HAWAII, Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Nov. 20 (1852). Bold strike of red circular datestamp on buff cover to Mr. Joseph Huestes in Crown Point N.Y., bold strike of blue “San Francisco Cal. 16 Dec.” circular datestamp with matching “Paid” and “8” in circle handstamps, some slight cover wrinkles and wear

VERY FINE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE--PERHAPS FIFTEEN COVERS FROM HAWAII ARE KNOWN WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO MARKINGS STRUCK IN BLUE.

The Gregory book (Vol. 1, p. 255) notes that blue ink was introduced in the San Francisco office in September 1852, but that the earliest use on Hawaii-related mail is Dec. 1, when some prepaid covers were marked with blue ink and others in black. From Dec. 15, 1852, to Jan. 15, 1853, prepaid covers from Hawaii were marked in blue, while collect covers were marked in black. The exception is Jan. 15, when both collect and prepaid covers were marked in blue.

This cover was carried on the Zoe, which departed Honolulu Nov. 22, 1852, and arrived in San Francisco Dec. 12. From there it was carried on the PMSC Tennessee, which departed Dec. 16 and arrived in Panama on Dec. 31. It was carried on the USMSC Illinois, which departed Aspinwall Jan. 2, 1853, and arrived in New York Jan. 13.

Ex Van Dyke and Pietsch.

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