Hawaiian Postal Card - Significant Date and Intriguing Message

Sometimes, the back of an item is much more interesting than the front.  Even when the front is very interesting all on its’ own. Take this card, for instance. 

The front has a fairly common cancel with a very uncommon date.  January 17, 1893, is a red letter day in Hawaiian history.  It was on this date that a detachment of US soldiers overthrew the Hawaiian government, an action which led to the eventual annexation of the country to the US.

But the back is in many ways more interesting.  This is one of at least a dozen cards sent to various foreign businessmen on the island of Kaua`i.  The cryptic message of each typically reads “I beg you to visit our assembly tomorrow evening.  Yours Sincerely, L.”  It is tempting to think that this card somehow relates to the overthrow of the Monarchy, but there is no way to know for certain that it does.

By Gannon Sugimura