China » The Boxer War » Italian Military Mail. 1901 "Istruzione Amministrative per le Truppe in Cina - 20 dicembre 1900" leaflet containing 80 pages with the administrative instructions for the Italian troops in China, printed in Rome. Very rare. (Image)

1902ca. Undated Japanese postcard sent locally in Peking, franked by Italy 5c tied by blue "R. Truppe Italiane Nello Estremo Oriente/Comando" circle handstamp with Savoyard coat of arms; some tone spots not detracting. Less than five items recorded exhibiting this handstamp used in China, this being unique by cancelling a franking. Note: This handstamp was usually applied on front of the mail alongside the franking, which remained uncancelled until entering the Chinese or the corresponding foreign post office which would have forwarded the mail of the Italian troops. In this case, we presume that this correspondence was transmitted locally by the Command of the "Regie Truppe Italiane nello Estremo Oriente", and indeed the franking paid corresponded to the Italian fee applied for a local district destination. This lot includes an additional postcard (defective at right) bearing this handstamp used in Italy alongside the franking (usages in the metropolitan territory are known from Naples, Rome and Reggio Emilia). (Image)

1902 (Aug) Cover from Peking to Italy franked by 1891-96 10c and 1896-97 5c pair, tied by large "Comando Battaglione/Marinai" circle handstamp with coat of arms in blue from the Marines Battalion Headquarters in Peking, arrival ds alongside; some tone spots not detracting for this unique item. The only usage recorded of this handstamp cancelling a franking; as a cancellation, the most spectacular and rarest of the Italian types used in China; this cachet was only known applied on the mail alongside the franking on front or on back, with Landini only recording two examples. (Image)

1902 (Aug)-1905 Postcard and envelope from Tientsin to Italy, the earlier bearing "Floreale" 2c, the later 5c & 10c of the same issue, tied by "Distaccamento Ra Marina Italiana in Cina" cds's in black and violet. A particularly rare postmark on cover. (Image)

1902 (Sept 21) Photographic postcard depicting the Italian Fortress in Taku printed in China, sent from Taku to Genoa, matching the image on reverse with "DISTACCAMENTO/FORTE.NW.TAKU" double circle in red with crown in centre, where less than 100 Italian men were located. The only example known of this handstamp and a most infrequent case of postage free mail from the Italian forces in China (no examples recorded in the Landini, Faccio and Mizuhara collections). (Image)

1903-05 Three postcards to Italy bearing "Floreale" 2c tied by "Comando Truppe Italiane in/Cina" cds in different course, including blue, greenish blue and black. (Image)

1903 (June 25) Japanese postcard datelined in "Uangsun" and sent to Italy, posted in Tientsin with on reverse "Floreale" 1c pair, tied by blue "Comando Truppe Italiane in/China" cds, repeated front (Image)

1903 (June 25) "Umberto" 10c stationery postcard from Tientsin to Italy, cancelled by very fine "Comando Truppe Italiane in/Cina" cds in blue, additionally struck at left, reeking cds in centre. Probably the finest of the less than five usages recorded on "Umberto". (Image)

1903 (July 28) Unused postcard exhibiting the "Stazione Radiotelegrafica Italiana/Pechino" cds in blue. On 28.7.1903 the Italians started the works to open the first radio-telegraphic station in China, which will work with the Guglielmo Marconi system; as a souvenir of this historical event, some postcards were distributed to the guests who lived this fact, including Chinese and European authorities; very few of these items have survived. Signed Fiorenzo Antonio Zanetti. (Image)

1903 (Oct 18) Original photo of the Italian radio-telegraphic station in the Italian legation in Peking, "vista del albero portafili" (view of the "tree" of wires). The photo is dated on reverse in manuscript on the day this station in Peking was opened; with a range of 250 km., the first tests started four days before (Oct. 14) by communicating with the "Vettor Pisani" battleship in Taku, in order to verify the proper functioning before the opening; in 1904 another station was opened in Tientsin. The photographic testimony of the first radio-telegraphic station in China, probably unique. (Image)

1904 (Jan) "L'Impero Cinese" large book (30.5 x 37 cm), printed in Tientsin, "studio compilato d'ordine del Comando delle Regie Truppe in Cina dal Capitano di Stato Maggiore Luigi Bongiovanni - corredato di schizzi dimostrativi del Tenente di Fanteria Francesco Umberto Giordano", printed to order by the Command of the Italian Royal Troops in China and written by the Captain of Staff Luigi Bongiovanni with sketches designed by Infantry Lieutenant Francesco Umberto Giordano, the cover illustrating a dragon, numbered inside in manuscript "n° 17" with accompanying "Ra Legazione d'Italia a Pechino" cachet of the Italian Legation in Peking and this example gifted to the Royal Minister of Italy in Peking. The work relates the main elements under the contemporary conditions in the Chinese Empire, with news which are also of concern to Italian officers (pointing out that the lack of knowledge of some factors of the economic life and the unavailability of certain means will cause some inaccuracies), and treating the following aspects often including statistics: geography, political-administrative organization, populations, territories occupied by foreign powers, foreign concessions, treaty ports, railways, telegraphic communications, Chinese Imperial Post, maritime navigation, economic statistics, Chinese and foreign military forces, religion and the Christian propaganda, diplomatic representation in China and a historical chronology, gathered in 141 pages. The work is enriched with 16 numbered sketches (n. 13 is missing) of maps and plans on blue prints, displaying cities, areas, harbours, foreign possessions in China, the plan of the new quartier of the foreign legations in Peking, Italian headquarters in various concessions and map of Korea, all designed by the above-mentioned lieutenant. Spine slightly separated in one place, age spotting and other minor faults to be expected but of little significance for this exceptional lot. An extremely rare and valuable historical item providing a comprehensive, abundant and very useful information which will help the challenging research of the advanced collector of this period in China. (Image)