Lot
44 
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Mar 17, red cds (MH 242.03) on cover to Mrs. H.W. McCoughtey at New Bedford, Mass., red "San Francisco, Cal., Paid, Mar 30, 1860" cds and matching "12" rating handstamp for 10¢ transcontinental postage plus 2¢ ship fee; no flap, Very Fine strikes. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A SCARCE USE CARRIED FROM HONOLULU BY THE USS "POWHATAN" TO SAN FRANCISCO WHILE ESCORTING THE FIRST OFFICIAL EMBASSY OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN TO THE UNITED STATES.
This cover was carried by the U.S.S. "Powhatan" from Honolulu departing Mar. 18 to San Francisco arriving Mar. 29th. Cover was then sent overland to New Bedford. The U.S.S. "Powhatan" had sailed from Yokohama, Japan Feb. 13th 1860 accompanied by Japanese capital ship "Kanrin Maru" stopping at Honolulu Mar. 5th to Mar. 18th enroute to San Francisco as part of the first official embassy of the Empire of Japan to the United States of America. The Japanese embassy was formally composed of three men: Ambassador Shinmi Masaoki, Vice-Ambassador Muragaki Norimasa and Observer Oguri Tadamasa.