HAWAII, 1853, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (6). Large margins to just barely shaving frameline at left, cancelled by unusual segmented grid, red "Honolulu*U.S. Postage Paid* Oct. 3" (1854) circular datestamp on cover to Mr. William Lord at Hillingworth Conn., neat "PAID/8/SHIP" handstamp struck over Honolulu datestamp, "San Francisco Cal. 1 Nov." circular datestamp, some slight edgewear and light toning

VERY FINE. A RARE SINGLE FRANKING OF THE 13-CENT 1853 ISSUE. ONLY FIVE COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THE 1853 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III STAMP USED BY ITSELF PRIOR TO APRIL 1855, PAYING THE SHORT-LIVED RATE FOR WHICH IT WAS CREATED.

This cover was carried on the schooner E. L. Frost, which departed Honolulu on Oct. 4, 1854, and arrived in San Francisco on Oct. 28. From there it was sent to Panama on the John L. Stephens, which departed on Nov. 1 and arrived on Nov. 13.

The Gregory census contains just five examples of the 13c Kamehameha III stamp used by itself -- without any secondary franking -- on covers dated prior to the United States April 1855 rate change. This rate change effectively increased the Hawaiian rate to the U.S. East Coast from 13c to 17c, thereby destroying the purpose for which this stamp was originally created, which was to pay the 5c internal Hawaiian rate, 2c ship's fee and 6c of United States postage. During the period from May 1853 until April 1855, the practice of affixing United States stamps to Hawaiian mail became more regular.

Gregory Census No. 13-8. Ex Tows, Jessup, Krug, Rust, Pietsch and Golden. With 1960 Friedl, 1987 and 2011 P.F. certificates.

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