HAWAII, 1865, 5c Blue on Blue (21). Plate 9-A, Ty. VIII and X (Westerberg Positions 4 and 2), singles of each, tied by large 3-ring target cancels, additional pen strokes, used with United States 1861-63 3c Rose, 5c Brown (65, 76), tied by cogwheel cancels, red “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Apr. 4” (1866) large circular datestamp, black “San Francisco Cal. Apr. 18” double-circle datestamp on cover to John F. Rogers in Lowell, Mass., corners where stamps affixed torn off but then expertly restored, during the process the stamps were removed and replaced on cover where they originated, left Hawaii stamp repaired, both Hawaii stamps light horizontal crease, U.S. 5c stamp small tear at upper right

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE DOUBLE-RATE COVER WITH MIXED FRANKING OF HAWAIIAN NUMERALS AND UNITED STATES 1861-63 ISSUES.

This was carried on the Ajax, which departed Honolulu April 4 and arrived in San Francisco April 17. It was endorsed “Per Steamer Panama” at lower left by the sender. This was actually carried on the PMSC Sacramento, which arrived in Panama May 1, then by the USMSC New York, which departed Aspinwall May 2 and arrived in its namesake city on May 9. The double rate pays 10c Hawaiian postage and 6c U.S. postage plus 2c ship letter fee. This 1866 trip of the Ajax from Hawaii preceded the start of contract steamship service, so the normal 1863 rate applied.

Illustrated and described in the Gregory book (Vol. 2, pp. 196-197). Ex Knapp, Juhring, Honolulu Advertiser and Kramer. With 2003 P.F. certificate.

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