BICENTENNIAL OF THE BIRTH
OF KING KAMEHAMEHA II
On August 3 1997, the U.S. Post Office issued
a special cancel to celebrate the Bicentennial of the birth of King Kamehameha
II. The exact date of his birth is not known, but historians do know he
was born sometime in 1797. In 1819 after the death of his father King Kamehameha
the Great, he became King Kamehameha II of Hawai'i. His reign saw the arrival
of the first missionaries and the abolition of kapus. On a Royal visit to
London, England in 1824, he and his wife died from measles.
ENVELOPE: Cream colored. Size 6.5"
x 3.5" (165mm x 92mm)
CACHET: Black and White picture of Kamehameha
II (from a painting).
CACHET TEXT: "200 years ago in 1797, Lunalilo,
the son of King Kamehameha the Great and Keopuolani, was born. In 1819 he
became King Kamehameha II of Hawai'i. His reign saw the arrival of the first
missionaries and abolition of kapus. He died from measles on a visit to
London, England in 1824."
STAMP: 32c Pineapple (Merian Botanical Print,
Scott # 3127)
CANCELLATION: Special USPS circular date stamp
cancel "KING KAMEHEMEHA II STA. HONOLULU HAWAII 96815 - AUG 3 1997."
His autograph is also part of the cancellation.
CACHET MAKER: Enelani.
NUMBER MADE: 50.
ITEM # 97AUG03.
PRICE: $3.50
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