1898 Russian Navy "Forerunner" Cover to the Battleship Navarin 1898
(30 Oct) a nice large cover sent from St. Peterburg, Russia to
chase
1898 Russian Navy "Forerunner" Cover to the Battleship Navarin 1898
(30 Oct) a nice large cover sent from St. Peterburg, Russia to
chase the Russian Battle Ship "Navarin" which is originally
presumed to be in Hong Kong firstly, but then re-directed to Chefoo
subsequently. This historical cover, sent during the height of
Russian naval expansion in the Far East, represents a significant
"Forerunner" item used before the introduction of overprinted
"KITAI" stamps in 1899. Franked with a 10-kopeck Imperial Russian
stamp, the letter was dispatched from St. Petersburg on October 30,
1898 (Julian: 18.X.98), as evidenced by the blue circular date
stamp of the 6th Expedition-the office specifically tasked with
international mail. Addressed to "A l'Ensign Woldemar Rykatchew
(Vladimir Mikhailovich Rykachev)" and "Aux soins obligeants de Mer
le Consul T. Russe..." (To the kind care of the Russian Consul...)
for chasing the battleship Navarin, the cover highlights the
complex maritime logistics required to reach naval officers
stationed in the Qing Dynasty's northern waters. Originally sent
via the Mediterranean route (the cover front side endorsed by "via
Brindisi ou Naples") to Hong Kong, the cover was redirected when
the vessel departed for the Northern China theater. The Hong Kong
address was struck through with blue crayon, and the item entered
the Chinese P.O. distribution network, reaching Shanghai on
December 10, 1898, where it received a distinct Shanghai Dollar
Chop. By December 15, the letter reached the Russian Post Office at
Chefoo (Yantai), a primary Russian naval hub during the lease of
Port Arthur. The reverse side provides a final confirmation of
arrival through a blurred Chefoo Dollar Chop. Dated the 5th day of
the 11th lunar month (December 17, 1898), this mark signifies the
successful coordination between the Russian Imperial Post, British
P.O. in Hong Kong, and the Chinese Local Post systems to deliver
mail to a moving military target. This item is a premier example of
Russian postal history in China, documenting the exact period of
the Russian Pacific Squadron's consolidation in Northern China. An
excellent Russian mail to a naval ship, transiting through B.P.O.
in Hong Kong and then Chinese P.O. in Shanghai and Chefoo, and
finally delivered through Russian P.O. in Chefoo.
1898年10月30日，一封自俄國聖彼得堡寄往煙台俄羅斯戰艦 Navarin
的大型封，貼10戈比帝俄郵票，銷俄國郵局日戳。信件寄予海軍少尉 Vladimir Mikhailovich
Rykachev，並託俄國領事代為轉交，以追寄當時在遠東海域活動之Navarin軍艦。封面註明經 Brindisi 或 Naples
轉運原寄香港，但因軍艦已北上中國北方海域而改寄。郵件遂經香港轉入中國郵政系統，於1898年12月10日抵上海並加蓋
上海大圓戳，再於12月15日送達（Chefoo）煙台俄郵局。此封為1899年俄國在華 “KITAI” 加蓋票
出現前之郵史封，展示俄國郵政、香港英國郵局與中國郵政合作追寄海軍艦船之運作。
