China » 1917-22 Italian Post Office in China. 1918 (June 1st) Cover from Peking addressed to the Irredentist Committee in Rome, franked by "Pechino" overprinted 20c, tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane/Pechino-Cina" cds, censored with Italian Red Cross cachet for P.O.W. mail, showing on reverse very fine "Distaccamento R. Marina in Cina./Comando" handstamp in violet. A spectacular and very rare combination. (Image)

1918 (Oct 19) Registered cover from Peking to a carabiniere Marshal in Genoa, readdressed to Rome, bearing "Pechino" overprinted 20c and 25c, tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane/Pechino-Cina" cds, with additional strike at lower left, also tied by framed "Bologna posta estera/Censura Militare" censorship marking, which exhibits various times on front and tying the label at left. This overprinted 20c is unpriced in Sassone, with its usage on non-philatelically inspired mail being a great rarity. (Image)

1919 (April 26) Postcard with an Italian cachet with crossed rows (Cann.Sc,Bombagi.Tito/Pechino" on reverse, sent by an Italian military member from Peking to Maddalena Island (Sardinia), bearing "Pechino" surcharged 4c on 10c, tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane/Pechino-Cina" cds, repeated adjacent. A very scarce non-philatelic usage. Cert. Enzo Diena (1990). (Image)

1922 (Aug 21) Registered express cover from Peking to Greenville (United States), franked by "Pechino" surcharged 40c on 1L and express 12c on 30c, each tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane/Pechino-Cina" cds, with registration label alongside, showing Naples, Chicago and Greenville receiving cds's on reverse. A rare franking including the 40c on 1L (unpriced in the Sassone catalogue), further enhanced by being a mail sent outside Italy. (Image)

1922 (Sept 2) Registered cover from Tientsin to Greenville (United States), bearing "Tientsin" surcharged 2c on 5c, 8c on 20c and 10c on 25c, tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane/Tientsin-Cina" cds and also at left by elusive "RR. PP. Italiane-Tientsin/Non Multabile/Afrancatura Secondo Tariffa/Poste Cinesi" four-line handstamp in violet confirming the correct payment of the rate and no tax to be applied, registration marking with associated "R.R. Poste Italiane/Tientsin-Cina" alongside, with backstamps including Naples, Turin, Chicago and Greenville. A very rare three-color franking correctly paying the rate and sent abroad (not to Italy). (Image)