HAWAII, 1866, 5c Blue (32). Tied by large 7-bar grid cancel, used with vertical pair of United States 1863 5c Brown (76), perfect strike of red “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Oct. 5” (1868) circular datestamp, 5c pair tied by clear strike of red “Hawaiian Steam Service” oval handstamp on cover to Mrs. Charles Montgomery in East Hardwick Vt., U.S. stamps cancelled by quartered corks, “San Francisco Cal. Oct. 19” circular datestamp, barely reduced at right, both U.S. stamps with parts of perfs and margins torn away at lower right

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE “HAWAIIAN STEAM SERVICE” COVER WITH THE 1866 5-CENT KAMEHAMEHA V AND UNITED STATES 5-CENT BROWN 1863 ISSUE MIXED FRANKING.

This was carried on the Idaho, which departed Honolulu Oct. 5, 1868, and arrived in San Francisco Oct. 18. According to the Gregory book, this was the last regular North Pacific Transportation Company sailing to use the “Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid” marking.

During the contract steamer period, mail addressed to the U.S. was charged 5c Hawaiian and 10c U.S. postage, regardless of destination. As such, lower rates to San Francisco no longer applied. The “Hawaiian Steam Service” oval was applied regularly to contract steamship mail from November 1867 to August 1869.

Illustrated and described in the Gregory book (Vol. 2, p. 237). Ex Kramer. With 2003 P.F. certificate.

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