項次 1746

1860 (8 Mar) Brest, France to French Frigate le Laplace at Hong Kong Cover sent from Brest, France to Captain Kerjegu served at the French frigate le Laplace which stationed at Hong Kong. Corvette 4 vapeur Laplace is a French 10-gun steam-powered frigate with 400-horse, commanded by Monsieur J. de Kerjegu. Corvette Laplace actively served in China seas from 1858 to early 1860 during the Second Opium War. From April 1860, corvette Laplace left for Cochin China to support the siege of Saigon at Vietnam. In Spring 1860, Allied forces including French navy headed north to gather at Shanghai after their military reinforcement was done for the third attack to Taku Forts. On 21 April, Anglo-French navies seized Chusan Island. It is believed that, since French frigate le Laplace had participated in that northward military action, this cover had not delivered to Hong Kong (22 April) but instead to Chusan Island via Shanghai, for which the arrival was thence deferred to 29 April or thereafter. Route: Brest, France to Hong Kong, China via Marseilles and Suez Rate: French officer rate with French Empire 40 centimes cancelled by “511” lozenges Marking: BREST cds (8 MARS 60), LYON A MARSEILLES cds (10 MARS 60)

1860年3月8日 法國布雷斯特（Brest）寄往香港 — 法國軍艦「Le Laplace」信封 寄至法軍「Le Laplace」蒸汽護衛艦指揮官 Kerjegu 上校。本海軍郵件於1860年3月8日由法國布雷斯特寄出，收件人為法國海軍上校 J. de Kerjegu，時任蒸汽護衛艦「Le Laplace」艦長。該艦為400馬力、10門火炮之法國軍艦，自1858年起在中國沿海活躍執行軍事與護航任務，為第二次鴉片戰爭中的重要戰力之一。 軍事歷史背景：1860年春，法英聯軍完成南方戰力補給後，自廣州、香港集結北上部署，準備第三次進攻大沽口炮台。4月21日聯軍佔領舟山（Chusan），進一步為登陸天津鋪路。「Le Laplace」原駐香港，但很可能於信件抵達（預計22日）前已參與北上行動，信件轉送至舟山或經由上海再送達，遞送時間延後至4月29日或之後。自4月起離開中國戰區，轉往南方支援法軍在越南西貢圍城行動（Cochinchina Expedition）。 郵政與軍事價值：收件艦長 Kerjegu 為法軍高級指揮官，對鴉片戰爭與印度支那行動皆有實際參與。涉及舟山佔領前後的軍事活動與艦隊調度，為研究第二次鴉片戰爭中法國海軍戰力部署提供重要佐證。