Sale 131: The Richard Malmgren Collection of Hawaii

Lot 191    

Hawaii, 1864, King Kamehameha IV, 2¢ rose vermilion, in combination with "U.S. 1863, 5¢ brown" (76) used on 1867 rebacked cover front to Staunton, Va., 5¢ Hawaii postage paid with 2¢ stamp and 3¢ in cash, canceled by black 3-ring target with center dot, red "Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid, Jan 12" cds (242.03), U.S. 5¢ stamp canceled by San Francisco, Ca., Jan 28 cds and cog-wheel duplex; vertical file fold, small tears around edges prior to rebacking, Fine, ex-Knapp; with 1981 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 31    Estimate $200 - 300.

Carried on the American schooner Milton Badger (dep. Honolulu Jan. 12, 1867; arr. SF Jan. 27) for the overland mail.

Realized: $2,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 192    

Hawaii, 1864, King Kamehameha IV, 2¢ rose vermilion, diagonal bisect, lower left portion of stamp, in combination with 1866, 5¢ blue (32) on 1870 cover to York, Pa., both canceled and tied by 4-ring target handstamp with center dot, beautifully complete red "G.P.O. Honolulu H.I., Paid All, Aug 25" cds (245.02), reverse with "San Francisco, Cal, Sep 6" duplex postmark, addressed to Miss Sally B. Small, Extremely Fine, ex-Adm. Harris & Advertiser; with 1996 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 31b    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE EARLIEST RECORDED OF 12 COVERS WITH A 1864 2¢ ROSE VERMILION BISECT.

One of the gems from the Advertiser sale, this cover is distinguished for not only being the earliest 2¢ bisect cover recorded (a small piece is dated July 23, one month earlier), but for also sporting one of the finest examples of the surprisingly elusive GPO Honolulu postmark (MH-245.03), with a very short recorded usage period from July 22 to Sep. 5, 1870. Only 14 on cover strikes are documented, with many of these being weakly struck or incomplete.

Carried on the steamer "Ajax" (dep. Honolulu Aug. 25, 1870; arr. San Francisco Sep. 5).

Mail exchanged between Hawaii and the United States was greatly simplified by the Postal Convention signed May 4, 1870, effective July 1, 1870, which established the 6¢ single-letter rate to the United States. The 6¢ stamps were not available until late Spring 1871, and so the rate was made up using three 2¢ stamps. As the supply of 2¢ stamps dwindled, the post office permitted some bisects to be used with 5¢ stamps for the 6¢ rate.


Reverse:
View gallery or Download PDF (111KB)

Realized: $11,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 193    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, tied by circular grid handstamp on 1868 cover to Victoria, British Columbia, matching bold "Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, Dec 26" cds (243.03), in combination with U.S. 1861, 10¢ green, horizontal pair (68) tied by circle of V's handstamps with matching "San Francisco, Cal., Jan 16" cds, red "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp, oval "A.S. Cleghorn, Honolulu, H.I." corner card handstamp on front and reverse, manuscript "Idaho" ship endorsement upper left; some cover opening tears at top, otherwise Very Fine, Gregory HSS oval census no. 73, ex-Pietsch; signed Calves and Engel.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

CONTRACT STEAMER USAGE PAYING 3 DIFFERENT RATES TO THIS VERY RARE DESTINATION.

The sender of this cover, Archibald Cleghorn, was a prosperous merchant in Honolulu at the time. Scottish by birth, he arrived in Hawaii in 1851 at the age of 16. Two years after sending this letter, he would marry Princess Likelike, the younger sister of future King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani.

Carried out with the COMSS "Idaho" departing on Dec. 26, arriving at San Francisco Jan. 8, 1869. The 5¢ Hawaiian stamp covered the Hawaiian foreign rate postage, and the 20¢ total in U.S postage paid the 10¢ contract steamer rate to San Francisco plus the subsequent 10¢ steamer rate to Victoria.

Realized: $8,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 194    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, placed slightly off the edge and tied by circular grid handstamp on 1866 ladies cover from Lahaina, Maui to San Francisco (port of entry), in combination with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose (65), nicely struck red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Jul 11" cds (242.03) at left, U.S. 3¢ stamp canceled by San Francisco circular grid handstamp with matching "San Francisco, Cal., Aug 4" cds alongside, addressed to Miss Lucy Tillman with "Lahaina P.O., Hawaiian Islands, Jul 9" originating cds on reverse (242.13), Very Fine, Gregory "1¢ Drop Letter to SF" census no. 14, ex-Wheeler; with 2007 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

ONLY RECORDED HAWAII COVER PAYING CORRECT 1¢ PORT-OF-ENTRY DROP RATE (1¢ + 2¢ SHIP FEE).

During the period following the United States 1863 Postal Act, there was some confusion as to the correct rate for mail addressed to San Francisco, the port of entry for almost all mail from Hawaii. From May 1, 1865 up to Nov. 15, 1869, the correct "drop letter" rate was 1c for a prepaid letter, plus 2¢ ship fee, for a total of 3¢ US postage, plus the 5¢ Hawaii foreign rate. This cover, the last (no. 14) in Fred Gregory's census of 1¢ drop rate period covers, is the only recorded cover paying the correct 1¢ rate. The drop letter rate is discussed in his book "Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870", Vol. II, pgs. 165-176, with the census of 14 recorded covers on page II-170.

Carried on the American bark "D.C. Murray" (dep. Honolulu Jul. 11, 1868; arr. SF Aug. 4) for local delivery.

Realized: $3,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 195    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, on 1870 cover to San Francisco, Cal., prepaid for the 10¢ contract rate in combination with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose, horizontal pair (placed over bottom edge of cover) + 1863, 2¢ black + 1869, 3¢ ultramarine (65, 73, 114), overpaying the 10¢ rate by 1¢, Hawaii stamp tied by black negative "HI" handstamp, U.S. stamps tied by unusual black negative crossroads, black "Honolulu, Hawaiian-Islands, Feb 26" cds (243.03), "San Francisco, Cal., Mar 16" cds, addressed to Henry Q. Adams, care W.W. Chipman at San Francisco, docketing at left indicates the sender was "W. Goodale Feby 3, 1870, Rec'd March 17/70"; right 3¢ stamp with flaws from cover overlap, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Atherton.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

UNLISTED IN GREGORY'S CENSUS OF 1869 STAMPS USED FROM HAWAII.

Fred Gregory's census of 1869 stamps used from Hawaii before July 1, 1870 (the beginning of the Convention period) contains 13 covers. Chronologically, this cover falls between no. 6 (Feb. 8 Honolulu postmark) and no. 7 (Apr. 21 postmark).

This letter apparently missed the Feb. 8 contract steamer and was given to a non-contract vessel since the next contract steamer was scheduled for Mar. 16 (and arrived in S.F. on Mar. 29). Carried on either the "Jane A. Falkenberg" or the "John Hancock" (dep. Honolulu Feb. 26, 1870; arr. S.F. Mar. 16).

Realized: $3,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 196    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, in combination with U.S. 1861-63, 3¢ rose + 2¢ black (65, 73) used on 1867 prepaid single-weight cover to Port Byron, N.Y., well-struck red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Apr 20" cds (242.03), Hawaiian stamp canceled at Honolulu with target handstamp (119) and U.S. stamps with target handstamp with matching "San Francisco, Cal., May 10" cds; cover with minor cover edge toning, 2¢ stamp with tiny tear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, a very rare usage of the 2¢ Blackjack in conjunction with the 1861 3¢ rose to make up the 5¢ U.S. postage required from Hawaii to the East coast (3¢ intercontinental rate plus 2¢ ship fee), usually paid by a single 1863 5¢ brown, ex-Golden & Piller.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $2,000 - 2,500.

A WONDERFUL THREE-COLOR MIXED FRANKING FROM HAWAII TO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE LATE TREATY PERIOD, JUST PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF CONTRACT STEAM SERVICE TO SAN FRANCISCO.

Carried on the British bark "Australind" (dep. Honolulu Apr. 20, 1867; arr. S.F. May 9) for the overland mail.

References: Discussed and illustrated in Gregory's "Hawaiian Foreign Mail to 1870", pgs. II-210-211, Fig. 17-66.

Realized: $4,750

email this lot to a friend

Lot 197    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, in combination with U.S. 1863, 5¢ brown (76) on cover to Philadelphia, Pa., both tied by Honolulu target and San Francisco cog wheel cancels, red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Feb 23" cds additionally tying U.S. adhesive, "San Francisco, Cal., Mar 13" cds at right, reverse with 1867 pencil docketing, Very Fine, a choice combination usage; with 2015 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 32; $5,000    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

Cover departed Honolulu on the American bark "D.C. Murray" on February 23 and arrived in San Francisco on March 12. Cover sent by overland mail to its destination.

Realized: $2,300

email this lot to a friend

Lot 198    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, used on 1867 Tillman correspondence cover to San Francisco, Cal., in combination with U.S. 1861, 10¢ green (68), both stamps cancelled and tied by black 7-bar circular handstamp (MH-9, variety with hollow and center pin), near perfect strike of red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Dec 18" cds (242.30), "San Francisco, Cal, Jan 20" cds, stamps additionally canceled by circle of wedges handstamps applied at San Francisco, reverse with remarkably well-struck "Lahaina, Hawaiian Islands, Dec 18" origin cds (242.13); minor cover toning at top and around stamps, cover fault lower left, Very Fine.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

A CHOICE LATE TREATY PERIOD MIXED-USAGE COVER WITH WELL-STRUCK HAWAIIAN MARKINGS.

Carried on the American bark "D.C. Murray" (dep. Honolulu Dec. 28, 1867; arr. SF Jan. 20, 1868).---Franked for the contract steamship service (5¢ Hawaii plus 10¢ US), but placed on a non-contract vessel since the next contract steamer was not scheduled until Jan. 20, hence overpaid by 7¢ US since the drop letter rate was only 1¢ (plus 2¢ ship fee). The letter ended up arriving nearly 2 weeks before the next contract steamer arrival (Feb. 2).

Realized: $800

email this lot to a friend

Lot 199    

Hawaii, 1866, King Kamehameha V, 5¢ blue, horizontal strip of three, canceled and tied by two types of grid handstamps on cover to Niles, Mich., reverse with bold "Hilo P.O., Hawaiian-Islands, Dec 19" origin cds (242.13), red "Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Dec 28" cds, red crayon "5¢" denoting U.S. postage portion which was be attempted to be paid with Hawaiian stamps, with "San Francisco, Cal., Jan 21" cds below; cover slightly reduced with sealed opening tear at right, Very Fine, ex-Van Dyke.
Scott No. 32    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $1,150

email this lot to a friend

Lot 200    

Hawaii, 1871, King Kamehameha V, 6¢ yellow green, used with U.S. 5¢ Blue (185), both tied on arrival in San Francisco by boldly struck quartered corks on cover to London with manuscript "O.H.M.S.", postmarked magenta "San Francisco Paid All Sep. 9" cds, London 1879 receiving backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Aall.
Scott No. 33    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

AN OUTSTANDING COMBINATION COVER IN CHOICE CONDITION WITH THE ADHESIVES TIED IN TRANSIT AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Realized: $800

email this lot to a friend