China » 1918-20 The Italian "Irredentisti" and the C.S.I.E.O. in China. The Irredentism refers to political or popular movements, formed in 1878, which claimed and seek to gain or regain for Italy territory considered "lost" (or "unredeemed"), based on language and history. Irrendentist soldiers enlisted and fought with the Austro-Hungarians in 1914, and were made prisoners by the Russians, although they were released when Itay entered the war against Austria-Hungary. The prisoners in the Siberian camps were sent to Karbin in Manchuria and then to the Italian Concession in Tientsin. On 17 June the Irredentists were offered to join the Italian forces in China. 850 enlisted and eventually formed the famous "Black Battalion" or joined with the Italian Expedition Corps in the Far East (Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Estremo Oriente "C.S.I.E.O."), which was formed in China to fight in Siberia during the Russian Civil War from October 1918 to August 1919. 1918 (July 5) Postcard from Peking to the "Irredenti" Detachment in Tientsin, with "Distaccamento Ra. Marina in China/Comando" circle with Savoyard coat of arms hs in violet on front represented in a blurred strike as usually found, franked on reverse with C.I.P. 1/2c pair tied by Peking bilingual cds's. This mail was usually carried by the Italian military courier; some rare examples of mail consigned to the C.I.P. are known, but these were still struck with the Marine Detachment handstamp, since it is supposed that the correspondence was gathered in one office before being delivered to the courier or the C.I.P. (Image)

1918 (July 15) Postage-free cover from Tientsin sent to the Royal Italian Marines Detachment in Peking with military courier, showing superb strike of "Distaccamento/Italiani/Irredenti" arc handstamp in violet, displaying "Distaccamento Ra. Marina in China/Comando" circle with Savoyard coat of arms on reverse, containing the letter inside in which riots in Tientsin are mentioned and: "my brother was two days ago in the hands of the Chinese, but afterwards they have acknowledged his innocence and he was released, then he had fever and was taken into hospital for 20 days". One of the finest examples of this exceedingly scarce handstamp, which is very rarely found so clearly struck. Signed Sorani. (Image)

1918 (July 15) Postcard from Peking to the Irredentist Detachment in Tientsin, showing "Distaccamento Ra. Marina in China/Comando" circle with Savoyard coat of arms hs in violet on front, being a clearer strike than often encountered, franked on reverse with C.I.P. 1/2c tied by Peking bilingual cds's. This mail was usually carried by the Italian military courier; some rare examples of mail consigned to the C.I.P. are known, but these were still struck with the Marines Detachment handstamp, since it is supposed that the correspondence was gathered in one office before being delivered to the courier or the C.I.P. (Image)

1919 (Jan 1st) Illustrated "R.R.Truppe Italiane in Estremo Oriente" free-postage postcard from Vladivostok to Venice, bearing "RR. Poste Italiane/Truppe Italiane in Estremo Oriente/Comando" three-line handstamp in violet overstruck with Bologna framed censorship cachet, with part Venice arriving cds at top, (collector's cachet from Bruxelles at bottom); this postcard, displaying an allegory of Italy on the Russian steppe with a city in the background, has two different issues: the first one, rarer, was printed in Tientsin showing a frame around the design, the second, without frame around the design, was printed in Vladivostok (Siberia). Probably the finest example of the few items recorded featuring the scarcer type of this design, which was printed in China (it is mainly found with some toning and edge faults). (Image)

1919 (Sept 27) Postcard from Tientsin to Milan, bearing postage-free "R. Truppe Italiane in Estremo Oriente/Comando" double-circle handstamp in blue and "7° Reggimento Genio Telegrafisti/Plotone Autonomo/Estremo Oriente" in three lines, entering the Italian P.O. in China with "R.R. Poste Italiane/Tientsin-Cina" cds. Rare. (Image)

1919 (Nov 5) "Il 7" ("Dei Diavoli Neri") newspaper issued by the Italian troops in China sent inside a paper wrap from Tientsin to Alessandria (Italy), franked by "Michetti" 15c (faulty) tied by slight strikes of "Distaccamento R. Marina Italiana in China" cds in violet; it was carried at triple rate, so two more newspapers would have been carried. Very rare. (Image)