish paper (9) cancelled by square grid cancel, and U.S. 5¢ brown (76), scissor trimmed perfs at left, tied by cogwheel fancy cancel, matching bold "San Francisco, Cal, Jul 9 1864" double-circle datestamp, bottom flap missing, Very Fine, A rare combination use of the 1857 5¢ Kamehameha III third printing with the U.S. 5¢ brown 1861 issue.; with 1978 H.P.S., 1978 and 2015 P.F. certificates. Gregory No. HON US34 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
This cover was carried by American bark "Onward" from Honolulu Jun. 18th to San Francisco arriving Jul. 9th. Letter was postmarked Jul. 9th at San Francisco for the overland mail.
Lot
48
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Dec 24, bold strike of red cds on 1866 orange buff cover to Hartford Conn. bearing U.S. 5¢ brown (76) cancelled by cogwheel fancy cancel, matching bold "San Francisco Cal Jan 14", original enclosure datelined "Honolulu, Decbr 20th 66" and signed "John Silvia, Sp Ms. Wollaston"; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine; with 1987 P.F. certificate. Gregory No. HON US34 Estimate $300 - 400.
Carried by American bark "Cambridge" from Honolulu Dec. 24th 1866 to San Francisco arriving Jan. 13th 1867. Postmarked by San Francisco Jan. 14th for the overland mail.
Realized: $250
Lot
49
1867 (Nov. 2) Nicolaefsky, Siberia to Tenants' Harbor, Me. via Honolulu, blue cover with blue "Steamer * Idaho. * Nov 2 1867" double-oval purser's handstamp addressed to Capt. John Bickmore, sharp strike of red "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp, endorsed "Via Panama", entered mails with "San Francisco Cal Nov 18" cds duplex with quartered cork and matching "10" cent due rating handstamp, docketed "July 7' 1867" at left, photocopy of original letter accompanies; partial flap, Very Fine. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A REMARKABLE LETTER FROM SIBERIA VIA HONOLULU CARRIED ON THE FIRST CONTRACT STEAMSHIP SAILING OF THE IDAHO TO THE UNITED STATES.
This letter was carried by American Bark "Behring" from Nicolaefsky sailing Sep. 22nd to Honolulu arriving Sep. 30th. It was transshipped to the "Idaho", apparently posted at the wharf as there is no Honolulu postmark and bears the "Idaho" Nov. 2nd 1867 purser's oval. Carried by the steamship "Idaho" on her maiden contract voyage (second trip) from Honolulu Nov. 2nd to San Francisco arriving Nov. 15th. Postmarked at San Francisco Nov. 18th and carried by the steamer "Montana" departing San Francisco the following day, Nov. 19th to Panama.
The sender, Albert Smith Bickmore (1839-1914), was an American naturalist and one of the founders of the American Museum of Natural History. He traveled extensively in the Malay archipelago and eastern Asia during 1865-69, collecting objects in natural history, principally shells. This letter was written home to his father during his Far East travels, reading "I have come as I had planned up the Gulf of Tartary in a Russian Man-of-war…From Hakodate we crossed the Japan Victoria or Peter the Great Bay on the Coast of Manchuria, …and finally to this city. Since I arrived here I have been studying the different peoples in this part of Asia and shall soon send a second paper on that subject to the Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. The Governor here received me into the greatest kind and offered one a "Centre blanches", over his territory that is to go where I pleased free of any cost… He gave me a small steamer and I have been up the river…to see the natives and examine old monuments."
References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 as fig. 17-82 on p. II-227.
Realized: $9,500
Lot
50
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Dec 10, bold strike of red cds on cover with original enclosure datelined "Koloa, Nov 3rd 1867" and red crayon "10" rating, bearing U.S. 10¢ green (68), dark shade, tied by circle of wedges duplexed with "San Francisco Cal. Dec 24" cds, red "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp; small cover tears, a Very Fine use. Gregory No. HON US34 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A SCARCE HAWAIIAN STEAM SERVICE USE CARRIED ON THE 2ND CONTRACT STEAMSHIP TRIP.
Cover carried on 2nd contract trip by NPTC "Idaho" from Honolulu Dec. 10th to San Francisco arriving Dec. 23rd. Entered the mails with San Francisco Dec. 24th for forwarding by transcontinental railroad. The red crayon "10" rating indicates the required U.S. 10¢ postage steamship postage from Hawaii.
References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 as fig. 17-87 on p. II-232, and Census #8 on p. III-3.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
51
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Feb 10, red cds on 1868 cover to Michigan Ind. bearing 5¢ blue (32) tied by circular grid (Gregory cirgrid25-7 (undivided bars)) fancy cancel and U.S. 10¢ green (68) tied by cork cancel, matching "San Francisco Cal. Feb 28" duplex; cover with small mends and lightly cleaned, Very Fine appearance; with 1978 H.P.S. certificate. Gregory No. HON US34 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A BEAUTIFUL USE PREPAID FOR THE CONTRACT STEAMSHIP RATE, BUT SENT BY EARLIER NON-CONTRACT SAILING SHIP.
Cover was sufficiently prepaid for contract steamship carriage, but sent by the earlier departure of British bark "Celestia" from Honolulu departing Feb. 10th to San Francisco arriving Feb. 28th. Entered mails with San Francisco Feb. 28th cds for the overland mails.
References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 as fig. 17-121 on II-256.
Lot
52
Hilo P.O., Hawaiian-Islands, Jul 23, backstamp (242.13) on cover bearing 5¢ blue (32) pair and single, tied by Honolulu large circular grid cancels (Gregory cirgrid25-7(undivided bars)) on 1868 cover to West Branch Ia., United States 5¢ brown (76) added partially over pair and red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Aug 15" cds (Gregory #HON US34) struck at left, partial San Francisco Sep. 28th arrival cds and matching circular grid cancel ties 5¢; cover stain lower right and #76 faulty, Fine, ex-Van Dyke. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN INTERESTING HAWAII AND UNITED STATES COMBINATION COVER FROM HILO PREPAID FOR STEAMSHIP SERVICE, BUT ACTUALLY SENT BY SLOWER SAILING SHIP.
This cover originated from Hilo with 15¢ Hawaiian postage that was enough to cover the 5¢ Hawaiian postage and 10¢ U.S. steamship fee. At Honolulu, the post office decided to put it on a sailing ship instead, rather than hold it for the next American steamship, the "Idaho" expected to depart August 29th. So instead of putting a U.S. 10¢ stamp on it, they only put the 5¢ stamp that was sufficient for the 5¢ sailing packet fee. Cover was carried by American bark "Clara R. Sutil" from Honolulu Aug. 15th to San Francisco arriving Sep. 26th. Letter was postmarked at San Francisco Sep. 28th for the overland mail. As things turned out, the "Clara R. Sutil" was slow and got to San Francisco thirteen days after the steamship arrival of Sep. 13th.