Existing comment:
Collectors have always sought these fragile stamps, the first issued by the Kingdom of Hawaii. Their charming design and fancy numerals along with Hawaii's exotic location, also make them highly desirable.
Postage from Paradise:
These stamps became known as Hawaiian Missionaries because most were used on correspondence mailed by Christian missionaries in Hawaii. The stamps are unusual because they paid various rates, including postage for a letter from Hawaii to the US East Coast via San Francisco.
The 13-cent stamp prepaid rates in two countries: the Kingdom of Hawaii and the United States. The first 13-cent stamp, issued in 1851, read "Hawaiian Postage" -- which sometimes confused US postmasters. The fourth stamp, issued in 1852, was redesigned to read "H.I. & U.S. Postage." |