Hawaiian Missionaries Stamps Value & Price Guide (2026)

Name: Hawaiian Missionaries Stamps (1851)
Brand: Kingdom of Hawaii

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1851, the Kingdom of Hawaii had a problem. The California Gold Rush had turned the Pacific into a highway, and mail was pouring through Honolulu at a pace the tiny island nation couldn't handle. So Hawaii's postmaster did something unprecedented for the islands: he printed stamps. They were crude, fragile, and printed on paper so thin you could almost see through it. The missionaries stationed in Hawaii used most of them to send letters home to New England - which is how they got their name. Today, the Hawaiian Missionaries are among the rarest and most valuable stamps on Earth, with individual examples selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Quick Value Summary


Item	Hawaiian Missionaries Stamps
Year	1851–1852
Category	Stamps - Kingdom of Hawaii
Denominations	2-cent, 5-cent, 13-cent
Printer	Henry Martyn Whitney (using The Polynesian newspaper press)
Condition Range
2-cent (rarest)	$225,000 – $500,000+
5-cent	$50,000 – $225,000
13-cent	$50,000 – $200,000
On original cover	Significant premium
Record Sale	$600,000+ (2-cent denomination)
Rarity	Extremely Rare - fewer than 200 total survive across all denominations

The Story

Hawaii in 1851 was a crossroads. Whaling ships stopped to resupply. Missionaries ran churches and schools across the islands. And thousands of fortune seekers were streaming through Honolulu on their way to the California gold fields. All of them wanted to send mail.

The Hawaiian Kingdom's first postmaster general, Henry Martyn Whitney, needed stamps fast. He didn't have access to sophisticated printing equipment - just the press used to print The Polynesian, Honolulu's English-language newspaper. On that press, he produced three denominations:

2 cents - for local newspapers and circulars
5 cents - for domestic Hawaiian mail
13 cents - for letters to the United States (covering both Hawaiian and U.S. postage)

The stamps were simple: a large numeral of value at center, surrounded by "Hawaiian Postage" (or "H.I. & U.S. Postage" on the 13-cent). They were printed on pelure paper - an extremely thin, fragile stock that tore and crumbled easily.

Most stamps were used once and destroyed. The thin paper didn't survive handling, humidity, or the Pacific crossings. Of the relatively small number printed, fewer than 200 are known to survive across all three denominations. The 2-cent is the rarest, with only about 15 known copies.

The stamps earned the nickname "Missionaries" because so many surviving examples were found on letters sent by Protestant missionaries stationed in Hawaii back to their families and churches in New England. These letters - and their precious stamps - survived in church archives and family attics while most other copies disintegrated.

The Gauthier Murder

The Hawaiian Missionaries have a dark chapter. In 1892, a French stamp collector named Gaston Leroux was found murdered in Paris. The killer was Hector Giroux, a fellow collector who had coveted Leroux's 2-cent Missionary. The case became one of the most notorious crimes in philatelic history and cemented the Missionaries' reputation as stamps people would literally kill for.

How to Identify Them

Key Visual Markers

Paper: Extremely thin pelure paper, often translucent. Bluish tint.
Printing: Crude typeset printing, not engraved. Letters and numerals set from movable type.
Design: Large central numeral (2, 5, or 13) surrounded by text
2-cent: "Hawaiian Postage" with numeral "2"
5-cent: "Hawaiian Postage" with numeral "5"
13-cent: "H.I. & U.S. Postage" with numeral "13" - the unique dual-postage wording reflects that this denomination covered both Hawaiian and American mail charges
Imperforate - cut from sheets by hand
No gum on most surviving copies (gum has long since deteriorated)

Condition Realities

Here's the honest truth: about 90% of known Hawaiian Missionary stamps have some damage. Thins, tears, staining, and missing corners are the norm, not the exception. The paper was never meant to last 170+ years. A "fine" Missionary stamp is one that's mostly intact with readable text. Anything approaching "very fine" is extraordinary.

Don't be discouraged by damage. A Hawaiian Missionary with a tear is still worth tens of thousands of dollars. Condition matters, but rarity matters more.

On Cover vs. Off Cover

"On cover" means the stamp is still attached to the original envelope or letter. Missionaries on cover are worth significantly more than stamps removed from their envelopes, because the cover provides provenance and postal history. A 2-cent Missionary on its original cover is a once-in-a-generation find.

Value by Denomination

2-Cent Missionary

The rarest of the three. Only about 15 copies are known to survive. Used primarily for local newspapers and printed matter - the type of mail most likely to be thrown away.

Condition	Value
Damaged (thins, tears, repairs)	$225,000 – $350,000
Fine	$400,000 – $500,000
On cover	$500,000 – $600,000+

5-Cent Missionary

More common than the 2-cent (relatively speaking), with perhaps 100 to 120 copies known. Used for inter-island Hawaiian mail.

Condition	Value
Damaged	$50,000 – $100,000
Fine	$100,000 – $175,000
Very Fine	$175,000 – $225,000
On cover	Significant premium

13-Cent Missionary

About 40 to 50 copies survive. The 13-cent denomination is unique among world stamps for its dual-country postage - it covered both Hawaiian and U.S. mail charges in a single stamp.

Condition	Value
Damaged	$50,000 – $100,000
Fine	$100,000 – $175,000
Very Fine	$175,000 – $200,000
On cover	Significant premium

Authentication & Fakes

How Common Are Fakes?

Given that individual stamps can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, counterfeiting attempts exist. However, the crude typeset printing and distinctive pelure paper are difficult to replicate convincingly.

What to Watch For

Paper type: Genuine Missionaries are on extremely thin, bluish pelure paper. This paper is virtually impossible to source or manufacture today.
Printing method: The originals were typeset (movable type), not engraved or lithographed. Under magnification, you should see the characteristics of letterpress printing.
Provenance: Most surviving Missionaries have documented ownership histories stretching back decades. A stamp without provenance should be viewed skeptically.

Professional Authentication

Any potential Hawaiian Missionary stamp must be authenticated by the Philatelic Foundation or the American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX). Given the values involved, the authentication fee is insignificant. Do not buy or sell a Missionary stamp without expert certification.

Where to Sell

Hawaiian Missionary stamps belong at major auction houses with philatelic expertise:

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries - The leading U.S. specialist for rare stamps
Sotheby's - For high-profile international sales
Spink - Strong in rare stamps with global collector reach
Heritage Auctions - Another strong option for U.S. collectors

Do not sell a Hawaiian Missionary at a local stamp shop, on eBay, or through any general marketplace. These are museum-quality items that need specialist handling.

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Common Questions

How much are Hawaiian Missionary stamps worth?

It depends on the denomination. The 2-cent is the rarest and most valuable, worth $225,000 to $600,000+. The 5-cent and 13-cent denominations range from $50,000 to $225,000 depending on condition. Stamps still on their original covers command significant premiums.

How many Hawaiian Missionary stamps survive?

Fewer than 200 total across all three denominations. The 2-cent is rarest with about 15 known. The 5-cent has around 100 to 120 survivors. The 13-cent has about 40 to 50.

Why are they called "Missionaries"?

Because most surviving examples were found on letters sent by Protestant missionaries stationed in Hawaii to their families and churches in New England. The missionaries' correspondence was preserved in church archives, while most other mail from the era was discarded.

Why are they so fragile?

They were printed on pelure paper - an extremely thin, translucent stock used because it was what the local newspaper printer had available. This paper tears easily, absorbs moisture, and deteriorates over time. It was never designed for 170+ years of survival.

Could I find a Hawaiian Missionary stamp?

Extremely unlikely, but not impossible. They were used on mail sent from Hawaii in the 1850s. If your family has deep roots in 19th-century Pacific trade or New England missionary communities, and you have very old correspondence from Hawaii - it's worth checking. But prepare yourself: the odds are astronomically small.