1903 (3 Aug) picture postcard franked with two 3k Arms, sent by a soldier on maneuvers to Sophia, Bulgaria. Postmarked "Field Post-Telegraph-Telegraph Office XX Army Corps" (only recorded examples), "Main Field Post-Telegraph Office Southern Army, Verro" (4.8.03), Postal Wagon No. 125 (Pskov-Pernov rail line), Roustchouk and Sophia. The sender wrote his message in the Estonian village of Rauge "Third day on maneuvers. I am an orderly at the headquarters of the 20th Army Corps of the Southern Army. The Southern Army consists of the 1st and 20th Army Corps, and the Northern Army consists of the Guards and 18th Army Corps. We have a day's rest after almost dying. You cannot imagine - on the first day we marched 30 kilometers, and the second day another 30 kilometers, all at the quick march. Only ten-minute breathers. The village of Rauge contains Estonians and Germans - a beautiful place. We meet the enemy in the morning.") The grand maneuvers of 1903 took place from 1 August to 9 August in an area around Pskov. A fine and scarce card, illustrated in Rossica No.165 (Image)

Est.US$250