Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The David Golden Collection of Hawaiian Stamps and Postal History continued...

Forwarders Markings

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

114°

FORWARDED BY/BUSH & CO./LAHAINA. Bold strike of red framed handstamp on back of folded letter datelined "Ship Abigail at Sea, July 26th 1850" and addressed to Makee Anthon & Co. on Oahu, some slight wear, Very Fine strike of this rare forwarder's marking sent to another forwarder, Fred Gregory records only two examples of this marking, Bush & Co. was formed in 1850 and dissolved in 1851 after Bush passed away, ex Tows and Van Dyke (with his backstamp) (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

115°

FORWARDED BY/H. T. FITCH/HONOLULU. Red octagonal handstamp at top of blue folded letter datelined "Honolulu Novr. 19th 1855" and addressed to Flint Peabody & Co. in San Francisco, also with red "BARK FRANCIS PALMER" handstamp with the rare misspelling, clear "Forwarded by G.B. Post & Co. San Francisco" backstamp, second light strike on front, "San Francisco Cal. 15 Dec." circular datestamp and "Ship 6" in clamshell handstamp, bit heavy soiling, some markings strengthened, vertical file folds, otherwise Fine, a scarce use, Fred Gregory records only five examples of the Fitch marking (four in red and carried on the same voyage), ex Van Dyke (with his backstamp) (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

116°

GREGORY'S/HONOLULU/EXPRESS. Well-struck oval handstamp on ca. 1852 blue folded cover to Mrs. A. Neilson in New York, sender's directive "pr Gregory's Express" at upper left, manuscript "Paid 25" rate, mostly clear strikes of "Boyd's City Express Post Apr. 3 12" oval datestamp and "PAID J.T.B." handstamps, small edge tears and reinforcements inside

VERY FINE. A PHENOMENAL USE OF THIS RARE GREGORY'S EXPRESS HONOLULU HANDSTAMP ON A FOLDED COVER TO NEW YORK. ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES OF THIS GREGORY'S EXPRESS MARKING ARE KNOWN IN TOTAL, AND THIS CONJUNCTIVE USE WITH BOYD'S EXPRESS POST IS UNIQUE.

Gregory's Express operated in Honolulu from January 1850 to May 1853. Fred Gregory records only five examples of the oval handstamp on covers dated from Oct. 1851 to May 1852. In thi case Gregory's Express arranged to have the mail carried to New York City and delivered to the local street address by Boyd's City Express Post.

Illustrated in Letters of Gold. Ex Baker and Haas. (Image)

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E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

117°

GREGORY'S/HONOLULU/EXPRESS. Red oval handstamp on folded letter datelined "San Francisco Dec. 2, 1851" to Reverend Dwight Baldwin in Lahaina, marking considerably strengthened, still Fine and rare, only five examples of the oval handstamp are recorded by Fred Gregory and this is the only one on an inbound letter, ex Van Dyke (with his backstamp) (Image)

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E. 500-750

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction

118°

GREGORY'S/HONOLULU/EXPRESS. Clear strike of oval handstamp with matching "Paid" in double-line oval handstamp and pencil "Paid 3/" on folded letter datelined "HMS Amphritite, May 26th 1852, Honolulu Harbor, Sandwich Islands" to Nottingham, England, addressed to J. C. Wright from his son Thomas, vertical tear down address panel sealed with hinges, contains a detailed 3-1/2-page letter but there appears to be a missing folio sheet which had more of the letter and signature line

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED GREGORY'S HONOLULU EXPRESS COVER FROM HAWAII TO A COUNTRY BEYOND THE UNITED STATES.

Although the writer's name is missing from this letter, it is from the well-known correspondence of Thomas Denman Wright, who served on the HMS Amphritite and wrote to his family in England from his Pacific tour in 1849-55 (much of the correspondence can be found at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley). This well-written letter includes many interesting references to Hawaii's history, people, features and local events, including: "called by Capt. Cook 'Owhyhie' who mistook the article 'O' for a part of the name, in the same way that 'Tahiti' is called 'Otaheiti'", a less than politically correct description of Hawaiian's physical features, descriptions of their clothing and the landscape, news of an inspection of the local school by missionaries and members of the Royal family, and a humorous story about pole dancing, etc.

The "Paid 3/" rate is either three shillings (72c) or three "bits" (one bit equals 12-1/2c, total 37-1/2c), a commonly used form of currency on express covers. Gregory's Express charged 25c for a letter between the United States and Hawaii, and it advertised service to Europe and an office in Liverpool, but none of the firm's ads list the rates charged. (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

119°

GREGORY'S/EXPRESS OFFICE,/SAN FRANCISCO. Clear strike of blue three-line handstamp with matching "Paid" double-line oval handstamp on cover to Mrs. Chauncy Walker in Bridgewater Vt., manuscript "Paid 25" M. & Co." at upper left, with original enclosure datelined "Oahu H.I., City of Honolulu, Nov. 13, 1851", cover with some slight wear, Very Fine and rare Gregory's Express use from Hawaii, Mitchell & Hutchings were advertised as Gregory's Express agents in Honolulu, the "M & Co." notation presumably refers to that firm (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

120°

GREGORY'S/EXPRESS,/SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE. Atypically clear strike of blue three-line handstamp with matching "Not Paid" oval handstamp in oval on blue folded cover to F. R. Vida in Honolulu, sender's ship-name directive "pr Gazelle" at upper left, docketed on inside "Answered Smith Bros. Augt. 11th 1851", light file folds and some age spotting, still Very Fine, rare, the schooner Gazelle sailed from San Francisco on Jul. 6 and arrived in Honolulu on Jul. 22, ex Ishikawa (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

121°

GREGORY'S/EXPRESS OFFICE,/SAN FRANCISCO. Neat strike of blue three-line handstamp with matching "Not Paid" oval handstamp on folded cover to Robert C. Janion in Honolulu, sender's blue oval handstamp and directive "by Gregory's Express", manuscript "25" express rate, some erosion in address, otherwise Fine and rare (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

122°

Forwarded by Thomas O. Larkin, Monterey California. Partly readable strike of oval handstamp on top flap of folded letter datelined "Oahu Feb. 15th 1846" from Stephen Reynolds and to Nathan Spear in San Francisco, business content regarding land claims, vertical file fold, some soiling, still Fine, a rare example of this Alta California consular's forwarding handstamp on a letter from Hawaii to California, Stephen Reynolds was Assistant Harbormaster 1829-52, the addressee, Nathan Spear, was a resident and prominent merchant in Monterey as early as 1831 and was in San Francisco in 1845 due to health issues, Larkin was the American Consul at Monterey from 1844-46, there were two sailings from Honolulu to Monterey which could have carried this letter: the bark Don Quixote cleared Feb. 19 but might not have sailed until Feb. 23 (arrived Mar. 15) and the bark Euphemia, which departed Feb. 19 and arrived Mar. 16 -- although trans-Mexico mail arrived at Monterey, very little mail was off-loaded and forwarded to points in pre-Gold Rush Alta California (Image)

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E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

123°

Forwarded by Makee Anthon & Co., Sandwich Islands. Light strike of red oval handstamp struck on back of folded letter datelined "Honolulu Harbour November 20, 1849" and addressed to William A. Wallace in Worcester Mass., neat "San Francisco Cal. Jan. 14" (1850) circular datestamp and matching "40" in frame handstamp, letter from a sailor on the Cogeshall who notes in part "you have heard of the French outrages at these Islands. It has caused a great excitement both among natives and foreigners. The general impression among intelligent people is that annexation to some powerful state is necessary. The King and chiefs would prefer England on account of monarchy -- but the people look to the U.S.", other interesting content, small tear at top right, Very Fine and rare, probably carried on the bark Don Quixote, which sailed from Honolulu on Dec. 2 and arrived in San Francisco on Jan. 2, just missing the Jan. 1 sailing to Panama, postmarked Jan. 14 and sent on the Jan. 15 sailing of the California (arrived Feb. 4), Fred Gregory records only five examples of this forwarder's marking and this is the earliest reported example (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

124°

Forwarded by Makee Anthon & Co., Sandwich Islands. Clear strike of red oval handstamp on brown cover to Henrietta Whipple in Bloomfield N.J., light strike of orange-red "San Francisco Cal. 27 Jul." (1850) circular datestamp at left, manuscript "42" rate (40c postage plus 2c ship fee), some edge flaws incl. sealed tear at left, otherwise Very Fine strike of this rare forwarder's marking, Fred Gregory records only five examples, this is the latest reported use, ex Hollowbush (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction