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。
