Sheet reproduces Hawaiian set

A U.S. souvenir sheet featuring a rarity in philately was released in October -- with little fanfare or publicity.
The new souvenir sheet is dedicated to the "Hawaiian Missionary" stamps of 1851-53, and reproduces Hawaii's first four postage stamps issued in three denominations -- 2 cents, 5 cents and 13 cents.
They are called "Hawaiian Missionaries" because most of them were used on correspondence mailed by Christian missionaries from Hawaii to family and friends in all parts of the world.
Few in existence
These rare stamps are considered among the foremost collectors' items, according to the U.S. Postal Service and stamp dealers. Only 28 covers bearing the original Missionary stamps are known to exist, and only one surviving cover bears the 2-cent stamp.
The sheet has a heading: "The Hawaiian Missionary stamps of 1851-1853." Beneath the banner is a detail of a wood engraving showing Diamond Head. Appearing under the Diamond Head view is an envelope sometimes known as the "Dawson Cover" -- the only surviving envelope to bear the 2-cent stamp. It's addressed to Eliza A. Dawson of New York. The envelope also has the 5-cent and two 3-cent George Washington stamps. At the bottom of the sheet are replicas of the 2-,5- and 13-cent originals.
The first official Hawaii post office was established in 1850. Postmaster Henry M. Whitney, the son of missionaries, had the 3-cent stamp printed locally.
The Missionary stamps were replaced in 1853 by stamps bearing an image of King Kamehameha III, but they were still used on postage as late as 1856.
Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, Ariz., is the designer of the new souvenir sheet. Sheaff, a collector himself, says "It's good to be able to design something for the traditional stamp collector. These stamps are really examples of classic philately."
The Hawaiian Missionary souvenir sheet can be obtained through the U.S. Stamp Fulfillment Services by calling (800)-STAMP-24. It is also available at www.usps.com.
Exhibition
The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum in Washington is now featuring an exhibition titled "The 1847s: America's First Stamps." The exhibit will remain through May 2003.
America's first stamps came in two denominations -- a 5-center depicting Benjamin Franklin and a 10-center showing a portrait of George Washington. More than 140 first-day covers of these originals are included.
The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study and presentation of postal history and philately.