HAWAII 1853 Issue

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For stamps of Hawaii issued in 1851 (Missionaries issue), click here.

 

1853 King Kemehameha III so-called 'Boston engraved issue'

Genuine, image obtained from a Bennett auction Image obtained from a Harmers auction 13 c red Image obtained from a Harmers auction

  5 c blue
  13 c red

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c RR RR  
13 c RRR RRR  

Reprints:

Reprints exist, overprinted 'SPECIMEN.' (1868) or 'REPRINT.' (1869) or no overprint at all (both 1868 and 1869 reprints). For the 1868 reprints the original plates were used. For the 1869 reprints the plates were slightly changed. The reprint of 1869 of the 13 c has the bottom of the '3' in the upper left corner more rounded than in the originals. For the 5 c, there is a small dash in the frameline in front of the right hand '5' in the genuine stamps, which is missing in the 1869 reprints. Examples of reprints:


Reprints with no overprint, images obtained from a Harmers and a Siegel auction


(5 c with red 'SPECIMEN.' overprint, reduced size)


I presume this is an essay 1 c brown with inscription "INTER ISLAND UKU LETA HONOLULU" with the King in a circle. I've also seen a 2 c brown in the same design.

Forgeries:

Much more information than I can give here can be found on the excellent website http://www.hawaiianstamps.com/bgforgery.html.


A reprint with the word "SPECIMEN" removed and a forged cancel applied to it.

Forgery! Look at the cancel! Image obtained thanks to John W. Kiss
(Spiro forgeries)

The above stamps are (Spiro) forgeries and are described in 'The Spud Papers'. First of all, the cancels are typical 'Spiro' cancels. The hair of the king has too much white in it and the face is too roughly shaded compared to the original. After the "5 cts" there should be a dot, which is absent here. Also note that the left part of the "H" of "HONOLULU" is almost perfectly aligned with the left part of the "H" of "HAWAIIAN". I've also seen this forgery with a cancel consisting of four concentric rings (no parallel lines in the center as in the cancel shown above).


(Spiro forgery of the 5 c value)

As in the 13 c the head of the king has too much white in it. The beginning of the portrait just above the "FIVE CTS" is quite rough in this forgery (in the genuine stamp this is a perfectly straight line). I have also seen a red 5 c Spiro forgery, the 5 c was never issued in this colour.


Dangerous Taylor, 'first printing' forgery

The above Taylor, first printing forgery, is dangerous, it has different "S" and "A" in the word "POSTAGE" when compared to a genuine stamp. If my information is correct, it exists with and without dot behind the word "STATES".

Other forgeries:

Bottom inscription too large, strange cancel
Note the peculiar bottom part of the "E" of "FIVE".


(Very primitive forgeries)


('13' different, bogus cancel)


(Another forgery, different lettering of 'POSTAGE' and '5' and more differences)


Possibly a forgery made by Scott. The design of this forgery is identical to the image given in "The illustrated catalogue of postage stamps" by J.E.Gray (1870, page 166).


Other Scott forgeries?

The most dangerous forgeries seem to be made by Allan S. Taylor, he only made forgeries of the 13 c, but in no less than three different types (see the above mentioned website for more details)..

There also exist stamps surcharged with a '5':


(Genuine overprint, image obtained from a Siegel auction)


(Genuine, reduced size, image obtained from a Siegel auction)


(Images obtained from a Schuyler-Rumsey auction)

Forgeries exist of this surcharge, example:

'5' on 13 c red, forgery!
(Peter Winter forgeries)


(Winter forgery?)

More information on this forgery can be found on http://www.hawaiianstamps.com/bgforgery.html, these are Peter Winter forgeries. The first stamp is lithographed instead of engraved. I have only seen it with the cancel 'AUG 14'. I have also seen a Peter Winter forgery of the 5 c value (uncancelled, see picture next to it). Peter Winter forgeries are often referred to as 'Pro Phil Forum' forgeries (Pro Phil Forum was the company offering the Winter forgeries).


Other modern forgery, the word 'FAUX' (=forgery) has been added in the lower right corner


(Bogus issue, wrong colours; 13 c black on red!)

I've also seen a block of 4 forgeries (probably recent productions), with 'FAUX'(?) written below the lower right hand corner.

 

For stamps of Hawaii from 1859 to 1863 click here.


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