Burma. (India - Unit Censor Mail). 1942. Air Mail envelope written from 'Lt. Col. Chapman, Headquarters, Army in Burma' addressed to England bearing Burma SG 23, 1 1/2a turquoise (pair), SG 24, 2a carmine, SG 28, 4a turquoise (pair) and SG 29, 8a myrtle green (2) tied by Base P.O./ Burma double ring '30th Mar 42'' with 'Unit Censor Stamp/ 317' hand-stamp and framed triangular '455/ F.S./ Free' in violet and signed by the Commander.
United States. (Burma Incoming Overland Mail). 1885. Envelope addressed to 'The American Baptist Mission Society at Bassein' bearing United States SG 211, 5c bistre-brown tied by Sandy Hill/ N.Y. duplex in violet 'Feb 6 1885', endorsed 'Through Italy' with New York and London transits '16th Feb' wsith Brindisi '19/2' and circular Sea Post Office '26th Feb' and Bassein arrival 'Mar 19' on reverse.
Lovely item of Missionary mail addressed to Bassein with scarce arrival this example used much later than listed by Proud (2.1.79) - (23.6.80).
Iraq. (Singapore - Trans-Pacific Mail). 1941. Air Mail envelope addressed to Boston written from 'H.H. Zakkai, & 1. David, Bagdad' (with oval firms chop on reverse) bearing Iraq Yvert 113, 15fils blue and Yvert 119, 75fils blue-green (3) tied by bilingual Baghdad/ Sor double ring '19th Sept 41', endorsed ' By Pan-American/ Trans-Pacific Air Service' and carried via Singapore with censor tape tied by bold framed 'Passed By/ Censor 150/ Singapore' in violet on face and reverse with circular 'F' and '16' on face.
Attractive cover paying the 2d 40 fils rate via Singapore and over the Pacific by Pan American clipper.
Malaya. (Trengganu). 1968. Registered Malaysian postal stationery envelope addressed to Singapore 40 sen blue upgraded with Trengganu SG 104, 10c multicoloured tied by 'Besut/ Trengganu/ M' date stamp '15th Sept 68' with matching registration label and adjacent framed 'Posted Out of Course' hand-stamp on face and reverse with Geylang arrival.
Malaya. (Trengganu - Advice of Receipt Mail). 1967. Registered, Advice of Receipt mail envelope addressed to Singapore bearing Malaya Federation SG 20, 25c yellow, SG 21, 30c blue and brown mixed with Trengganu SG 101, 2c multicoloured and SG 104, 10c multicoloured tied by Paka/ Trengganu date stamp '15th Aug 67' with matching registration label and circular 'AR' hand-stamp on face, routed via Dungan with Singapore/ R8 and Geylong/ Tre 14 arrival '18th Aug' on reverse.
Total Paid 67 cents, Postage 15c, Registration Fee 40c and 'AR (Advice of Receipt) fee 12 cents.
Malaya. (Netherlands Post Office in Singapore). 1946. Air Mail envelope addressed to the Netherlands written from South East Asia Command (S.E.A.C.), New Amsterdam endorsed On Active Service' with circular 'Netherlands Post Office/ Singapore' date stamp in violet '15th Mar 1946' with hand-struck 'Kosteloos Uitreiken' (Free of Charge) with framed '10'Gr.' on face.
Malaya. (British Military Administration - Kedah - Japanese Occupation). 1946. Envelope addressed to Penang bearing B.M.A. SG 7, 8c scarlet tied by 'Post Office/ Serdang' hand-stamp with m/s date '28/9/46' on face in pencil.
Scarce Japanese Occupation cancellation from Serdang, Kedah in use (18.10.45) - (17.12.46).
Malaya. (Singapore - Prisoner of War Mail). 1946. Air Mail envelope addressed to 'Blok 11, Huis 95, Wilhelmina Kamp, Singapore' bearing Netherlands Indies SG 477, 60c grey tied by Pontianam date stamp and signed by the Commander.
Thailand. (Goodwill Mission Flight to Hanoi). 1930. Illustrated Registered Air Mail envelope endorsed 'Bangkok - Hanoi' addressed to 'Banque de l' Indochine, Hanoi' bearing SG 233, 10s orange and black, SG 234, 15s carmine and SG 236, 50s black and orange brown tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '30th Dec 30' with matching registration label, framed 'Par Avion; and boxed 'Bangkok - Hanoi Goodwill Flight/ December 31, 1930' in carmine on face with Hanoi arrival '31/12' on reverse.
"Goodwill Mission" flight by Siamese Army planes to Hanoi, Indo-China special Airmail letter rate for the "Goodwill Flight" of 60 satang plus 15 satang registration fee.
Thailand. (Trans-Pacific Mail via Hong Kong). 1940. Air Mail envelope addressed to the United States bearing SG 242, 25s blue (pair), SG 244, 1b green and lilac and SG 287, 5s lilac (strip of three) tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '23rd Aug 40', endorsed 'Per Trans Pacific Airline via Hong Kong'.
Nice franking paying 1 baht 65 satang carried 'B.O.A.C.' to Hong Kong and across the Pacific by 'P.A.A.' clipper.
Thailand. (New Zealand). 1938. Air Mail envelope addressed to New Zealand bearing SG 256, 15s blue (pair) tied by bilingual Songkhla date stamp with Bangkok transit on reverse.
Nice destination paying the 30 satang Air Mail rate to New Zealand.
Thailand. (Trans-Pacific Mail). 1940. Air Mail envelope addressed to California bearing SG 243, 50s black and orange-brown (4), SG 244, 1b green and lilac (2), SG 283, 10s carmine (2) and SG 289, 15s blue (4) tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '17th July 40', endorsed 'via Air Mail'.
Colourful franking paying the 4 baht 80 satang Trans-Pacific Air Mail rate to the United States.
Thailand. (Australia). 1914. Australia picture post card of 'Kangaroo and Kookuburra Birds' addressed to Bangkok, Siam bearing SG 1, 1/2d green and SG 21, 1d carmine red tied by Tooko/ Queensland date stamp '15th Nov 14' with bold 'Passed By Censor' hand-stamp in violet, routed via Sydney and Singapore with Bangkok/ 2 arrival '16th Dec 1914' applied over 'Kangaroo' stamp.
Lovely item of censored mail into Siam in WW1, a very colourful card.
Thailand. (Postcards). Circa 1910. Picture post card of 'Siamese Elephant flag and Royal Coat of Arms'.
Mint card published by 'E.F.A.'
Thailand. (Postcards). 1932. Picture post card (stamp removed) of the 'Royal Palace viewed from Dusit Park, Bangkok' addressed to Wales.
Thailand. (Postcards). 1908. Coloured picture post card of 'Klong scene, Bangkok' addressed to the Netherlands bearing Siam SG 98, 4c pale scarlet tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp with adjacent Bangkok/ 2 date stamp '15th May 08' and Amsterdam arrival.
Lovely card showing Bangkok canal scene. Card published by "Siam Photo Supply Co. Bangkok'.
Thailand. (Australia - Siam Postcards). 1905. Coloured picture post card of 'Rice cultivation in Siam' addressed to Australia bearing Siam SG 69, 2a scarlet and pale blue and SG 71, 3a green tied by Bangkok/ 2 date stamp '16th Nov' with Singapore transit 'Nov 22.'
Scarce coloured card showing the production of rice.
Thailand. (Burma Overland Mail). 1890. A letter with transcript dated 'Chiengmai, Laos, Feb 7 1890' from an American Missionary back to his family in Omaha. He writes 'We left Omaha on the evening of Sept 3, 1889 and arrived Chiengmai Jan 20 1890. All this time was spent in travel except 5 weeks which we spent in Bangkok while awaiting boats to take us up the river. From San Francisco we took a ship by way of the Sandwich Islands and Yokohama, Japan. Japan to Hong Kong, China - distance of 6992 mile. Here we again took a ship to Bangkok, Siam, 1150 miles distant. Our course be sea covered 8142 miles requiring 31 days actual sailing. We had very little rough weather and no storms.
(Postal address Chiengmai, Laos - via Moulmein and British Burma).
An historical letter detailing the arduous journey from Omaha to Northern Siam (Laos) in 1889/90.
Dr James McKean was given land on the Ping River by the Prince of Chiengmai to build a Leprosarium and construction began in 1908.
Thailand. (Burma Overland Mail). 1906. Envelope addressed to France bearing Siam SG 104, 24a brown tied by Chiengmai date stamp '27th Sept 06', routed via Rahang '9th Oct' with Sea Post Office 'Oct 27' .
Although by 1906 the rail service from Bangkok went as far as Paknampo it was still muck quicker overland from Chiengmai via Lampang and Raheng (Tak( to Myawaddy, Kawkareik and Moulmein then by 'P & O' liner to Bombay and Aden.
The Chiengmai - Raheng part of the route still took 14 days and the journey via Kawkareik to Moulmein only had five mail carriers with no bridges so in the rainy season the mail carriers had to wait until the mountain torrents became fordable.
Thailand. (Burma Overland Mail). 1909. Photographic post card of 'Missionary's travelling in the jungles of Northern Siam' dated 'Chiengrai, Laos Aug 17 1909' addressed to the United States bearing Siam SG 95, 3a green tied by Chiengrai date stamp 'Aug 17', routed via Chiangmai with transit on face '25th Aug 09', with Coalinga duplex arrival, hand-stamped 'Forwarded' in purple and endorsed 'Visalia'.
Missionary card mentioning their travels in Kengtung (Burma), mailed by the Burma Overland route via Moulmein, Rangoon and carried by Sea Post Office.
Scarce card (but 2a adhesive removed).
Great Britain. (United States - Tans-Atlantic Mail). 1850. Envelope addressed to New York bearing 'Embossed' SG 54, 1s pale green (imperf) tied by '447' bat obliterator with Leeds double arc in blue on reverse 'Jan 25 1850', endorsed 'per "Europe" Steamer via Liverpool' with Liverpool lozange 'L/ Jan 26' on reverse (Robertson Fig B), bold hand-struck 'Paid' in red and charged '5 cents' in red on face.
The '5 cents' is an accountancy credit hand-stamp being the U.S. share of postage for inland delivery.
Lovely fine four margin Embossed 'one shilling for Trans- Atlantic mail stamp cat 1350 GBP on cover.
Great Britain. (France). 1881. Folded letter addressed to France bearing SG 167, 1 1/2d venetian red and SG 172, 1d lilac tied by London squared circle 'Sept 24th 81' with French entry cachet and Nice arrival on reverse.
Great Britain. (France). 1872. Registered and Charged blue envelope addressed to France bearing SG 122, 6d pale chestnut (plate 11) tied by 'Bute Docks/ D57' duplex 'My 23 72' with oval Registered/ Cardiff and oval 'Registered/ London' transit on face in red 'My 23', circular 'PD' with hand-struck 'CHARGE' and framed accountancy on reverse with 'Postes Calais/ Paris' wax seals in red (2), French entry cachet and Nantes arrival on reverse.
Scarce single sixpence single franking sent registered and Charged to France.
Ireland. (Forwarding Agent - Tans-Atlantic Mail_. 1852. Stamp-less folded letter endorsed 'At Sa Sept 24th 1852' addressed to Kington, Mass. with bold oval 'Transmitted Through/ Mitchell 7 Seymour/ Ship Agents/ Queenstown' in blue on face.
Scarce Queenstown Forwarding Agents this type 'Transmitted Through' not listed in 'The Postal History and Markings of Forwarding Agents' by Kenneth Rowe known in blue only 1853.
The contents of the letter note the sender being in Cork Harbour.
Ireland. (Irish Ship Letters - United States Forwarding Agent). 1837. Pre stamp folded letter written from Philadelphia dated 'July 24th 1837' addressed to London, endorsed 'via New Yok Packet' and forwarded with oval 'Forwarded By/ Goodhue & Co/ New York' in red on reverse, landed in Ireland with framed 'Cork/ Ship Letter' in black on face (Roberson S4) with Cork transit 'Au 18' and Dublin diamond 'Aug 19th' with London receiver '21st August' on reverse and rated '4/2' in m/s.
Lovely item of Forwarded mail sent Trans-Atlantic paying the double ship letter, Captains fee and the mileage from Cork to Dublin and Dublin to London a fee of 4/2 (four shillings and two pence).
France. (Argentina). 1876. Envelope addressed to Buenos Aires bearing France 'Type "Ceres" Yvert 60a, 25c blue (4) tied by numeral '1' in Paris star with adjacent Paris/ Pl de la Bourse date stamp '17th Feb', routed via Bordeaux on the French paquebot "Mendoza" with 'Ligne J Paq. Fr. No 4' on reverse (Salles 1063) and rated '10' in blue crayon with bold framed '14 CENTAVOS' on face and Buenos Aires receive 'Mar 19th' on reverse.
France. (France used in Algeria). 1883. Registered French "Type Sage" postal stationery envelope 15c blue upgraded with France Yvert 89, 10c black and Yvert 90, 15c blue tied by Bou-Saada/ Algeria double ring '17th Nov' (struck twice) with boxed hand-struck 'R' in red on face addressed to Bordeaux with 'Marseille a Lyon' ambulant on reverse and Bordeaux arrival '23rd Nov 83'.
Lovely item from this small Dessert Oasis town in the middle of Algeria.
France. (Corsica). 1855. Envelope addressed to Paris bearing 'Napoleon' Yvert 14, 20c blue tied by petit chiffre with adjacent Ajaccio date stamp '26th Juin 55'
French Colonies. (Madagascar - Sweden). 1901. Registered Photographic post card of 'Tam - Tam a Mababibo' (Baobab Trees) addressed to Sweden bearing Madagascar Yvert 32, 10c black/ blue and Yvert 35, 25c black/ rose tied by Majunga/ Madagascar double ring '1st Jan 01' (with adjacent second strike) and hand-struck framed 'R' in blue and Sundsvall arrival '29/1'.
Unusual destination from French Madagascar to Sweden paying 35 cents for a registered post-card.
French Colonies. (Guadeloupe). 1872. Folded letter addressed to Pointe-a-Pitre bearing French General Colonies Yvert 17, 5c green/ azure 9(mperf) and Yvert 22, 15c bistre (imperf) tied by dotted lozange with adjacent 'Basse - Terre' double ring '9th Oct' with framed 'P.P.' on face in red and Pointe - a - Pitre arrival on reverse '10th Oct 1872.'
Nice item of domestic mail paying the 15 cents internal rate from Parish to Parish.
China. (French Post Office in China). 1904. Envelope addressed to France bearing French China SG 39, 15c orange-red tied by Tien-Tsin-Chine/ Poste Francaise double ring '14th Oct 04' with hand-struck 'Voie Siberie' and 'Corres cos d' Armees' on face with circular military detachment cachet in red and Morbihan arrival on reverse '17h Nov 04.'
China. (French Post Office in China - Rumania). 1905. Registered envelope addressed to Rumania bearing French China 'Type Blanc' SG 37, 5c green (pair) and SG 38, 10c carmine (block of four) tied by Shang-Hai/ Chine double ring '9th Jan 05' with framed hand-struck 'R' and Bucarest arrival on reverse.
Unusual destination from the French Post Office in Shanghai to Rumania paying the Registration fee of 50 cents.
China. (French China). 1905. Envelope addressed to France bearing French China 'Type Blanc' SG 37, 5c green and SG 38, 10c orange tied by Tien-Tsin-Chine Poste Francaise double ring '31st Juil 05' with hand-struck 'Corres ces d' Armees' onface with oval '16th Regt. d' Infie. Colole/ Detant. D Tien-Tsin/ Le Vaguemestre' in violet on reverse.
Lovely item of mail from the French Detachment in Tien-Tsin. Attractive combination.
China. (Postal Stationery - German Post Office). 1913. Chinese postal stationery card 'coiling Dragon' one cent green upgraded with German China SG 47, 2c on 5pf green tied by Tientsin/ Deutsche Post date stamp '3rd June 13' addressed to Germany endorsed 'via Siberia'.
Attractive combination.
China. (German Post Office in Kiautschou). 1905. Picture post card of 'Japanese lady pouring rice' addressed Germany bearing Kiautschou SG 24, 1c brown (pair) tied by Tsingtau/ Kiautschou date stamp '11th May 08', endorsed 'via Siberia'.
Nice item paying the 'two cent' printed matter rate.
China. (German Post Office in Kiautschou). 1908. Envelope addressed to Betthum, Germany bearing Kiautschou SG 26, 4c carmine tied by oval 'Kais. Deutsche/ Marine Schiffspost/ No 17' date stamp '26th Nov 08'.
Scarce use of Maritime mail from Kiautschou .
China. (German Post Office in Kiautschou). 1908. Envelope addressed to Japan bearing Kiautschou SG 26, 4pf carmine (pair) tied by Tsintau/ Kiautschou date stamp '14th April 08', underpaid with framed 'T.' han-stamp and endorsed '10 cts' in violet crayon with framed vernacular 'Too Pay' in carmine on face and Japanese 'Forwarded' label cancelled '41.4.28'.
China. (German Post Office in Kiautschou). 1911. Picture post card of 'Kloster Hua Yen an im Lauschan' addressed to Shanghai bearing German China, Kiautschou SG 25, 2c green tied by Tsingtau/ Kiautschou date stamp with Imperial Post Shanghai arrival. Very fine.
Czechoslovakia. (Czech Forces in France). Circa 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Forge - Neuve, Darney, Vosges' addressed to Limoges endorsed '21st Regiment Tcheco - Slovaques, Darney, Vosges' and 'F.M.', cancelled by circular '21st Regt de Chasseurs Tcheco - Slovaques/ Bureau de Colonel/ 21st Ceskoslo Vensky Strelecky Pluk' in violet.
Very fine and rare item from the Czech Forces in France WW1.
Czechoslovakia. (French Detachment in Czechoslovakia). 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Cathedral and bridge from the river, Prague' endorsed 'F.M.' addressed to Cognac, France cancelled by bilingual circular '23rd Regiment Chasseurs Tcheco - Slovaque/ Le Commandant du Regiment' in violet on face.
Czechoslovakia. (French Maroc). 1919. Picture post card of 'Rue Arabe, Nedroma' (Algeria) endorsed 'F.M.', written from 'Outad Oulad et Hadj' dated '29th Jan 1919' addressed to 'Depot a Armee Tchecosloaque, Cognac, France' cancelled by 'Tresor et Postes/ 408' date stamp '29/1' with oval 'Poste Daain Guettare/ Maroc Orientla/ Le Vaguemestre' on face and reverse, forwarded to PRAGUE with circular ''Depot Des Regiments Tcheco - Slovaques/ Francaise Militaire' in violet on face.
Tresor et Postes '408' from Outat Oulad et Hadj.
Albania. (Prisoner of War Mail). 1917. Envelope written from Elbassan, Albania addressed to 'Comite International de la Croix Rouge/ Geneve, Suisse (Section Civile)' bearing Austro-Hungarian 'Feldpost' Yvert 25, 5h green and Yvert 31, 20h brown tied by 'K.U.K. Etapptenpost/ Elbassana' with boxed 'Zensuriert/ K.U.K. Zensurstelle/ Feldkirch/ 156' in carmine with framed 'Vendu Par/ L' Agence Internationale/ Der Prisonniers de Guerre' and hand-stamped 'Comite Internationale de la Croix Rouge/ Geneve/ Agence Internationale Ds Prisonniers de Guerre/ Service des Enveloppes et Tiimbres de Guerre' on face with Geneve arrival '25th July 1917' on reverse.
Albania. (British Contingent at Scutari). 1919. Un-stamped picture post card of 'View of Shkodra and Mosque' endorsed 'On Active Service' addressed to Newcastle cancelled by 'Field Post Office/ S 100' dated '19 Mr 1919' with framed (Crown)/ Passed By Censor/ 433' in violet on face.
On 19th February 1919, 1/6th Bn The Gloucestershire Regiment (which had served in Italy in 144th Brigade) was sent to Scutari to emphasise the Allied character of control in Albania. Only a small detachment of Troops remained from May 1919.
The Albanian case for Independence was heard at the Paris Peace Conference on 24th February 1919.
Mail from the Troops in Albania was passed though Army Post Office S 100 at Taranto, Italy but may be identified by the Battalion's censor hand-stamp No 433 which was used for part of the time in Albania.
A very fine view card from Shkodra with Censor No 433.
Persia. (Meched Military Censorship). 1921. Censored envelope addressed o Teheran bearing Yvert 309, 10c rose and brown (stamp on reverse) tied by Meched (Depart) double ring '8th Oct 21' with framed Meched military censor cachet in black reading 'Censored on behalf of military Governing Forces' with Teheran arrival 'Oct 22nd'.
A black rectangular Government military censor. The only known covers were mailed to Teheran from August to September 1921. (See "Ghajar covers and Postal History" by Iraj Eftekhar. published in 2003.
Persia. 1897. Registered envelope addressed to England bearing Yvert 76, 2c green (3) and Yvert 76, 5c blue (6) tied by Urmai date stamp '8th Aug 97' with Provisional registration label 'R/ Perse' and hand-struck oval 'R' with hooded Registered/ London arrival '30 Au' in orange and forwarded to Bournemouth with same day arrival on reverse.
Very attractive franking.
Persia. (Persian Gulf). 1896. Postal stationery envelope 5c turquoise upgraded with Yvert 75, 2c green and Yvert 76, 5c blue tied by octagonal Rescht date stamp addressed to Berlin routed via the Caspian Sea to Baku '18th March' and overland to Berlin arrival '4/4' on reverse..
Persia. 1892. Registered postal stationery envelope 'six cent' pink upgraded with Yvert 65, 1c black )on reverse) and Yvert 70, 14c orange tied by oval Teheran date stamp with hand-struck oval 'R', addressed to the Netherlands with Rotterdam receiver on reverse '16th April 92'. Very fine and scarce.
Lovely item from "C. Mottes" French Instructeur de l' Armee, Teheran (Perse).
Persia. (France). 1895' Registered envelope addressed to France bearing Yvert 80, 1k orange and yellow tied by Teheran date stamp '2/5' with oval hand-struck 'R' with Paris - Etranger/ Chargements in red on face '26th Mai 95' and Paris arrival '26th Mai' on reverse.
Nice Registered single franking to France.
Greece. (France). 1869. Stamp-less folded letter addressed to Athens cancelled by Lyon double ring '28th Mai 1869', endorsed 'via Marseille' with Marseille transit ''29th Mai', charged with hand-struck '90' and bearing Greek 'Large Hermes' Yvert 20, 10 lepta orange/ azure (imperf) and Yvert 22, 40 lepta lilac/ azure (imperf pair) applied and tied on arrival by Athens date stamp.
Very fine usage of Large Hermes stamps as Postage Dues.
Greece. (French Detachment in the Dardanelles). 1915. Stamp-less envelope written from '47th Artillery, 42nd Battalion, 1st Division, Francaise en Orient S.P. 505' addressed to France cancelled by Tresor et Postes / 505 date stamp '31st Dec 15' with circular military cachet 'Corps Expeditionnaire des Dardanelles/ 1st Division/ Groupe du 47th Reg. d' Artie de Campagne' in violet on face with Jura receiver on reverse '18th Jan 16'.
The Corps Expeditionary D' Orient was a French Force raised for service during the Gallipoli Campaign on 22nd February 1915. As the French began to refocus there actions in the Mediterranean around Salonika the force was re-named Corps Expedionnaire Des Dardanelles on October 4th 1915.
The British and French ships had begun a Naval assault on the Dardanelles 19th February 1915. Military landings on the Gallipoli Peninsular followed April 25th.
By mid January 1916 all Allied Troops had to be evacuated and the attack on the Turkish Troops on the Dardanelles abandoned.
This item is from the 3rd Batterie of the 47th Field Artillery Regiment commanded by Captain Roux.
Its a real pleasure to add a magnificent selection of French Colonies from Africa, Asia, The Caribbean and Oceania. Very fine pre-stamp, British Post Office, Charged Mail, Advice of Receipt, Printed Matter and postage due mail. A lovely selection of censor mail, some with five or six censor cachets and labels, routed Trans-Africa, two Ocean or over the Atlantic with some unusual destinations.
A few items from the Dr. Edward Grabowski collection, this amazing sale sold in three parts by Spink. Also interesting Tahiti and New Caledonia from Tony Eastgate's life time work.
Over the next few months we hope to add many items to grace the finest collections.
A strong area of stock is our China from Imperial to WW2 with many fine censor covers and Air Transits. A good selection of the overseas Post Offices, Austrian, British, French, Japanese and Russian with offices in Manchuria. Many mixed combinations, I.P.O's .
Coming soon the John Marc Sitarek accumulation of China, French Post Office and Indo-China with magnificent French Detachment in the Boxer Campaign covers.
John Marc also had a fine selection of the Chinese Labour Force which are not often seen, he built this selection over thirty years. One of the darker aspects of World War One was the plight of 12,000 Chinese workers who were recruited by the British Army from the North of China in 1916 to serve on the battle front in France as labourers, trench diggers, munitions carriers, mine disarmers and corpse bearers under often inhumane conditions. A large number were also struck down by the devastating Spanish flue of 1918.