Russian Revolution and Civil War » Caucasus. 1919 (Sept 4) Postcard from Tiflis to Montopoli, bearing "Missione Militare Italiana in Transcaucasia" free-postage circle postmark in purple, conveyed to Italy by ship calling at Bari, entering the Italian mail with Bari-Rome traveling TPO cds, also struck on by cds on obverse; this Mission was formed by only 19 officers and service personnel. Six items are recorded, this being the finest. (Image)

1920 (March 13) Postcard from Tiflis (Georgia) to Italy, paying the domestic rate with Georgia first issue 10k, tied by bilingual Tiflis cds, additionally franked with Italy "Leoni" 10c to cover the portion of the journey from Georgia to final destination, tied in transit at the Italian military post office n° 15 with "Posta Militare/15" cds, located in Constantinople. The only example recorded of a Georgian-Italian mixed franking according to the postal agreement between the Italian P.O. at Constantinople and Georgia; a great and visually impressive rarity for both collectors of Georgia and semi-modern Italy. Cert. Raybaudi (1993). Note: As Georgia was not an acknowledged member of the U.P.U. at that time, its stamps were only valid internally, and consequently an agreement between the Georgian Post and the Italian P.O. in Constantinople was made to send mail abroad through Turkey (via Russia, as a result of the Civil War, was advisable to be avoided). The carriage of the correspondence between the Caucasus and Constantinople was executed by the consular service. Following the postal agreement, Italian stamps were available in Georgia through the Italian Consulate. The Italian franking paid was in accordance to the Italian domestic rate, since the mail was considered as originating from the Italian P.O. at Constantinople. (Unrecorded usage in the Edward Klempka handbook about Georgia). (Image)

1920 (March 13) Envelope and contents with printed "Missione Italiana/In Transcaucasia" endorsement, in the letter the sender indicating that it was written on the train connecting Erivan with Tiflis, franked by the sender with "Michetti" 25c and express 1903 25c (two, one defective), transported by a military on a ship to Rome (instead of Taranto) and presumably delivered to the Ministry of Marine, tied by "espressi" cds's to final destination in Milan. The only example of few items recorded from this mission featuring an express usage. (Image)

1920 (March 13) Envelope and internal letter with printed endorsement "Missione Italiana/In Transcaucasia", sent from Tiflis (Georgia) to Milan, posted in Taranto with "Leoni" 5c and 10c (2) after having been carried by a captain of a ship from the Caucasus to Italy without transiting Constantinople. Less than ten items recorded, all following the same initial way of carriage and posted in Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Rome and Taranto). An exceedingly scarce and fascinating usage. (Image)

1920 (March 31) Pre-printed bilingual laissez-passer of the Italian Military Mission in Transcaucasia, signed by the Head of the Mission Col. Gabba, with extremely rare bilingual cachet "Mis. Mil. Italiana in Transcauc." and in Cyrillic.