1853, 13c Dark Red, Thick White Wove (6). Large margins, light vertical crease at left in margin only, tied by bold “3” handstamp and “Marlboro Mass. Sep. 11” circular datestamp on cover to Honolulu, Hawaii, addressed to “Warren Goodale Esqr., Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands”, a few wrinkles around edges

EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 1853 13-CENT KAMEHAMEHA III ISSUE USED ON MAIL FROM THE UNITED STATES TO HAWAII.

Descendants of the Goodale and Thurston families have been associated with the Hawaiian islands ever since Lucy (Goodale) Thurston and the Revered Asa Thurston arrived with the Pioneer Company of Missionaries in April 1820. The Goodales were prominent residents of Marlborough (Marlboro), Massachusetts. The addressee, Warren Goodale, was the nephew of Lucy Thurston. He was born in Marlborough in 1825 and traveled to Hawaii in 1849. He became a tutor at the Royal School in Honolulu and subsequently was appointed Marshal of the Kingdom and Collector of Customs. He was one of two men present at Fort Honolulu when it was raided by the French in August 1849. Sometime after his wife, Ellen (Whitmore) Goodale, died in 1861 (see Sale 1009, lot 365), he moved his family back to Massachusetts and joined the Union Army in the Civil War. He subsequently resettled in Hawaii where he was involved in the sugar industry.

There is no year date on this cover, but since it is addressed to Warren Goodale in Honolulu, it must have been mailed prior to his resignation as Collector of Customs in December 1863. The “3” handstamp could be interpreted as 3c U.S. postage, which would mean that the cover was postmarked at Marlborough on Sep. 11, 1863, after the U.S. rate to California was reduced to 3c in July 1863. The 13c Hawaiian stamp would leave a balance of 10c to cover the 7c due in Hawaii (5c plus 2c ship fee). In any case, the absence of San Francisco and Honolulu postmarks is normal for a letter to Hawaii in this period.

The Hawaiian stamp was probably sent to or carried back to Massachusetts by a member of the Goodale family. Its use on mail to Hawaii appears to have been permitted by the Marlborough post office, either due to the “United States 8 Cts.” label on the stamp or out of respect to the Goodale family (or both). Once the letter entered the mail stream, it made its way to Honolulu via San Francisco.

Ex Juhring, Ishikawa and Golden. With 1979 H.P.S. and 2011 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail for single on cover $22,500.00

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