1900 (21 Oct) cover from Hongo branch post office in Tokyo franked with 1sen and 2sen adhesives, tied by departure pmks, addressed to a sailor on HIJMS "Takasago" in China, small adhesion (possibly part of a removed directional label) adhering to one of the stamps, otherwise fine, exceedingly scarce example of the Japanese Naval mail during the Boxer period (the "Takasago", a protected cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy supported Japanese naval landing forces at Tianjin, as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance and was later stationed at Chefoo, Shanhaiguan and Taku for the duration of the Boxer War. Several years later, the Takasago struck a mine off Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese war and sunk on December 13, 1904) (Image)

Est.US$500