Treasure Hunt by Peter Rexford

Some 30 years ago, I sat in a chair and got chills. There wasn't a draft. In fact, I was in a large glass case in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. I had been asked to fly there to assess some collectibles they had received. It took many days, so I got to know several of the curators.

After one long day, once the museum had closed, the curator asked if I'd like to step into a large locked case at which I'd been looking. Inside were numerous artifacts, including the chair. It was clearly old and slightly ornate. I thought, "Why not?" After sitting for a moment, I asked if the chair had some significance. The curator replied, "Yes. It was where Abraham Lincoln was sitting when he was shot in Ford's Theatre." That's when the chills came.

There's something about being physically connected with a piece of history. Granted, it's entirely a human emotion, but it's impossible to escape.

I have to believe the same sensation came over Bruce Steiner a few months ago. He's described as someone who appreciates history. As such, he purchased a stack of old letters and documents at a flea market to see what was there. Among the papers in the stack was an old envelope with a simple message written on it, "Let this man enter with this note." It was dated April 14, 1865 and contained the signature of Abe Lincoln.

Lincoln had an "open door" policy and frequently allowed visitors into the White House with such a missive. The envelope is a nice piece of history and has a wonderful presidential pedigree. But, if genuine, the value is sure to be found in the date. You see, that was the day Lincoln was shot. It may just be the last thing Lincoln put his pen to before his fateful visit to the theatre.

Experts at the Lincoln Museum and Library, who have examined it, believe it is the real thing. The handwriting and, especially, the numerals in the date are spot-on matches of Lincoln's penmanship in 1865. If certified, the value could be $15,000 to $20,000 or much higher at auction. But that's moot as far as Steiner's concerned. He has no intention of selling it in the near future.

It just goes to show treasure is out there waiting to be found. The key is some curiosity, patience and an eagle eye.

With practice, we all have those attributes.

There wasn't a great deal of fanfare or parades in Hawaii recently. You'd think there might have been some celebrating, seeing as how that was officially the 50th anniversary of the territory becoming the 50th U.S. state. It seems that the natives — those that are left — are a bit restless.

It's believed Polynesians settled the Hawaiian Islands roughly 1,500 years ago joined by Tahitians a few hundred years later. In 1778, Captain James Cook arrived from England and named the islands after the Earl of Sandwich. By 1810, King Kamehameha I united the islands as a monarchy; the territory was considering an independent nation. By the end of the century, a minority of citizens — mostly non-Hawaiian — overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and formed a provisional government. Then, it was annexed by the U.S. and declared a state on Aug. 21, 1959.

The dissolution of the monarchy and annexation is the sensitive issue with native Hawaiians. Curiously, on the islands there is not a particular ethnic majority. The current population is comprised of original natives, Caucasians, Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans and a host of others. Clearly, this tropical paradise has become the ultimate "melting pot" experienced by 7 million "mainlander" tourists annually.

Surfing was a staple of island activity long before Captain Cook arrived, and continues to be a major draw today thanks to the waves that loom off the coast. That sport along with two natives riding the waves in an outrigger canoe is appropriately showcased on a new stamp just issued (without fanfare) commemorating the state's anniversary.

The 44-cent stamp was officially released. Those lucky enough to be in Honolulu then had the chance to receive first day of issue cancels. Mainlanders who weren't there can still receive the special cancels by mail. Purchase the stamps at a local post office, affix them to a self-addressed envelope and send that inside of a separate mailing envelope to: Hawaii Statehood Stamp, ?Special Cancellations, ?Marketing Department, ?3600 Aolele Street, ?Honolulu, HI 96829-9661.

There's no charge for the cancel, and the Postal Service will return the envelopes via regular mail. However, all orders MUST be postmarked no later than Oct. 22, 2009.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new Hawaii commemorative stamp has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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