HAWAII, Samoa to United States via Honolulu -- “Forwarded by/H.T. Fitch./Honolulu”. Bold strike of red octagonal handstamp on bright buff cover to John R. Thornton, New Bedford Mass., receipt notation at lower left “Capt. Fuller, Navigator Islands, July 18/55. rec’d Jan. 7, 1856”, endorsed by sender “Per First Vessell” and carried privately to Honolulu where red forwarder’s handstamp applied, “BARK FRACIS PALMER” straightline handstamp (missing “n” in “Francis”) applied in Honolulu by Fitch, carried on that vessel which departed Honolulu Dec. 1, 1855, and arrived in San Francisco Dec. 14, “Forwarded by G. B. Post & Co., San Francisco” backstamp, clearly struck “San Francisco Cal. 20 Dec.” circular datestamp with matching “SHIP” and “12” handstamps, trivial edgewear

VERY FINE. A PHENOMENAL COVER FROM SAMOA (NAVIGATOR ISLANDS) TO MASSACHUSETTS VIA HAWAII, WITH BOTH THE H.T. FITCH OF HONOLULU AND G.B. POST & CO. OF SAN FRANCISCO FORWARDER MARKINGS. A UNIQUE POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT.

The sender, Capt. William C. Fuller, was captain of the whaler Ocean, and the addressee, John R. Thornton, was the ship’s owner. The ship left New Bedford on May 27, 1853, and returned June 29, 1856, not long after this letter was received. The delay between the origin date (July 18, 1855) and the departing trip from Hawaii (December 1) indicates that the mail was given to a whaling vessel on its return trip to Honolulu.

After arriving in San Francisco on Dec. 14, this was carried on the PMSC Sonora, which departed San Francisco Dec. 20, 1855, and arrived in Panama on Jan. 3, 1856. After crossing the isthmus it was carried on the USMSC George Law (renamed Central America in 1857), which departed Aspinwall Jan. 15 and arrived in New York Jan. 24.

Illustrated and discussed in Gregory book (Volume II, pages 398-400).

Ex Knapp, J. David Baker and Kramer.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables