Sale 67: The Westpex Sale

Lot 2913    

Hawaii, Forwarded by H. Hackfeld & Co., Honolulu H.I., folded cover docketed from H. Hackfeld to Messrs. Rothschild & Sons at London, red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Sep 21" cds, sharp strikes of "San Francisco Cal, Oct 12" and "Oct 13, 1864" cds, two partial strikes of red "New-York 'Paid 6' Nov 5" exchange cds, red London Paid (11.17) arrival cds; stamps removed from upper left and paper restored, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

PERHAPS THE FINEST STRIKE OF THE H. HACKFELD & CO. HONOLULU FORWARDERS OVAL.

This cover was carried on the American Bark "A.A. Eldridge" from Honolulu departing Sep. 21st to San Francisco arriving Oct. 11th. It then went to the overland central mail via Salt Lake City to New York. Letter went by American packet carried by Inman Line "Glasgow" from New York Nov. 5th to Queenstown arriving Nov. 17th. This letter was a double weight letter (the 6¢ credit to G.B. was double the single 3¢ inland) with Hawaiian 10¢ postage paid in cash and original bearing U.S. 50¢ postage for 48¢ transatlantic (double the 24¢ treaty rate) plus 2¢ ship fee. As a through letter to England, this letter was exempted from the Kalakaua error rate (see Gregory II-180 to II-185).

References: Illustrated and discussed in Fred Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870 on p. II-365, fig. 19-18.

Realized: $550

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Lot 2914    

Hawaii, "Care of Messrs. Ladd & Co., S.I.", endorsed in care of agent on Jan. 1st 1842 folded letter from Sally Bliss to Charles Burnham, Koloa, Island of Kauai, Sandwich Islands, in care of Bishop Rooms at Boston Mass., entered mails with blue "Tolland Ct., March 7" postmark with matching "Paid" and "10" ratings to Boston where forwarded privately to Hawaii; light fold wear and some soiling, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

This letter was possibly carried by American Schooner "Sarah Abigail" that departed Boston May 2nd via Valparaiso (8.9) with Tenth Company of Missionaries and Boston letters.

Realized: $200

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Lot 2915    

Hawaii, Forwarded by Starkey Janion & Co., Honolulu, Oahu, red oval handstamp on blue cover front only addressed to Gorham D. Gilman at Honolulu and forwarded to San Francisco Cal., some light age spots, pencil "Oct 7 - 1848" docketing at top left, Fine and interesting usage.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

ONE OF ONLY 7 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE STARKEY JANION & CO. HONOLULU FORWARDERS OVAL.

Starkey Janion & Co. was formed in 1845 by James Starkey and Robert Janion, both Englishmen by birth. Starkey was in Honolulu before 1843 but returned to England soon after, where he met Janion and they formed Starkey Janion & Co. Janion moved to Honolulu in 1845 to run the business. The Starkey-Janion partnership dissolved in 1851 and Janion formed Janion, Green & Co. Janion returned to England in 1856 and found Theo. H. Davies to take his place. Davies arrived in 1857. Eventually, Davies took over and formed the giant Theo. H. Davies & Co.

Realized: $270

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Lot 2916    

Hawaii, Forwarded by McRuer & Merrill, San Francisco., red oval handstamp on cover from Hawaii to Mrs. Elisha H. Allen, in care of Mrs. Frederic Hobbs, Bangor Me., endorsed "E.H.A." (Elisha H. Allen) at bottom left, carried in McRuer & Merrill letter bag by American Bark Comet from Honolulu Nov. 14th to San Francisco arriving Dec. 5th, entered overland mails with "San Francisco Cal. Dec. 7, 1863" double-circle datestamp at bottom with stamp removed from upper right but small part of cogwheel cancel showing, blue crayon "Due 2", pencil docketing indicates letters dated Nov. 1 to 14, 1863 were enclosed; torn open at left across front of envelope but still presentable, Fine and rare.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The firm of McRuer & Merrill is listed in the 1861 Langley San Francisco city directory (Valentine & Co., publishers) as follows: "McRuer (D.) Co. & Merrill (John C.), auction, shipping, and commission merchants, agents Honolulu packets, 117 and 119 California, dwl 18 Laurel Place.". This McRuer & Merrill forwarders oval is very rare with strikes in red and black known (it is found on the two $4 Black Pony Express covers from Hawaii struck in black on the reverse).

Realized: $220

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Lot 2917    

Hawaii, Forwarded by J.D. Spreckels & Bros. Company, Shipping and Commission Merchants, San Francisco, Cal., large purple oval forwarder's backstamp and matching "S.S. 'MARIPOSA' " straightline (Gregory unlisted, 1RRRR) on U.S. 5¢ blue entire cancelled by two partial strikes of ultramarine "N.Z. Marine P.O., R.M.S. Mariposa, Sep" cds to T.W. Hobron at Honolulu, Hawaii, reverse with "Honolulu, H.I., Sep 23, 1897" arrival duplex; cover tears at ends, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE J.D. SPRECKELS & BROS. "S.S. 'MARIPOSA' " STRAIGHTLINE SHIP HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $425

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Lot 2918    

Hawaii, Welch & Co., San Francisco. Jul 25, 1895, pink oval backstamp and purple "PER S.S. 'ALAMEDA.' " ship directional straightline on United States 5¢ Columbian entire uprated with 5¢ chocolate (255) tied by "N.Z. Marine P.O., 25 JL 95" cds to J.B. Atherton at Honolulu, H.I., reverse with "Honolulu. H.I. Aug 1 1895" arrival duplex; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and scarce paquebot use mailed on board the Alameda.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $290

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