- £350.00
China. (French China). 1903. French postal stationery card 10c black "PROVISIONAL" overprint "CHINE" in black cancelled by French Post Office Shanghai double ring 'Shang-Hai/ Chine' dated '15th Dec 03' with second strike addressed to a 'Sub=Lieutenant 'S.M.S. "ASPERN".
Scarce bold Provisional 'CHINE' hand-stamp on French 'Type Sage' 10c black.
The 'S.M.S. "ASPERN" built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy at the Pola Arsenal on 4th October 1897. She was deployed to Taku and Wusong during the Boxer Rebellion and patrolling the ports of Northern China and the Yangtze River. She returned to Pola as part of the summer squadron in Trieste in August 1903. The ship was ordered to return to Chinese waters and departed Pola on 20th September visiting various Chinese ports and Hong Kong before being recalled home.
