World’s first butterfly topical stamp in strong demand

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Following on the heels of the fabulous Hawaiian Missionary stamps, the Kingdom of Hawaii issued its first postage stamps in 1853. Kingdom of Hawaii stamps continued to be issued until 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown by a coup d’etat.

Provisional Government and Republic of Hawaii postage stamps were issued until 1899 when Hawaii was annexed as a territory of the United States. Hawaiian stamps are popular with a dedicated group of specialist collectors, as well as many general collectors in the United States and abroad.

In 1891, the Kingdom of Hawaii issued a 2¢ dull violet Queen Liliuokalani stamp (Scott 52). Liliuokalani (1838-1917) was the only Hawaiian queen to rule in her own right (reigned 1891-93), and she was the last sovereign monarch of the kingdom.

After being deposed by a coup, she was tried and imprisoned in her palace after a counter-revolution failed. In 1896 she was pardoned by the Republic of Hawaii. In 1911 she was awarded a lifetime pension of $1,250 a month by the territorial government. She died on Nov. 11, 1917.

The design of the 2¢ stamp features a butterfly ornament in the queen’s hair. Butterfly topical collectors consider this issue to be the world’s first butterfly topical postage stamp.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the stamp in very fine grade and unused, original gum condition at $15 and in mint, never-hinged condition at $25.

We first tipped this stamp in the Dec. 11, 2006, Stamp Market Tips column, and it has remained in strong demand since then. It is a good buy at 80 percent to 100 percent of Scott catalog value.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News: 

    Sign up for our newsletter