Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Oct. 3 (1859). Bold strike of red circular datestamp on folded letter datelined “Puuiki, Hana, Maui, 7th Sept. 1859” and addressed to R.W. Cameron of the Australian Packet Line in New York, red “San Francisco Cal. Paid 12 Oct. 24, 1859” integral-rate circular datestamp, also with bold strike of “OVERLAND” straightline handstamp at upper left (Type I), contents from John Rae includes postal-related comment “I am district judge here, please direct to me as Lunakanawai as I believe former letters have miscarried through the mistakes of the natives and they will not mistake that title”, some slight wear, minor internal hinge reinforcements

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE “OVERLAND” STRAIGHTLINE HANDSTAMP ON A PREPAID STAMPLESS LETTER FROM HAWAII.

This cover was analyzed by Michael Perlman and Richard Frajola in their article on the overland mail directives published in the June 2011 issue of Western Express. The cover was prepaid 17c in cash (5c Hawaiian postage, 2c ship fee plus 10c transcontinental postage). It was carried on the Yankee, which departed Honolulu on Oct. 3, 1859 and arrived in San Francisco Oct. 21. This was one day late for the twice-monthly Panama steamer departure. The cover was then handstamped “OVERLAND” by the San Francisco post office to identify the chosen route. It was carried by the Butterfield stage service to St. Louis via Los Angeles, which arrived in St. Louis on Nov. 18. The article compares transit time by steamship via Panama -- mails on the steamship that left Oct. 20 arrived in New York on Nov. 21. Perlman records 14 covers from Hawaii with the “OVERLAND” handstamp, including five carried on this same trip of the Yankee. This is the only stampless cover.

Ex Krug, Rust and Pietsch.

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