HAWAII, 1853, 5c Blue, Thick White Wove (5). Large margins to clear, tied by large 7-bar grid, red “Honolulu * Hawaiian-Islands * Apr. 11” (1855) circular datestamp at left, on brown cover to Mr. Adam Speirs in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, neat strikes of “SHIP” and “5” handstamps, some slight edgewear

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COVER SHOWING THE APPROPRIATE SINGLE USE OF THE 1853 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III ISSUE ON A COVER SENT LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. A GREAT POSTAL HISTORY RARITY.

The 5c First Printing stamp paid the Hawaiian postage, while U.S. postage was collected from the addressee (5c collect for under-3,000 mile rate; ship letter fee not indicated). This was carried on the Fanny Major, which departed Honolulu April 12, 1855, and arrived in San Francisco May 2. It was then sent south to San Pedro for the next overland Chorpenning stagecoach departure via San Diego. In July 1854, Chorpenning renewed his monthly mail contract between California and Utah, but moved to a Salt Lake City-San Diego route. This “Old Spanish Trail” route connected with San Francisco by steamships via San Pedro.

The addressee, Adam Speirs, was a prominent member of the Mormon community in Salt Lake City. According to Orson F. Whitney’s History of Utah, Speirs was a teenage boy when his family arrived with the last company of Mormons in October 1848. Speirs worked as a blacksmith and served as an officer in the militia, participating in campaigns against Indians in 1853 and 1857. In later life Speirs served as an Alderman and Bishop of the Tenth Ward.

Gregory Census No. 5-8. With 2005 P.F. certificate.

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