China » The Boxer War » Via Chinese Mail. 1901 (Aug 10) Postcard from Biella (Italy) on 26 June sent to an officer of the Italian contingent in Peking, sent back to Biella where the addressee was on leave as denoted by the manuscript note "in licenza a Biella", franked by "Umberto " 10c tied on dispatch, with British "Victoria/Hong Kong" and C.I.P. bilingual Peking (Aug 10) oval datestamps. An extremely rare incoming mail. (Image)

1901 (Aug 22) C.I.P. 1c stationery postcard from Peking to an Italian naval officer in the International Fort in Shan-Hai-Kuan, uprated with 4c and cancelled by bilingual oval datestamps on dispatch, showing very rare "C.E.F. N°3/OUTSET N°3/26AU." T.P.O. Peking-Tangku cds of the Indian C.E.F. (Proud D13, 3,000 points!); some faults. Chinese inland mail posted at the C.I.P. with arrival of the Indian C.E.F. is exceedingly scarce, and in addition very rare incoming mail inland to an Italian military member. (Image)

1901 Unused postcard depicting a stamp (top left) and a Parade of the European troops in Nanking Road, Shanghai, with C.I.P. 1/2c applied at right, a rare usage of an Imperial Post cds on a stamp picture and a scarce vintage postcard. (Image)

1902 (Jan 26) German picture postcard showing the barracks of the Austrian, German and Italian troops as well as the Fortress in Shan-Hai-Kuan, bearing slightly toned C.I.P. 1c tied by rare tombstone cancel of Shan-Hai-Kuan in bue, the sender indicating that he had been in this fortress during 17 months. (Image)

1903 (July 27) Postcard from Szemao to Como (Italy), bearing C.I.P. 4c tied by bilingual Szemao cds, very neatly repeated at lower left, French "Mongtze/Chine" cds and arrival on obverse. A very rare mail from an Italian in Tonkin, in an outstanding quality and to a scarce destination from this region. (Image)

1903 (Dec 1st) C.I.P. 1c stationery postcard addressed to Italy, showing a real photography on reverse of the Italian Royal Navy Detachment in in Shan-Hai-Kuan (including a life buoy in centre with the inscription "Distacc Regia Marina/Shanhaikwan"), cancelled by very rare provisional bilingual "Shanhaikwan" postmark, in a unique combination. (Image)

1904 (April 4) Postcard from Shan-Hai-Kuan to Italy, franked by C.I.P. 4c, tied by indistinct cds, with bilingual transit of Tangku and Shanghai alongside, as well as Shanghai French P.O. cds. (Image)

1904 (Aug 22) Pre-printed envelope of the Italian "R. N. Puglia", posted at the Chinese P.O. in Shanghai with 10c tied by dispatch cds, and French P.O. "Shang-Has/Chine" cds alongside, bilingual Shanghai and arrival cds's on back. The "Puglia" was then located in Wosung. (Image)