Sale 769 — The Honolulu Advertiser Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday, 7 November, 1995
Category — 1859-65 Numeral Issue (Scott 13)
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. V (Westerberg Pos. 5), unused, three large margins, clear at right, dark shade with strong image on back thru translucent paper, rule breaks paper at top, some toning, otherwise Very Fine, we believe that Plate 1-A stamps in Dark Blue come from the First Printing, they are extremely rare unused
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. III (Westerberg Pos. 1), papermaker's embossed crest in a position confirming that this type was in Position 1 on plate, large margins, red "(Hon)olulu (Hawaiian-Islan)ds Aug. 8" (1859) cds, striking dark shade with strong show-thru image on back, minute and negligible thin speck at top, still Extremely Fine, the quintessential First Printing stamp, in our opinion, and an important key to the plating of Plate 1-A, ex Wilcox
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. V (Westerberg Pos. 5), large even margins, remarkable color and impression with strong show-thru image on back, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, scissors cut at top left, otherwise Extremely Fine, a choice example of the characteristics we attribute to the First Printing, ex Wilcox
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. IX (Westerberg Pos. 9), ample to large margins, pen stroke cancel, dark color and storng show-thru image on back, slight overall toning, otherwise Very Fine
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. II (Westerberg Pos. 10), full to large margins, deep rich color and impression with very strong show-thru image on back, pen squiggle cancel, tiny thin speck, Very Fine appearance, fresh and choice example of characteristics we attribute to First Printing
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. II (Westerberg Pos. 10), three full margins, touched at right, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, deep shade and strong show-thru image on back, faint thinning, Fine appearance
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 1-A, Ty. II (Westerberg Pos. 10), clear margins to just touching, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, deep shade, strong show-thru image on back, small internal sealed tear, otherwise Fine
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Comma after "Cents" (13b). Plate 1-A, Ty. X (Westerberg Pos. 2), dark shade and strong show-thru image on back, clear to ample margins, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, tear at R., two holes repaired, Fine appearance, only three examples of this First Printing variety are known, including the stamp on cover in the previous lot, illustrated in Westerberg, ex Atherton, Honolulu Academy of Arts, listed by unpriced in Scott
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Comma after "Cents" (13b). Plate 1-A, Ty. X (Westerberg Pos. 2), top sheet margin, other sides large to huge except where a bit irregular at left, dark shade and strong impression typical of First Printing, tied by ms. "Kau" cancellation on folded cover addressed in Hawaiian to Levi Haalela at Honolulu, pencil note inside indicates that the letter originated at Ninole, stamp additionally tied in transit by brownish-black "Collector's Office/Hilo. Hawaii" in oval, slight toningTHE ONLY KNOWN COVER BEARING A NUMERAL ISSUE FROM PLATE 1-A, AS WELL AS THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE COMMA-AFTER-"CENTS" VARIETY ON COVER
This remarkable cover shows an extremely early use of the Numeral issue. There are no other covers known with 2c stamps of Plate 1-A, the first setting, and this example shows the characteristics we attribute to the First Printing - the Dark Blue shade and strong impression, and, in this Type X position, the Comma after "Cents" variety.
The cover is also interesting from a postal history perspective. With the introduction of inter-island postage rates and adhesive stamps, postmasters were instructed to "cross the Hawaiian stamps...in ink" pending the distribution of cancelling devices. This is one of the few "Kau" post office markings and the only one on cover. The Kau postmaster, Rev. W. C. Shipman, routed his mail through Hilo from January 1856 to September 1860, after which time the post office sent mails directly between Honolulu and Kau. On this cover, the Hilo office canceled the stamp a second time with its oval "Collector's Office" handstamp.
The addressee, Levi Haalela, was a prominent chief and member of the House of Nobles under Kamehameha III and IV. His wife was a granddaughter of Kamehameha I and owned large pieces of property, including a portion of the land where the Hawaii State Capitol now stands.
An historic and philatelically important cover. With 1976 P.F. certificate
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Westerberg Plate 1-A, Types VI-V/IV-VII/II-IX (Westerberg Pos. 6-5/8-7/10-9 as a straddle-pane block); we believe this represents a new Plate 1-C (see notes below); unused vertical block of six, beautiful pastel shade of Light Blue strongly impressed on paper, which is of a semi-opaque quality (these are characteristics of stamps that we believe come from Plate 1-B and 1-C printings), large margins, insignificant and nearly invisible creases in two directions that were present when this block was discoveredEXTREMELY FINE AND THE LARGEST RECORDED BLOCK OF ANY NUMERAL ISSUED PRIOR TO 1863. WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM OF THE NUMERAL ISSUE
This block was used by Henry J. Crocker and J. F. Westerberg as crucial evidence in support of their independent plating analyses, but each one came to a different conclusion. Crocker saw this block as the normal configuration of types arranged on the plate, occupying positions 5-6/7-8/9-10, the lower three rows of the pane (see Figure #). Westerberg concluded that the Staggered Block (lot #) reflected the normal plate configuration (albeit misaligned) and that the Crocker block was a straddle-pane multiple, with the lefthand column from Positions 6/8/10 of one pane and the righthand column from Positions 5/7/9 of another pane, both of which were impressed 4mm apart on the sheet (see Figure #).
Based on our research and analysis, we think that Crocker and Westerberg were both right and wrong in their conclusions. Crocker correctly identified this as a normal block, but misidentified the other four positions above. Westerberg was incorrect when he identified this as a straddle-pane block and the Staggered Block as a normal multiple, but he was probably correct in assigning positions to the types for one or more of the earliest printings from Plate 1-A and the later printings from Plates 3-A and 3-B.
Based on evidence we have observed, there were at least three Plate 1 configurations (Plates 1-A, 1-B and 1-C). Westerberg's Plate 1-A arrangement is probably correct if applied to the very first printing in Dark Blue, in which the Type X (Pos. 2) stamp has the Comma after "Cents" variety, and the Type III (Pos. 1) stamp is found with a papermaker's embossed crest, which should appear only on Position 1 (see lot #).
In two subsequent printings from Plate 1, the columns were transposed (see the following lot). This block reflects the configuration of the plate that we call Plate 1-C, which we have positioned after the plate represented by the Staggered Block, in which the columns were more than 14mm apart, and the Type IX (Pos. 10) has the dropped period after "Cents" (see description for lot #, Figure #). This dropped period was corrected when Plate 1-C was configured, and the gutter between columns was reduced to 4mm.
Using our Plate 1-A, 1-B and 1-C arrangement, the pieces of evidence fit into place, and the difference in shades, impressions and paper of the many stamps that Westerberg groups together under Plate 1-A is reasonably explained. There were probably three printings from Plate 1, possibly alternating with at least one 1c Plate 2-A printing.
This remarkable survivor is the larger of the two known blocks of any Numeral prior to the 1863 1c from Plate 4-A; the other being the Staggered Block in the following lot. It was sold to Henry J. Crocker and illustrated in his book, Hawaiian Numerals. It was purchased privately from the Crocker estate by Frank C. Atherton and donated to the Honolulu Academy of Arts, whose collection was acquired by the Advertiser. Thus, this block is offered at auction for the first time
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Westerberg Plate 1-A, Types V-VI/VII-IV (Westerberg Pos. 5-6/7-8 as a normal block); we believe this represents a new Plate 1-B (see notes below); unused block of four, which, in our opinion, is a straddle-pane block showing 8mm mis-alignment of Positions 6/8 at left and 5/7 at right from adjacent panes on the sheet, lefthand column in a lighter shade than righthand column, top of upper-left stamp trimmed, others have margins all around, light creases, small hole and pinholes in left margin, which is 14mm at its widest point and indicates a large gutter between columns if we are correct about the relative positionsTHE REMARKABLE AND STRIKING "STAGGERED BLOCK", PROVING, AS WE BELIEVE, THAT PLATE 1 WAS RECONFIGURED FROM ONE PRINTING TO ANOTHER
As a crucial piece of evidence in Westerberg's plating analysis, this block was judged by him to be a normally-configured multiple with an abnormal misalignment of the two columns. In this respect we believe that Westerberg erred. The two columns are very different in color and impression - the lefthand stamps being lightly inked, while the righthand stamps are fully inked. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for two columns of type locked into a press bed to slip out of alignment by 8mm.
In our opinion, this block and its long-since-separated fifth adjoining stamp prove that Plate 1-A (as arranged by Westerberg) was used for the first printing in Dark Blue, then reconfigured with the two columns transposed from their positions - creating, in essence, a new plate (1-B). This block, the Crocker block of six (previous lot) and a number of other stamps with similar shades and on the same semi-opaque paper (with minimal show-thru image on back) probably come from early printings from the plates we call 1-B and 1-C.
We can distinguish between the plates used for this Staggered Block and the Crocker block, because of a variety found in one and not the other. A fifth stamp was removed from the Staggered Block after the Worthington collection was dispersed (see Figure #). The stamp is Type IX from below the lefthand vertical pair (Position 10). This stamp was separated from the block and appears in the Tows sale (lot 379), the Caspary sale (lot 92), and the Lilly sale (lot 152). It is a variety not mentioned by Westerberg, showing the period after "Cents" dropped (see Figure #). This variety, which does not conform to Westerberg's plating, is evidence that there was another plate. Because of the difference in gutter width between this and the Staggered Block, and the fact that Type IX (bottom right stamp) does not show the dropped period in this block, as it does in the fifth stamp from the Staggered Block, we can safely say that there were at least two additional plates (1-B and 1-C).
Ex Worthington, Tows, Harris, Middendorf, Ostheimer.
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. VII (Westerberg Pos. 7), unused, huge margins all around, beautiful pastel Light Blue shade on semi-opaque paper with very faint show-thru image on back, scissors cut at B.L, small tear at B., creases and slight thinning, nevertheless Extremely Fine appearance
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. VIII (Westerberg Pos. 4), unused, clear to ample margins, strong impression in an intermediate shade between Dark Blue and Light Blue, tiny thin speck, Fine appearance
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. VI (Westerberg Pos. 6), unused, large margins to just touched, intermediate shade between Dark Blue and Light Blue, typography suggests an early state of plate - tighter border pieces and smaller gaps than Type VI in Crocker block (lot #) - some toning, repaired tear, still a Fine appearing and rare stamp
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 8), full even margins, intermediate shade between Dark Blue and Light Blue with strong show-thru image on back, black square grid cancel, toned spot, Very Fine
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. I (Westerberg Pos. 3), clear to huge margins, rich intermediate shade between Dark Blue and Light Blue with strong show-thru image on back, lightened ms. cancel, red square grid, Fine appearance
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 1-A, Ty. VII (Westerberg Pos. 7), large margins all around, intermediate shade between Dark Blue and Light Blue with strong show-thru image on back, red Honolulu cds, defective and repaired at lower right, a good representative example of Plate 1-A in this intermediate shade, ex Ishikawa, with 1981 P.F. certificate
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. V (Westerberg Pos. 5), large to huge margins, rich color and unusually fresh, clearly struck red Honolulu cds, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1974 P.F. certificate
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 4), large to huge margins, deep shade, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, Extremely Fine Gem
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. X (Westerberg Pos. 10), raised "I" of "INTER" variety, large margins all around, deep shade, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, Extremely Fine, this variety is unlisted in Scott
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. II (Westerberg Pos. 2), full to large margins, deep shade, red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval, Very Fine
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. III (Westerberg Pos. 1), large to gigantic margins with 6mm gutter-margin at right, border fragment of Ty. I position in margin below, red "Honolulu Hawaiian-Islands Aug. 9" (1859) cds, deep shade, small hole in sheet margin at upper right, still Extremely Fine, ex Wilcox
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. VI (Westerberg Pos. 6), large even margins, deep shade, ms. cancel, Extremely Fine, illustrated in Westerberg, ex Atherton
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. VII (Westerberg Pos. 7), large margins except at upper left, red Honolulu cds, couple of oily translucent spots, otherwise Very Fine
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. V (Westerberg Pos. 5), "J" between "INTER-ISLAND" variety, caused by slug shifting upward, framelines mostly complete all around, tied by red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval on small orange piece, Fine and very attractive, ex Atherton
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 4), large to huge margins, blue "C. S. Bartow" handstamp as cancel, used by postmaster of Lahaina (1859-61), nicks in L. margin repaired, otherwise Very Fine, rare cancel, ex Atherton
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. V (Westerberg Pos. 5), large margins all around, ms. "Hana" cancel, repaired at center where thins break paper, rare cancel
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 4), ms. "Kaupakuea" cancel, repaired with part of design painted in along right, very rare, with 1955 B.P.A. certificate
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Ty. I (Westerberg Pos. 3), ample margins to just touching frameline, deep shade, pen cancel with vertical line and two squiggles at sides, not tied but properly used on cover addressed in the hand of Lucy Goodale Thurston to her nephew, Warren Goodale, probably mailed from Kailua, Hawaii, faint waterstaining, otherwise Very Fine, probably fewer than ten 2c Blue Numeral covers are extant, with 1967 P.F. certificate
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. VII (Westerberg Pos. 7), large even margins, part of red cancel, few translucent oily spots, still Extremely Fine
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 4), full even margins, rich color, red Honolulu cds, Extremely Fine and choice
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. I (Westerberg Pos. 3), large to huge margins, tied by red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval on small piece, tiny scissors cut in upper right margin clear of frameline, still Extremely Fine
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. VI (Westerberg Pos. 6), large to huge margins, red Honolulu cds, tiny thin speck, Extremely Fine appearance
1859, 2c Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. III (Westerberg Pos. 1), faint papermaker's embossed crest (a week impression), unusual Grayish Blue shade, large margins, brownish black "Collector's Office/Hilo. Hawaii" in oval, slight thin at B., Extremely Fine appearance, an unusual stamp with respect to papermaker's mark, shade and cancellation
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 3-B, Ty. X (Westerberg Pos. 10), dropped "I" of "INTER" variety, ample margins on three sides, slightly in at B., unusually dark shade with strong show-thru image on back, blue "C.S. Bartow" postmaster's handstamp used as cancel at Lahaina, small stain spot, tear at R., still Fine
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 3-B, Ty. IX (Westerberg Pos. 10), dropped "I" of "INTER" variety, large to huge margins except touched at top left, unusual dark shade, tied by faint blue Lahaina Customs House seal with full-rigged ship, on piece from the Catholic Mission correspondence, gum toning shows thru translucent paper of stamp, otherwise Very Fine
1859, 2c Dark Blue, Grayish White (13a). Plate 3-B, Ty. III (Westerberg Pos. 1), papermaker's embossed crest, a very strongly impressed example, three enormous margins, a bit irregular but clear at bottom, ms. cancel, used on cover front from the Maignet correspondence (Catholic Mission), the stamp is a very dark shade, gum toning shows thru translucent paper, still Very Fine, the only example of an embossed Numeral used on its original cover - in this case, the address panel of a folded letter - ex Atherton
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. VIII (Westerberg Pos. 8), large even margins, beautiful shade, very minor gum toning, tied by red "Honolulu Hawaiian-Islands Jul. 2" large circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined at "Kauhako [Kauako] June 28/60" from H. Clarke to Thomas Waterhouse at Honolulu, carried by the inter-island schooner Kekauluohi and canceled on arrival at the Honolulu post office, small split in file fold at top with minor tape stain (could be easily treated)ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN 1859 2-CENT BLUE NUMERALS USED ON COVER
There are fewer than ten recorded covers with the 1859 2c Blue Numeral, including copies canceled by manuscript but not tied. Only two or three show the Numeral canceled by the Honolulu circular datestamp.
This cover was the source of the Westerberg title-page illustration. Ex Twigg-Smith
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. VII (Westerberg Pos. 7), separated by hand with three large margins and clear at bottom, bright shade, tied by red "POSTAGE PAID" in oval handstamp on brown cover to Mr. and Mrs. Goodale at Honolulu, according to notation based on previous content, this was sent from the Thurstons at Kailua in January 1860, sender's endorsement at top "With a Box from Kailua. Freight Paid.AN EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE COVER BEARING THE 1859 2-CENT BLUE NUMERAL TIED ON ARRIVAL AT HONOLULU
The notation on this cover and the cover in the following lot indicate that mail was carried with cargo. The ship's captain accepted both and brought the letters to the post office on arrival in Honolulu, where the stamp was canceled. This inter-island mail was carried free prior to August 1, 1859.
Ex Emerson, Caspary, Middendorf, Twigg-Smith.
1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-B, Ty. IV (Westerberg Pos. 4), beautiful pastel shade, large margins, canceled by pencil cross, not tied but properly used on cover from the Thurstons in Kailua to Warren Goodale at Honolulu, sender's endorsement "By the Kamehameha 4th With a Box of Oranges", notation indicates previous contents were datelined at Kailua, October 4, 1859, small piece missing at upper left from opening (mended), slight edge nick at upper right into margin of stamp but well clear of framelineA VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 1859 2-CENT BLUE NUMERAL ON A COVER SENT WITH PRODUCE FROM KAILUA
Ex Emerson, Middendorf, Twigg-Smith