6c Dull Pink (159). Wide margins, bright color, used with Hawaii 1871 6c Yellow Green (33), equally choice centering and margins, both stamps tied by 3-ring target with center pin (Ty. 119), red "Honolulu H.I. Paid All Jan. 22, 1878" rimless datestamp on cover to Union City Mich., magenta "San Francisco Paid All Jan. 30" transit datestamp, U.S. stamp cancelled by San Francisco crossroads cancel which also ties Hawaiian stamp, slightly reduced and small mended nick at lower right not noted on certificate

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL MIXED UNITED STATES AND HAWAIIAN FRANKING DURING THE CONVENTION PERIOD, WHEN THE 6-CENT RATE COULD BE PREPAID WITH THE STAMP OF THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

The 6c U.S.-Hawaii treaty rate (Jul. 1, 1870, to Dec. 31, 1881) required the sender in Hawaii to affix only a Hawaiian stamp on a letter addressed to a place within the United States. The addressee, Clara Moseley, was the daughter of Hiram Bingham Moseley, a descendent of Rev. Hiram Bingham, one of the Pioneer Company of Missionaries. The sender's decision to affix U.S. and Hawaiian 6c stamps could have been a misinterpretation of the rate requirements, although this seems unlikely eight years into the Convention period. It is also possible that the letter was over the half-ounce weight limit, and the U.S. stamp was added to pay the additional rate.

Ex Braus, Risvold and "Andromeda". With 2010 P.F. certificate.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables