Sale 1260 — 2022 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 June, 2022
Category — Hawaii
Honolulu * Hawaiian-Islands * Mar. 13 (1852). Beautifully bold strike of red circular datestamp on folded letter datelined at Lihue, Kauai, on Mar. 5, 1852, written by Edward Tailer Austin (cousin of Stephen F. Austin) to his cousin S. F. Perry at Peach Point Plantation, Brazoria Texas, "San Francisco Cal. 1 May" circular datestamp and "12" rate handstamp (10c postage to Texas and 2c ship captain fee), fascinating content chronicling Edward T. Austin's travels to the California gold fields, his labors, losing his fortune and migrating to Hawaii where he worked as a plantation overseer -- with lots of additional commentary on Hawaii including Captain Cook's memorial, the "chief power" of the Missionaries, natives, Chinese and climateEXTREMELY FINE USE FROM HAWAII TO TEXAS, WITH EXTRAORDINARY CONTENT FROM TWO COUSINS OF THE SPANISH TEXAS PIONEER STEPHEN F. AUSTIN FAMILY.
The writer, Edward Tailer Austin, was a son of Captain Henry Austin, cousin of Stephen F. Austin, father of Texas. Peach Point Plantation, the address of the letter, was not a Texas post office but a place where Emily Austin Bryan Perry (Stephen F. Austin's sister) and family in Texas called home.
Ex Bleuler. Featured in an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (exhibit card accompanies). With transcription of the letter and background on the family.
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Used with 10c Green, F. Grill (96) and Hawaii, 1866, 5c Blue (32), 5c tied by "HP" Honolulu cancel, 2c and 10c tied by San Francisco quartered cork cancels, "Honolulu Hawaiian-Islands Aug. 11" (1869) circular datestamp on blue cover to Manchester, England, magenta "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 3 Paid" circular datestamp, sender's ship-name directive "Per 'Ethan Allen'", receiving backstamp (Sep. 23, 1869), stamps have slight gum toning, vertical fold at center clear of stamps, small mended corner nick at top leftVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE UNITED STATES AND HAWAIIAN MIXED-FRANKING COVER TO ENGLAND WITH THE 12-CENT TREATY RATE PAID BY 2-CENT BLACK JACK AND 10-CENT GRILLED ISSUES.
As directed by the sender, this cover was carried on the American bark Ethan Allen, which departed from Honolulu on August 12, 1869, and arrived in San Francisco on September 1. After arrival the mail was datestamped September 3. The Ethan Allen was a non-contract vessel.
Ex Dr. Rorke and Faust. With 1954 R.P.S. certificate and 1977 P.F. certificate
Honolulu, Hawaii, Registry Exchange Label, Handstamped Name (FX-HO2). Label numbered "711" affixed at upper left with edges wrapped around cover to Canton, China, addressed to the German General Consul with Canton crossed out and "Shanghai" written above in red crayon, 1c, 2c and pair 5c Bureau issues (279, 279B, 281) tied by two strikes of "Koloa H. ISLS. Jan. 4, 1902" duplex datestamp, magenta "Registered No. 279" with number in manuscript, backstamped with purple "Registered Honolulu, Hawaii Jan. 5, 1902" double-circle datestamp, "Registered P.O. Hong-Kong FE 2 02" double-circle datestamp, "Canton FE 3 02" circular datestamp and additional strike of Hong Kong datestamp of Feb. 5 on its way back to Shanghai, finally with "Shanghai FE 9 02" arrival backstamp, opened slightly roughly at bottom which affects the perfs on the 5c pairVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE HONOLULU, HAWAII, REGISTRY EXCHANGE LABEL WITH HANDSTAMPED "HONOLULU".
The Scott Catalogue lists this label with a "(2)" -- meaning two examples recorded. Scott value as the label without regard to the China destination.