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July 2 2006 - 150th Anniversary of the "Honolulu Advertiser".
A set of 3 postage stamps (in a triptych) and a mini-sheet were issued on July 2nd 2006 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the "Honolulu Advertiser" newspaper.
The "Honolulu Advertiser" began as "The Pacific Commercial Advertiser" (see above image) and was first published on July 2nd 1856 in Honolulu, Hawai'i as a four-page weekly using a foot pedal press. The first editor and publisher was Henry Whitney who started as a printer in New York City where he had been a shop foreman at "Harper's Weekly". At the time, it was the nation's most popular illustrated weekly publication. Of course, Henry Whitney is better known to Philatelists as the first Postmaster of Hawai'i and the printer of the "Missionaries" stamps.
Whitney went to great lengths to be the first with the news. He was up against "The Polynesian" which was more of a government newspaper and rather dull. The Advertiser won out and became the islands most popular newspaper.
Whitney however in his editorials compared the contract labor system (the importation of sugar plantation workers for $3 a month) to slavery. The sugar plantation owners were upset and about to organize a boycott on advertising when Whitney accepted their over-generous offer to sell the newspaper to them. Whitney began another newspaper "The Gazette". The second editor of the Advertiser was Henry Sheldon from California who lasted 10 years at the helm.
In 1880, the newspaper was bought for $15,000 by a Mormon, Walter Murray Gibson who spoke fluent Hawaiian, was an avid supporter of King Kalakaua and the native Hawaiians. In 1882, the Advertiser became a daily publication. By 1888, Gibson had moved on and a series of editors took over.
The newspaper flourishes to day and has only one main daily competitor "The Honolulu Star Bulletin".
The $2 stamp (above left) prepays additional charges - such as extra weight. It shows the first edition of "The Pacific Commercial Advertiser"of July 2nd 1856.
The $5 stamp (above middle) prepays the overnight rate. It shows the December 8th 1941 edition of the "Honolulu Advertiser" the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. (The December 7th edition was typeset on December 6th - before the attack)
The $8 stamp (above right) prepays the same day rate. It shows the March 12th 1959 edition when congress agreed to let Hawai'i become the 50th State. President Eisenhower signed the decree on August 21 1959.
The $8 mini-sheet (above) prepays the same day rate.It shows the same three issues of the newspaper in one imperforate design.
An Official Hawai'i Post First Day Cover was also issued with a special cachet and postmark for the occasion.
The special postmark for this issue (above) shows a newspaper. Black ink was used.
WE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS ON ALL ORDERS
Technical details of the stamps and mini-sheet:
Colors: $2, $5 and $8 stamps and $8 minisheet - Multicolored
Stamps sheet size: 2 triptychs across and 4 down. Mini-sheet - 83mm x 58mm.
Perforation: Triptych - outer edges, perf 12. The two vertical divisions within the triptych are rouletted 5. Mini-sheet - imperforate.
Mini-sheet and triptych design: Enelani.
Layout & Pre-press: Enelani.
Printer: Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Printing Method: 4-color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) Thermal printing process.
Sheet margin markings: HAWAI'I POST (top middle), "Traffic Light" showing 4 colors used in printing (lower left side), © 2006 Hawai'i Post (lower right side) & Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i. (bottom middle)
Paper: GPA coated white stock with water-activated gum on the back.
Return to list of stamp issues
For details on upcoming stamp issues click here