Malaya. (Netherlands East Indies - Singapore). 1918. Registered envelope written from the Borneo Company addressed to the Netherlands bearing Netherlands Indies SG 222, 30c slate tied by Bandjermasin date stamp with matching registration label, hand-stamped 'Engelsche Mail/ via Singapore' on face in violet with 'Opened by Censor/ Straits Settlements' censor label and 'Opened by Censor/ 4969' label applied in transit with Enschede arrival on reverse. Nice item.
Malaya. (Selangor). 1941. Air Mail envelope addressed to England bearing Selangor SG 85, $5 scarlet and green tied by Kuala Lumpur double ring '7th July'. endorsed 'Per American Clipper' , routed via Singapore with censor tape tied by 'Passed By/ Censor 256/ A' on face and reverse, sent Trans-Pacific clipper "Honolulu" via San Francisco and over the Atlantic. Very fine $2 single franking 'Two Ocean' route.
The two dollar air thoughout rate began on 27.5.41.
French India. (French Settlements in India - Belgium). 1903. French India postal stationery envelope 15c blue cancelled by Chandernagor/ Inde double ring '13th Aout 03', addressed to Belgium, underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp and bearing Belgian postage due Yvert 6, 20c olive tied by Bruges receiver '31st Aout' on face. Exhibition item. Very attractive.
Illustrated in the Collectors Club journal volume 95 number 6, French India 'Allegorical Group Type by Ed Grabowski.
Chandernagor became part of the French Empire in 1696, one of five enclaves, Pondichery, Karikal, Yanon, Mahe and Chandernagor, after India became independent from Britain in 1947 the French allowed its residents to become part of India and in 1954 integrated into the state of West Bengal.
India. (French Settlements in India - New Caledonia). Circa 1900. French India postal stationery envelope 10c carmine cancelled by Chanddenagor/ India double ring '28th Avril' (no year plug), addressed to 'The Governor, Noumea, New Caledonia.' Lovely item of destination mail from Chandernagor, French Possession in India to this small French Pacific island.
Chandernagor became part of the French Empire in 1696, one of five enclaves, Pondichery, Karikal, Yanon, Mahe and Chandernagor, after India became independent from Britain in 1947 the French allowed its residents to become part of India and in 1954interagated into the state of West Bengal.
India. (French Settlements in India). 1899. British India picture post card of 'Hindoo Temple and small girl' dated 'March 20', addressed to Germany bearing French India Yvert 4,, 5c green tied by Pondichery/Inde double ring '2nd Avril' with framed triangular 'T' and charged '10' in m/s blue crayon with Mulhausen arrival. Very interesting item sent at the 'Imprime' rate but charged as the message is more than 5 words and not endorsed 'Imprime'.
Lovely item (scarce pre 1900 card), illustrated in the Collectors Club journal (volume 95, no 6) , French India, the Allegorical Group Type by Ed Grabowski.
India. (French Settlements in India). 1902. Registered envelope addressed to France bearing French India Yvert 6, 15c blue and Yvert 8, 25c black/ rose tied by Chandernagor double ring '23rd Oct 1902' with framed hand-struck 'R' in red on face, endorsed 'via Bombay' with Toulouse arrival on reverse '10th Nov. Superb combination.
Chandernagor became part of the French Empire in 1696, one of five enclaves Pondichery, Karikal, Yanon. Mahe and Chandernagor, after India became independent from Britain in 1947 the French allowed its residents to become part of India and in 1954 integrated into the state of West Bengal.
India. (French Settlement in India). 1904. Envelope addressed to France bearing French India Yvert 4, 5c green and Yvert 11, 0.10 on 25c black/ rose tied by Inde/ Pondichery double ring '20th Avril 1904' with Var arrival on reverse ''7th May'. Scarce surcharge stamp on cover.
British West Indies. (Antigua - British Ship Letters). 1829. Pre-stamp envelope written from 'Betty's Hope, Plantation' in Antigua dated '29th March 1829' addressed to London, endorsed 'Brig, Codrington/ Capt. Hill' and headed 'Consignee's Letter', landed at Kingsbridge with framed stepped 'Kingsbridge/ Ship Letter' on face (Robertson S.1), charged '3/2' in m/s with London receiver '14th May 1829' on reverse.
Lovely item with 'Consignee's Letter indicating an expected exemption from the ship letter charge but rated '3/2' for '6d' ship, '2d' Captains pence, inland postage '11d' (170 - 230 miles) doubled for double letter rate.
The annotation above 'Consignee's Letter' may indicate that the ship's manifest did not show the sender as a consignee of goods on board.
Cover illustrated in Robertson "A History of Ship Letters of the British Isles".
British West Indies. (Jamaica - Ship Letter -Accountancy). 1864. Envelope addressed to London bearing SG 4, 4d brown-orange tied by 'A01' obliterator with adjacent Kingston/ Jamaica date stamp 'Fe 10 64', hand-struck 'Jamaica Ship Letter' on face, endorsed 'per steamer "Mexican", with hand-struck accountancy '1 1/2' in red ink on face, routed via Liverpool with tombstone 'Paid/ Liverpool/ Ship/ Mar 9 1864' in red (Robertson S. 19) and 'Ship - Letter/ London date stamp 'March 10' in red on reverse (Robertson S. 33).
Lovely item in Exhibition quality paying the inland rate accountancy and with the full Ship Letter charge pre-paid, the appropriate 'Paid Liverpool Ship' was struck in red ink on arrival at that port.
British West Indies. (Jamaica - Ship Letter). 1851. Stamp-less envelope addressed to 'Wm. Geo. Stewart, Vice Consul of Mexico, 74 Broadway, New York' cancelled by 'Kingston-Jamaica/ Paid' date stamp in red 'Jan 20 1851', with adjacent 'Jamaica/ Ship Letter', charged '2' and rated '60' on arrival in New York.
The papers and archive of shipping merchant William George Stewart are in the New York Historical Society Museum.
British West Indies. (Jamaica - British Ship Letters). 1776. Stamp-less envelope written from Montego Bay, Jamaica dated 'June 14th 1776' addressed to London, endorsed 'per ship "St. James", Master Capt. Stewart Q.D.C. 'Quem Deus Conservet' (Whom God Preserve), landed at Dover with hand-struck 'Dover/ Ship Lre.' in black on face (Robertson S.3), with m/s '4' ship letter and rated '6' inland letter charge, with faint London receiver on reverse.
Nice item of Trans-Atlantic mail.
British West Indies. (Saint Vincent). 1898. Registered envelope addressed to London bearing SG 48, 1d rose-red (pair) and SG 55, 2 1/2d on 1d grey-blue tied by Kingstown/ St. Vincent date stamp 'Ja 23 98' with oval 'R' hand-stamp and 'R/ Saint Vincent' registration label on reverse and London arrival 'Jy 7 98'. Very fine.
China. (Boxer Rebellion). 1902. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Corps du d' Occupation de Chine' addressed to Paris, France cancelled by 'Corr. D' Armees Shanghai' double ring 'Dec 02' with circular 'Corps Expeditionnaire de Chine/ Detachement de Shanghai/ Le Commandant de Battaillon a' Infanterie de Marine' on face. Scarce use of the 'Corr. Army Shanghai' brought back into use during the Boxer Campaign.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1903. Stamp-less envelope headed 'Brigade de Reserve de Chine' addressed to France cancelled by 'Corps Exp. Tonkin Ligne N. 9' double ring '24th Nov 03' with undated 'Corps Expeditionnaire' on face and circular '18th Regt. de Infanterie de Marine/ Conseil D' Administration' and Rochefort arrival. Very fine.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1891. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Troupes d' Indo-Chine' addressed to France cancelled by 'Ninh-Binh/ Tonkin' double ring with circular 'Commandant D' Armees/ Ninh-Binh' in black on face and counter-signed by the Commandant with undated 'Tonkin Corps Exped' and Sevres arrival. Attractive item from the French Occupation.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1917. Stamp-less envelope headed 'S.M.' and endorsed '11th Coloniel Detachment de Poulo Condore, Cochinchine' addressed to Paris, cancelled by Poulo Condore/ Cochinchine date stamp '12th Dec 17' with circular '11th Regiment D' Ine Coloniale Poulo-Condore/ Le Commandant du Poste' on face. Very fine.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1917. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Correspondance Militaire' addressed to France, cancelled by 'Tien-Tsin-Chine/ Poste Francaise' double ring '16th Juil 17' with circular '16th regt. D' Infanterie de Marine' in violet on face, routed via the French Post Office Shanghai '19/7' with 'Controle Postal Militaire' censor label tied by oval 'Ouvert Par Controle Militaire/ 394' censor cachet on face and reverse. Lovely item.
China. (French Naval Detachment in China). 1937. Stamp-less envelope written from the French Naval Gunboat "Lamotte-Piccuet" endorsed 'F.N.E.O.', Shanghai', endorsed 'F.M.' addressed to France cancelled by octagonal 'Croiseur Lamotte-Piccuet' date stamp '10th Jan 37' with circular 'Forces Navales Extreme Orient/ Franchaise Militaire' on face and Veudee arrival on reverse. Superb item of mail from the French Naval Extreme Orient.
China. (French Naval Detachment in China). Circa 1936. Envelope written from Shanghai addressed to France with hand-struck 'Canonniere "Mytho" and circular (Anchor) 'Marine Francaise/ Service a la Mer' struck twice on face. Very fine item from the French Naval Base in China.
China. (French Naval Detachment in Manchuria). 1929. Picture post card of 'Gyama Dori, Dairen' addressed to France cancelled by octagonal 'Cuirasse-Waldeck - Rousseau' date stamp '16th Sept 29' with circular 'Division Navales Extreme Orient/ Francaise Militaire' in violet on face. Nice item from the Gunboat "Waldeck-Rousseau" at Dairen, Manchuria.
China. (French Naval Detachment in China). 1938. Illustrated stamp-less envelope addressed to France cancelled by octagonal 'Croiseur Primauguet' date stamp '22nd April 38' with framed 'Forces Navales Extreme Orient/ Franchise Militaire'. Very attractive item from the French Gunboat "Primauguet".
China. (French Naval Detachment in China). 1939. Envelope written from Tien-Tsin endorsed 'F.M.', addressed to Dap Cau, Tonkin cancelled with circular 'Corps D' Occupation de Chine/ Le Vaguemestre' with 'Postal Militaire' label tied by circular 'A/1' cachet with oval 'Ouvert/ Par/ L' Autorite Militaire' hand-stamp on face with Hanoi and Dap Cau arrival '7th Oct 39'. Scarce censor item sent internally between Tien-Tsin and Tonkin very early in WW2.
China. (Chinese Labour Force). 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Entree de l' Eglise apres le bombardement, Sommesous' addressed to Gironde cancelled by circular 'Travailleus Coloniaux/ Groupement Indo-Chinois de Sommesous/ Le Commandant du Groupement' in violet. Very fine.
One of the darker aspects of World War 1 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 flu epidemic of 1916.
China. (Chinese Labour Force). 1917. Stamp-less picture post card of 'L' Hotel Beau-Rivage, Saint Raphael' addressed to Aube cancelled by Var date stamp with circular 'Hopital Annamite 67/ Frejus (Var)/ Le Vaguemestre' on face. Very fine.
One of the darker aspects of World War 1 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 inhuman conditions. A large number were also struck down by the devastating Spanish flu epidemic of 1916.
Ex John Mark Sitarik.
China. (Chinese Labour Force). 1917. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Tours, Le Pontde Pierre' dated 'Tours 17th Juil 1917' with circular 'Detechement des Travailleurs Tonkinois/ Le Commandant/ Tours' in violet on face. Very fine.
One of the darkest aspects of World War 1 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 flu epidemic of 1916.
Ex John Mark Sitarik
China. (Chinese Labour Force). 1917. Stamp-less envelope addressed to Besancon cancelled by Tresor et Postes date stamp '8h Juil 17' with circular '9th Bataillon de Tirailleurs Indochinois/ Le Commandant' in violet. Very fine.
One of the darker aspects of World War 1 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 flu epidemic of 1916.
Ex John Mark Sitarik.
China. (Chinese Labour Force). 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'le Pont de Bordeaux, Libourne' addressed to Tunisia cancelled by Fouilloux date stamp with circular 'Travailleurs Coloniaux/ Groupement/ Agencie Indochinois/ Le Gibbeau/ Commune de Fouilloux (Charente-Infre) Le Commandant' in violet. Very fine.
One of the darker aspects of World War 1 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 flu epidemic of 1916.
Ex John Mark Sitarik.
China. (French Occupation of China - Boxer Campaign). 1898. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Corps de l' Indo-Chine' addressed to France cancelled by 'Corres Expre de Madagascar L.U. No 3' double ring '7th Sept 98' with circular 'Vapeur Cholon/ Le Commandant' and counter-signed by the Commander with Paris receiver on reverse. Nice item of mail in transit to French China and the Boxer Campaign.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1893. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Troupes de Tonkin' addressed to Paris cancelled by Lao-Kay/ Tonkin date stamp '9th Juin 93' with undated 'Corps Exped/ Tonkin' and circular 'Place de Lao-Kay/ Le Commandant D' Armees' in blue, routed via Ha-Noi '15/6' with 'Modane a Paris' ambulant and taxed with triangular 'T' and bearing French postage due Yvert 21, 60c black tied by Paris obliterator on face. Very fine item from the French Occupation and taxed as civilian post.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1903. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Corps d' Occupation de Chine' addressed to Algeria, North Africa cancelled 'Tien-Tsin-Chine/ Poste Francaise' date stamp '5th June 03' with 'Corps Exp. Du Tonkin/ Ligne N' double ring '14th Juin 03' with circular 'Coprps Expeditionnaire de Chine/ Prevote/ Le Commandant' in blue on face and reverse, with Alger arrival 16/7' and forwarded to Saone. Very fine item from the French Occupation of China.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1898. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Corps Expeditionnaire du Tonkin' addressed to France cancelled by 'Phu Lu/ Tonkin' double ring with circular 'Le Captain/ Commandant/ Secteur de Pakha/ 4th T.M.' in blue on face with undated 'Corps Expre Annam Tonkin' , routed via Ba-Hoa and Yen-Bai '24th Juil' with Hanoi transit '27/7' and Paris arrival. Very attractive item from the French Occupation.
China. (French Occupation of China). 1893. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'Troupes d' Indo-Chine' addressed to France cancelled by 'Tuyen/ Tonkin' double ring with circular 'Les Commandant du Poste/ Cho-Ra' in violet/ blue on face and counter-signed by the Commandant with undated 'Tonkin Corps Exped', routed via Hanoi. Very attractive item from the French Occupation.
China. (French China). 1907. French China postal stationery envelope '15c orange' upgraded with 'Type Blanc' SG 7, 5c green (pair) tied by Han-Keou-Chine Poste Francaise date stamp '29th Oct 07' addressed to Paris. Superb quality.
China. (French China). 1901. French China postal stationery card '10c black' overprinted 'CHINE' in red, written from 'Kinkiang' dated '24th November 1901', cancelled by Hankeou/ Chine double ring '24th No' addressed to France, routed via the French Post Office Shanghai '27th Nov' and sent by French paquebot 'Ligne N Paq. Fr. No 2' on face '28/11' with French arrival.
Nice item written from the Chinese Imperial Post in Kinkiang via Hankow.
China. (French China). 1916. Registered envelope written from French Consulate with circular 'Consul General de France/ a Shanghai' cachet on face in violet addressed to France bearing French China SG 81 20c on 50c brown tied by Shanghai/ Chine date stamp '18th Feb 16' with matching registration label, endorsed 'via Siberia' with beautiful Consulate wax seal in red on reverse. Lovely item.
China. (French China). 1918. Registered envelope written from the 'Legation de France, Peking' addressed to France bearing French China SG 77, 4c on 10c red and SG 79, 8c on 20c purple (2) tied by Pekin/ Chine date stamp '15th Feb 18' with matching registration label, endorsed 'via Amerique' with 'Controle Postal Militaire' censor label tied by oval 'Ouvert Par L' Autorite Militaire/ 302' censor cachet.
Nice item of censored mail routed over the Pacific and the United States due to the WW1 conflict and the closure of the Siberian railway.
China. (French China). 1922. Registered envelope addressed to Belgium bearing French China SG 90, 40c on 1f lake and green tied by Tien-Tsin Poste Francaise date stamp '2nd Dc 22' (Pothion Type T04) with matching registration label. Scarce large type French Post Office in Tien-Tsin on registered mail.
French Colonies. (Oceanie - Tahiti). 1894. Registered Stamp-less Official mail envelope addressed to Papeete cancelled Maugareva/ Taiti double ring in violet '1st Avril 94' with framed hand-struck 'R' and endorsed 'R/ No 21' with circular 'Archipel de Gambier/ Magareva' in violet on face and reverse with Papeete receiver '18th Avril' on reverse.
Pre 1900 registered mail from Maugareva a small atoll in the Gambier Islands over 1000 miles southeast of Tahiti is very rare.
The islands were known for their pearls.
French Colonies. (Madagascar). 1902. Registered picture post card addressed to Paris bearing Yvert 53, 0.10 on 50c rose and Yvert 55, 0.15 on If olive (2) tied by Tamatavia/ Madagascar double ring '13th Sept 02' in blue with framed hand-struck 'R' and Paris arrival '17th Oct' on face.
Very fine usage of a postcard sent by Registered mail.
French Levant. (Cilicie). Circa 1919. Turkish postal stationery envelope '20p' scarlet overprinted 'CILICIE', upgraded with French Occupation 'T.E.O.' Yvert 70, 1p blue tied by Mersina date stamp with circular 'Controle Postal/ Mersinia/ Cilicie/ Militaire' censor hand-stamp in carmine on face, addressed to Constantinople with Stamboul arrival on reverse.
Algeria. (French Camerouns - Nigeria). 1942. Air Mail envelope addressed to French Camerouns bearing Algeria Yvert 178, 1f50 carmine (7) tied by Alger date stamp '15th Dec 42', endorsed 'via Dakar' with Senegal 'Control Postal' label on reverse tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par Les/ Autorite de Controle' and circular 'A/3'. routed via Nigeria with 'P.C. 90/ Opened By Examiner' label tied on face by framed 'Crown/ Passed/ PP/ 25' censor cachet in violet with 'Cotonou/ Dahomey transit '3rd Jan 43' and Afrique Rquatoriale Francaise label 'Controle Postal Militaire' tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par/ L' Autorite Militaire' cachet and circular 'Controle Postal/ Commission A/ Territoire du Cameroun' on face, Douala and M' Balmayo arrival '4th Feb'.
Superb item, Trans- Africa Air Mail censored in Senegal, Cameroun, Nigeria and Equatorial Africa, 9 different censor cachets or labels.
French Colonies. (French Niger). 1931. French 'Type Blanc' postal stationery news-band wrapper 'two cent' brown/red cancelled by Boulogne sur Mer date stamp '2nd Aout' addressed to 'The Post & Telegraph, Niamy, Niger', underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp and bearing Niger postage due Yvert 12, 10c lilac-brown and grey applied and tied by Niamey. Niger double ring '16th Oct 31' on face.
Wonderful item of underpaid postage due mail from Niger, very rare tax stamp on wrapper.
French Colonies. (Gabon). 1910 French Gabon postal stationery envelope 10c red cancelled by Fernan - Vaz/ Gabon double ring '20th Jan 10' addressed to Paris routed via Cap - Lopez '22nd Jan' on reverse . Very fine.
French Colonies. (French Congo). 1896. French Congo postal stationery envelope 25c black/ rose upgraded with Yvert 19, 25c black/ rose tied by Loango/ Congo - Francaise double ring '13th Juil 96' addressed to Paris, France. Very fine item of Congo stationery.
French Colonies. (New Caledonia). 1905. Registered and Advice of Receipt envelope addressed to France bearing New Caledonia Yvert 50, 40c orange and Yvert 62, 25c blue tied by Nlle Caledonie/ Noumea double ring '16th Mai 05', with boxed 'R' hand-stamp and framed 'AR' on face with Paris receiver on reverse '27th Juin'.
Lovely item of mail paying the postage plus registration and Advice of Receipt to France.
French Colonies. (New Caledonia). 1908. Picture post card of 'Landing huge shark, Noumea' addressed to France bearing New Caledonia Yvert 59, 5c yellow-green (pair) tied by 'Nelle Caledonie/ Sce Mme Cote Ouest' double ring (Salles 2272).
A lovely item of mail carried on the monthly Coastal Maritme French mail service going East to West around the islands of New Caledonia.
Exhibition quality.
French Colonies. (Tahiti). 1912. Etablissements de L' Oceana postal stationery envelope 'ten cent' red upgraded with Oceanie Yvert 14, 5c yellow-green and Yvert 15, 10c rose (pair) tied by Papeete/ Tahiti double ring '12th Nov 12' with hand-struck 'R' and circular 'A.R.' on fsce addressed to Papeete.
Rare item of Official mail paying the Registered and Advice of Receipt internal rate of 35 cents.
French Levant. (Salonique). 1872. Cover FRONT addressed to France bearing French 'Napoleon' Yvert 25, 1c olive, Yvert 26, 2c red-brown (pair) and French 'Ceres' Yvert 60, 25c blue (3) tied by '5095' in lozange with adjacent 'Salonique/ Turq. D' Europe' date stamp '12th Mars 72' with framed 'Paquebots/ De La/ Mediterranie' in red on face. Very scarce mixed issue franking franking paying the 'eighty cent' rate.
Please note FRONT COVER ONLY.
French Colonies. (French Cameroun). 1915. Stamp-less envelope addressed to France endorsed 'Active Service/ No Stamps Available. Franchise Postal/ Colonne Expeditionnaire du Cameroun' with circular 'Colonne Expeditionnaire du Cameroun/ Section de Chemin de Fer/ Le Captain Commandant' in violet on face and censor 'Tresor et Postes/ Aux Armees' with Savoie arrival '6th Oct 15' on reverse.
Very rare item from the French Railway Detachment in the Camerouns.
French Colonies. (Reunion). 1896. Envelope addressed to France bearing Reunion Yvert 7, 5c on 30c brown (imperf strip of five) tied by Reunion/ St. Denis date stamp '11th Nov' with octagonal French paquebot 'Ligne T Paq. Fr. No 4' date stamp on face and Margaux/ Gironde arrival on reverse '2nd Dec.' Very fine.
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.