UNITED STATES STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY continued...

This is the most important document regarding the Kingdom of Hawaii's Post Office, as is officially establishes the Post Office at Honolulu and specifically authorizes the first Hawaiian postage stamps. It is also noteworthy for being complete in both English and Hawaiian. Accompanied by a 1961 letter from the director of the Bishop Museum, who states that as far as they know the document is unique and that it formed part of the Session Laws of 1851, and also notes the entire manuscript Session Laws were probably removed from the Hawaiian government archives in 1893 and were now in collector's hands; ex-Golden. (imagea) (imageb) (imagec) (Image)

These two blocks at one time formed a full pane of twenty. The pane was offered in the Tows sale of 1948. The panes was separated into two blocks, with the block of twelve next appearing in the Admiral Harris sale of 1954 and the block of eight in the Caspary sale of 1957. Subsequently the two blocks were reunited in the Ostheimer collection and have remained together in various important Hawaii collections ever since. The block of twelve is the largest known multiple and only a handful of blocks of any size exist.

These two blocks are by far the most important multiples of the entire King Kamehameah III issue, as well as being important showpieces of any Hawaiian issue; we have cataloged them simply as four blocks of four and two pairs; ex-Tows, Admiral Harris, Caspary, Ostheimer, Honolulu Advertiser and Golden. (imagea) (Image)

This is a highly important cover for several reasons. Because of a rate change to the U.S. in 1855, the use of the 13c became more limited. The typical 17c rate was often paid with a 13c stamp and 4c in cash. The combination of the 5c and 13c represents a 1c overpayment. There are only two such covers recorded by Fred Gregory bearing solely a 5c and 13c stamp, with the cover offered here (#5-18 in the Gregory census) being the finer of the two. This is also one of the few letters from the period that were completely pre-paid in Hawaii with no United States stamps affixed. In addition, the cover is remarkably handsome, with stamps having excellent color and the postal markings being incredibly well struck.

A fabulous cover and one of the most importantly postal history items of the King Kamehameha issue; signed Ashbrook; ex-Caspary, Krug and Golden. (Image)