Sale 1230 U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History

HAWAII, 1859-63, 2c Black, Grayish (16). Plate 3-E, Type I (Westerberg Position 3), large margins to clear, sealed horizontal tear at bottom left, tied by bold strike of blue Lahaina Customs House seal with full-rigged ship on cover to Rev. S. E. Bishop at Honolulu, June 7, 1860 docketing at left indicates this was mailed by Cornelia Ann Bishop to her husband, cover lightly cleaned with two mended nicks at bottom

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LATEST RECORDED USE OF THE LAHAINA CUSTOMS HOUSE SEAL ON COVER. FEWER THAN TEN FULL COVERS WITH THIS CANCEL ARE REPORTED.

This marking was used by Cornelius S. Bartow, the Lahaina postmaster, before he received cancelling devices ordered through the Honolulu post office. In a letter to the postmaster-general, he refers to this provisional cancellation: �Did you order a stamp for the department of this place? It seems to me to be very necessary, as I am now compelled to use the Custom House seal.� The marking was usually struck in an oily greenish-blue ink, which left very poor impressions.

The Rev. Sereno Edwards Bishop was the son of the Rev. Artema and Elizabeth Bishop, missionaries of the Second Company. Rev. Bishop was the Seaman�s Chaplain at Lahaina from 1853 to 1862, the period in which this cover was mailed, evidently while he was visiting Honolulu.

Ex Admiral Harris, Pietsch and Gross. With 2020 P.F. certificate. Scott value 5,000.00 on cover. (Image Magnifier)