Lot
35 
U.S. Postage Paid, partial strike of red oval handstamp on circa 1852-53 gray wrapper to Mrs. Elizabeth Ricord, Newark N.J., endorsed "Paid" and signed "R.C. Wyllie" at lower left, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS HONOLULU "U.S. POSTAGE PAID" OVAL HANDSTAMP ON A STAMPLESS COVER.
Robert Crichton Wyllie (1798-1865) was a Scottish physician and businessman. He also served two decades as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1845 to 1865. We note the "U.S. Postage Paid" oval handstamp on only three covers and a strike on a off-cover 13¢ Kamehameha (5) pair (ex-Tows, Advertiser). The "U.S." was removed from the marking in 1859 for use as a canceller on the Numeral issue (MH #762).
There are only three recorded stampless covers with this Honolulu "U.S. Postage Paid" oval handstamp:
1. 1852 Nov. 20, Honolulu to Russia, ex-Advertiser, currently in Gross collection.
2. undated, circa 1852-53, Honolulu to Newark N.J., the cover offered here.
3. undated, circa 1852-53, Honolulu to Schuyler Livingston, H.H.M.'s Consul General, New York. (Collection of Richard Malmgren).
Realized: $2,500