Lot 1818
Italian Offices in China, 1899-1920 Naval and Military Mail, group of 15 postcards and three on piece items; 1899-1906 Naval Mail with "Ra. Nave Marco Polo" cds in blue, 1904 June-November on 5 postcards, four of which stampless, "Piemonte" 1903 March-July, 2 postcards during the second campaign of this battleship in China, both sent from Shanghai, one franked by Chinese Imperial Post 4c, tied by Shanghai bilingual cds and carried through the French post showing "ShangHai/Chine" datestamp, and blue "R. Incrociatore Piemonte" cds, being an unusual naval item with involvement of the Chinese and French mails; the other franked by Italy 2c tied by "Ra. Nave Piemonte" cds, "Puglia" 1904 May-1905 Feb., 4 postcards from Chemulpo (Korea) and Shanghai, franked at at 2c rate with "Ra. Nave Puglia" cds in black and blue, "Vesuvio" 1901 Aug. 22, picture postcard of Italian naval exercises from Shanghai to Florence, franked by 1896-97 2c., tied by very fine strike of "R. Nave Vesuvio" cds (The "Vesuvio" had just arrived then in Wusun to stay until 3rd September on patrol service. A very desirable item during the Boxer Rebellion; one of just five items recorded with "Umberto" issues, 1900-20 Military Mail with 1903 Sept. 29 Postcard from Shanghai to Vercelli, franked by 1901 1c pair tied by "Comando Truppe Italiane in/Cina" cds, 1904 Sept.-Nov., 2 picture postcards sent from Huang-Tsun to Palermo and Milan, carried with single frankings at 2c and 10c rates, tied by "Comando Truppe Italiane in/Cina" cds, and 1902-04 selection of three on piece items, one with scarcely used "Umberto" 25c., the other bearing 1901 5c. (2), cancelled by "Comando Truppe Italiane/Cina" cds in black and blue, the third is a portion of a Chinese postcard dispatched at Rome with "Umberto" 10c. and extremely rare "R. Truppe Italiane Nello Estremo Oriente/Comando" cachet with Royals Arms in blue at left (only two complete postcards are recorded, also dispatched in Italy), Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $1,500