::: UPU PERIOD - Second Class Mail and Postmarks :::

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NEWSPAPERS, BOOKS, CIRCULARS AND OTHER MATTER

For a more detailed explanation of second class mail rates, see Mail Rates. For an example of a registered pamphlet, see Hawaiian Stamps On Foreign Mail.

Newspapers

Front and back of a newspaper wrapper or sleeve sent to the Madeira Islands. The newspaper rate beyond North America was 2¢. This wrapper was postmarked at Lisbon, Portugal on November 8, 1896.

Books

Postmarked October 14, 1899 at Honolulu with the ordinary Honolulu postmark used for first class mail. However, this large wrapper enclosed a small book weighing less than 2 ounces and is franked with the Hawaii 2¢ Scott No. 81 for the 2¢ per 2 oz. rate.

Circulars

Postmarked October 12, 1895 and franked with the 1¢ overprinted blue Scott No. 54 for the 1¢ circular rate to the United States. This envelope still contains a printed circular for John Brown, stamp dealer.

A circular for Ontario, Canada, postmarked with one of the Honolulu undated second class mail cancelers (see below). The circular rate to Canada was also 1¢ per 2oz. paid with the 1¢ overprinted green Scott No. 55.

A circular to San Paulo, Brazil canceled with the Honolulu undated squared circle used for second class mail. The circular rate was 2¢ per 2 oz. of weight to South America. The manuscript red 2oz. appears to have been stricken by pen.

SECOND CLASS MAIL POSTMARKS

Starting about January, 1897, postmarks used for second class mail were different from those used on first class mail. However, the second class mail postmarks are also seen on some domestic first class mail, but the incidence is scarce. So far as the foreign mail is concerned, I have noted these marks only on second class mail.

All of the second class postmarks are undated. The first is the squared circle postmark produced in Canada and sent to Honolulu as a sample or gift. The proof for the Honolulu device shown in the Canadian set of squared circle postmarks has a date of February 9, 1894, but the use of this device as a postmark started in January, 1897, based on the dates figured for nearly unworn strikes. The other two second class mail devices produced single lined circle marks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Whitehead, Alfred, The Squared Circle Postmarks Of Canada, British North America Philatelic Society, Thornhill, Ontario, Third Ed., 1964. The Honolulu squared circle cancel is described at p. 58.



• Whitehead, Alfred, The Squared Circle Postmarks Of Canada, British North Hansen, Glenn, and Moffatt, Dr. W.G., "Honolulu, Hawaii", The Squared Circle Postmarks of Canada, p. 237, British North America Philatelic Society, Altona, Man., Canada, 1981. Illustrates the proof of Honolulu squared circle cancel, Type 226.52; interestingly, the proof contains a date (Feb. 9, '94) where the cancel as used has no date; see also Whitehead for earlier edition.

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