The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-11-17
HAWAIIAN POSTAGE STAMPS.

The new twO-cent stamp issued
by the Postal Bureau is a perfect
portrait Of Queen Liliuokalani
printed in purple. The border is
precisely like the KaIakaua two
cent stamp, the only difference be-
tween the two being the portrait
and the color.
1t may not be out of place here
to make some remarks on Hawaiian
postage stamps, which, from their
rare beauty, are greatly priced by
stamp-collectors in the old coun-
tries.
The first postage stamps used in
this kingdom were issued by Hon.
H. N. Whitney in 1851 Cat that
time postmaster), in accordance
with an order of the Government,
which had passed law imposing
postage on papers and letters sent
abroad. The rates were: Two cents
on each paper, five cents on each
half-ounce letter sent abroad, and
thirteen cents if the American post
age was prepaid five being the
Hawaiian tax and eight cents the
American).
These three first issues were all
numerals, and continued in use for
two or three years, or until the
copper-plate stamps, of the same
denominations, were received from
Boston.
Type numerals, with plain rule
border, of the denominations of l, 2
and > cents, were occasionally
issued between 1859 and 1864, as
required by the postal service, to
meet the demand when the supply
of engraved stamps gave out. But
none were issued since the latter
date, in which year 1864 the
beautiful carmine two-cent, the first
Of the Hawaiian steel dies, was re-
ceived in large supply.
The two-cent stamps have borne
the portraits of each of the Hawai-
ian sovereigns since 1858, except |
Kamehameha V. and Lunalilo, but
no one of them surpasses in beauty
and perfect likeness that which |
has just appeared of the Queen. |
There will be great demand |
for this new Hawaiian stamp, and |
If the statement OF the London
Graphic be reliable, that the de-
mand for every new postage stamp
exceeds 100000 to supply the
wants of the millions of stamp col
lectors, the postal department will
become very profitable to the Gov
eminent.
All the postage stamps of this
kingdom are equally valuable, and
no stamp album is complete unless it
has specimen stamp of each of the
new and high-priced issues-l2c.,
l5c., 25e., soc. and one dollar. For
this reason no sales to foreign stamp
dealers should be made under the
face value.
Stamped envelopes are a great
convenience to business men and
should be more generally used. In
the United States no letters are
allowed to be carried by steamers
or other conveyance outside the ,
mails, unless in stamped envelopes,
because such an envelope cannot
be used a second time, whereas an {
affixed stamp uncancelIed may be
used several times and the public '
treasury thereby defrauded. I'll
would be well if a law were enacted '
here forbidding the carrying of let
tiers by foreign and inter.island :
steamers, except in stamped en- q
velopes. 1t would save hundreds
and perhaps thousands of dollars
annually to the public revenue.
The denominations of Hawaiian !
stamped envelopes are L., &C., &C., '
DC. and lOc., all of which are pro-
durable at the Post Office at their G
face value, the envelopes being J
given gratis. Is
Big Suit for DAMAGES