How Rare Are They, Really?
Davey and Bash (see references at Describing Postal Markings) listed all "rare" town
postmarks as 1 on a scale of 1-10. Burns divided "rare" town postmarks into 1RRRR, 1RRR, 1RR and 1R, with 1RRRR
being rarest. Collectors have since favored Burns's division of rare postmarks into four descending groups. Rarity
lists must be used with caution to avoid assuming a high degree of accuracy. In March, 1989, Burns himself wrote
saying he was confident the count of seven strikes for Kaluaaha 238.02 was accurate. He went on: "I have very
little confidence as to the quantitative accuracy of many other rarity designations."
One purpose of this site is to improve the "quantitative accuracy" of the "rare" (category 1RRRR – 1R) and "scarce"
(category 2 - 4) postmarks. So far, this effort has succeeded in uncovering new postmarks and improving the count of
existing rare postmarks. As expected, some postmarks previously ranked in the rarest (1RRRR) category have moved
downward and were replaced with newly discovered postmarks. If you have any of the "rare" or "scarce" postmarks,
please attach an image to an e-mail and send it to (scott312@earthlink.net)
and complete the questionnaire at Town Postmarks Census Study.
The following census represents the current confirmed count or estimated number
of strikes for each of the rare postmarks. A (-) following a listing means it is believed to fall within the range
but the exact count is uncertain. Sixty-five postmarks are included in the rare category. Nine marks are listed in
maroon color, indicating the postmark listing is TENTATIVE, pending further
confirmation.
- Twenty-three postmarks are listed as 1RRRR, meaning no more than five strikes of each are confirmed. All of
the nine tentative marks are assigned a 1RRRR rating so only fourteen 1RRRR postmarks have been proven to my
satisfaction. The latest additions to the 1RRRR group are the newly listed Kaupo type 253.01 on the Island of
Maui and Honolulu 236.11 (IV). Also, Waipio 282.016 has been proven so its tentative label has been removed.
Four postmarks previously rated 1R are moved up to 1RRRR either because the listing is still tentative or
because a confirmed count justifies the move. Those marks are: Naalehu 255.01; Kahului 281.02; Waiohinu 214; and
Hana 282.013.
- Nineteen postmarks are in the 1RRR category, meaning six to ten strikes are confirmed.
- Ten postmarks are rated 1RR, meaning eleven to twenty strikes are confirmed or estimated.
- Thirteen postmarks are rated 1R, meaning twenty to thirty strikes are confirmed or estimated.
Back to 
Hana, Maui type 282.013: Burns listed it as a new mark in 1988.