HAWAII, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (6). Full to large margins all around, tied by 7-bar red grid cancel, matching “Honolulu * U.S. Postage Paid * Sep. 6” (1854) circular datestamp on bright white envelope addressed to Thomas C. P. Hyde in Bolton Conn., sender’s note “Paid.”, black “San Francisco Cal. 30 Sep.” circular datestamp and “PAID/8/SHIP” handstamp in three lines (6c U.S. postage plus 2c ship letter fee)

VERY FINE. A RARE SINGLE FRANKING OF THE 13-CENT 1853 ISSUE. ONLY SIX COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THE 1853 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III STAMP USED BY ITSELF PRIOR TO APRIL 1855, PAYING THE SHORT-LIVED RATE FOR WHICH IT WAS CREATED. ONLY TWO OF THESE COVERS HAVE STAMPS TIED BY CANCELS.

This cover was carried on the Peytona, which departed Honolulu on September 7, 1854, and arrived in San Francisco on September 25. From there it was sent to Panama on the PMSC Sonora, which departed September 30 and arrived on October 14. After crossing the isthmus, it was carried on the USMSC George Law (renamed Central America in 1857), which departed Aspinwall October 17 and arrived in New York on October 27.

The Gregory census contains just six examples of the 13c Kamehameha III stamp used by itself--without any secondary franking--on covers dated prior to the United States April 1855 rate change. This rate change effectively increased the Hawaiian rate to the U.S. East Coast from 13c to 17c, thereby destroying the purpose for which this stamp was originally created, which was to pay the 5c Hawaiian postage, 2c ship letter fee and 6c United States postage. During the period from May 1853 until April 1855, the practice of affixing United States stamps to Hawaiian mail became more regular.

Gregory Census No. 13-7. Ex Adm. Harris, Van Dyke, Haas, Honolulu Advertiser and Twigg-Smith. With 1962 and 2007 P.F. certificates.

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