1903 (11 June) picture postcard (Vladivostok), franked with Russian 4k red, tied by "Kotsu Maru Japan" cds, with additional Japanese cancel below, fine. Stated to be the first recorded Japanese cancel on a Russian stamp. The "Kotsu Maru" operated out of Moji, Japan (following the Russo-Japanese war, the ship served the route between Tsuruga and Vladivostok) (Image)

Est.US$150

1910 (22 Dec) Russian 4k stationery card to Osaka, with two oval "Vladivostok-Tsuruga Parakh." dated strikes of the Volunteer fleet, Osaka 6.1.11 arrival pmk, fine (Image)

Est.US$150

1915 (10 Oct) Russian 4k Romanov stationery card to Nagasaki, with oval "Vladivostok-Shanghai" dated strike of the Volunteer fleet (Vladivostok-Shanghai Line), with Nagasaki 25.10.15 arrival pmk, card creases, otherwise fine, ex-Casey (Image)

Est.US$150

1893 (12 Mar) UPU 2sen stationery card posted at the Japanese ship from Nagasaki to Vladivostok, canceled at the I.J.P.O. Fusan (12.III) "Fusan Meiji 26 I.J.P. & T.O.", also "I.J.P.O. GENSAN / Meiji 18" (14.III), showing triangle type Paquebot mark "PU./ Ship" (only known example of Fusan recorded), re-addressed to Hallein bei Salzburg, Austria, sent via Brindisi, with arrival 1/3/97 Hallein (after four years!), card creases, with red chop on reverse, fine and most unusual cover, forwarded without surcharge and treated as a ship letter carried on the Nagasaki to Vladivostok Sea route, with 2sen being the special rate to Vladivostok, ex-Mizuhara (Image)

Est.US$1,500

1893 cover to Augsburg, Germany, franked with Russian 14k carmine & blue, originating on a Russian Ship and posted on a Japanese ship "Satsuma Maru", endorsed "Via Fusan" (Korea), canceled "I.J.P.O. Gensan/ 23 VII 1893/Meiji 26", with small triangular framed "GEN./SHIP" ("GEN" for Gensan) applied on reverse, transmitted via Nagasaki (27 VIII and 30 VIII) and Yokohama (2 IX), with Augsburg (9.10.93) arrival pmk on back. Markings with the word "Ship" were used by some countries between 1891 (when the U.P.U. Congress at Vienna authorized the cancelation of ship letters with the datestamp of the port of arrival) and 1894, when the word "Paquebot" came into use to denote mail posted on board ship. A fascinating cover, with 1991 Mikulski certificate, ex-Casey (Image)

Est.US$1,500

1894 (15 June) cover franked with 5sen ultramarine perf.13, tied by "I.J.P.O. Gensan 15.VI.1904", with framed "Paquebot" alongside, addressed to Germany, with "25 Ctms" endorsement and corresponding "Gen T", also two additional "YC T" tax markings and "40" in blue crayon (penalty rate for underpayment for the full UPU rate of 10sen), Nagasaki (20 VI) and Yokohama (28 VI) transits, with Kiel (6.8) arrival pmks on back, minor rubbing at top of the cover (tape removed?), fine and interesting usage with "Gen T" (Gensan) tax markings in Latin letters (Image)

Est.US$1,000

1897 (21 Nov) Russian 4k stationery card posted from Vladivostok ("Happy Near Year Vladivostok, East Siberia"), via GENSAN, small "Gensan I.J.P.O." 21 Nov 97 cds, supported by a indistinct framed "Paquebot", sent to New York, with Dec.19, 98 "Paid All" arrival pmk (Image)

Est.US$250

1898 (24 Nov) Russian 4k stationery card canceled "Gensan I.J.P.O.", with framed "Paquebot" handstamp alongside, addressed to Germany, with Yokohama (1 Dec) and Bremen (1.1.99) arrival pmks, v.f. (Image)

Est.US$150

1898 cover (opened for display) to Copenhagen, Denmark, franked with pair of Russian 10k dark blue, originating on a Russian Ship posted in Vladivostok (return address of "C. Wahling, Wladivostok, East-Siberia") posted on a Japanese ship, stamps canceled "I.J.P.O. Gensan 20 July 98", with framed "Paquebot" handstamp at bottom, showing Yokohama (28 July), London (24 Aug) and Copenhagen (26.8) arrival on back, fine double-rate cover, ex-Casey (Image)

Est.US$500

1898 cover to England, franked with Russian 10k dark blue, originating on a Russian Ship, posted on a Japanese ship, stamp canceled "I.J.P.O. Gensan 30 Nov 98" (small type), with framed "Paquebot" handstamp at bottom, transit pmk Yokohama (17 Dec) and Leeds (Jan 10, 99) arrival, both on back, some cover tears and backflap faults, late usage of the small type "Gensan" cancel (Image)

Est.US$250

1900 (7 Aug) Russian 4k stationery card posted from Vladivostok, then via "Yamashiro Maru" from GENSAN, small "Gensan I.J.P.O." 8 Aug 00 cds, supported by a framed "Paquebot", sent via Nagasaki and Yokohama to England, interesting text (in English) discussing trouble on the Amur River and the border of Siberia, with the Russian government using all the River Steamers to carry troops, thus no mail going out, etc. Card endorsed "Via Japan & Vancouver" (because of the Boer War), with arrival Bedford (11 Sep), overall toning, rare usage (Image)

Est.US$500

1901 cover to Yokohama, Japan, franked with Russian 10k dark blue, originating on a Russian Ship posted in Vladivostok (return address of Arthur Koppel Auction House in Vladivostok) posted on a Japanese ship, stamp canceled "I.J.P.O. Gensan 31 July 01", with framed Paquebot" handstamp alongside, blue crayon endorsement and arrival pmk, all on front, filing fold away from the stamp, fine cover, ex-Casey (Image)

Est.US$500

1901 cover to Yokohama, Japan, franked on back with Russian 20k carmine & blue, originating on a Russian Ship posted in Vladivostok (return address of Arthur Koppel Auction House in Vladivostok) posted on a Japanese ship, stamp canceled "I.J.P.O. Gensan 7 July 01", with framed "Paquebot" handstamp and arrival pmk alongside, all on reverse, some toning and wrinkles away from the stamp, fine double rate cover, ex-Casey (Image)

Est.US$500

1901 (8 Nov) red band (Chinese) cover with Russian 5k and pair of 10k dark blue, tied by GENSAN I.J.P.O. (large type), supported by framed "Paquebot" alongside, addressed to Shanghai, with red directional handstamps, Nagasaki transit and "Shanghai I.J.P.O." (17 Nov) arrival pmk, intact Chinese wax seals, fine and unusual cover, with 25k franking (Image)

Est.US$1,000