::: Honolulu Postmarks 1884 to 1900 :::

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The distinction between foreign mail postmarks and domestic mail postmarks disappeared around 1884-1885. For earlier Honolulu Postmarks, see Honolulu Foreign Mail Postmarks to 1886 and Honolulu Domestic Mail Postmarks to 1886. For postmarks used on registered mail, please go to Registered Foreign Letters or to Registered Marks listed under Service Marks.

This study begins with type 234.62. From January, 1879 to around February, 1884, this type was used primarily on domestic mail. In the Convention Period type 234.62 was also used as a backstamp on foreign mail addressed to countries beyond the United States. From about February, 1884, type 234.62 became a regular postmark on both foreign and domestic mail. Subsequently introduced postmarks were also used for both foreign and domestic mail.

In August, 1885, the Honolulu post office received two nearly identical postmark devices. These two devices are lumped together in most studies as type 233.02. When PMG Whitney ordered the new marking devices in 1885, he specified they were to have year dates so they both are year dated. Postmarks used during the Convention Period from 1875 to the end of 1881 were all year dated but devices used in the first four years of the UPU Period (types 235.12 and 234.62) had no year date so the chore of using sailing tables and other information to figure the year a particular cover was sent continues to August, 1886, when the last of the former "no-year date devices" was retired.

The two type 233.02 devices received in August, 1885, were made by the Yale and Towne Manufacturing Co. of Stamford, Connecticut. Two more steel die postmark devices were ordered by Whitney from Klinkner & Co. of San Francisco in June, 1886. The two devices arrived in August, 1886 and produced postmark types 235.22 and 234.02. In 1889, the post office put into use two duplex ellipses devices and put a third ellipses device in use in January, 1899. I have been unable to identify the manufacturer of the ellipses duplex marks. Two of the ellipses devices continued in use for a few days after the Territory of Hawaii was established on June 14, 1900.

Where possible, the exact EKU (earliest known use) and LKU (latest known use) are given. Otherwise, the month in which the EKU and LKU fall are given. Please E-mail (scott312@earthlink.net) me if you can extend either date or give precise EKU or LKU dates.

FIRST CLASS MAIL CIRCLE DATE STAMPS

FIRST CLASS MAIL DUPLEX ELLIPSES

SECOND CLASS MAIL POSTMARKS

Starting about January, 1897, postmarks used for second class mail were different from those used on first class mail. However, the second class mail postmarks are also seen on some domestic first class mail, but the incidence is scarce. So far as the foreign mail is concerned, I have noted these marks only on second class mail.

All of the second class postmarks are undated. The first is the squared circle postmark produced in Canada and sent to Honolulu as a sample or gift. The proof for the Honolulu device shown in the Canadian set of squared circle postmarks has a date of February 9, 1894, but the use of this device as a postmark started in January, 1897, based on the dates figured for nearly unworn strikes. The other two second class mail devices produced single lined circle marks.

POSTMARK WITH UNCERTAIN PURPOSE

Confusion exists over whether Davey type 282.21 is a postmark or an auxiliary mark. In this site it is listed on the Official Auxiliary Mark page as AUXOFF-PostOffice(U·). Examples are found on cover without other postmarks suggesting it was occasionally used as a postmark on official looking mail.

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