This page last updated: 18 June 2006

::: ARTICLES ::: Circumstantial Evidence Can Help Authenticate One-Of-A-Kind Items This article by Fred Gregory appears in two books recently published: Opinions VII, p. 135-144 and Fakes Forgeries Experts, Vol. 9, May, 2006, p. 33-38. Authenticating a cover sent from Dr. Luther Gulick in Honolulu to Rev. Sereno E. Bishop at Hana, Maui in 1864 presented challenges because the cover is the only known example of the Honolulu postmark, type 236.11, style IV. Post office records, other correspondence and knowledge of Rev. Bishop's movements converge to prove the cover is genuine in all respects and was mailed in 1864. Opinions is published by The Philatelic Foundation. Fakes Forgeries Experts is published annually by Postiljonen A/S and edited by Knut Mohr in partnership with A.I.E.P. and FIP. San Francisco FOREIGN Handstamp Used On Hawaii Mail in 1864 Fred Gregory, FRPSL, teamed with Dale Forster to author an article published in the Collectors Club Philatelist May-June 2006 edition. During a few weeks in September, 1864, rate confusion reigned and Hawaiian prepaid mail destined for addressees in the United States was taxed for postage due in error. A chain reaction of errors then caused the so-called Kalakaua Error Rates of October and November, 1864. The article by Forster and Gregory explores the background and details of 1864 mail rates from Hawaii and other places of origin, and the effect of the error periods. Of the eighteen surviving covers bearing the San Francisco FOREIGN handstamp, eight originated at Honolulu, three at British Columbia/Vancouver Island, three at Sydney, New South Wales and one each at Shanghai, China, Kanagawa, Japan and Valparaiso, Chile (plus one of unconfirmed origin). Eighteen covers are illustrated in color, including five of the known FOREIGN covers. For further reference to this interesting period, see Error Rate Subperiods. The Collectors Club Philatelist is the journal of The Collectors Club and is distributed to members. For information on how to join The Collectors Club, go to Societies and Clubs and click on the link for The Collectors Club. Kahului Railroad Private Parcel Stamps A cover probably carried on the Kahului Railroad and postmarked at Wailuku, Maui on February 27, 1893. Covers bearing the large, block letter CANCELLED mark are thought to have been carried free of charge as part of the Railroad Company's postal duty. Courtesy of Dennis Kim American Bank Note Company Archival Specimens for Hawaiian Postal Cards: A Beginning An archival specimen stamp with a SPECIMEN control mark and boxed file reference data. Courtesy of Dr. Elizabeth J. Nettles Two articles of interest to Hawaiian philatelists appear in the current edition of The Informer (Vol. 70, No. 2, April, 2006). The lead article (p. 29-33), is attributed to the editor of Post Office in Paradise because it uses the text found at Kahului Railway Issue. David McNamee, editor and publisher of The Informer does an excellent job of enhancing the text with additional images. Also, at pages 36 to 40 is an important article on the American Bank Note Company archival specimens for Hawaiian postal cards, jointly authored by Dr. Elizabeth J. Nettles and David L. Straight. This article is a pioneering exploration of specimen cards retained at the American Bank Note Company for its reference copies, including the various markings found on them. The Informer is the quarterly journal of the Society of Australasian Specialists/Oceania (SAS/O). Membership information can be found at Societies and Clubs. Hawaii and China Early Mail Connection Four Hawaii covers passing through China in the 1840's and early 1850's are explored in a recent article by Dr. Andrew Cheung, FRPSL, in Journal of The Hong Kong Philatelic Society, February, 2005 edition, with an addendum in the February, 2006, edition. The remarkable journeys of these four folded letter covers, all illustrated, are described in detail, with complete rate and route explanations. One cover was sent from Mexico to Canton, via Hawaii, in 1844. Two of the covers were sent in 1849, one from Macao to Hawaii and the other from Hamburg, Germany to Hawaii via China. The fourth cover, shown above, was sent from Hawaii in 1852, to Batavia via Manila, Hong Kong and Canton. The Hong Kong Philatelic Society Journal is published annually by The Hong Kong Philatelic Society. Membership information for the HKPS may be found at http://www.hkpsoc.com/webpages/home.htm. Alexander Missionary Cover Reconstruction

Alexander Missionary Fragment Cover March 5, 1852

Carl Walske and Steven Walske, father and son, co-authored an article published in the Collectors Club Philatelist January-February 2006 issue at pages 13 to 26. In this article, the authors propose a possible reconstruction of the Armstrong March 5, 1852 cover bearing a fragment of two Missionary stamps. If this reconstruction is correct, the cover would have looked the same as the one known cover bearing single 2¢ and 5¢ Missionaries plus two 3¢ US stamps. In addition to the fascinating reconstruction story, the authors included interesting biographical information on William Patterson Alexander (the sender) and his son, William DeWitt Alexander (the recipient). The Collectors Club Philatelist is the journal of The Collectors Club and is distributed to members. For information on how to join The Collectors Club, go to Societies and Clubs and click on the link for The Collectors Club.

SPERATI'S HAWAIIAN FORGERIES

Sperati imitation of Scott 28a

Fred Gregory has authored a study of Hawaiian forgeries by Jean de Sperati, published in two installments in The Collectors Club Philatelist. The first installment is in Volume 84, Number 5, September-October, 2005. The second installment is in Volume 84, Number 6, November-December, 2005. Gregory's article includes images of almost every known Sperati imitation of Hawaiian stamps, prints from negatives Sperati made of Hawaiian stamps and images of every genuine Hawaiian stamp Sperati is known to have photographed – together with enlarged images of critical points for identifying the forgeries. Gregory's attempt to identify appearance differences between Sperati's forged Numerals and the genuine Numerals is a pioneering study. Because Sperati used a process of photolithography, his fake Numerals will "plate" to the genuine. Thus, distinguishing a Sperati Numeral from a genuine Numeral can sometimes be difficult. The article also describes and illustrates Sperati's forgeries of Scott Nos. 28a and 48, the only non-Numeral Hawaiian stamps Sperati is known to have imitated. The Collectors Club Philatelist is the publication of The Collectors Club and is sent to members as part of their membership fee. Non-members can obtain a copy for the cost of USA$7.00 (per number - $14 for both installments), post paid, by writing to Office of Publication: The Collectors Club, 22 East 35th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016-3806. Information about joining The Collectors Club is found by clicking on The Collectors Club at Societies and Clubs or by going directly to The Collectors Club.

Sperati's imitations are described in Post Office in Paradise at Numeral Issue – Sperati Numeral Forgeries, Boston Lithograph Forgeries and Bank Note Forgeries.

Examples of two "batnums" or battered numerals.

Geoff Brewster is the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes the Numeral Issue. Geoff worked with the late Fred Westerberg and since Westerberg's death Geoff has continued his interest and research in the Numerals. Every now and then he lets us see the result of what he is doing. The new issue of Possessions (Vol. 20, Nos. 3 & 4 and Vol. 21, No. 1, whole numbers 73, 74 & 75) for the Third & Fourth Quarters, 1999 & First Quarter 2000 [better late than never, or is it my postman?] contains Geoff's latest contribution. It is a detailed and magnificent study of the battered large numbers. Westerberg coined the word "batnums" to describe the type variations and deterioration in the large central numerals for each value. Batnums were moved from position to position and so become a key tool for plating progressive changes in the printing frame. Possessions is published by the United States Possessions Philatelic Society at 3604 Darice Lane, Jefferson City, MO 65109-6812.

Manuscript Kohala P. O. postmark on Scott No. 31a cover to Hilo, taken by the overland carrier to Waimea and then by the Kawaihae - Hilo overland carrier.

Randy Burt has a new series starting in Western Express entitled "Mail From Hawaii." Part 1 appears in the March, 2000 edition (Vol. 50, No. 1, whole number 195). The subject is mail handling on Hawaii's Big Island in the 19th Century. Early coasting vessels, steamers and postmaster appointments are featured in Part 1.

Western Express is the latest journal to carry Randy's material. He recently finished a series on the island of Kauai. Previously he produced articles for the Postal History Journal and the Hawaiian Historical Society and is the author of a book on Hawaiian Revenues. Randy researched Hawaii while working in Honolulu with the Honolulu Advertiser Collection. He uncovered much information never before put in print in the philatelic press.

Randy packs his work with historical anecdotes and vintage images. His writing style lacks a disciplined adherence to his subject, which has its benefits and its problems. The benefit is he includes much well researched information beyond the scope of his subject. However, his sometimes random detours create a certain distraction from the main theme and a bit of tedium. In this part, for example, we find a valuable listing of postmaster appointments on the island of Hawaii but also an analysis of steamer contracts between Australia, Honolulu and San Francisco without any apparent relation to Big Island mail. I find Randy's facts and conclusions usually are accurate and helpful to a broader understanding of the philatelic subject and I look forward to reading the balance of this most recent effort on his part.

Western Express is the journal of the Western Cover Society and is free to members. Membership applications are available from Western Cover Society, Edward Weinberg, Secretary, by writing to Ed at 27 Bridgewater Way, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. If you have any interest in Hawaiian postal history, particularly its relation to California and San Francisco, you will find Western Express an indispensable resource.

1893 Double Overprints

Publishers of Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps and Covers (2001 edition) revamped the manner in which varieties of the 1893 Provisional Government overprints are listed in order to give a consistent reference to the same type of variety. At the same time, they clarified their listings of double overprints by creating three categories and restored some double overprint varieties past editors had dropped.

The overprint varieties will continue to be referenced by lower case letters but the letters will always refer to the same variety (or to a limited group of varieties) thus:
a = "189_" or "18_3" varieties
b = no period varieties
c is reserved for color errors
d = double overprint, both heavy
e = double overprint, one moderate
f = double overprint, one light
g = "pair, one without overprint" or "inverted overprint" varieties

In addition to these changes, the 2001 edition included a research article I prepared for them to explain the double overprints. The point of the article is to identify the distinctions between varieties d, e and f. Also, the article will show the difference between a true double and a "kiss" overprint. Scott will continue its policy to not list the "kiss" overprints. A true double requires three fully readable lines of a second overprint so parts of letters and even a distinct line of overprint will fail to qualify for the "f" variety. Also still left uncatalogued are the various split overprint varieties.

Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps and Covers is available from Scott Publishing Co., 911 Vandemark Rd. Sidney, Ohio 45365-0828.

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