by Jerry H. Miller
This web page, published by the Military Postal History Society, contains the text from all of the German Intervention in China exhibit pages created by Jerry Miller. This exhibit was created by, and is the property of Mr. Miller, and is being supplied as a courtesy to the Military Postal History Society.
GERMAN INTERVENTION IN CHINA
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
With the increasing influence of foreigners involved in commerce, transportation, and religious activities in particularly northeastern China during the latter half of
the 19 Century, a xenophobic nationalistic secret society, which had heretofore existed in the 18" Century, again appeared.
lis name, as defined by the British, was “The Boxers”.
Commencing in 1899, the Boxers actively and openly attempted to eliminate all foreign influences, including attacking and killing merchants, missionaries,
Chinese Christians and foreign dignitaries. Those actions resulted in legations and offices at Peking and Tientsin being reinforced with marines, albeit to be besieged by the Boxers in June 1900, and the sending to China of naval and
military units from a number of countries to quell the uprising as well as to destroy the Boxer Movement.
in that effort, the German Kaiser approved his Ministry of War's formation of a combined naval and military force, which (‘The East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps’) was the strongest entity of all the nations involved and exceeded 20,000 military and naval personnel under the command of Field Marshall Count von Waldersee.
in less than one year, the Boxers and the supporting Chinese military forces were defeated and a peace treaty between China and the Allies was signed resulting
in China to pay reparations and having to agree to permit foreign garrisons to remain in China.
Miller, Jerry H., “German Offices in China 1886-1917: Background & Evolution’,
The China Clipper, March, 2012, Volume 76, Number 3, Whole Number 435,
Pages 90-96, 106-108.
GERMAN INTERVENTION IN CHINA
EXHIBIT
This postal history exhibit, organized chronologically, shows the origin of German presence in China, German military buildup and activity as a result of the
Boxer Uprising, the subsequent occupation period, and concludes with the end of German military and postal presence in China in 1917.
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a yellow Sea holameters
TEXT COLOR-CODING
BLACK: General historical, geographical & postal rate/route/marking information
BLUE: Chapter-Stari-Page Heading & Important annotative information
MAROON: Postal Rate Information
EXHIBIT OVERVIEW
I. Historical Background Title Page, Map & Exhibit Summary
Il. Pre-1900 German Presence in China
iil. 1900-1901 Marine Detachment Mail & Naval Post Office
IV. 1900-1901 East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps
V. 1900-1901 Provisional Government & Stamp Usages
VI. 1901-1906 Occupation Period Mail
Vil. 1900-1914 German Naval Ships in Chinese Waters
Vill. 1914-1917 End of German Presence in China
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Shanghai Postal Agency 1886-1896
‘Pfennig’ Series
A GERMAN POSTAL AGENCY IN CHINA WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE GERMAN CONSULATE AT SHANGHAI ON 16 AUGUST 1886 WITH FIRST DAY OF EFFECTIVE OPERATION ON 28 AUGUST
to facilitate communications overseas in support of German
commercial activities & investment in China.
USAGE: 28 August 1886 — June 1894
. n Te Se SS eS ne eS ee | a = Se ee ee SS So ee SSS ee ee —— —_ ae ee SSS ——— Ts SSS |
Cer. Stever
28 AUGUST 1886
Commercial cover (Carlowitz & Co.), postmarked at Shanghdi, endorsed “Per Oder Via Brindisi”, sent to Frankfurt/Main, Germany,
37-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (reverse)
“Frankfurt a. Main, 4 October 1886, 4-5 AM”
20 Pfennig ... Single-weight (15 grams} international letter-rate A
One of three known covers with first-day postmark use.
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Shanghai Postal Agency 1886-1896
‘Pfennig Series’
CONSULAR MAIL TO SWEDEN
Reverse
17 JANUARY 1890
Registered
116 gram cover
sent by the
“Consulate General for
Sweden & Norway” at Shanghai to
government offices at
Stockholm, Sweden.
38-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“24 February 1890”
120 Pig..
UPU International Registered Letier-Rate:
100 Pfg.. 116 grams rated at
120 grams (15 gr x 8 x 20 Pfg)
ais
20 Pfg.. Regisiration fee
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Shanghai Postal Agency 1886 -— 1896
‘Crown & Eagle’ Series
THREE-COLOR COMMERCIAL MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VIA JAPAN & CANADA
=
NEW YORK.
2 NOVEMBER 1892
Three-color franked fourth-weight-level commercial mail,
postmarked at the German Postal Agency at Shanghai, routed via Japan & Canada to New York “Wail Street”.
Routing: (Front & Reverse)
*2 November 1892: German Postal Agency Shanghai * 5 November 1892: Imperial Japanese Post Office
at Shanghai, China *9 November 1892: Imperial Japanese Post Office
at Yokohama, Japan * “Via Vancouver" Endorsement: by rail to New York * 30 November 1892: Arrival New York (Reverse)
80 Pfennig... Fourth-weight level (45-0 grams) upu International Leter-Rate
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Shanghai Postal Agency 1886-1896
‘RM 2.00 Internal Service Value’
PARCEL POST FORM CARD COVERING THREE INSURED PARCELS
16 JUNE 1896
Parcel post card for three insured (RM 21,000.00) 2.8 Kg parcels (gold) sent to the German branch of the
‘Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation’
at Hamburg. 48-day transit time.
Bank Delivery Mark: (Reverse)
“Hamburg, 3 August 1896”
2400 Pfennig... (Block of 10 + 2 multiple franking of RM 2.00 service stamp)
800 Pig covered the parcel post & insurance rates for each 2.8 kg parcel ..
320 Pfg = 5-kg flat rate +
480 Pig = 16 Pig for each RM 240 Insured = 30x 0.16 for RM 21,000.00 vaive.
Reverse Side ex S$. Wiesenthal
One of two known high-value multiple franking insured parcel post cards. 1
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Shanghai Postal Agency Inland Locations .. PEKING
DOUBLE-FRANKED MAIL TO GERMANY ‘Crown & Eagle Series’
China origin mail destined for overseas had to be processed by a foreign post office, since China first became a UPU memberin March,1914.
MAIL SENT FROM AN INLAND CHINA LOCATION, WHERE NO FOREIGN POST OFFICE
HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED, REQUIRED THE SENDER TO PAY THE INLAND CHINESE RATE FROM
THAT LOCATION TO SHANGHAI, WHERE A FOREIGN POST OFFICE EXISTED, FOR FORWARDING OVERSEAS.
Between 1886-1897, mail franked with Chinese-Local, Chinese-Customs or Chinese
government-issued postage as well as stamps of the applicable foreign post office was routed through Chinese-Customs to a foreign post office.
Cert. Stever
Cer. Stever
14 NOVEMBER 1891
Double-franked single-weight “Lady’s” cover postmarked at Peking with transit through the Chinese Customs at Peking, Tientsin & Shanghai for forwarding to
Dresden, Germany, by the German Post Office at Shanghai.
6 November : Letter mailed at Peking §&11 November: Transit through the Peking, Tientsin &
Shanghai Customs (Postmarks/Reverse Side) 14 November: German Postal-Agency postmark at Shanghai 21 December: Arrival postmark (Reverse side) at Dresden,
Germany
3 Candarins covering the domestic letter-rate from Peking to
Shanghai with 20 Pfennig covering the single-weight (15 grams) international letter-rate from Shanghai to Germany.
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Tientsin Postal Agency
1893 -— 1900 ‘Crown & Eagle’ Series
Established in October, 1889, as a postal station in the German Consulate,
THE TIENTSIN POSTAL STATION BECAME A
POSTAL AGENCY IN 1893
and a full post office in 1900.
THREE-COLOR COMMERCIAL MAIL TO THE UNTIED STATES OF AMERICA
Se SS = —
LC
E T N A
e e
ai e T C O
eS | G
}
4 it
L E N A S
S a m e ] u e
St ee eee ae etoae
— SSS aa Te 4 a = = = - aS :
Cert Stever
1 SEPTEMBER 1897
Commercial cover, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to a bank at Philadelphia, Pennsyivania, U.S.A.
34-day transit time.
Transit Postmarks: (Front & Reverse)
“Shanghdi, (Japanese Post Office), 14 September 1897”
“Yokohama, Japan, September 1897” “San Francisco, California, Paid-All, 29 September 1897”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Received Philadelphia, 5 October 1 PM”
40 Pfennig... 40 Pfg.. UPU International Double-Weight (15-30 grams) Letier-Raie.
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Tientsin Postal Agency 1893 -— 1900
‘Crown & Eagle’ Series
REGISTERED MAIL
COMMERCIAL SAMPLES
1 JUNE 1895
Register commercial {Droste & Walfer Company)
sample mail-tag, postmarked
at Tientsin, sent to Kobe, Japan.
30 Pfennig... 10 Pig: Samples
weighing between 20-250 grams +
20 Pig: Registry fee PRINTED MATTER
23 NOVEMBER 1898
View-card, endorsed
“Drucksache”, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Frankfurt/Main,
Germany,
Arrival Postmark: (Fronf}
“Frankfurt/Main, 31 December
1898”
25 Pfennig...
5 Pfg: UPU international
Printed-Maiter Rate +
20 Pig: Regisiry Fee
10
Cert, Stever
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Kiautschou Territory
1898-1914
German Protectorate
ON 6 MARCH 1898, A 99-YEAR LEASEHOLD AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BETWEEN GERMANY AND THE IMPERIAL CHINESE GOVERNMENT COVERING THE KIAUTSCHOU BAY
TERRITORY IN NORTHERN CHINA,
which subsequently became the home port facility of the German Far East Cruiser Squadron, responsible for protecting the Far East and Pacific German Colonies,
Territories and Settlements.
MAP OF KIAUTSCHOU BAY TERRITORY
= Sins 7, =
_ Carte postale —— Union postale universelle
Weltpofiverein
ae |
og mn ; rf Deutidlan Tine
-
Or i e
ie
e e
l S
l e ee
s Se
EARLY KIAUTSCHOU-RELATED
NAVAL MAIL MSP 38 = HMS GEFION
(Light Cruiser)
8 FEBRUARY 1898
Special Naval Postal Card postmarked on board HMS Gefion ..
on route (mailed between Aden & Columbo, Ceylon) to Kiavtschou Naval
Base, sent to Coburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Coburg, 28 February 1898”
10 Pfennig...
$pecial Naval Postal Card sold on-board for
5 Pfennig with com Naval Comman
subsidizing 5 Pig.
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Kiautschou Territory 1898-1914
‘Naval Field-Post’ Postmark
WITH THE ARRIVAL OF GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS AT “TSINTANFORT” ON KIAUTSCHOU BAY ON 26 JANAURY 1898, USE OF A ‘GERMAN NAVAL
FIELDPOST’ POSTMARK COMMENCED BEING USED AT THE FIRST GERMAN POST OFFICE IN THE TERRITORY.
USAGE: 26 January 1898 -
12 March 1898
Exp. Dr. Steuer
OPENING OF THE FIRST POST OFFICE FIRST DAY COVER USAGE
26 JANUARY 1898
Cover on ship’s stationery postmarked at Tsintanfort, Kiautschou, sent on the day of opening of the German Naval Post Office to Bremerhaven, Germany.
Cover sent by the ship’s medical doctor aboard the North German Lloyd transport steamer ‘Darmstadt’ (MSP 24), which also transported the
equipment & supplies for the first post office during its stay at Kiautschou from 26 - 31 January 1898.
Arrival Postmark: “Bremerhaven, 14 March 1898”
40 Pfennig... 12
Double-weight (30 grams) UPU International Letier-Rate.
PRE-1900 GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA Kiqutschou Territory 1898-1914
Postmark Evolution
The heretofore postmark designation “Tsinfau .. China” was again corrected in May 1899 NOW INDICATING “KIAUTSCHOU",
ELIMINATING THE WORD “CHINA” FROM A NEW POSTMARK.
Early May 1898- 23 December 1899
14 JUNE 1899
Registered cover, postmarked at
Tsintau,
Kiautschou, sent to Jena, Germany.
40-days transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Jena, 24 July 1899”
40 Pfennig... (Stamps: 56°
‘China’ Overprint) 20 Pfg..
Single-weight (15 grams) UPU International Letier-Rate +
20 Pig.. Registration Fee.
13
MARINE DETACHMENT MAIL PEKING Siege of Peking 21 June - 14 August 1900
Between May-June 1900, foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians were murdered at Paoting (Paotingfu) by “Boxers” attempting to remove foreign influence in China.
Foreigner flight to the legation-quarier of Peking took place, guarded by 340 soldiers & marines. Between 11-13 June 1900, the quarter
was under continuous Boxer attack.
WITH THE STREET MURDER OF IMPERIAL GERMAN EMISSARY BARON von KETTELER ON 20 JUNE, PEKING WAS THEREUPON UNDER FULL SIEGE BY THE BOXERS.
To relieve Peking and reinforce Tientsin, also under attack, a relief column of 2400 marines of different nationalities was organized under the command of British Admiral Seymour.
Upon fierce fighting about fifty kilometers from Peking, the relief column retreated to Tientsin, unable to relieve Peking.
GERMAN-MARINE MAIL
12 JUNE 1900
Viewcard written by one of the 489 German Marines of the ‘Seymour Relief Column’, postmarked at Tientsin, manuscript routing:
“Naval Mail from the Marine Delachment”, sent to Altenkirchen, Germany. 39-day transit time.
Partial Text Translation:
“Since yesterday, we are here in Tientsin fo puf down the revolf by fhe Chinese. We, from the “irene” (German light cruiser), are here to protect the Germans,
while the ofher unifs march fo (relieve) Peking.”
Arrival Postmark:
“Altenkirchen, 21 July 1900”
5 Pfennig.. German military personnel postcard-rate for mail sent fo Germany. 14
MARINE DETACHMENT MAIL Tientsin
Relief of Tientsin 13 July 1900
Retreating ‘Seymour Relief Column’ (attempting fo relieve the siege of Peking), returned to Tientsin on 26 June, also under heavy attack by the Boxers.
With the addition of fresh marines from various allied navies,
SEYMOUR WAS ABLE TO REOCCUPY AND FREE TIENTSIN FROM ATTACK ON 13 JULY 1900.
FPELDPOSTBRIEF
German Marine & Naval Personnel mail was free-frank when
the “Field-Post” handstamp “FELDPOSTBRIEF” was applied.
13 JULY 1900
First Day of Freed | ve Tientsin yy , Wl oss
| wT PS Free-frank UPUCard, = jj 22 marine fieldpost mail, = = || 22 postmarked at the te German Post Office eee at Tientsin, sent to i: Frankfurt/Oder, be
Germany. o2
Arrival Postmark:
“Frankfurt (Oder), 30 August 1900”
17 JULY 1900
ds Free-frank fieldpost “ > , A cover, postmarked at
be lacs beurVaracal . ‘oD het the German Post
: f Office at Tientsin, sent to a naval officer
aboard the German Heavy
of is = - Cruiser
! Sy J- | Ser “HMS Hertha”.
15
NAVAL MAIL OFFICE AT BERLIN Marine/Naval Mail to China August 1900
EARLY GERMAN MARINE & NAVAL MAILTO & FROM CHINA WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE ‘NAVAL POST OFFICE’ AT BERLIN BY THE
GERMAN POST OFFICE (Reichsposi).
Prior to having its own dedicated postmark, the German Naval Post Office offen
applieda “Berlin C1 O” transit mark on mail sent to China.
2 AUGUST 1900 Deutlhe Rei bspoft
Free-frank fieldpost § ¢ [ > p 0 ft f ar f ¢
form-card, postmarked at
Leipzig, Germany, ee ge routed through the An den OCF OVIAT FEEL LBYG oe Naval Post Office at Berlin to a marine
sergeant at Tsingtau, Kiautschou.
Transit Postmark:
“Berlin C1 O, ace 3 August 1900”
Earliest usage of seven known
tA gh... rolonne examples. ee 7
Deutfhe Reichspoft
Seldpofttarte 23 AUGUST 1900
4 Free-frank fieldpost
gee form-card, ANON as ve one gence
a ae Lf, 4 Ai ~ : Leipzig, Germany, Eee roi tia ca Mii eanehaeae battens Be de eee cua sases iboes beck ener caweaws ueehey : : Z : : d aves sent to a seaman
, : ; Yee oe | aboard the
. Ship ae ae Gat “HMS W6rth”
AAG cet s RRRME et gee .€stadron a aee
er Dy (30 July 1900 — eine OMEAHLO ‘ ai sak Batterie 9 August 1901)
cman ompagnie ice olonne
16
NAVAL MAIL OFFICE AT BERLIN Marine/Naval Mail to Germany 1900-01
EFFECTIVE 3 SEPTEMBER 1900,
THE NAVAL MAIL OFFICE AT BERLIN ERAS a APPLIED THEIR DEDICATED POSTMARK RON ES TO FREE-FRANK MAIL ROUTED TO THEIR
OFFICE ADDRESSED FOR DELIVERY TO GERMAN DESTINATIONS.
POSTBUREAU ; [5/6.01
la /p-\N. *
Feldpostbrief.
3 SEPTEMBER 1900 A
Free-frank fieldpost a UPU-Egypt Form- Ph Card, postmarked el upon arrival at the Naval Post Office at Berlin for delivery at
Krappitz, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Krappitz,
4 September 1900”
W O h e
Earliest known use.
SO ee ee eee er = 2 NOVEMBER 1900
Poftfarte — Weltp oftverein. Kg 4 / ¢ Carte postale —— ‘Union posiale, univer sell.
Free-frank fieldpost UPU Form-Card,
postmarked upon
arrival at the Naval Mail Office at Berlin
for delivery at Nourmberg, Bavaria,
Germany.
8 Arrival Postmark: #£ fe f : BST? “Nurnberg,
La A the A. Yo Lett Dacidias Med ie 3 November 1900”
b
: i j Ae f 4 Military Unit Cachet: 4 ra ou s Bt i a. pe f |
tt Bhp pul’ fi MOP Li fg. “S.B. Oberkommando Lo “eo ostasiatisches
! Yee 5 Haupiquartier" MOT blade | (Headuarters of the East
Gi Asiatic Command)
17
NAVAL MAIL OFFICE AT BERLIN Redirected & Returned Fieldpost Mail 1900-01
Where mail intended for marine or naval personnel arrived in China, or on a naval vessel, to find the recipient
having been transferred, such mail would be redirected to the recipient's new location, or,
IF NOT KNOWN, SUCH MAIL WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE NAVAL MAIL OFFICE
AT BERLIN FOR HANDLING.
‘RE-DIRECTED & RETURNED FIELDPOST MAIL’ ODYSSEY:
GERMANY-CHINA-GERMAN NAVAL MAIL OFFICE-GERMAN NAVAL BASE KIEL - RETURN-TO-SENDER
* Origin Postmark: “Leipzig-Connewitz, 9 September 1900”
* Manuscript Markings: = Arrival at light-cruiser “HMS Gefion”, negative search efforts, re-direction to the Naval Mail Office at Berlin, re-direction to Kiel Naval Base, Germany.
* Arrival Postmark Kiel: “Kiel, 5 March 1901”
* Additional Negative Search Results: Mail “Return to Sender"
(cachet stamp)
“Kiel, 7 March 1901” 18
NAVAL MAIL OFFICE AT BERLIN Redirected & Returned Fieldpost Mail 1900-01
Returned and/or re-directed mail arriving at the Naval Post Office at Berlin
YELLOW-COLORED INFORMATION LABEL INDICATING A RETURN AND/OR was frequently affixed with a
REEASON FOR THE RETURN TO THE NAVAL POST OFFICE.
31 JULY 1900
Label Text:
undeliverable
without exact
indication of the
naval vessel or
the military unit .. Naval Mail
Office”
c 3 i =; a
Dautfibe Reichsport
A Obne genane Angabe dee fl ea ’ Rriegsfeiffs oder Truppen- ‘
SAS theils unanbringlic. x
? Sect A ;
19 AUGUST 1901
z Label Text: “Undeliverable by the
Fieldposf and returned to this
office .. Naval Mail Office”
SPHHOTOM Sseoke SOR Gow
ys a : | Cachet Hand-Stamp: 6 om oer Sean ai “Homeland address
iA, beftellbar bierber ae ra ee uninawi:.
" ° gefommen. Naval Mail Office”
Marine- Vojtbirean,
19
Formation & Embarkation of the Corps to China
NAVAL EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 2 July - 15 August 1900
The assassination of Imperial German Emissary von Ketteler on 20 June as well as the failure of the ‘Seymour Relief Column’ (20-26 June) to relieve Peking
resulted in the
GERMAN KAISER ORDERING FORMATION OF A ‘NAVAL EXPEDITIONARY CORPS’ consisting of 2500 marines to embark for China. At their embarkation ceremony,
the German Kaiser gave his renowned “Hun Speech".
Two steamer ships of the North German Lloyd (“Wittekind” and “Frankfurt") were chartered and departed from
Wilhelmshaven on 2 July 1900 with arrival at Taku, China, on 15 August 1900, able to assist existing German Marines already engaged against the Boxers.
Domestic German postal rates were applicable for the navy & marines.
14 JULY 1900
Naval Ship 26:
“NDL Frankfurt”
View-card ofthe
‘Frankfurt’,
postmarked on board by a marine of
the ‘2"¢ Marine Battalion”, sent to
Cologne, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Coln,
29 July 1900”
5 Pfennig..
German domestic posicard-rate.
. iy a fe ra . i i es (
hee ' sez te. th A tie fe, pet po Oe etl ape eS UNE NS : : : - fs poe
oo ¢
¢ Ae ot guage: ee ot baie eae ff
ety |
f
15 JULY 1900
Naval Ship 2:
“NDL Wittekind”
Cover, postmarked on board by a marine of
the ‘1 Marine Battalion”, sent to Leipzig, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Cédiln,
29 July 1900”
10 Pfennig..
German domestic
single-weighi (15 grams) letter-rate.
Exp. Von Willmann
20
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
27 JULY 1900
Free-frank “Field- Post” postcard, postmarked at
Bremerhaven on the
first-day of embarkation of the
first convoy,
sent to Berlin.
Arrival Postmark:
“(Berlin),
28 July 1900”
Formation of the First Troop Convoy July 1900
Upon the departure of the ‘Naval Expeditionary Force’ for China on 2 July, an imperial directive ordered the
FORMATION OF THE ‘EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS’ consisting of 577 officers and 12,213 soldiers,
with assembly at Bremen and embarkation at Bremerhaven.
kit
Feldpostbrief.
f <a) 2 AUGUST 1900 f 29603-6N | a
\ ee , fFree-frank “Field-Post”
| view-card, | postmarked at Bremen
on the second fo last day of embarkation of
the first convoy, sent to Wickrath,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Wickrath,
3 August 1900”
Reverse:
“Volldampf voraus nach Chinai”
(“Full steam ahead to China!”)
Exp. Bethe ? 1
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS First Troop Convoy to China 27 July - 4 August 1900
THE FIRST CONVOY TO CHINA CONSISTED OF TEN CHARTERED TRANSPORT VESSELS
which commenced sailing from Bremerhaven between 27 July -— 4 August 1900 with the first ship arriving
at Taku, China, on 6 September 1900.
20 AUGUST 1900
“German Naval Ship
Post Office No. 27” (Blue postmark ink used only on 20 & 26 August)
Steamer “Dresden” (Voyage: 27 July- 6 September 1900)
Free-frank Field-Post
view-card, mailed
on-board at
Columbo, Ceylon,
sent to Berlin-
Sch6neberg.
Arrival Postmark: “(Berlin),
7 September 1900”
Unit Cachet: “East Asiatic
Expedifionary Corps Railway Construction
Company”
ne
pips set
(RRR Lacrosse sevle doit fre éerite de ce cite. XK Teed ey ee ee! a De
UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELL
EGYPTE CARTE POSTALE
A V A M A N A W A U
AU A UA UA U
RE R E RU A UR UA UA N
||
P R R
Mon ee CN
Ee
APC
10 AUGUST 1900
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 28”
Steamer “Bafavia” (Voyage: 27 July-
9 September 1700)
Free-frank Field-Post
view-card, mailed
on-board at Port
Said, Egypt, sent to
Frankfurt/Main,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Frankfurt/Main,
17 August 1900”
Unit Cachet: “East Asiatic
Expedition 1* Infantry Regiment" 22
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS First Troop Convoy to China
26 AUGUST 1700
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 50”
Steamer “Rhein” (Voyage: 2 August- 13 September 1900)
Free-frank Field-Post view-
card, mailed on-board at Columbo,
Ceylon, sent to Berlin.
Arrival Postmark:
“(Berlin), 14 September 1900”
Unit Cachet:
“East Asiatic Expeditionary
Corps..
War Finance Office”
16 AUGUST 1900
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 64”
Steamer “H.H. Meyer” (Voyage: 4 August- 18 September 1900)
Free-frank “Field-Post”
graphic-card, endorsed...
DEUTSCHE FELD Postkarle
mailed at sea, sent to Darmstadt, redirected to
Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
27 July - 4 August 1900
} | |
Zz
26 AUGUST 1900
“German Naval Ship Post
Office No. 50”
Steamer “Rhein”
Free-frank Field-Post view-
card, mailed at sea in the
Indian Ocean, sent to
“Dr. Paul Maverberg, Chief
Medical Officer”, redirected
since recipient was
“On Maneuver”.
Unit Cachet: “East Asiatic Expedition , 2nd Baffalion, 9? Infantry
Regiment"
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS First Troop Convoy to China 27 July - 4 August 1900
Mail to Bavarian Military Units
TROOPS FROM THE “KINGDOM OF BAVARIA” WERE ALSO PART OF THE FIRST CONVOY TO CHINA.
BAVARIAN FIELD-POST FORM CARD
REDIRECTED & RETURNED TO SENDER
| Konigreich Bayern
feldpoftfarte 22 AUGUST 1900
Free-frank “Bavarian
Field-Post” form-card,
sent from Munich,
Bavaria, toa
infantryman in the “Bavarian Battalion,
34 Company, 4" Infantry Regiment,
redirected to the 1%. 24 & 3" Companies fof ee Sf te fey without success in wo £.. ON AACE GALT... ACGL |e es ee .. €stadron
finding the recipient 3=§ ~~" ety & ee ge and returned to sender a. Datterte
in Munich.
| _. Holonne Munich Return
Postmark:
“Munich,
serena ee 3 SEPTEMBER 1900
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 53”
Steamer “Phonicia” (Voyage: 4 August-
22 September 1700)
UROL.
gf seks > caine
Free-frank “Field-Post”
graphic-card, postmarked at Munich,
Bavaria, sent to a military physician with the 4 Regiment of the 2" Bavarian Battalion. atsenn. Sof Bare »
2 pt — Ae if: Cntawiatliac hen, Licht
a er a
(sae pate na Mina [2 Pontoon } ate ea
L bain 4, oftuprad Rot Graphic Reverse..
‘Infantryman with Text’
“Whatever our burden will be over there, be it light or heavy, we will clearly hold up your honor, Germany, fo fhe whole world”
EAST AS IATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS First Troop Convoy to China “H
APAG Steamer Phonicia”
27 July — 4 August 1900
“TRAVEL ODYSSEY” MAIL ADDRESSED TO “MAJOR WICHURA” EN ROUTE TO CHINA
8 AUGUST 1900 Mail to Steamer “Phoénicia”
(Voyage: 4 August- 2] September 1900)
“Odyssey” Cover, postmarked at Mutzig, Germany,
addressed fo..
“Major Wichura” (Commander of the 1° Battalion, 4™ Infantry Regiment),
8 August 1900..
aboard Steamer “Phonicia”...
Mail postmarked at Mutzig, routed over
Bremerhaven with NGL ‘Australian Line’ Steamer to Sydney, Australia;
12 September 1900.. At Sydney, mail re-directed to Port
16 October 1900..
27 October 1900..
26 November 1900..
? November 1900..
14 November 1900..
12 March 1901..
Said, Egypt, attempting to connect with a ship of the ‘Expeditionary’ Convoy; Mail re-directed at Port Said, Egypt, to China; Mail transit Columbo, Ceylon; Mail arrives at Chinese Post Office at Takou (Taku/Tongku), Tschilli Province, North China, not finding ship or addressee; Mail arrives at Chinese Post Office at Shanghai, not finding ship or addressee; Mail arrives at British Post Office at Hong Kong, again not finding ship or addressee; Mail held 1-2 months and then returned to Germany; Mail arrives at Mutzig, where post office clerk endorses receipt for return to sender.
Reverse
20 Pfennig.. UPU Intemational
Single-Weight (15 grams)
Letier-Rate
25
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Formation of the Second Troop Convoy August 1900
(Lehe)
On 12 August an Imperial Directive ordered the FORMATION OF A SECOND TROOP CONVOY
IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST,
consisting of 289 officers and 7,285 soldiers, with assembly at LEHE & BREMEN
with embarkation at BREMERHAVEN.
31 AUGUST 1900
Free-frank Field-Post folded-letter, (view of Bremen City Hall on reverse)
written by a soldier preparing for transport to China, postmarked at Lehe,
sent to a comrade at Breslau, twice re-directed, since recipient was on maneuvers.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
“Breslau, 1 September 1900” “Hernnmotscheinitz, 2 September 1900”
“Paukuswitz, 2 September 1900”, 26
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Formation of the Second Troop Convoy August-September 1900 (Bremen)
7 SEPTEMBER 1900 aes : — os
Free-frank Field-Post Form-Card,
postmarked at Bremen,
written by a soldier preparing for transport
to China,
sent to Mainz,
Germany.
Inscription on Reverse: “Volldampf voraus
nach China!” (“Full speed ahead fo
Chinal”)
Arrival Postmark:
“Mainz,
8 September 1900”
7 SEPTEMBER 1900 Deutfehe Reichspoft 7 //,
| . ft p | tt a he Afi Free-frank Field-Post
rie ~) OlLaTTe Y viewcard
Feldpe ator if with (blue-colored)
Dos paren — hand-stamp..
oe postmarked at ~~ & A ff Bremen,
oT a | written by a soldier ff preparing for transport
2 : w | | to China, sent to hy J Halle, Germany.
} f FZ Arrival Postmark: pt Que ef 5 og A | ( Haller Machine Marking)
gnc alten ie = fof Rep ee ae “Halle (Saale),
f 7 September 1900”
2/
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Second Troop Convoy to China 31 August - 7 September 1900
THE SECOND CONVOY TO CHINA CONSISTED OF
EIGHT CHARTERED TRANSPORT VESSELS
which commenced sailing from Bremerhaven between
31 August - 7 September1 900 with the first ship arriving
at Taku, China, on 12 October 1900.
18 SEPTEMBER 1900
“German Naval Ship
Post Office No. 68” ‘eutsche Feldpostkartes A = , ee FN
c 2 5 the if ih he rs oa,
\roadia . { AR ree A Okt CAR D. f SCHIFESP ig,
i Né o} * 2 i Steamer “Arcadia” (Voyage: 4 September-
29 October 1700)
Free-frank Field-Post
view-cartd (pyramids),
mailed on-board at
Suez, Egypt, sent to Hamburg-Altona,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Altona,
25 September 1900”
Hand-Stanp:
“Deutsche
Feldpostkarte —
Reichs-Dampfer-
Arcadia” (“German Field-Post Imperial Steamer
Arcadia")
— — ; 14 OCTOBER 1900
SP Ot x “German Naval Ship Post Office
No. 70”
Steamer “Hannover” (Voyage: 4 September-
1? October 1900)
Free-frank Field-Post
Form-Card, mailed on-board at
Shanghai, sent to Worzburg, Bavaria,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Wiorzburg, 23 November 1900”
Exp. Mansfeld
28
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Second Troop Convoy to China 31 August - 7 September 1900
(Bremen)
*
L» JY potttarte —wb8 Carte postale — Taija 9
MSP 70 “HANNOVER” TRANSPORTED RANK & FILE OF THE fe BAVARIAN INFANTRY REGIMENT :
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 70
Steamer “Hannover” (Voyage:
4 September - 17 October 1900)
10 OCTOBER 1900 Free-frank Field-Post
NDL Liner Menu, signed by members of the
Bavarian Infantry,
mailed on board, sent
to their home-base at
Munich, Bavaria,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Munchen,
23 November 1900”
29
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Second Troop Convoy to China
21 October 1900
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 71”
Steamer “Valdavia" (Voyage: 7 September-
27 October 1900)
Free-frank Field-Post
Form-Card, mailed on-board at
Shanghai, sent to Berlin, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“(Berlin) 26 November 1900”
, fas he lt a is lala pm /
+ eae 4 aod + ig: a iH
q fr ee NE 4 Vadpe ti Nh wins a f ? H
eayatt = OODMUNT cccv cuff fe ee pe: , {Strahe und Hausnumnte
31 August - 7 September 1900
Feld-Pofttagtemrsyr me
u N
12 SEPTEMBER 1900
,
tg ee a a ie
eee
RE ia
cnc ae %
ck anger 5
Pe a B , Weare t a eal _ :
mal eta
5 9 er Wl ee nop ee se
’ en see ee “
Ae cot Sr ea pp ee a a sas Algae
“German Naval Ship Post Office No. 72”
Steamer “Crefeid” (Voyage: 4 September-
| 19 October 1900)
Free-frank Field-Post
I Moe | View-Card, mailed Za oe ; on-board at Shanghdi,
. sent to
Bremerhaven,
Germany.
i Arrival Postmark:
ey ieee eee eed “Worzburg,
ine 4 eee ee PETE TF | 23 September 1900”
Incstiption of Reverse: “Volldampf voraus
ee nach China!” MTA on taonen (“Full speed ahead
— : | — To China!”)
30 Exp. von Willmann
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Provisional Fieldpost .. Tongku 9 August - 2 September 1900
IN ADVANCE OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, A PROVISIONAL ‘FIELDPOST’ STATION WAS
ESTABLISHED AT “TONGKU” (TAKU), located at the mouth of the Peiho River on the Gulf of
Tschili (Pechili). Later, after the forces of the convoys had fully arrived, the “Tongku Provisional Field-Post" became
part of the military mail system and became “Fieldpost Station No. 4”
THREE TYPES OF “TONGKU” PROVISIONAL POSTMARKS EXIST, with valid usage/arival in Germany no later than
21 October 1900. Wide “00"/ Positioned closely
Exp. Bothe & ABGM-Berlin
Free-frank fieldpost cover, undated-postmark,
‘Tongku Provisional Type |’, sent to Bernstadt, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Bernstadt,
14 October 1900” 31
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Provisional Fieldpost .. Tongku 9 August - 2 September 1900
Exp. R. Stever
Free-frank fieldpost cover,
undated-posimark, ‘Tongku Provisional Type !’, sent to Peitz, Germany, by
“Acting Marine Paymaster
Hans Mefsch
on “HMS Jaguar" (Gunboaf)
eS es | Manuscript Mailing &
‘ Arrival Markings: oe Lae (Reverse)
ee Ug “24 August 1900” “ (Tongku)
; “13 October1900 37 (Peitz)
yy
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Provisional Fieldpost .. Tongku 9 August - 2 September 1900
Wide “O0"/
Type Il Positioned widely
Front
Reverse Cert.. R. Stever
Franked fieldpost “Mandarin” Cover, undated postmark
‘Tongku Provisional Type !!’, cachet hand-stamps..
FELDPOSTBRi€fF, FPELDPOSTBRIEF
| sent to Bremerhaven by “Senior Paymaster Kreizden”
Arrival Marking: (Reverse) .
“Bremerhaven, 27 September 1900”
10 Pfennig.. Single-weight (20-60 grams) domestic German
letter-rate applicable for military personnel 33 sending non-reiative mail to Germany.
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Provisional Fieldpost .. Tongku 9 August - 2 September 1900
Free-frank fieldpost
water-colored painted cover, undated postmark
‘Tongku Provisional Type III’, sent to Berlin, Germany.
Arrival Marking: (Reverse)
“(Berlin), 13 October 1900”
34
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Early Tientsin Fieldpost .. Types la & Ib September-November 1900
Located about 50 Kilometers (approx. 30 miles) from the mouth of the Peiho River (Taku) and the Yellow Sea,
“TIENTSIN” WAS A RAILWAY CROSSROADS AND LOCATION OF THE GERMAN MILITARY “FIELDPOST” HEADQUARTERS.
DautTscHE REICHSPOST. —
Feld-Postkarte.
y FELDPOST- EXPEDITION
*« ;sga
DEUT SO . o
% Type la
Only known used We ie er emer Omer kt Gy ark anh tis ee
as a favor cancel ee
1 September (1700) is tj
{ FELDPosT-|
Type Ib
Usage: 7-10 November |
(1900)
7 NOVEMBER (1900)
__ Free-frank fieldpost = cover on _ ‘Astor House Hotel’
stationery (Officer Billets),
postmarked
“Tientsin Type Ib",
sent to
Neum@inster,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Neumdnster,
Cer. Steuer 21 December1700
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Early Tientsin Fieldpost .. Type Ib November 1900
QEUT.
Kora FELDPOST- EXPEDITION
Ne7iip b
Type Ib
Usage:
7-10 November
(1900)
Spat eee
pele peleyetyierekspeieyed okey eeyeeredepeieye 7 NOVEMBER (1900) Tein TM.90
Free-frank fieldpost-card, | of (Chinese Postal Stationery/ Aw + i ee q
New Year's Greetings) , wake } i ae
first-day of use of “Tientsin Type Ib” Postmark, t y = } & sent to Gross-Lichterfelde/Berlin, Germany.
Military Unit Marking: he “4
“East Asiatic Expedition .. | + War Finance Office” | Uefa
Arrival Postmark:
“Gross Lichterfelde | (Potsdamer Bahnhof),
2 December1900”
Reverse
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘a’) 18 October 1900-31 August 1901
Once a formal military base with postal facilities had been established at ‘Tientsin’,
A POSTMARK WAS INTRODUCED WHICH INDICATED “IMPERIAL GERMAN FIELDPOST OF THE EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS".
REGISTERED FIELDPOST MAIL TO GERMANY
27 JUNE (1901)
| Registered letter written by “Fieldpost Secretary Breyther", postmarked with
‘Tientsin Type Ila’,
Provisional ty ak AMR es
So-called
sent to Hamburg-EmsbGttel, Germany. Teeth = (Patchili)
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hamburg *19b, 16 August 1901”
40 Pfennig.. oe ei
20 Pfg.. Single-weight (15 grams) UPU International Letter-Rate + 20 Pfg.. Registration fee Reverse 3/
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Types Ii (Code ‘a’) 18 October 1900 - 31 August 1901
SOCALLED “MANDARIN” (DECORATIVE RICE-PAPER PRINTED) COVERS
WERE FAVORITES OF SOLDIERS TO SEND HOME.
8 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank fieldpost “Mandarin” Cover, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Gérlitz, Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Gorlitz, 24 December 1900”
22 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank fieldpost “Mandarin” Cover,
postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Lausigk, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
(Reverse)
“Lausigk, 2 January 1901” 38 Front
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type II (Code ‘a’) Military Hospital Tientsin
5 DECEMBER (1900)
Free-frank “Mandarin” cover, wriften by “Dr. Mauersberg of the Military Hospital (Tientsin)”
with Type Il (a) postmark at Tientsin, sent to Schulenburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark (Reverse)
“Schulenburg, 20 Janvary 1901”
39
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Field Telegrams
Since underwater cable lines were non-German-owned, the cost of sending full-message cable-telegrams to Germany was prohibitive (RM 5.75/word) for
military personnel and for military communications, inspiring
THE GERMAN POST OFFICE & MILITARY TO DEVELOP A NUMBERING SYSTEM REFLECTING THE SERVICE MEMBER’S UNIT & PERONAL IDENTIFICATION ALONG WITH SIMPLIFIED
STANDARD TEXTS IN THE TRANSMISSION OF TELEGRAMS.
FIELD TELEGRAM CODE BOOK
| = TELEGRAMS WITH GENERAL MESSAGES
Telegrams were 50% subsidized by the German Government for servicemen/ non- officers:
RM 3.06 - Servicemen/ Non-Officers
RM 6.00 = Officers
Il = TELEGRAMS WITH MESSAGES CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF THE SOLDIER
Telegrams with messages concerning the health of servicemen were fully-paid by the German Military.
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘a’) Out-Bound Field Telegrams
FOR THE ENTIRE 27,000 MEMBERS OF THE GERMAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, MILITARY UNITS WERE CATALOGED IN BERLIN FROM 1-2100
WITH EACH SERVICEMAN OF A PARTICULAR UNIT ALLOCATED A ‘LETTER’ DESIGNATION OR IDENTIFICATION CODE.
99 STANDARD MESSAGE TEXTS WERE CODED BY NUMBER.
“M W =
Rifleman Birkholz
ne tse oes
Sa Eetegrappo ging 2 B,
Rerht_beutlid) faiveiben!
Message ’46’:
| — “teartfelt Good Wishes and Regards”
Unit Identification: “20d Company of the 5" Regiment” of the
East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps”
sored ap od a
OUT-BOUND NON-OFFICER FIELD-TELEGRAM
28 DECEMBER (1900)
Telegram sent from Tientsin, from “Rifleman Birkholz” to his family in Germany at the address registered by him
with the military authorities prior to leaving Germany.
RM 3.00: 50% subsidized rate for non-officer field-telegrams to Germany.
10x 10-Pfg Germania un-overprinted provisional stamps (Type Ii) + RM 2.00 value
One of four known field-telegrams sent by non-officers at RM 3.00 rate.
— Richter & Cert. Steuer
41
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘a’) In-Bound Field Telegrams
IN-BOUND TELEGRAMS WERE DELIVERED TO THE RECIPIENT BY MEANS OF
DEDICATED FORM-CARDS. Messages were received by cable transmission using the same sysiem as
was being used for out-bound telegrams, transposed in manuscript on the card reverse and sent through the German Post Office to the recipient.
DURING THE CONFLICT PERIOD, TELEGRAM FORM-CARDS WERE HANDLED BY REGISTERED MAIL, AND BY ORDINARY MAIL DURING THE
PROVISIONAL-GOVERNMENT AND/OR OCCUPATION PERIODS.
REGISTERED TELEGRAM CARD
(War Period)
5 JANUARY (1901)
Telegram sent from
Berlin, dated
3 January 1901, to a marine
of the 1* Marine Battalion stationed at Peking.
Transit & Arrival
Postmarks:
“Tientsin, 5 January 1901” “Peking
German Post Office,
6 January 1901” _ Cert. Steuer BPP
UNREGISTERED TELEGRAM CARD (Tientsin Provisional
Government Period)
21 MAY 1902
Telegram sent from
Berlin, dated 20 May 1902, to “Soldier C-0512”
of the 2"4 Regiment, 2nd Battalion
at Tientsin.
Exp. Kilian 42
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘a’) Soldier-Soldier Mail
Officer-Officer Mail
21 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank “Red-Band Cover”, Officer-Officer Mail, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Glogau, Germany, re-directed upon arrival.
7 FEBRUARY (1901)
Free-frank view-card, Soildier-Soldier Mail, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Ingolstadt, 31 March 1901”
43
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘b’) 18 October 1900 - 31 August 1901
A SECOND POSTMARK, SIMILAR TO TYPE Ila, HAVING THE CODE ‘b’, was in use during the similar period.
Type llb
GERMAN-BOUND FIELDPOST MAIL RE-DIRECTED TO SWITZERLAND
16 NOVEMBER (1900)
Cover, sent by “Count von Platen”, a lieutenant, postmarked ‘Tientsin Type !/b’,
sent to Eutin (LGbeck), Germany, upon arrival (2 January 1901)
up-rated & re-directed to Lausanne, Switzerland.
Military Unit Validation Cachet: “East Asiatic Expediftion.. Mounted Cavalry Unit"
Anival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Lausanne,
4 January 1901”
20 Piennig.. AA
Single-weight UPU International Letter-Rate
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Code ‘b’) 18 October 1900 - 31 August 1901
MILITARY POST OFFICE se Se ae eS TE CLERK’S MAIL Bos |
26 APRIL (1901) S
{Ss 6. | ———_. | POS TAS EXPE. | FELDPOSTR F Cover, written by “Fieldpost
Ship’s Mail Clerk sm ee
FELDPOSTRRIEF
postmarked with ‘Tientsin Type Ilb’,
sent to Berlin, Germany.
Military Unit Validation ~ Cachet:
“East Asiatic Expedition.. Fieldpost Expedifion”
Arrival Postmark: ose
“(Berlin) 10 June 1901” Be
FIELDPOST CARD SENT TO
THE INDEPENDENT GERMAN PROVINCE OF
Deutfche Reichspoft WURTTEMBERG
Keld-Pofttarte 1 JULY (1901) Free-frank German-Reich ed Fieldpost Form Card,
rei ae Wh UhAAAY/ me Ne postmarked with
rae : A Tientsin Type lib’, sent to Reutlingen,
Worttemberg, Germany. fa ae a gpa =e ye
Military Unit Validation
: Cachet: om ace N “East Asiatic Expedition..
5 ene Staff of the Munitions 4 : Column”
Oe ws can ee
“ by, on ‘ Ae | Arrival Postmark: Se AULT i | “Reutlingen Train Station,
18 August 1901”
45
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type Il (Codes ‘a’ & ‘b’) Fieldpost Money Transfers
SERVICEMEN WERE PERMITTED FREE TRANSFERS OF MONEY FOR
me eee ri ere AMOUNTS UP TO RM 800.00, = i : oe a eee i mr pate er a z zs Ss = Se ig 7 5 ——— = completed on d a ns ed ;
part money-transfer forms along with their name, unit identification and space for any short message.
Sender's receipts for payment transfers were issued by the
RECIPIENT ‘S MONEY- TRANSFER RECEIPT
18 MARCH (1901)
Money transfer (recipient)
receipt for RM 70.00
sent by “Soldier Waller” of the
“6th East Asiatic Field Battalion”
to his parents in Germany.
Cert. Stever BPP SENDER’S MONEY-TRANSFER RECEIPT
21 APRIL 1901
Military Post Office Sender's Receipt Form for a RM 40.21
transfer to Tongku, China
Message from Reverse Side:
“Dear Parents!
Am sending here RM 70.
Please hold for me uniil | return. Greetings, Heinrich” 46
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tientsin Base Fieldpost .. Type II (Code ‘b’) 18 October 1900 - 31 August 1901
DIVISION CHAPLAIN’S MAIL
2 JULY (1900)
Free-frank fieldpost, sent by
“Division
Chaplain Dr. Jaeke’,
postmarked at Tientsin, to
Hanover,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hannover,
18 August 1901” NON-FIELDPOST MAIL
SENT THROUGH GERMAN MILITARY POST OFFICE
22 JUNE (1901)
Philatelic-inspired complete reply-card
postal stationery, postmarked at Tienfsin,
sent to Wiesbaden,
Germany. 47-day transit time.
Artival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Wiesbaden,
8 August 1901”
5 Pfennig...
Colonial postcard-rate for mail sent to Germany Exp Schmitt
4/
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Peking Provisional Fieldpost (Type !) 11 September- 13 November 1900
Upon the relief of Peking in August 1900, a provisional German Postal Station was opened in September,
which used TWO WOOD-CARVED PROVISIONAL POSTMARKS:
Type | = Soft Wood & Type Il = Hard Wood.
{i : a = a, ‘ {ga aes 4 wit - : ea
& cae WED e j " oe = : 3 at fe i
en et : rd eel iee
f ; / ey j ;
; A, eee ae ath as = at eben fy eS ( 1 2 i a 2 if : of =e
oF - : a ae Ria - + eee oe ee 6 SA ee aoe haa e i a s ee ae ne ee Pe a Pig ee te ee ee ae ae are Eh heh ners A Pie ul ip ily et pr ple
Reverse
CHINESE RICE-PAPER “MANDARIN” COVER
OCTOBER (1900)
Free-frank cover, postmarked with "Peking Provisional Type |”,
sent fo Weissenfels, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Weissenfels, 15 November 1900”
Deut(che Reichapott
Seld-Poftfarte OFFICER'S MAIL
(25) OCTOBER (1900)
Fieldpost Form Card, postmarked with “Peking Provisional
Type I’, sent to
Kiel Naval Base,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Kiel,
21 December 1900”
48
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Peking Provisional Fieldpost (Type |!) 11 September - 13 November 1900
MARINE PAYMASTER MAILTO i
GERMAN NAVAL = TRANSPORT SHIP 7
“HMS WORTH” a
OCTOBER (1900)
Free-frank cover, Jo a
postmarked with wf Oia
‘Peking Provisional
Type |”, sent to HMS Worth
at Taku Harbor,
but routed over Shanghai
& Tsingtau, Kiautschou.
Anival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Weissenfels,
15 November 1900”
REVERSE:
Transit Postmarks:
“Shanghdi, German Post Office,
3 October 1900”
“Tsingtau, Kiautschou
6 November 1900”
49
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Peking Provisional Fieldpost (Type Il) 11 September - 13 November 1900
PROVISIONAL POSTMARK ‘TYPE II’ WAS CARVED FROM HARD WOOD.
CHINESE RICE-PAPER “MANDARIN” COVER
SEPTEMBER 1900
Free-frank, so-called “Mandarin” Cover,
postmarked with “Peking Provisional Type Il”,
sent to Halle, Germany, by a member of the 1* Marine Battalion.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse) “Halle,
29 October 1900” 50 Reverse
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Peking Provisional Fieldpost (Type Il)
MARINE’S MAIL WRITTEN AT
ROYAL PALACE AT PEKING
(Historically Important Letter Enclosed)
OCTOBER (1900)
Free-frank
postmarked with (hardwood)
"Peking Provisional
Type Il”, sent to
11 September - 13 November 1900
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
= Uder,
5 December1900”
o1
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS “Taku SGd-Fort” Provisional Postmark 9-26 November 1900
In June 1900, the “Forts at Taku”, over-looking the mouth of the Pei-Ho River at the “Gulf of Tschili”, were manned by Chinese Ariillery, preventing German and allied naval vessels from anchoring in the bay at “Taku".
In order to eliminate the guns, German and allied marines successfully stormed the forts on 16-17 June.
IN NOVEMBER 1900, GERMAN FORCES ESTABLISHED A SIGNAL STATION ALONG WITH A SHORT-
LIVED PROVISIONAL POSTAL STATION AT THE FORTS, which used a wood-carved postmark. Mail was later handied by
“Fieldpost Station No. 4“ at Tongku.
rte.— Weltpostverein. { Carte postale. — Union postale universelle.
Cert. Bothe, Exp AG-Berlin
13 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank UPU View-card, double-postmarked
at “Taku SGd-Fort” Signal-Station-Base Provisional Postal Station,
sent to Kiel, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Kiel, 2 January 1901” 92
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS War-Front & Home-Front Propaganda Mail 1900 - 1901
WAR-FRONT PROPAGANDA
9 JANUARY 1901
Free-frank soldier's mail, postmarked at
Tientsin, sent to Berlin, Germany. DIEKAWSERIN VON oaiap
QU T)
SC HU LT E- DE ST RI CH
KO LM
Yas
Arrival Postmark: f Hf . | BUTET ( WEbEN MOK! ) UND ‘wewcateah ARI me O™ | 107 Scriabin Entjunylpibu nb (Berlin), oS 4 J23 SOLL AUCH NICHT MER
21 February 1901” a, oY : | Vor | KOMMEN ‘
“Greetings From the : < War Front ..
Public Notice: The Empress of
China extends her regrets for death & murder, It should
nof take place
again... Liung Schang
(Chinese Government Official)
HOME-FRONT PROPAGANDA
1 JANUARY 1901
Local Hanover-City postal card mail, with
privately-applied
é messages:
a “In celebration of fhe = Turn of the Century on z 31 December 1900..
May God grant us peace in China 1901.
God Bless the brave Boer People.” 53
Station No. 1... Kaumi EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 24 November 1900 — 4 July 1701 Fieldpost Station Network
ey Liautung With the arrival of the troop convoys, the
E fos tua wt G If , Peking? au esate cue ‘FIELDPOST EXPEDITION
Eh rena ee Pei-tha-ho {postal services unit for the Expeditionary Corps)
ESTABLISHED A SERIES OF TEN POSTAL STATIONS Fouping ° Tientsin G8
"@Paotinglu Fg IN STRATEGIC MILITARY LOCATIONS. eae r &
@Tingtschou == Sudlort “ :
Port N a “Station No. 1” was located 99 Kilometers
(approx. 60 miles) from Tsingtau, Kiavtschou
(German-Leasehold Territory), along the important
Schantung Railway Line.
Tschili
ov = <r <a Tschinglschoulu
gyal
Pae *eartaee’, s ,cohariung- Ban ek ita ’ “ oe
. aie aie eum a® aes
48" Kiautschouy &
singlau
——_——., Yellow Sea
10 MAY (1901) a i aaa mi
Non-fieldpost cover,
postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 1, sent to
Tsingtau, Kiautschou
Territory.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Tsingtau, Kiautschou,
15 May 1901”
10 Pfennig.. (II) Single-weight
(15 grams) letter-rate
for mail sent between
German Post Offices in China. Exp. Dr. Stever BPP
3 OCTOBER (1901)
Non-fieldpost
“Gruss-aus
Kiautschou”
Postcard, postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 1, sent to a Bochum, Germany
5 Pfennig.. (1) Colonial-rate for
posicards seni fo
Germany.
Wobkainas te ee ea (Steafe mm Bangadiniper)
, |
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900 - 31 August 1901
FIELD MARSHALL ‘COUNT von WALDERSEE’ WAS SUPREME COMMANDER OF GERMAN FORCES OF THE
‘EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS’.
18 December (1900)
(Free-frank) money transfer receipt covering RM 800.00 transferred by ‘Count von
Waldersee’ to Germany.
11 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank
cover,
wiitten by
‘Count von
Waldersee’,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 2, sent to Hanover,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hannover,
27 December
1900”
Reverse
95
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900 - 31 August 1901
REGISTERED FIELDPOST STATION MAIL TRANSFERRED TO THE GERMAN POST OFFICE IN PEKING
Cert. Stever
2 SEPTEMBER 1901
Registered cover , embossed “Imperial German Legation",
written by Staff Physician “Dr. Velde", registered at
“Fieldpost Station No. 2 of the 1° Army” but transferred to the
Imperial German Post Office at Peking (“Peking” hand-stamped on registration label}
for forwarding to Frankfurt (Main), Germany
Mailerlicly a : a 2 Deulfehe Gefandlfch gery,
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Frankfurt (Main), 13 October 1901”
40 Pfennig.. (Type ll Provisional Stamp Usage)
Reverse 20 Pig.. Single-weight
UPU international Letier-Rate + 20 Pig.. Registration Fee 56
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900-31 August 1901
Supplementary Marking “Peking Kaiserpalast”
(Emperor’s Palace)
German military units occupied the palace
grounds with a supplementary marking applied to their mail.
i
31 MARCH (1901) te
Free-frank fieldpost 4 3 De ee TS CHSE tv BICHSPOST.
form card, postmarked at Re | ogee
Fieldpost Station No.2, Feld-Posikarte. sent to ; ce
“1 Lieutenant Hinkelmann”,
photographer, stationed at Paotingtu, China (Fieldpost Station No. 7).
Unit Validation Mark: “4h Company of the 1*
East Asiatic Rifle Regiment"
nea
Exp. Bothe/AG-Berlin
3 APRIL(1901)
Free-frank cover,
postmarked at
Fieldpost Station
eI No. 2, sentto _ Duisburg, Germany.
Unit Validation Mark: “Ist Company, I! East Asiatic Rifle
Regiment”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Duisburg, 15 June 1901”
Cert Sever BPP
of
Emperor’s Palace
Original Print 1842
(OTR IRA S TTR A bb AS
jon, [Pelcinzeh 3
jenthamn LiVverle gon
Age th. Humietecurt. cihvohogn. Imetoos Hitdbte-
58
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking
Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900 - 31 August 1901
The headquarters of the 1% Marine Battalion was located at the German Legation at Peking.
- ea : = a : Sa er
ie M byph BLO | yf Np 29MARCH(1901) eg AMbry dt ip ae
Free-frank marine’s co # e ; | {fe
mail, postmarked je
at Fieldpost Station / fe
No. 2, sentto ts fy. . Se fe : $ Grimma, Germany. __ st A GLEE DI 77 ty pC gr f g
Unit Validation | Banat 3 : DOO Lin ot
“Headquarters of eee. fo, gt 7 3
the 1% Marine | |
Battalion”
ae
Arrival Postmark: ZB LLL, of 7 5 ges :
(Reverse) wis A CHLLLEEL?,
“Grimma, | : ee | ge FZ 12 May 1901” 7 | : Mifefictwi BEX J fe
28 MAY (1901)
Free-frank marine’s mail, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 2, sent to Kiel, Germany.
Unit Validation Mark: “Headquarters of the 1st Marine Battalion”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse) —
“Kiel,
(ee a 13 July 1901” (porn!
Mar seat ofybe BS TF “he as
59
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900 - 31 August 1901
MAIL FROM GERMANY SENT TO SOLDIERS IN CHINA
During peacetime, mail to soldiers had to be endorsed, or affixed with a label,
“SOLDIER'S MAIL.. PERSONAL MATTERS OF THE RECIPIENT”.
During the Boxer Revolt Period, such labels were not mandatory. TURN-LETTER .. GERMANY-CHINA-GERMANY
13 MARCH 1901
Free-frank (label affixed) cover, posimarked Aplerbeck, Germany,
sent to “Marine G. Minkler, 2°¢ Company,
2-7 Marine Battalion, Peking”
TURN COVER REPLY: 29 APRIL (1901)
Free-frank Marine’s Mail reply (using same envelope turned inside-
out), postmarked Fieldpost Station No. 2
sent to Brackel, Germany.
Unit Validation Mark & Endorsement:
Se eee “2"4 Company, Inside View Imperial 2°¢ Marine Battalion”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
Brackel, 10 June 1901 60
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Fieldpost Station Network
Station No. 2...
9 November 1900 -
Peking
31 August 1901
Free-franking privilege was only valid for soldier's mail, when THE SOLDIER’S UNIT VALIDATION STAMP OR ENDORSEMENT
APPEARED ON THE COVER OR POSTCARD.
1 JULY (1901)
Free-frank fieldpost view card, postmarked Fieldpost Station No. 2,
sent to
Altrédnitz, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“ AltrGdnitz,
8 August 1901”
Unit Validation Mark: “3 Company, 1? East Asiatic Expeditionary
Infantry Regiment"
at
; POST-KARTEY _ Carte postale, Cartolina postale, Post: :
| , ee ss « . coe at
¢ 7 : 7 TK co “E ¥ Pc Ei) j :
= 4%. 4 }. eS i res
Xe ino secblis 1G : wie Wolpnuta 2... Nea fa boy tlt.. ges
ay Beal, ae i (Strage und Hausrummer)
3 AUGUST (1901)
Free-frank view card,
posimarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 2, sentto Magdeburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Magdeburg,
14 September 1901”
Unit Validation Mark: “2°d Company, 2"¢ East Asiatic Expeditionary
Infantry Regiment”
61
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900-31 August 1901
INCORRECTLY ADDRESSED IN-BOUND MAIL FROM
GERMANY
30 AUGUST 1900
Free-frank in-bound
cover, postmarked at Potsdam, Germany,
sent to
“Sargeant Wagner” of the 1% Company, 1° Infantry
Regiment’ .
Since the recipient was not part of that unit, the cover was circulated to
the 2"4, 3rd g, qin
Companies without success with final return
on
30 December 1900
to the Naval Post Office
by the German Post Office
at Peking.
“MANDARIN” COVER USAGE
9 NOVEMBER (1900)
Free-frank cover, posimarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 2, sent to Insterburg,
East Prussia, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Insterburg, 24 December 1900” Neca Me
ieee PS ty
—— ee Unit Validation Mari BYL th Uf, Tice OOPS ey “17d Company,
, ds 2" Baifalion East Asiatic
Expeditionary Corps”
af all Earliest Known Usage
62 Reverse
Mal
(? November 1 900)
63
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 2... Peking Fieldpost Station Network 9 November 1900-31 August 1901
FIELDPOST MAIL USING CHINESE POSTAL STATIONERY
used as fieldpost, with
PEKING FIELDPOST MAIL = TRANSFERRED TO GERMAN no
POST OFFICE HO
19 NOVEMBER (1900) AR a i
Free-frank \ “6 lod “Shanghai Local Post” M :
Postal Stationery a 4
FELDPOSTBRIEF postmarked at |
Fieldpost Station No. 2, Te transferred tothe German =| ; [5
SI DE
TH E
AD DR
ES S
O N U f e e
==
“C
Naf
pe a
Sy S U
aa aL C S S
ke
Post Office at Peking, AG 9 sent to Mt EF
“Lieutenant Staehle” Eat ae ae e at Tientsin. L | Lei : |
Unit Validation 4 Endorsement: =
“Fieldpost Clerk Peking”
| FIELDPOST MAIL THROUGH CHINESE POST OFFICE
2 ee a a AT PEKING 7” Spipbpopbp heehee oie er errr ern Eee at i S|
— ae 8 JUNE (1901) SMAPS A |
PPh rae pe Votby py fT rs it Fieldpost mail on a Chinese ye [= Ln Postal Stationery Card,
_ postmarked at the Chinese Post Office at Peking,
transferred to Fieldpost Station No. 2, sent fo Frankfurt/Main,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Frankfurt (Main), 4 August 1901”
Pee ee sia
1Cent.. Local Chinese Postcard Rate
(transfered from Chinese Post Office to German Fieldpos?)
+ free-frank to Germany
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Fieldpost Station Network
Taku-Peking Line to be rebuilt after the Boxer Revolt was at
One of the first railway stretches on fhe
“YANGTSUN”, A STRATEGIC MILITARY LOCATION HAVING
“FIELDPOST STATION NO. 3”.
1 OCTOBER (1900)
Free-frank UPU
view-card, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 3, sent to
Gérlitz, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Gritz,
146 November 1900”
Station No. 3... Yangtsun
2 September 1900 -— 30 April 1901
GSS ==] OY|N\ A 22a] =] =A
=
Nu r
fi r
di e
Ad re
ss e,
it POSTKARTE. — WELTPOSTVEREIN. ‘ i CARTE POSTALE. — UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLES« 0 (|Rh
Free-frank “Mandarin” Cover, postmarked at
sent to Allendar (Coblence), Germany.
Reverse
4 SEPTEMBER (1900)
Fieldpost Station No. 3,
Arrival Postmark:
“Allendar, -- October 1900”
Third-Day Usage at Station No. 3
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Fieldpost Station Network
‘TONGKU HARBOR’ WAS THE BRIDGEHEAD FOR ARRIVING ALLIED TROOPS DURING THE BOXER REVOLT,
of strategic importance and location of Fieldpost Station No. 4.
Station No. 4...
2 September 1900 — 30 August 1901
Tongku
AG eneeaciia ae
uo “OL On | | 3 | 2 DEeEutrTscHE HWEICHSPoOsT.
9 SEPTEMBER (1900 My, a! | ea (1900) Pa Feld-Postkarte. Free-frank |
fieldpost form-card, ihe
postmarked at | An Fieldpost Station No. 4,
sent to Bremen, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Haller Machine Mark)
“Bremen,
30 October 1900”
| aa. bv eeLee Aveactip Mtb -H, Pgoc
Heut{cdbe Reichsport
Auld. Pofttarte
Uy, hy
Ky? atte! bal A irs )
a 910 nll # ull) <)
Nid /
GGT ate eee OM Eis oat cer Pee pT (Strape wid. Sasa amare)
9 OCTOBER (1900)
Free-frank postal card,
written by a member of Gunboai
“HMS Jaguar", postmarked aft Fieldpost Station
No. 4, sent to Altona, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Altona,
24 November 1900”
66
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 4... Tongku
Fieldpost Station Network 2 September 1900 - 30 August 1901
“TONGKU” WAS A RAILWAY HUB ON THE NORTH-BOUND ‘SCHANHAIKWAN RAILWAY’
with strategic importance for military traffic with Russia.
ae { i (i) Esa JS SS ee A ee 2 = Se Se See hea RATER EL jLPAUEEA Sse s oS Se a
Kid
1 JANUARY (1901)
a ,
ervee-feenri ‘ Carte postale — Union pestale uuiversell a os
Chinese UPU Postal b a ~ MUAY 8 Card, postmarked at Vy Se OY go ze ; rs Fieldpost Station No. 4, He 3 tet oo YA CEP?
sent to y= : eee Wiesbaden, Germany. ye |
Arrival Postmark: “Wiesbaden,
20 February 1901”
Lo
4 APRIL (1901)
Free-frank Fieldpost using an Imperial Chinese Railway Telegraph Card, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 4,
sent fo Magdeburg, Germany.
“s op ou es ze ur e
co x
3d eo
13 RY e
gO yo
ye ds
rp
eu }
qu oa
er d
02 1
Arrival Postmark:
“Magdeburg-
Buchau,
16 May1901”
Qu ,e stamped by sending and receiving stations, on this side only and ' Su4ifi forwarded by telegraph messengers as telegrams.
67
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 5... Tientsin Fieldpost Station Network 2 September 1900 - 18 October 1900
After the relief of Peking & Tientsin, A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE ALLIES AT ‘TIENTSIN’ ALONG WITH GERMAN ‘FIELDPOST STATION NO. 5’.
2 SEPTEMBER (1900)
Free-frank cover,
officer’s-mail,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 5, sent to
Bartenstein, East Prussia,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Bartenstein,
20 October 1900”
First Day Usage
20 SEPTEMBER (1900)
Free-frank Fieldpost form-card, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 5, sent to
Rendsburg, Germany.
Exp Mansfeld
Sr Ty
eet L POSTAL /GNI08 14 OCTOBER (1900) ce es "=/ e
Free-frank Chinese UPU AE 3. oe Card, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 5, sent to Munich,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“MUGnchen, 23 November 1900”
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 5... Tientsin
Fieldpost Station Network 2 September 1900 - 18 October 1900
GERMANY-BOUND RE-DIRECTED, POSTALLY INSPECTED & RE-SEALED MAIL
13 OCTOBER (1700)
Free-frank cover, written by “Headquarters Staff Physician Hildebrandt" ,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 5, sent to a relative in the “10" Artilliery Regiment” at Strassburg, Alsace, Germany.
Upon arrival at Strassburg, forwarded to Schdéneberg (Berlin), where recipient could not be located, requiring
mail fo be inspected for more information, with subsequent re-sealing and forwarding to recipient.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Reverse)
“21 November 1900, Strassburg”
“21 November 1900, Schéneberg” “22 November 1900, Schéneberg” 69
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 6... Lung-Tsun-Kuan
Fieldpost Station Network (Langtsouvanking) 17 - 25 May 1901
MOBILE FIELDPOST STAITON NO. 6,
the farthest station west of Peking, in the mountains, along the Great Wall of China,
HAD THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS:
Tschingtschou = 18 April — 4 May 1901 Fouping = 5 - 16 May 1901
Langtsovanking = 17 -25 May 1901
18 MAY (1901) Cert. Dr. Steuer
Free-frank cover, written at “Lung-Tsun-kuan”, by Chinese Post Office carrier fo
Fieldpost Station No. 6 at Langtsouvanking, sent to Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“«.. June 1900, Ndmberg”
Unit Validation Mark: “20d Battalion, 4" Infantry Regiment, Easf Asiatic Expeditionary Corps”
Reverse
Y% Cent.. (Reverse)
Chinese Post Office fee for mail cartier to German Fieldpost Station No. 6 at “Langfsovanking”. 70
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 7 ... Paotingfu Fieldpost Station Network 20 November 1900- July 1901
Located on the main telegraph & shipping route south to the cities of Hankau & Canton,
“PAOTINGFU” WAS THE CAPITAL OF “TSCHILI” PROVINCE, OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE TO ALLIED FORCES,
with German Fieldpost Station No. 7 established there.
5 DECEMBER (1900)
Free-frank
“Mandarin” Cover,
postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 7,
sent to Dresden,
Saxony, Germany.
5 DECEMBER (1900)
Free-frank
“Mandarin” Cover, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 7,
sent to
Berlin, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“(Berlin) .. Post Office No. 50, 20 January 1901” (1
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 7 ... Paotingfy Fieldpost Station Network 20 November 1900 - July 1901
Servicemen’s registered mail was not free but subject to the standard UPU rates for international mail
REGISTERED MAIL ... FIELDPOST STATION NO. 7 ... 157 ARMY
8 JUNE (1901)
Registered cover, postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 7,
sent to St. Johann, Saar Province, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“St. Johann. --- July 1901”
Unit Validation: “4'h Infantry Regiment,
East Asiatic Expedifionary Corps”
40 Pfennig.. 20 Pig.. Single-weight (15 grams) UPU
international Leffer-Raie + MONEY ORDER
20 Pfg.. Registration Fee TRANSFER RECEIPT
9 JANUARY (1901)
Postal money-order receipt for RM 1.00, sent by “Lieutenant Witte",
postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 7.
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 7 ... Paotingfu
Fieldpost Station Network 20 November 1900- July 1901
Although there was no official Imperial German Post Office at “Paotingfu".
THE MILITARY POSTAL STATION FUNCTIONED AS AS A TEMPORARY GERMAN POST OFFICE STATION WITH
SOME MAIL BEING AFFIXED WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL “PAOTINGFU” POSTAL MARKING.
30 MARCH (1901)
Free-frank cover, postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 7
with supplemental postal marking, sent to
Heidelberg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Heidelberg. 17 May 1901”
13
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 7 ... Paotingfu
Fieldpost Station Network 20 November 1900- July 1901
FIELDPOST MAIL TO
FRANCE
Deutfche Reichspoft
00 Pofitarte. 1 APRIL (1901)
Mandatory-franked, Fieldpost Form-Card,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 7, sent to Paris, France.
Unit Validation: ; “15 Battalion, 4! ‘
Infantry Regiment, East
Asiatic Expedifionary Wee Corps” i
10 Pfennig.. ; ae . yy, (Type II Provisional : Wage: aha Ny, j
2 Sy Wobnung ... ff tte ieee (Gtrafe wid Gausnwmwnier)
Stamp Usage)
UPU International |
Positcard-Rate.
pi s
L o e
ann cate FIELDPOST MAILTO GERMANY
26 MAY (1901)
Postkarte — Weltpostverein: Sa oy i 5 ay og
Free-frank
UPU Postal Card,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 7,
sent to
Brandenburg, Germany.
S farte postale — Union postale universelle;
Arrival Postmark:
“Brandenburg, 7 July 1901”
Unit Validation:
“13 Battalion, 3 East Asiatic infantry
Regiment” 74
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 7 ... Paotingfu
Fieldpost Station Network 20 November 1900- July 1901
Since China first became a member of the UPU on 1 September 1914, any international mail through the Chinese Post Office had to be
routed through a foreign post office in China, albeit Chinese postage rates were applicable, i.e. DOUBLE FRANKING,
albeit fieidpost mail was free-frank.
3 FEBRUARY (1901)
Chinese-franked postal-stationery
card, postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 7, sent to Dresden,
Saxony, Germany.
Free-frank fieldpost with added 8 Cents
over-franked (i Cen}
UPU Intemational
Posicard-Raite.
CHINESE FRANKING ON GERMAN FIELDPOST MAIL
GB
| Fe
Ro pe
OT r
em
op ed po
ny s a s s
= a o r
= er s
a
>
SuQyrursAwos 7 ERNE RA ODE | oad
23 MAY (1901)
Chinese-franked & Paoting-postmarked
view-card, postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 7, sentto
Beuthen, Upper- Silesia, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Beuthen, 8 July 1901”
Free-frank fieldposi
with added 7 Cents UPU International
Postcard-Rate.
15
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 8 ... Shanhaikuan
Fieldpost Station Network 27 November 1900 -31 August 1901
ON 26 NOVEMBER 1900, one day prior fo the arrival of the ‘Station No. 8’ date-stamp, A SUPPLEMENTAL POSTMARK “SHANHAIKUAN DEUTSCHE POST”
WAS USED TO POSTMARK OUT-GOING FIELDPOST MAIL. From 27 December, it was used as a supplemental postmark.
FORERUNNER SUPPLEMENTAL
POSTMARK USAGE
26 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank officer's mail, postmarked at Shanhaikuan, sent to
Breslau, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Breslau,
17 January 1901”
Less than five examples known.
Ceri. Haspel BPP
FIELDPOST AND SUPPLEMENTAL USED
POSTMARKS ©
15 MARCH (1901)
Free-frank fieldpost form-card,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 8 with supplemental
postal marking,
sent to Laubegast, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Laubegast.
9 May 1901”
16
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 8 ... Shanhaikuan
Fieldpost Station Network 27 November 1900 -31 August 1901
REGISTERED COVER THROUGH THE GERMAN FIELDPOST MAIL SERVICE FROM THE AUSTRIAN MARINE DETACHMENT AT SHANHAIKUAN TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS ABGARE
AUSTRIAN NAVAL VESSEL “HMS QUEEN MARIA THERESA”
15 APRIL (1901)
Registered cover, postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 8,
with registration label “Fieldpost Station No. 8 of fhe 1% Army”,
sent to ‘HMS Queen Maria Theresa
anchored at “Taku” (Tongkv).
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Tongku, German Post Office.
17 April 1901”
40 Pfennig... 20 Pig. Single-weight (15 grams) UPU International Letter-Rate +
20 Pig. Registered Fee (7
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 8... Shanhaikuan
Fieldpost Station Network 27 November 1900 -31 August 1901
During the night of 28 February 1901, a shipment of fireworks Ignited and caused a major fire at the Shanghai German Post Office,
resulting in many sacks of German Fieldpost No. 8 being destroyed or damaged.
RECOVERED DAMAGED MAIL WAS CACHET HAND-STAMPED AND FORWARDED TO DESTINATION:
Beschadigt durch Brandunglick
im Postamt Shanghai.
(“Damaged from the Shanghai Post Office Fire”) FIELDPOST STATION NO. 8 MAIL DAMAGED IN-TRANSIT
THROUGH THE GERMAN POST OFFICE FIRE AT SHANGHAI ON 28 FEBRUARY 1901
24 FEBRUARY (1901)
Free-frank fieldpost form-card, postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 8, fire-damaged cachet hand-stamped, sent to Schéneberg (Berlin), Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Schoneberg (Berlin).
9 April 1901”
18
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 8 ... Shanhaikvan
Fieldpost Station Network 27 November 1900 -31 August 1901
Located on the Northeast Railway Line between Tongku and Mukden, “Shanhaikuan" was a strategic location for German Forces.
UPON CLOSURE OF THE GERMAN FIELDPOST STATION, A GERMAN POST OFFICE OPENED AT ‘SHANHAIKUAN’ ON 1 SEPTEMBER 1901
ARQSTKARTE — W ELTPOSTVEREIN ce oS” -< Carte postale —- Union postale universelle
16 JUNE (1901)
Free-frank UPU View-card,
postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 8, sent to Rengersdorf,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Rengersdorf, 4 August 1901”
15 AUGUST (1901) |
Free-frank view card, postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 8,
sent to
Leipzig- Volksmarsdorf,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Leipzig-
w/ / 3 ie aes eS , at = | Volkmarsdort.
P wotmung a OM ef OY hte Bf. : 30 September 1901”
“ESiyahe und Bausnummer) 19
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. ? ... Peithaho
Fieldpost Station Network 22 May 1901-31 August 1901
One ofthree strategically-located fieldpost stations on the
Northeast Railway Line between Tongku and Mukden,
“PEITHAHO” WAS LOCATED BETWEEN
FIELDPOST STATIONS 8 (SHANHAIKUAN) AND 10 (KAIPING).
Npsess: Se SAR 6 JUNE (1 901) ase ee ee ee ne ee PEL ETE TROYES
l a c k
a .
.
es:
a ig
a
Se Free-frank view card,
postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 9,
sent to Babenhausen,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Rengersdort, 4 August 1901”
i
_ i y
ut y
EO S s
o oak a e
=
Unit Validation Cachet:
“Bavarian Unil..
294 Company, 6" Regiment”
TESA ATF MANSFELD he
Exp. Mansfeid BPP
haaeiis. = Wel
tpostvert me
Carte postale — Union postale universele eNeg, 7 JULY (1901)
oad Free-frank UPU 3 View-card,
postmarked at
Fieldpost Station No. 9,
sent to
Bindlach, Bavaria,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Bindlach.
10 August 1901”
80
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 10 ... Kaiping Fieldpost Station Network 21 May 1901 - 25 August 1901
One of three strategically-located fieldpost stations on the Northeast Railway Line between Tongku and Mukden,
“KAIPING” WAS LOCATED BETWEEN FIELDPOST STATIONS 4 (TONGKU) AND 9 (PEITHAHO).
4 JULY (1901)
Free-frank Chinese UPU Card, postmarked
at Fieldpost Station
No. 10, sent to Zdrbig, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Zérbig
18 August 1901” Ex Romanov Exp. Dr. Stever BPP
18 JUNE (1901)
E Pee Pe ory i ee) Ds iN : postmarked at Fieldpost Station
No. 10,
sent to
Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
(oolNEREGMT | NUE10L7 ——__—Hree-frank view cara,
Unit Validation Mark:
“15! Battalion, 3 Infantry Regiment,
East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps”
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Station No. 10... Kaiping Fieldpost Station Network 21 May 1901 — 25 August 1901
“Value Letters”, i.e. insured mail, up to Mks 150.00 in value, not exceeding 50 grams in weight, were handled as registered mail, and were free of
postage for military servicemen.
DURING ITS OPERATION IN CHINA, THE GERMAN FIELDPOST SYSTEM HANDLED SIX MILLION UNITS OF MAIL OF WHICH ONLY 1553 UNITS WERE VALUE-LETTERS.
22 MAY (1901)
Officer's value letier in the amount of Mks 14.00 (23.5 grams), postmarked at Fieldpost Station No. 10,
sent to Nevenhaus with re-direction to Fulda, Germany.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
“Tongku, German Post Office, 22 May 1901” (Reverse)
“Nevenhaus (Hanover), 25 July 1901” “Fulda, 26 July 1901”
Free-frank for military & value-letter mail under 50 grams to Germany. 20 Pfennig affixed & postmarked at the ‘Tongku’ German Post Office
by postal clerk assuming fee was required for officer's mail handied as registered value-ietier.
OTHER STAMP USAGES
FIELDPOST POSTMARKS 1900-1901
TWO-MARK HIGH VALUE ISSUE USED FOR PARCELS & FIELD TELEGRAMS
STAMPS NOT ISSUED OR SOLD IN CHINA
No. 7: Paotingfu
FIRST REGULAR STAMP ISSUE.. GERMAN REICH CROWN & EAGLE SERIES WITH "CHINA® AT 56°
No. 5: Tientsin Tientsin-Base (Early) Wo. 2: Peking No. 7: Paotingfu No. 10: Kaiping
SECOND REGULAR STAMP ISSUE.. GERMAN "REICHSPOST' SERIES WITH ‘CHINA OVERPRINT. . ISSUED JANUARY/APRIL 1901
No. 2: Peking No. 2: Peking
Exp Mansfeld Exp Bothe
Unique Example! ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE !
83
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Inbound Parcel Post & Letter Mail
Mail to China From Germany
PARCEL POST TO SUPPORT TRANSPORT SHIP OF THE FAR EAST CRUISER SQUADRON
20 DECEMBER (1900)
2 kilo parcel, postmarked at
Hamburg, sent fo the officer's mess aboard
“HMS Brandenburg” (Period of Activity in Chinese Waters:
# August 1701 Deh any ; :
Wee per teresa pease terre eee eee eees teresa bes le Seee Batterie 3 RM 1.00.. eee
Flat-rate for parcels up to 2.5 kilo for military &
naval personnel.
INBOUND LETTER-MAIL TO A SOLDIER AT
TIENTSIN
7 JANUARY (1901)
Free-frank cover, postmarked at
Jeetze, Germany,, sent to a recipient in
the “Howitzer
Munitions Column” at
Tientsin.
Free-frank from Germany as long as
endorsed
“Soldier's Mail .. Personal Maiters
involving the
Recipient”
——— 84
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS August 1900 - September 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Hankau
OFFICIAL NAVAL MAIL TO “HMS LUCKS"
13 NOVEMBER 1900 Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
(Reverse)
Free-frank official mail, ee postmarked at the German Post Office at Hankau, “Hong Kong,
sent to the 21 November 1900
Imperial German Gunboat “HMS Lucks” a docked at Canton, China _ emttan,
22 November 1900”
85
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 15 July 1900 — 1906
Langfang
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China
“Langfang", located halfway between Peking and Yangtsun on the strategically important Peking-Taku Railway Line, site of a German
military base without an official fieldpost station designation, RESULTING IN MAIL BEING TRANSFERED TO THE GERMAN POST OFFICES AT
INITIALLY, ‘TIENTSIN’ AND, LATER, ‘PEKING’ FOR FORWARDING
Liautung
ws Gulf
Shanhaikuan
Li
Peking 3 Kaiping wt = ang ‘— Fsitieacher + a
Fouping 2 Tientsin S., @ Paotingtu gy
OTingtschou : Gulf Port
2 : of Aton 2 Tschili
2 FEBRUARY 1901
Free-frank view-card (Count von Waldersee inspecting troops)
written at “Langfang” Military Base, postmarked at Peking,
sent to Altenburg, Province Saxony-Anhalt Germany.
MA.
Front
ce , tr lol. Postkarte— Pest Cardés'\
CS Magee 2
wv AAA ff ht : GE
i. i,
Arrival Postmark: (Front)
“Altenburg, 30 March 1901” 86
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS August 1900 - September 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Peking
REGISTERED OFFICIAL MILITARY MAIL
2p Sa ree phen eT Pe
Pi cling — _Dewtche Pout | a bh
| e 165," “| R) Rl ee
30 APRIL 1901
Free-frank official registered mail from the “1! Infantry Regiment of fhe
East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps”, endorsed “Miliiaria", postmarked at Peking,
sent fo the
imperial Courts of WUrttemberg at Gross Eislingen, State of Wirttemberg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Eislingen,
10 June 1901”
Reverse Cover Side
8/
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS August 1900 - September 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Peking
FIELDPOST FORM-CARD MAIL .. 1900
INBOUND MAIL, RE-DIRECTED & RETURNED en
TO GERMANY
6 DECEMBER 1900
Free-frank inbound Form-Card to
“Rifleman Rump of the 2”4 Infantry Regiment", postmarked at Kiel,
Germany, upon arrival soldier not located at the 2" then 1% Regiments,
and subsequently returned to Germany.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
“Peking, German Post Office,
19 January 1901” | ae oe . Lo a compagnie : 2 it se 4 olonr e
, ae 3 ee a “Kiel, 8 March 1901”
OUTBOUND MAILTO
Deutfhe Reichspoft GERMANY
Seld-Poftfarte
14 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank outbound Form Card,
posimarked at the German Post Office at Peking, sent to Magdeburg.
Arrival Postmark: “Magdeburg,
2 January 1901”
SH
be it . CA ee Beecye und Baars)
es ye % Exp. Dr. Sever
88
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS August 1900 - September 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Peking
OUTBOUND FIELDPOST MAIL TO GERMANY .. 1901
1 JANUARY 1901
Free-frank
“Mandarin” Cover,
postmarked at
Peking, sent to
Koschmin, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Koschmin,
21 February 1901”
Exp. Dr. Lantelme
10 JANUARY 1901
Free-frank cover,
postmarked at Peking, sent to
Blessenbach
(FGrfort), Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“FOrfort, 26 February 1901”
ee EXPED, 5 FEBRUARY 1901 KOMMANDEUR.
Free-frank Form-Card
with artwork (reverse),
postmarked at Peking, sent to Leipzig,
Germany.
Unit Validation Cachet: “East Asiatic Expeditionary Command
Headquarters”
ca a
la
le e
al ls
Sg ie
ls
n t
Wobnung ... (Stage und Sienna
ee sy
na t:
e o
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China
16 DECEMBER 1900
Free-frank Chinese UPU postal stationery
card
(artwork on reverse),
postmarked at Shanghdi, sent to Breslau, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Breslau,
20 January 1900”
August 1900 - September 1901
(FELDPOSTBRIEF)
Shanghai
[ty Weltposiverein—Union post: ile universelle
‘etna tectsstedtaatestostos"actactea"hetneTaelas*achaa"s,*
ee ee ee ee ee ee
UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
ob ee POSTALE |
29 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank UPU stationery card, postmarked at
Shanghai, sent to “Frau Ellen von
Siemens” (renowned
German industrialist family),
Wannsee (Potsdam), Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Wannsee,
2 January 1901”
90
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS August 1900 - September 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Shanghai
Official Naval Mail to Germany
31 JULY 1901
Official naval mail cover, postmarked at
the German Post Office at Shanghai,
sent from “Torpedo Boat $90” to the Naval Pay
Office at Wilhelmshaven.
Arrival Postmark: — (Reverse)
“Wilhelmshaven, 10 September 1901”
Exp. Haspel BPP
91
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 1 Nov. 1900 - Sept. 1901
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tongku
OFFICIAL MILITARY MAIL BETWEEN
GERMAN FORCES IN CHINA
14 JUNE 1901
Free-frank Fieldpost Form-Card,
endorsed “Militaria” from the Military
Supply Depot, postmarked at
Tongku, sent to
“Seargent Ebermann, 4'* Company,
6 Infantry Regiment at Kaiping”.
RE-DIRECTED
GERMAN-BOUND MAIL
29 APRIL 1901
Free-frank cover,
postmarked at _ Tongku, sent to a military officer
originally located at Strassburg,
re-directed to Charlottenburg,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Charlottenburg, 11 June 1901”
Unit Validation Cachet:
eS, 39 Railway = Construction Column,
East Asiatic Expedifionary Corps 92
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 1 Nov. 1900 - Sept. 1901 Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tongku
26 APRIL 1901
Free-frank Fieldpost Form-Card
(with artwork on reverse),
postmarked at Tongku, sent to
Seelze (Hanover), Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Seelze,
7 June 1901”
Unit Endorsement: “Battalion Fieldpost
Postal Clerk”
24 JUNE 1901
Free-frank view-card, postmarked at Tongku, sent to
Bamberg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Bamberg,
2 August 1901” Unit Validation Cachet:
“ 3° Infantry Regiment, East Asiatic
Expeditionary Corps “
93
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 1 Janvary 1900 - 16 March 1917 Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tschifu
24 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank UPU view-card (Tschifu Harbor), postmarked at Tschifu,
sent to Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Arrival Postmark: “Wilhelmshaven,
21 January 1901”
Unit Validation Endorsement “ Senior Paymaster,
Tschifu*
94
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS 26 Sept. - 31 Dec.1900 Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Kiautschou Territory
FIELDPOST POSTCARD
11 NOVEMBER 1900 tench VO. GAD R.
Free-frank Fieldpost
Form-Card,
postmarked in “Kiautschou”
Territory, sent to
Darkehmen,
Germany
Aatival Postmark:
“Darkehmen, 22 December
1900”
Unit Validation
Endorsement
“ 2°¢ Battalion,
East Asiatic Infantry
Regiment”
FIELDPOST COVER
16 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank, endorsed
“fieldpost cover”, postmarked in
“Kiautschou” Tenitory,
sent to
Muhlhausen, Alsace,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Muhihausen
*(Elsass) Tf,
23 December 1900” Unit Validation
Endorsement
* 3°¢ Company, 3" Battalion”
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Tsingtau
Fieldpost Mail Through the German Post Office in China Kiautschou Territory
5 January 1900 - 6 November 1914
8 JULY 1901
Free-frank cover, postmarked at
Tsingtau, Kiautschou,
sent to Quedlinburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Quedlinburg, 18 August 1901”
Unit Endorsement:
“2Company, 2° | Marine Battalion”
Neuffen, Germany
Nie SS eS a SS SS SS eS Sa Se Se at | a: a i (Coe eoe CeO eee ee oe ee a ee ee ee eee t Fl
mae au) res fs ine 7 t ) WN
aE - Union Postale Universelle. Y 4 WARS a
tf Ae e ean \ a Mi : GAR GU in) Us SALE 4 ane
sae ya 1 April 1901 - ‘Ne A +H 6 November 1914
rei ahae YE h Ne if | 1 JULY 1901
Ne : Ms Free-frank Japanese we iy UPU Postal Card, We ah postmarked at Tsingtau, | 10 sent to e Arrival Postmark:
“Neuffen,
8 August 1901”
96
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS January - May 1901 Troop Rotation
SIX CHARTERED VESSELS OF THE NORTH GERMAN LLOYD SHIPPING LINES (N.G.L.) WERE USED FOR TROOP ROTATION
for the ‘East Asiatic Expeditionary Corps’ as well as the subsequent Occupation Brigade
NGL “H.H. MEYER”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 26
Period of Activity: 19 January = 16 April 1901
(Port Said, Egypt)
4 APRIL 1901
Free-frank NGL Postcard,
postmarked on board, sent to
Hamburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Hamburg,
11 April 1901”
| fo Poy Vien t-
POSTCARD
NGL “RHEIN”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 26
Period of Activity: 5 May =
¥ August 1901
(Suez Canal, Egypt)
16 MAY 1901
Free-frank view-card, postmarked on board,
sent to
Kiel, Germany.
97
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS July - October 1901 Troop Rotation
A supplementary unofficial wood-carved postmark indicating “Imperial German Ship Mail - Steamer Bahia"
was applied to some mail sent from the “Bahia”.
G-
NGL “BAHIA” = ve eo oh: », fbi i- , Meat Por is
| oe CAT D.
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 48
Period of Activity:
15 July - 26 October 1901
(Port Said, Egypt)
28 JULY 1901
Free-frank view-card
sent to
Alitboyen, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Alitboyen,
5 August 1901”
A UNIT VALIDATION CACHET MARK (light bive ink)
was applied to postmark mail sent from the “Wittekind” since an official German Naval Post Office Postmark was not used.
LSLGE * MD. ZThaxoc OTL
ea NGL “WITTEKIND” y On SEAS. BE |
Pay , — ey IMPERIAL GERMAN “y¥ € POSTCARD ae =\ NAVAL POST OFFICE
| < a WITHOUT NUMBER
Period of Activity: 5 September -
27 October 1901
(Shanghai)
23 AUGUST 1901
Free-frank view-card
sent to _ Hagenau, Province
Alsace, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Hagenau,
22 October 1901” 98
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Naval Field Hospital September 1900-31 August 1901
Yokohama, Japan
To service the German Navy as well as German-flag
commercial vessels, a German Naval Hospital was established at Yokohama, Japan, in July 1878, closing in December 1911,
EUTSS after a similar hospital was established at Tsingtau, Kiaufschou ~~ BrUR > \
Territory. PS MAREN E- SGHIFFSPOST | YOKOHAMA |
\, * 22) 2 x /
\ 01S
DURING THE ‘BOXER REVOLT’ PERIOD, THE YOKOHAMA HOSPITAL TREATED CASUALTIES FROM THE
HOSTILITIES IN CHINA BETWEEN 1900-1907.
Mail sent from the Yokohama Hospital was handled through the
Naval Post Office, also accepted by the Japanese Post Office affixed with German postage at the proper UPU rates.
Fe ei 7 ee
pg a es, x
ee SR
a
= Aesenter | 5
2 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank fieldpost cover, written by “Lieutenant Koch of the 3 Marine Battalion”,
postmarked at the Yokohama Hospital, routed through the Naval Post Office,
sent to Dortmund, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Dortmund, .. December 1900”,
99
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Naval Field Hospital September 1900-31 August 1901
Yokohama, Japan
MAIL SENT FROM THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE YOKOHAMA JAPANESE POST OFFICE WAS ACCEPTED AS LONG AS PROPER GERMAN POSTAGE WAS AFFIXED
MEETING THE UPU INTERNATIONAL RATES.
26 NOVEMBER 1900
German postal stationery letter-
card, postmarked at
Yokohama Japan Post Office, sent to Prettin, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“ Prettin,
29 December 1900”
20 Ffennig.. Up-rated German- domestic stationery
to UPU International
Letier-Rate
6 JANUARY 1901
Japanese postcard,
postmarked at the Yokohama Japanese
Post Office, sent to Pretiin, Japan.
Arrival Postmark:
“Prettin, 9 February 1901” 10 Pfennig (5x 2 Pfg)..
UPU International
Posicard-Rate 100
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Corps Field Hospital September 1900 - 31 August 1901
Tientsin
‘CORPS FIELD HOSPITAL NO. 1’ WAS LOCATED AT TIENTSIN,
site of supreme headquarters for the German military contingent.
5 APRIL 1901
Free-frank fieldpost cover, postmarked at the Tientsin Military Fieldpost Station,
Sent to Goldberg, Germany,
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Goldberg, 17 May 1901”,
Red Chinese Cachet Marking: (Front & Reverse)
“Local Mail Delivery from Hospital to
Fieldpost Mail Station” 101
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Corps Field Hospital September 1900 - 31 August 1901
Peking
“CORPS FIELD HOSPITAL NO. 2’
WAS LOCATED AT PEKING,
sites of the heretofore Chinese Government, Foreign embassies & legations.
23 APRIL (1901)
Dentidhe Reichspoft Seldpoftfarte.
Free-frank fieldpost form-card,
postmarked ai Peking, sent to |
Mokern, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Mokern
(Magdeburg), 7 June 1901”
Unit Validation Cachet:
(wood carved)
“Naval Field Hospital..
Mail Marking”
20 MAY (1901)
Free-frank fieldpost “Mandarin” cover,
postmarked at Peking,
sent to Neusalz,
Germany,
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Neusalz, 10. July 1901”,
Unit Validation
Cachet:
“East Asiatic
Expedifion ..
2" Field Hospital”
102
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Corps Field Hospital September 1900 - 31 August 1901
Peking
RANK & FILE SERVICEMEN WERE PERMITTED FREE-FRANK MONEY TRANSFERS
UP TO MKS 800 by completing a dedicated “Fieldpost Money Transfer Form Card” properly
validated with a unit cachet mark.
| i 5 AUGUST 1901
Hospital-chaplain-completed free-frank fieldpost money transfer form card for a transfer of MKS 1.50,
sent to a business located at Magdeburg-Neustadt, Germany.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“East Asiatic Expedition ..
2” Field Hospital”
103
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Corps Field Hospital September 1900 - 31 August 1901
Peking
AS A SOUVENIR FOR THE TIME SPENT IN CHINA, one member of ‘Field Hospital No. 2’,
affixed postage of four nations’ post offices (China, Germany, India (Britain) & Japan)
with appropriate postmarks.
29 AUGUST 1901
Philatelic -inspired fieldpost view-card, postmarked at Peking, sent to Stuttgart,
Wurttemberg, Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Stutigart, 9 October 1901”
Unit Validation Cachet:
(Front & Reverse)
“East Asiatic Expedition ..
2°¢ Field Hospital”
104
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Hospital Ship “Gera” 28 July 1900-— 6 Augusi 1901
STEAMER SHIP “GERA”, chartered from the North German Lloyd Shipping Line (N.G.L.) FUNCTIONED AS A HOSPITAL SHIP OFF THE NORTH CHINA COAST
DURING THE ‘BOXER REVOLT’ PERIOD.
OUT-BOUND MAIL FROM
“N.G.L, GERA”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 6
Period of Activity: 28 July 1900 - 6 August 1901
6 SEPTEMBER 1900
Free-frank N.G.L. Postcard, postmarked
on board, sent to Berlin, Germany
Arrival Postmark (Mix & Genest
Experimental Machine)
“(Berlin) 25 September 1900”
A tePotttarte —Weltpo ftvereinc dir
Carle postale —— Union postale universelle.
Fae
Wes ES fg M0 >»
[ole 070s’)... bale ee] ' Ae
' ry gre ae i tty PP aa)! irl 9
fr
IN-BOUND MAILTO “N.G.L. GERA”
11 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank in-bound
cover, addressed to
“Dr. Clemens Gappel, Medical Doctor on board
the “Gera”,
postmarked at Dresden.
105
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Hospital Ship “Gera” 28 July 1900- 6 August 1901
OFFICIAL NAVAL 2 MAIL FROM ob
“N.G.L. GERA” wn : al
IMPERIAL GERMAN POST OFFICE
NO. 6
Period of Activity:
28 July 1900 - 6 August 1901
Phot w. Verlv. Tr Paes Nec Paebashaven
Lasarethschiff Gera.
10 JANUARY 1901 Exp Willman
Free-frank official naval cover, addressed to
“Headquarters of the 2"¢ Torpedo Unit” at Wilhelmshaven Naval Base”.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Wilhelmshaven, 21 February 1901”
106
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS
Hospital Ships “Savoia” & “Wittekind” August 1900- May 1901
FUNCTIONED AS HOSPITAL TRANSPORT SHIPS OFF THE NORTH CHINA COAST
STEAMERS “SAVOIA” & “WITTEKIND”, chartered from the North German Lloyd Shipping Line (N.G.L.)
DURING THE ‘BOXER REVOLT’ PERIOD.
“N.G.L SAVOIA”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE WITHOUT NUMBER
Period of Activity:
26 August 1700 -
10 March 1901
20 SEPTEMBER 1901
Free-frank fieldpost
view-card, postmarked at the
German Post Office
Shanghai,
cachet endorsed (reverse)
“Hospifal Ship Savoia ..
Supervising Medical Docfor”,
sent to Hanover,
Germany.
Arrival Postmark
“Hannover,
27 March 1901”
ttn Re af
P eye Anise aZal ethschilt , Savoia -~POSTKARTE WECTPOSTVEREIN aa Carte postale — Union postale Caisse Zt:
as “N.G.L. WITTEKIND”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 28
Period of Activity: 24 August 1900 —
8 May 1901
11 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank fieldpost UPU/NDL Postcard,
Postmarked on board,
Sent to Mannheim,
Germany.
Anival Postmark: “Mannheim,
25 April 1901”
107
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS June - October 1901 Return of Troops to Germany
Allied Forces had neutralized ‘Boxer’ presence in Tschilli Province by early Spring 1901 with agreement on peace conditions between the Chinese Government and the Allies by the end of May 1901.
BETWEEN JUNE — SEPTEMBER 1901, THE GERMAN WAR DEPARTMENT CHARTERED TWELVE VESSELS TO TRANSPORT UNITS OF THE ‘EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY
CORPS’ BACK TO GERMANY.
NGL “PISA”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 13
Period of Activity: 15 August -
29 September 1901
(Singapore)
24 AUGUST 1901
Free-frank fieldpost view-card,
postmarked on board, seni to
Norden, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Norden,
21 September 1901”
Ly, ¢ wT Lictse e@ J
NGL “PALATIA”
N U
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 49
Period of Activity: § September -
27 October 1901
R e
a a e a
“OSTAS_ EXP eo a /
(u. BAT. 3. iN Fel REGMISY be P y
(Port Said, Egypt)
30 JULY 1901
Free-frank fieldpost Egyptian UPU view-card, .
postmarked on board,
sent to
T a r
ae ta ANG NUNS ANE PUA FL Jia
Detilingen, Germany. Arrival Postmark: pie eS as eal “Detilingen,
at nol She. Saale 10 August 1901" 108
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS June - October 1901 Return of Troops to Germany
HAPAG “BATAVIA”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 66
Period of Activity: 2 August -
18 September 1901
(Egypt) 3 SEPTEMBER 1901
Free-frank fieldpost view-card,
postmarked on board, postmarked on board, sent to
Wettringen,
Germany.
Unit Validation
Cachet Mark: “Field Bakery, East Asiatic
Expeditionary Corps”
NGL “NECKAR”
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 71
Period of Activity: 11 August -
22 September1901
6 SEPTEMBER 1901
Free-frank fieldpost cover,
postmarked on board,
sent fo
Tempelhof (Berlin), Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Tempelhof, — 29 September 1901”
Unit Validation Endorsement: “1 Battery
Field Howitzers” 109
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS June - October 1901 Return of Troops to Germany
NGL “CREFELD"
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 72
Period of Activity: 10 September — 29 October 1901
(Ceylon)
30 SEPTEMBER 1901
View-card,
postmarked on board, sent to
Harburg, Germany.
5 Pfennig.. German domestic
postcard-rate
Wood-carved
circular postmark used only on return
voyage, since official “MSP 72” Postmark was transferred
earlier to the German Cruiser Squadron’s
Hospital Ship.
i HE Sea
a DAMPRER SS
; CRE 2) Bs aS
ty
UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
CEYLON (CEYLAN)
POSTCARD THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE.
- ae NGL “WORTH" NC ree see aise (Unchartered
Naval Liner)
IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL POST OFFICE
NO. 23
Period of Activity: 11 July 1900 —.
11 August 1901
6 AUGUST 1901
Free-frank fieldpost
form card, postmarked on board,
sent to
Leipzig, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“(Leipzig) T13, 10 August 1901” 110
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS June - October 1901 Return of Troops to Germany
Returned Mail
Because of mail transit times, servicemen could not always timely advise relatives
WHERE IN-BOUND MAIL ARRIVED TO FIND THAT A SERVICEMAN HAD ALREADY EMBARKED FOR
concerning relocations, transfers or reassignments.
HOME, SUCH MAIL WAS CACHEDT-MARKED & FORWARDED...
(“Return homeward has commenced”)
GE OR
-A
UE EL
MA RN
: HA
NN OV
ER
30 MAY 1901
View-card, postmarked at Aurich, Germany, sent to “Sargent Bauer, 3 Company, 3” East Asiatic Infantry Regiment" in China.
Upon arrival in China,
card was forwarded to various units searching for the recipient. Without success, mail was cachet-marked “Heimreise angetreten”,
returned to the Naval Post Office in Berlin, and forwarded back to Aurich.
Arrival Postmark Germany:
“Aurich, 27 September 1901” 111
5 Pfennig..
German Domestic Postcard Rate
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS Return of Troops to Germany
August- October 1901
Home Bases
After having returned to Germany from China,
servicemen were initially quarantined at either
MUNSTERLAGER or LOCKSTEDTER MILITARY BASES
in northern Germany prior to discharge or reassignment.
==
: Union Postale Universelle, 2 a ~ ci 1B aR es SIRE IDHeANATIE Roop an TAR EP ER rz §
“L OCKSTEDTER LAGER” qj; = CARTE POSTALE ) 19 OCTOBER 1901 i /
Japanese UPU view-card, postmarked at * “Lockstedter Lager”,
sent to Lugan, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Lugau, 30 October 1901”
e e
e e e
eek
ee
r t
ea
i Bt
ar =
|
|
5 Pfennig .. Domestic Posicard-Rate.
“MUNSTERLAGER” _ 24 SEPTEMBER 1901
Postal card, postmarked at
“Munsterlager”, with text indication that returning troops were in
“Quarantine”, sent to
Taucha, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Taucha,
25 Sepmber1 901”
112
EAST ASIATIC EXPEDITIONARY CORPS September - November 1901
“Wilhelmshaven Usage” of ‘China’ Postage
Upon return of the German Light Cruiser “Irene” from China-duty during the ‘Boxer Revol?’ Period (1900-1901) in September 1901...
UNUSED POSTAGE INVENTORY OF 5 & 10 PFENNIG VALUES OF ‘CHINA’- OVERPRINTED POSTAGE STAMPS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE REICHSPOST
AT WILHELMSHAVEN,
which supposedly offered those stamps for sale at the main
post offices in the Cities of Wilhelmshaven & Minsier.
Carte postale Postcard. Dopisnice. 1
aie ae gee ; : 4 mt, “China” eyes l_orrespondenzkarte. riel kaart, Pew a 3 5
Ne Karts korespondencyjna,. § : : Coenen ep rata éwka. Otrkpsrroe mucho, Weltpostverein.
1 Damele universeile.
a 5 Sad
30 OCTOBER 1901
View-card (Wilhelmshaven), postmarked at Wilhelmshaven,
sent to Hamm, Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Hamm (Wesif.), 30 October 1901”
5 Pfennig..
German Domestic Posicard Rate
One of two known postal history examples with 113
“Wilhelmshaven” Postmark:
Three examples known with “Minster” Postmark.
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES TIENTSIN & PEKING Provisional Government 1900-1902
Having been unsuccessful relieving Peking, the “Seymour Relief Forces”
returned to now-besieged Tientsin, relieving it on 15 July 1900. Since the heretofore Chinese-administered government officials
fled in fear of retribution by the expeditionary forces, A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT AT TIENTSIN WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE
COMMANDING OFFICERS OF THE FORCES ON 16 JULY 1900.
A provisional governor was also established at Peking, upon having been relieved on 20 August.
UNFRANKED COVER TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT
OF “GERMAN PEKING”
Covet sent fo “Governor Haenichen” by coutiet with validation hand-stamp:
“Civil Government .. German Peking” 114
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES TIENTSIN 1902 Provisional Government
PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT..
“GERMAN DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE” INSPECTED MAIL
ORIGINAL MAIL
FROM GERMANY TO CHINA
Leipzig 8 JUNE 1902
Reply card stationery set, postmarked at Leipzig, Germany,
and sent to
“First Lieutenant
Hukle”
in the Provisional
Government at Tientsin.
10+10 Pfennig.. UPU international
Postcard-Rate +
Prepaid Reply . RESPONSE-CARD
, REPLY TO LEIPZIG
18 JULY 1902
Response reply to Leipzig, postmarked
at Tientsin, with original card left
attached, resulting in the sender affixing an
additional 10 Pfennig in postage. 73-day transit time.
Arrival Postmarks:
“Leipzig L13,
28 August 1902”
10 Pfennig.. UPU Intemational Posicard-Rate + 10 Pfg. . covering
—— Cachet Marking: eae the (Blue ink) ‘
“Deutsche Abteilung der — internat(ionalen) Polizei”
(German Depariment of the International Police)
This marking was applied at Tientsin where the mail was inspected
for proper franking/postage by the “international police” of the Provisional Government. 115
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING
Type | .. Non-Overprinted ‘Crown & Eagle’ Series 1900-1901
A significant increase in mail volume during the Boxer Revoit of 1700-1901 resulted in a need for additional postage stamps by the
German Post Offices in Tschili Province,
FOUR PROVISIONAL TYPES WERE USED.
“TYPE I” PROVISIONALS WERE NON-OVERPRINTED REICHSPOST ‘CROWN & EAGLE’
SERIES STAMPS TAKEN FROM THE STAMP STOCKS OF SEVEN GERMAN NAVAL VESSELS FROM THE PACIFIC FLEET FOR USE IN CHINA.
- SS ee = — i SS SS SS ii - ee eee a — ; ——-— —— SS Se Se ree ——— —S_ - —— ———— ee i - = = — = eet hig Sy a a ee
MIXED FRANKING OF TYPES | & Il PROVISIONALS
26 NOVEMBER 1900
‘Fieldpost’ cover, mailed at the German Post Office ai Peking,
by a German Marine of the 4" Company, 1* Battalion, sent to a relative at Posen, Germany.
52-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark:
“Posen, 17 January 1901”
20 Pfennig..
German military personnel letter-rate for mail in
excess of 50 grams in weighi.
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING & TIENTSIN Type Il .. Non-Overprinted ‘Germania’ Series 1900-1901
“TYPE Il” PROVISIONALS WERE NON-OVERPRINTED REICHSPOST ‘GERMANIA’ SERIES STAMPS SHIPPED FROM THE GERMAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION AT SHANGHAI TO THE
GERMAN POST OFFICES AT TIENTSIN & PEKING.
‘PEKING’ ORIGIN MAIL
2 FEBRUARY 1901
Registered fieldpost mail on Chinese postal
card stationery,
postmarked at Peking, sent by an officer of the German military high command in
China to the German colonial office at Dar-Es-Salamm,
German East Africa, via Brindiisi sea mail. 72-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival
Postmarks: (Front)
“Brindisi,
28 March 1901”
“Dar-Es-Salaam,
15 April 1901”
30 Pfennig.. 10 Pfg.. International
posicard-rate + 20 Pig.. Registration
fee.
GERMAN-CHINA ORIGIN MAIL TO GERMAN EAST AFRICA
ry
F sapere Rs BOe
i n t e
‘TIENTSIN’ ORIGIN MAIL
20 JANUARY 1901
Tientsin postmarked cover written by a
medical doctor at the German military hospital,
sent to Bagamoyo, German East Africa, re-routed to Mpapua. 73-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Reverse)
“Aden, 25 February 1901” “Dar-Es-Salaam, 8 March
1901” “Mpapua, 3 April 1901”
20 Pfennig...
f Single-weight (15 grams)
af UPU International — Letter-Rate 117 nn ee eg a ee eer
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING Type II .. Non-Overprinted ‘Germania’ Series 1900-1901
REGISTERED FIELDPOST (SILK-COVER)
MAILTO GERMANY
_5 FEBRUARY 1901
Registered double-weight fieldpost mail,
postmarked
at Peking, sent to Dresden, Germany.
53-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Dresden,
- 30 March 1901”
60 Pfennig.. 40 Pig.. Double-weight
(30 grams) UPU International Letter-Rate +
20 Pig.. Registrafion Fee
Cert. Stever BPP
118
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES Type Il .. Non-Overprinted ‘Germania’ Series
FIELDPOST VALUE LETTER DURING BOXER REVOLT PERIOD
TIENTSIN —
Field-Post 1901
USAGE:
10 October 1700 -—
31 August 1901
2 MAY (1901)
Double-weight linen-cover, 143 grams, value-letter (RM 10.00), postmarked at the Tientsin German
Field-Post, sent fo Berlin, Germany. 71-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“(Berlin 6) 12 July (1901)”
20 Pfennig.. Value-letters up to RM 150.00/50 grams were free-frank. Vaive-ietters to RM 150.00/50-250 grams were subjeci to
20 Pfennig postage.
During the Boxer Revolt Period in China, the German Field-Post handled
six million units of mail, of which only 1353 were value letters.
te Gt cis gas if feng ting alts eee ORE ieee
ay
er ete fe ‘ nae, | ag Poe s. FE wrt oy yd ~~ i
t we na e a
4 £ ‘/~
5 ay a Wty Zé . ' a
Reverse Side
Embossed Seals’ Text:
“Military Hospital Personnel of the Eas? Asiatic Expeditionary Corps” 120
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING Type Il .. Non-Overprinted ‘Germania’ Series 1900-1901
CIVILIAN & LEGATION MAIL TO GERMANY
CIVILIAN MAIL
18 FEBRUARY 1901
Registered postal stationery (hand- drawn artwork on
reverse) card,
postmarked at Peking, sent to
Dresden, Germany.
51-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark:
“Dresden,
10 April 1901”
30 Pfennig.. 10 Pfg.. UPU
international
Postcard-Rate +
20 Pfg.. Registration Fee. ———— Ze
Cert. Steuer
GERMAN LEGATION MAIL
1 MAY 1901
Registered cover, postmarked at Peking, sent to Frankfurt/Main,
Germany. 44-day transit time.
Arrival Posimark:
“Frankfurt/Main,
14 June 1901”
40 Pfennig.. 20 Pig.. Single-weighi
{15 grams) UPU internafional
Letier-Rate + 20 Pig.. Registration Fee
Exp. Bothe
121
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING Type Il .. Non-Overprinted ‘Germania’ Series 1900-1901
Marine's mail to Germany was free-frank.
MAIL TO OTHER COUNTRIES WAS NOT FREE BUT SUBJECT TO UPU INTERNATIONAL RATES WITH OFFICER’S NON-FAMILY MAILTO GERMANY REQUIRING FRANKING AT
THE PREVAILING GERMAN DOMESTIC-RATE.
RE-DIRECTED MARINE’S MAIL ... CHINA-SWITZERLAND-
ENGLAND
11 MAY 1901
UPU German-postal stationery card, postmarked at Peking, sent to Zurich, Switzerland, =
and
re-directed to Sheffield,
England.
E E N N
Military Unit Cachet Marking: _ “Kaiserlich Marine II Battalion |
Briefstempe!” (“Mail Marking .. Imperial 2"4 Marine
Battalion”)
Transit Arrival Postmark: (Swiizerland)
“Zirich, 20 June 1901”
G TRO
N T HU
T W U T H O N O U R
OT
ML C
10 Pfennig.. recs
UPU International =
Postcard-Rate.
SENIOR OFFICER’S MAIL TO A MAIL-ORDER FIRM
8 JUNE 1901
‘Field-post’ endorsed cover, postmarked at
Peking, sent to a business at Braunschweig,
Germany.
Military Unit Cachet Marking:
“Pavet, Colonel & Commander,
2°¢ East Asiatic infantry Brigade”
Arrival Postmark: “Braunschweig, 22 July 1901”
20 Pfennig..
| Double-weight , (39 grars)
leitter-rate to Germany 122
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES TIENTSIN Type Ill .. “China” Hand-Overprinted Issue 1901
In China at the time, the Mexican Dollar was the currency of exchange having an official rate-of-exchange at $2.50 = RM 1.00 but where the free
market exchange rate was $2.00 = RM 1.00. potentially enabling
speculators to buy postage at the German Post Office at a discount of 25% and ship it back to Germany for profit.
TO PREVENT SPECULATION, THE GERMAN POST OFFICE DIAGONALLY HAND- OVERPRINTED SEVERAL VALUES ALONG WITH A POSTAL STATIONERY CARD
OF THE “GERMANIA” ISSUE WITH THE WORD “CHINA”.
DMMP ATM) We =
ee “Pofttarte — Y Deltpoftverein
Carte postale — Union postale tniverselle
=. SS S ae (7 a oa
We St
tie Be ate : Mu
r fa r
di e
Bd re
ff e
T R E E S E e e
= « ie seated FT Ps 3 corey ate . Zork, - - aT a
UNO MCOMUU MIU MOODSU MOT MLV AA MMOH UML MM TNT Mm MTT S TOUR YAU PAV RUM aM AUT AGMA RUUAA OM MTU VMN CRT RUT A MM MUM CYP
B D
e e
PE LE
S U S E a e
Exp. Willmann
“CHINA” HAND-OVERPRINTED POSTAL STATIONERY CARD
2 DECEMBER 1901
Businessman’s mail, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to his sister at Berlin, Germany.
64-day transit time.
Anival Postmark:
“Berlin, 4 February 1902”
10 Pfennig.. UPU International Postcard-Rate.
Less than five examples known.
123
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES TIENTSIN Type Ill .. “China” Hand-Overprinted Issue 1901
3 Pfg. = 10 Pfg. =
DOMESTIC DOMESTIC SINGLE - WEIGHT PRINTED MATTER RATE LETTER-RATE 420 Ptg. = Exp. Bothe BPP/Jakubek Exp. Richter, W. Brandes PARCEL POST RATE
Cert. Dr. Stever
20 Pfg. = UPU INTERNATIONAL
SINGLE-WEIGHT LETTER-RATE Exp. Mansfeld/Grobe/Brett!
3 MARCH 1901
Exp.Jakubek
Civilian German military or government __Attival Postmark: 124 employee mail, postmarked at the Tientsin Cassel, 13 April 1901
Military Field Post Office, sent to Cassel, Germany. 10 Pfennig.. 41- 1-day transit time UPU intemationai Postcard-Rate
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES PEKING Type Ill .. “China” Hand-Overprinted Issue 1901
Although most “China” hand-overprinted stamps were distributed at Tientsin, this example verifies that
HAND-OVERPRINTED STAMPS WERE POSSIBLY ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE ‘PEKING’ POST OFFICE.
Signed: Dietrich & Schmidt
Cert. Dr. Lantelme
10 PFG. “CHINA” HAND-OVERPRINT PAIR USAGE ON MIXED-FRANKED REGISTERED MAIL
20 JUNE 1901
Mixed franking registered cover, postmarked at Peking, sent by “Paymaster Frost” of the Imperial 1* East Asiatic Infantry Regiment, 2" Battalion,
to Dresden, Germany 44-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark:
“Dresden,
3 August 1901”
60 Pfennig.. 40 Pfg.. 2°? weight-level (30 grams) UPU International Letier-Rate +
20 Pfg.. Registration Fee
Only known usage through the ‘Peking’ Post Office. 125
PROVISIONAL STAMP USAGES Type IV .. Kiautschou ‘Yachi' Series Usage
PEKING
1901
“TYPE IV” PROVISIONALS WERE NON-OVERPRINTED ‘YACHT’ SERIES STAMPS FROM GERMAN KIAUTSCHOU,
supplied by the German Postal Administration at Shanghai,
FOR USE AT THE GERMAN POST OFFICE AT PEKING to alleviate the shortage of stamps caused by heavy
military-personnel mail usage.
Pi ps
G2 0
$ P G P e
Jp oh
| | |
SOLDIER'S : POSTCARD MAIL
16 SEPTEMBER 1901
Fieldpost card, endorsed
“Through the Naval Post Office”, with
indication of
sender's name and unit, postmarked at
Peking, sent to LGbeck, Germany. 5 Pfennig.. Be SS
Concession : posicard-raie for
German military a
personnel in China. is ae ee ee ae —= a (alae ori perenne ee ee ee ee ee
SS ee ee
ee — eee eee = aac
Exp. Dr. Stever
POSTAL-RESPONSE CARD MAIL
Deutfhe Reichspoft 7 4 9 AUGUST 1901
= Pofttarte a } | Response portion ofa
aH Germany-origin (2intwort) Reichspost postal reply
card set, postmarked at Peking, and returned to
Erlau, Germany. 32-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: “Erlau (Saxony),
Ei. 2 10 September 1901” fei OF oe Lets <4 es
| aa. 2 V = | 5+5 Pig. = 10 Ptg..
103 OLS eM Me beg ly e UPU International | . : Ei (ee OL Le Posicard-Rate
(not Fieldpost valid for reduced rate of 5 Pfg., since
sender did not indicate his
name or military uni) Cert. Dr. Lantelme
126
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS “Pisa” Provisional
(June - October 1902)
Chartered by the German Ministry of War fo transport returning troops from China, the Steamer “Pisa” (Imperial German Naval Ship No. 2)
during the period of 26 June- 4 October 1902
had no postage stamps to frank the mail written or mailed by the troops on-board, resulting in such mail being “Cash-Paid” and endorsed
“Frei 5" covering the German domestic postcard-rate.
UPON ARRIVAL IN GERMANY, THE MAIL WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NAVAL POST OFFICE AT BERLIN, WHICH AFFIXED POSTAGE, POSTMARKED SUCH WITH A
“DIENSTMARKE"” (“Dm" = “On Service”) POSTMARK AND PLACED SUCH INTO THE GERMAN POSTAL SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY.
\ ay
UNION POSTALE Ul UNIVERSELLE.
EARLIEST oe
PROVISIONAL pe han EN 4
USAGE 2 ORrOST-CARD — _ CARTE POSTAL}
7 JULY 1902 ,
View-card
postmarked on- board ship, sent
to Schroda, (near Posen), Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Schroda,
16 July 1902”
5 Pfennig..
German colonial posicard-rate.
LATEST PROVISIONAL USAGE
25 SEPTEMBER 1902
View-card,
posimarked
on-board ship, sent
to Gaustadt (near Bamberg), Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Gaustadt,
6 October 1902”
5 Piennig.. German colonial posicard-rate.
sare 127
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS Gunboat “SMS (HMS) Iitis” May 1899 - September 1914
CAPTURE OF THE CHINESE FORTS AT TAKU (TONGKU) PERMITTING ALLIED SHIPS TO ENTER TAKU BAY, DISCHARGE TROOPS & MATERIEL DURING ASSEMBLY OF
‘SMS ilitis’ was scuttled by her crew at Tsingtau on 29 September 1914 to
German Gunboat ‘SMS Ilifis’ long effective service in China included
THE INTERNATIONAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO PUT DOWN THE ‘BOXER UPRISING’ IN NORTH CHINA.
avoid capture by the invading Japanese Forces in World War |.
“SMS Ilitis”
“German Naval
Ship Post Office No. 20”
Tsingtau 23 August 1900 (2°¢ Yangtze River
Vayage)
View-card, postmarked on- board sent to
Hanau, Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Hanau,
27 September 1900”
5 Pfennig.. German colonial
postcard-rate.
POST CARD.
‘K ru
se
& €o ,
Ho ng
ko ng
.
Hong Kong
17 October 1904 UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE |
(9 Coastal Voyage) POST CARD. | _View-card, postmarked
on-board, sent to
Dortmund, Germany.
| Arrival Postmark:
“ | “Dortmund, wing 18 November 1904”
are \ 5 Pfennig.. 3 5 4 ay German colonial \% 7 posicard-rate.
128
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS Gunboat “HMS Luchs" September 1900 - July 1914
“HMS Luchs”
German Naval
Ship Post Office No.3”
2 AUGUST 1900
Cover, postmarked on board,
sent to Kiel, Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Kiel, 12 August 1900”
= “HMS Luchs”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.3”
Pek | ae Cecilia Geers C/ Onive
(Hong Kong) 23 NOVEMBER 1900
Free-frank, field post view card, posimarked
on board, sent to
Zwickau,
Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Lwickay,
23 December.1900”
129
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS
Gunboat “HMS Jaguar” November 1899 - July 1914
“HMS Jaguar”
German Navai Ship Post Office No. 45”
Photo of Imperial German Gunboat
“HMS Jaguar”
“HMS Jaguar”
German Naval Ship Post Office No. 45”
(Yangize River) 3 19 JANUARY 1901
Free-frank, field post form card, postmarked
on board, sent to Wiesbaden
Germany
Arrival Postmark: “Wiesbaden,
21 February 1901”
130
S a
sF aS EE NE S a
r +
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS
Light Cruiser “HMS Gefion” April 1898 - June 1905
sc land u.Gefien.
dampf.
“HMS Gefion”
German Naval Ship Post Office No. 38”
lilustration Card of Light Cruiser | aa “HMS Gefion” aaa
f An
ae oh ea
f ee 1 . ; ie Be ir . & 1
| th ‘vad - eee of” 2 é Cat is os :
! nia 0 nual JAAD Cvteens y oi. fn 4 >
alt nt a Me inn as. tat4 any Me fo ia ok ean jenite ee | |
oo ee * mer il hn Pork ifth Caaetian ae atid Pram 2) te Sec a race ee det ie
“HMS Gefion”
German Naval Ship Post Office No. 38”
17 MARCH 1901
Free-frank, field post cover, postmarked on board, sent to
Berlin,
Germany
131
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS Light Cruisers “HMS Seeadler” & “HMS Bussard”
“HMS
Seeadler"
German Naval Ship Post Office No.11”
Period of Activity: August 1900 - June 1905
29 AUGUST 1901
Free-frank, field post cover, posimarked on board, sent to Wilhelmshaven,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: “Wilhelmshaven, 5 October 1901”
Exp. Willmann
“HMS Bussard”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.51”
Period of Activity: November 1901 - February 1904
6 JUNE 1901
Free-frank, field post
cover, postmarked on board, sent to Wilhelmshaven,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Wilhelmshaven,
15 July 1901” 132
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS
Light Cruiser “HMS Geier” September 1901 - September 1904
“HMS Geier”
German Naval Ship Post Office No. 36”
23 OCTOBER 1900
Free-frank, field post view card, postmarked
on board, sent to Hamburg-Bergedorf,
Germany Arrival Postmark:
a Bergedorf, ‘ ne afi an hee et wae io peer en bangaa es hecaaeivety ee Mem, Vo kee Mihi
30 November 1900” (Gteage und hon Hil recraberdegeteonese Y OrrzeOit & 2 - ers
“HMS Geier”
Deutfche Reichspoft
German Naval Ship Post Office No. 36”
(Shanghai)
14 FEBRUARY 1901
Free-frank, field post
form card, postmarked on board, sent to
Wiesbaden, Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Wiesbaden,
21 March 1901”
133
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS
“HMS Schwalbe”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.17”
18 OCTOBER 1900
Free-frank, field post form card,
postmarked on board, sent to
Friedrichsort,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: “Friedrichsort,
15 November 1900”
Light Cruiser “HMS Schwalbe" September 1900 - August 1902
Deutfche Reichspoff. (Ke DEUTER
Seld-Pofttarte A iaenee [ ScuiFrsrosr |
“HMS Schwalbe”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.17”
22 APRIL 1901
Free-frank, field post form card, postmarked
on board, sent to libeck, Germany
134
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS Heavy Cruiser “HMS Furst Bismarck" September 1901 - September 1908
“HMS
Furst Bismarck”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.43”
(Shan-Hai-Kuan) 6 OCTOBER 1900
Free-frank, field post form card, postmarked
on board, sent to
Germany
Arrival Postmark: “(Berlin)
15 November 1900” German Naval Ship Post Office No.43”
5 MARCH 1902
Cover, postmarked on board, sent to the “Deutsche Bank”
Berlin, Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse) “(Berlin),
4 April 1902”
16 Pfennig.. Domestic German
letter-rate for occupation- period mail to Germany 135
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS
Heavy Cruisers “HMS Kaiserin Augusta” & “HMS Hansa"
“HMS Kaiserin Augusta”
German Naval Ship as J acta RB eich svott
Post Office No.15” oe {be <N rich s py {f |
Seld-Pofttarte
Period of Activity: April 1898 -
December 1901
16 SEPTEMBER 1901 et
Free-frank, field post
form card, postmarked
on board, sent to Frankfurt/Main,
Germany
De Donne, ue Arrival Postmark: (Stroke ad Gousauamer)
“Frankfurt/Main, : 29 October 1900” eee =
“HMS Hansa”
German Naval Ship Post Office No.46”
Period of Activity: October 1899 -
July 1906
18 SEPTEMBER 1900
Free-frank, field post cover, postmarked
on board, sent to
Kiel,
Germany
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Kiel,
27 December 1900” — 136
GERMAN NAVAL SHIPS IN CHINESE WATERS Printed-Matter Mail Mail to German Naval Ships in Chinese Waters From Shanghai
“HMS Kaiserin Augusta”
Period of Activity: April 1898 -
December 1901
(Shanghai) 9 APRIL 1901
“Der Osfasiatische Lioyd” Cover,
postmarked at Shanghai, sent to
“HMS Kaiserin Augusta”
3 Pfennig.. Printed-matter rate
for mail io 50 grams Between German
land or seas post offices in China {28 August 1886 —
1 October 1905)
s ue AD At i f: : E : ne
SR He PENS RINE RN RP aN ml Sy TAT ra one
Druchksache. S.M.S. ,,Kaiserin Augusta ‘‘
“HMS liltis”
Period of Activity: May 1899 -
September 1914
(Shanghai) 2 October 1906
“Der Ostasiatische Lloyd” Cover, posimarked at
Shanghai, sent to “HMS Iilfis”
2 Cenfs..
Printed-matter rate
for maii fo
100 grams between German
land or seas post
offices in China
(1 October 1905 - 16 March 1917)
137
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906
Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Langfang
“Langfang”, located halfway between Peking and Yangfsun on the strategically important Peking-Taku Railway Line, became a German
military base, without a fieldpost station,
RESULTING IN MAIL BEING TRANSFERED TO THE GERMAN POST OFFICES AT, INITIALLY, TIENTSIN AND, LATER, TO PEKING FOR HANDLING.
(17 AUGUST 1901)
Free-frank Chinese UPU
view-card, written by
“Private Link, Ope ee fae oe on a 4» Company, “2°! | Gs Union Postale Universelle. = 1, oJ = th SEB ae FR py. - ae)
Asiatic Occupation | tige | Brigade”, | g .
endorsed “Langfang”,
sentto “Private Reinke, =
lc Guard Headquarters” at E |
Pai-tai-ho. ' 7 |
Unit Validation Cachet: be Used to postmark mail ig : sent between German Re i
Military Bases ess
through the German Post :
Office in China. _ ee
posicard-rate valid for Exp Steuer BPP
military occupation troop mail
25 NOVEMBER 1905
PHOTO OF THE COMMEMORATIVE MEMORIAL AT “LANGFANG”
RECOGNIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE GERMAN MILITARY BASE
View-card sent toa soldier in the 34 Company, 2" Regiment, East
Asiatic Occupation Brigade at
Shanhaikuan. 138
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Peking
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
Having suppressed the ‘Boxer Society’ in North China by 1 February 1901, twelve allied nations signed a Peace Accord on 2? May 1901 calling for punishment and compensation from the Chinese Government for supporting the ‘Boxer Society’ and the
uprising to the effect of USS 700 million indemnification payable over forly years, occupation of North China until 30 June 1904, and with
FOREIGN GARRIOSNS REMAINING IN CHINAIN SELECTED AREAS IN PERPETUITY.
FOR THE GERMAN OCCUPATION BRIGADE, POSTAGE WAS NO LONGER FREE but subject to German-Post-Office in China or Domestic Germany rates.
11 JUNE 1904
UPU view-card,
written by “Lieufenant ie eeuite von Winckler of the POSTKARTE —REt German Legation Carte postale + Union
Guard”, ! sent fo Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“2™ Battalion, 2°4 infantry Regiment,
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade”
Arrival Postmark:
“Nurmberg, ... July 1904”
5 Pfennig.. German Domestic |
Posicard-Rate a a Ean eee a lane SE
26 NOVEMBER 1906
Printed-matter cover, sent to Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
Unit Validation Cachet: “2°49 Battalion, 2°
Infaniry Regiment, East Asiatic Occupation
Brigade”
Arrival Postmark: “Augsburg,
8 January 1907”
2 Cents.. German printed-
matter raie for mail up fo 100 grams. 9139
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1904
Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Peking
East Asiafic Occupation Brigade German Legation Guard
THE GERMAN LEGATION GUARD HAD ITS OWN MAIL
VALIDATION CACHET MARKING,
validating ovt-going mail.
Until 30 April 1906, the guard consisted of soldiers of the ‘East Asiatic Occupation Brigade’ with marines from the naval detachment stationed al Peking
replacing them until 30 June 1908.
German Legation Mail Seal
1 APRIL 1908 | __ _Post-Karte “Ube Levelezi-Lap — Post card — Briefkaart
. . | Breikort — Carte postale UPU view-card, written Cartolina postale — ‘larjeta postal by a guard member. | Dopisnice — Karta Korespondencyjna
. Correspondenzkarte — Dopisnica routed _ Weltpostverein ~
‘Via Siberia’, Union postale universells — Unicne postate universal ; is OTRPHITOR Lich \o.
sent to Dellwig, ee] fl Germany. re
Validation Cachet: : “Mail Validation Mark .. | 1 & : Sees
Legation StaffGuard” |. eel 2. oe eae oa ee ee ace 2
2 Cents.. | | : German Domestic
Posicard-Rate
equivalent (5 Pfg.)
a Priel J sce ZA i
i ‘ Moe 6 MARCH 1907
e / <3 i : ae Ser ie ase i : .
/ Carte postale — Postkarte — Post Card \ Cartolina postalé — Dopisnice ~ Levelezé-Lap —-Karta k encyjiia = Brietkaart
Corresponderizkarte — “Tarjeta na ~— Byefkort + Brev! Oraperto, fee
View-card wiitien by a | guard member, sent to
Bad Reichenhall, Bavaria,
we Germany
: Validation Cachet: “Mail Validation Mark
Legation Staff Guard”
Arrival Postmark:
“Bad Reichenhall, 15 April 1907
Ve rl ag
Ca rl
We ll f) ,
Ti en ts in
Sa 2 Cents.. os S German Domestic
> ao or Postcard-Rate
equivalent (5 Pig.} ss 140
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Mail Through the German Post Office in China
‘German Legation Mail’
MAIL SENT BETWEEN GERMAN CONSULATES OR LEGATION WITHIN CHINA WERE FREE-FRANK THROUGH THE
GERMAN POST OFFICE NETWORK,
Peking — Shanghai
15 JANUARY 1902
Registered free-frank official German legation mail cover, postmarked at Peking,
sent to the consulate at Shanghai.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Shanghai, Deutsche Post, 22 January 1902”
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Shanhaikuan
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade (Forerunner Supplementary Postmark)
Located along the Yellow Sea Coast with a rail line from Tongku to Northeastern China, ‘Shanhaikuan’' had a
short-lived German Post Office experiencing severe winter conditions in 1901-1902 resulting in the
POST OFFICE BEING TRANSFERRING SOUTHWARD BY TWENTY KILOMETERS TO ‘TSCHINGWANGTAU'’, REOPENING IN MARCH 1901.
Usage:
1 September -
30 November 1901
9 SEPTEMBER 1901
Soldier's cover, non- acceptance of free- franking effective
September 1, resulting in postage due of 20
Pfennig from recipient in St. Johann, Saar. 23-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: “Tongku,
9 September 1901” “St, Johann (Saar) 10 October 1901”
20 Pfennig Postage Due.. 10 Pig Colonial Letier Rate +
10 Pfg. Penalty 16 OCTOBER 1901
aor — View-card - : Bie ice ore (Field Marshall's
Asbestos-Built Quarters)
postmarked Schanhaikuan, transit | Tongku, sent to Leipzig, 47-day transit time.
Unit Validation Endorsement: “Bh Company, 1% East Asiatic
Occupation Regiment”
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: | “Tongku, —
17 October 1901” “Leipzig-Volkmarsdorf, 2
December 1901”
5 Pfennig.. Colonial
Posicard-Rate. 143
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906
Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Shanhaikwan East Asiatic Occupation Brigade (1 March - 31 October 1902)
Usage:
1 March - 31 October 1901
15 SEPTEMBER 1902
Unfranked postage-due view-card (Tientsin Fort),
written at Peitaho, postmarked at
Schanhaikwan, sent to Reichenbach, Germany.
Unit Validation Endorsement:
“5th Company, 2°4 East Asiatic Occupation
Regiment”
Arrival Postmark:
“Reichenbach (Odenwald),
After the severe winter of 1901-1902, the ‘Shanhaikwan’ Post Office
reopened in March 1902, now using a dated postmark having the spelling “SchanhaiKWAN” versus “SchanhaiKUAN” used in the earlier forerunner postmark.
THIS SHORT-LIVED POST OFFICE CLOSED AT THE END OF OCTOBER 1902.
27 August 1902”
10 Pfennig Postage Due..
5 Pig valid Cerl Stever
postcard-rate
+5 hay Renay 22 JULY 1902
View-card (Chinese Soldiers)
posimarked
ramet!
Schanhaikwan, sent to
Montpellier, France,
Unit Validation
Endorsement:
“Finance Office,
Pa fe. : 34 Battalion, 1s!
Me if, “Ab. aan i : Oe East Asiatic Occupation te > Brigade”
yo Arrival Postmark: he LZ Meer boc ee “Montpellier Herault, 31
September 1902” Vibe oy thé tal we Lh.
10 Pfennig.. UPU Intemational Postcard-Rate. 144
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Shanghai
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
31 August 1901’ was the end of the “Boxer Uprising ——
Intervention” by the eS allies, resulting in
cessation of the “free
franking” postal concession for
military rank & file German Servicemen.
EFFECTIVE
‘1T SEPTEMBER 1901’, ALL SOLDIERS’ MAIL WAS SUBJECT TO
GERMAN COLONIAL = HOMELAND POSTAL
RATES.
Cover postmarked at. Shanghai, with routing
endorsement “Through the Naval Post
Office”, sent to Hohenhasseln,
Germany.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“18! Battalion, Ist Infantry Regiment"
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hohenhammelin,
9 December 1901”
iE ean rrennig
colonial 145
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Shanghai
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
COMMEMORATIVE SUPPLEMENTARY MARKING “Deutsches Lager .. Shanghai”
TO COMMENORATE FORMATION OF THE 15 EAST ASIATIC REGIMENT & ACTIVITY IN CHINA DURING THE PERIOD OF 16 JULY 1900-16 JULY 1902, A CELEBRATION
TOOK PLACE AT THE REGIMENT'S SHANGHAI BASE.. “Zi-KA-WEI"
Commemorative postcards illustrating the ‘Kaiser’ were donated by the German Printing Office for the event with a commemorative supplementary posimark
applied to postcards sent through the mail.
ee
Exp Mansfeld/Cert. Bothe BPP
16 JULY 1902 ZUR ERINNERUNU
th. Jeli oo — ami WSS.
Local mail usage of the commemorative postcard with supplementary marking..
“Deutsches Lager”
Shanghai FPeewea Lace.
5 Pfennig.. Postcard rate for mail sent through
German Post Offices in China
Reverse
“we die Foradirsang des 1. Sits. tel -Rraineniys
(| Sditiapefest ira Morecrbisttshaces ex. Batadioos
146
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tientsin
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade Official Military Mail
7 FEBRUARY 1902
“Militaria” endorsed free-frank official-mail
cover, _
postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Military Headquarters at Berlin, Germany.
46-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet: (Reverse) |
“Medical Office of the East Asiatic Occupation
Brigade"
Anival Postmark:
(Reverse)
25 March 1902”
10 Pfennig.. German colonial
letter-rate.
Exp Dr. Stever 147
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tientsin
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade Registered Headquarters Mail
16 NOVEMBER 1901
Registered cover, sent through the Naval Post Office at Berlin, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Hamburg, Germany.
Unit Validation Cachet: “Headquarters of the
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hamburg, 5 January 1902”
40 Pfennig.. 20 Pfg.. Single-Weight
(15 grams)
UPU International Letier-Rate + 148
20 Pfig.. Registration Fee
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tientsin
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
MAIL SENT TO OTHER-THAN-GERMANY COUNTRIES WAS SUBJECT TO UPU INTERNATIONAL RATES
with postage due in the event mail was short-franked.
T° Mimi Sita af
ae, We ARBESETZ, Be itape |
27 NOVEMBER 1903
Short-franked cover, postmarked at Tientsin sent to Geneva, Switzerland, with postage due & penalty upon receipt
to cover the 10 Pfennig short-franking. 23-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet: “East Asiatic Occupation Brigade, 18 Battalion, 2°4 Infantry Regiment"
Receival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Geneva Facteurs, 20 December 1903”
10 Pfennig.. Should have been 20 Pfennig to cover the
UPU International Single-Weight (20 grams) Letter-Rate,
resulting in 25 Centimes Postage Due with Penalty paid by the recipient.
One of two postage due covers known.
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906
Tientsin
SOLDIERS’ MAIL DURING THE OCCUPATION PERIOD CONTINUED TO REQUIRE MILITARY UNIT VALIDATION IDENTIFICATION
BY ENDORSEMENT OR BY CACHET MARKING.
13 FEBRUARY 1902
Soldier's Cover,
postmarked at Tienfsin, sent to Frankfurt (Main),
Germany. 44-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“East Asiatic Occupation Brigade,
Clothing Depot"
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Frankfurt (Main), 29 March 1902”
10 Pfennig... Single-weight
(20 grarns)
German Colonial
Letter-Rate
| | OSTAS.BE
S, oo ag
SCXLEIDUNG. eri A
ee
S p a a a
ae [oF
e e S s
Ve Fe te
ro e
Bae a
a
—
_— i t
a s =
=
a
le mi Re
—
Eo
LID a ‘ii
Mie: yee
fae L Ligos
a
pthafm 2 A
Signed Havenstein
24 NOVEMBER 1904
Soldier's mail using a Japanese-printed UPU postcard, postmarked
at Tienfsin, sent to Gotha, Germany. 41-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet: “East Asiatic
Occupation Brigade, Headquarters,
2"¢ Infantry Regiment”
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Gotha, 4 January 1905”
5 Pfennig.. German Colonial
Posicard-Rateq BQ
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tientsin
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
‘EAST ASIATIC OCCUPATION BRIGADE .. MOBILE ARTILLERY BATTERY’ MAIL
2 NOVEMBER 1901
pif At Mowe in fO- Aatveiee
DpeurscoHse RBicHsPostT. Former ‘Fieldpost
Form Card’, postmarked at
Tientsin, endorsed
“To be forwarded
through the Naval Post Office”, re-directed to
Chemnitz, Germany. 56-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“East Asiatic Occupation Brigade,
Mobile Artillery”
Arrival Postmark:
“Chemnitz,
28 December 1901”
5 Pfennig.. Exp. Mansfeld BPP
German Colonial Postcard-Rate
24 FEBRUARY 1902
Japanese-printed UPU postcard, postmarked
at Tientsin, sent to Berlin, Germany.
44-day transit time.
Unit Validation Cachet:
“East Asiatic
Occupation Brigade, Mobile Artillery”
Arrival Postmark: “(Berlin) 38,
9 April 1902” 5 Pfennig..
German Colonial
Posicard-Rale.
151
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tientsin
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
SOLDIERS’ MAIL USING “CHINA” OVERPRINTED POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS
10 APRIL 1902
Soldier's mail, ostmarked at . Gacy
tlentsin, endorsed Deutfhe Keicdspoft
sent to
“General von Doftfarte
Salzmann” at Wesel,
Germany. An
47-day transit time.
Unit Validation Lh
Cachet: “East Asiatic Or
Occupation Brigade, 266 ss
Medical Office” oO ni
ice Arrival Postmark: cf Sb
“Wesel, “aga | cb] * —<
27 May 1902 2 =
5 Pfennig.. = German Colonial Hm
Postcard-Rate
1 FEBRUARY 1904
Soldier's mail,
losras. ne GADE Deu abot at Dardun, sont , ee a a ue Mv ; ; enrsin, seni To SYURBAT 3 hae RE 7MTS.! Doftfarte Breslau, Germany.
; 23-day transit time
(‘Via Siberia’ Routed Mail)
Unit Validation Cachet: “East Asiatic
Occupation Brigade, 2°49 Battalion, 1% Infantry
Regiment"
Arrival Postmark:
“Breslau,
24 February 1904”
5 Pfennig.. German Colonial
Postcard-Rate.
: , = 152
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tongku
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade Official Military Mail
“TONGKU", A PORT CITY, ”
WAS THE PRIMARY GE SUPPLY ROUTE FOR 7" THE OCCUPATION / ~~
BRIGADE IN i —_ NORTHERN CHINA. :
2 OCTOBER 1902
Free-frank “Militaria”
Endorsed Official Mail, postmarked at Tongku, sent to headquarters
at Tienfsin. Unit Validation Cachet:
(Reverse)
“East Asiatic Occupation Brigade,
Headquarters" 153
1 September 19701 — 30 June 1906 OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Tongku Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
11 DECEMBER 1901
Soldier's view-card mail, postmarked at
Tongku, sent to Eisenach, Germany. 39-day transit time.
Unit Validation i Endorsement: | “East Asiatic |
Occupation Brigade,
Police a re pe NA Se hd lols satan connie
Arrival Postmark:
“Eisenach,
19 January1902”
5 Pfennig.. German Colonial
Posicard-Raie ;
Lis Union Postale Uni ; nion Postale Universelle 8 AUGUST 1904 CARTE POSTALEA
Soldier's view-card mail, postmarked at
Tongku, sent to Gmiind, Wiurttemberg, Germany.
Unit Validation
| Endorsement:
“6th Battalion, | 2 Infantry Regiment”
|
| Arrival Postmark:
“Gmind,
22 September 1904”
5 Pfennig.. German Colonial Postcard-Rate.
154
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906
Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tschinwangtau
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade (Chin Wang Tao)
Located about twenty kilometers south of Schanhaikwan, a railway junction, on the coast, Tschingwangtau's harbor was mostly ice-free
during the winter ... AN IMPORTANT GERMAN-FORCES POST-BOXER-WAR & OCCUPATION-PERIOD |
LOCATION HAVING AN OPERATIONAL GERMAN POST OFFICE BETWEEN 1901-1906.
q
USAGE: 1 December 1901- Example used ona _ 30 January 1702 package card
27 DECEMBER 1901
View-card written by “Bugler Mayr” of the 1* Regiment, 7" Company, German Occupation Force, postmarked at “Chin Wang Tao",
sent to Coblenz, Germany, by way of the Naval Post Office at Berlin. 39-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark:
“Coblenz, 4 February 1902”
5 Pfennig.. 155 German Colonial Postcard-Raie.
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Tschinwangtau
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade (Chin Wang Tao)
USAGE: 15 January 1902 —-
10 March 1906
30 DECEMBER 1902
Cover, postmarked at
Tschinwangiau,
sent to Colditz, Germany.
44-day transit time.
10 Pfennig.. German Colonial Single-Weight
(20 grams) Leifer-Rate
22 JANUARY 1902
View-card, postmarked at Tschinwangftau, sent
to Leipzig, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Leipzig, | 1 March (1902)”
§ Pfennig..
German Colonial
Postcard-Rate
China.
Aqstkarte. — Weltpostverein. 28 JANUARY 1906 poytale, — Union postale universelle.
Post card
View-card, 4 postmarked at
Tschinwangiau, sent to
Iburg, Germany.
Arrival Postmark: “Saarburg,
31 January 1906”
2 Cents. =
5 Pfennig... German Colonial
Posicard-Rate cme Copyright. . 1 5 6
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL 17 July 1901 - 30 April 1906 Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China Yangtsun
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade oP’ Liautung
Peking? fr ot Guif
@, Yangisun OS sg tnhaliasan
Between September 1900 — April 1901,. ents # tenante aha 2
German Military Fieldpost Station No.3 waslocated | (¢ . ob Peotingu 2 i.
at the important railway center at “Yangtsun’”. oTingschou y Te N ie ; oO saan
ONCE A PEACE TREATY WITH CHINA HAD BEEN SIGNED, < Fschili HERETOFORE ‘GERMAN MILITARY FIELDPOST STATION NO. 3’ CLOSED he
RESULTING IN OCCUPATION FORCES’ MAIL FROM YANGTSUN BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE GERMAN
IMPERIAL POST OFFICE AT TIENTSIN.
9 SEPTEMBER 1902
Soldier's registered cover written at Yangtsun, hand-endorsed registration-label “Yangisun’",
transferred to the German Post Office at “Tientsin”, where postmarked, sent to Berlin.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“(Berlin Post Office) 58, 22 October, 5 AM”
Unit Validation Endorsement: (Lower left front)
“Lance Corporal Zander, 1 Battalion, 2°¢ Infantry Regiment,
Yangtsun, China”
Franking: 30 Pfennig.. 157
10 Pfg...Letter-mail rate up to 15 grams
+ 20 Pig...Registration Fee
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Peking-Taku Railway
“Imperial German Railway” Post Office Mail (Tschili Province) 1900-1901
During the ‘Boxer Revolt’ hostilities (1900-1901),
‘Tongku/Taku-Tientsin-Peking’ Railway was mosily destroyed with limited use.
Because of its strategic military value, German Forces attempted to rebuild it as quickly as possible. By 15 September 1900, portions of the line between Yangtsun-Tongku/Taku operated again. By December 1900,
most of the line to Peking became operational.
A LOCALLY HARDCARVED WOODEN POSTMARK WAS PREPRARED AND USED BETWEEN OCTOBER 1900 - MARCH 1901, PRIMARILY AS A SECURITY MARK FOR
NON-MILITARY FRANKED MAIL.
of Liautung
Peking Kaiping wit Gulf 2 Om, Yangtsun HD) snenntn @. es
. @ Pr ei-tha-ho
© ay Sa ‘
Fouping 2 Tientsin@s, 2 ~ = *
s"@Paotingu 2 4 Roel . =
°° @ Tingischou
= = 2
y “
USAGE: 17 October 1900 — 25 March 1901 of ane
MARCH 1901
Cover, undated postmark, “Imperial German Railway Mail .. Peking-Taku”
sent to Wiesbaden, Germany
Arrival Postmark:
“Wiesbaden, 18 April 1901”
10 Pfennig.. Single-weight (15 grams) colonial 158
letier-rate for non-military reiated-mail seni fo Germany.
Shantung Railway OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Railway Post Offices & Mail (Shantung Province)
1901-1902
Tschiangling
Considered by the German Government & Occupation Forces in China as
strategically & commercially important, the German-financed- buiit Shantung Railway” Line connected Tsingtau, Kiautschou, with the north-south
Chinese railway line connecting with Tientsin & Peking.
AS THE SHANTUNG RAILWAY (“Schantung Bahn") WAS BEING COMPLETED, SHORT-LIVED GERMAN POSTAL STATIONS AND POST OFFICES
WERE OPENED ALONG THE ROUTE.
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE FUNCTIONAL “Schantung Bahn” WAS THE SECTION TSINGTAU-KAUMI’, WHERE A TRAIN POSTMARK WAS APPLIED TO TRAIN MAIL ALONG WITH THE LOCAL GERMAN POSTAL STATION SUPPLEMENTARY POSTMARK.
14 December 197071 -—
21 March 1902
@ |schingtschoufu
anetry,
Stee eran **eansage, ® *, Schai ‘Bahn ; s * nung oe ww ae @Kaurmi le w o ge Stagg oth y
; e =
or «3 Kiautschou
Yellow Sea FE ater K. Heimann, 2002
Seale
a0 100
kilometers 150 o
v7
" h s s e c u u n s as
ns ee
ey ,
Deutfche Reichspoft
Dofttarte
First day usage of the “Tschiangling” Postmark together on train mail having the “Tsingfau-Kaumi” Train Postmark.
24 JANUARY 1902
Postal stationery card mailed on-
board “Train No. 2” on the
Kaumi (eastward) direction route, with
supplementary postmark
“Tschiangling" and train postmark
“Tsingtau-Kaumi”"
applied at Tschiangling, sent to
recipient (general delivery)
at Kaumi.
Arrival Postmark:
“Kaumi,
26 January 1902”
5 Pfennig.. Posicard-rate for
inner-China mail sent
between German
post offices. 159
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Shantung Railway Railway Post Offices & Mail (Shantung Province)
1902
Nanliu
‘NANLIU” WAS THE NEXT POSTAL STATION TO BE OPENED ON THE SHANTUNG RAILWAY LINE AFTER “TSCHIANGLING” where its
supplementary postmark was also applied to the train postmark for
mail accepted at that German postal station.
GTAU = AS BAHNPOST*C) -ouG 2 =
27/2 .02
USAGE: USAGE
21 March- 24 January - 1 June 1902 1 June 1902
SSS SS ———— Exp Stever
25 APRIL 1902
Postal stationery card mailed on-board “Train No. 2” on the Kaumi (eastward) direction route, with supplementary
postmark “Nanliu” and train postmark “Tsingtau-Kaumi” applied at Nanliu, sent to Frankfurt, Germany.
Arrival Postmark:
“Frankfurt,
2 June 1902”
10 Pfennig.. UPU International Postcard-Raie.
160
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Shantung Railway Railway Post Offices & Mail (Shantung Province)
1903 Tschingtschoufu
EAST-BOUND MAIL DIRECTION ‘TSINGTAU' (KIAUTSCHOU PROTECTORATE TERRITORY)
USAGE: USAGE 15 June - 2 June 1902-
31 October 1903 1 November 19704
Ex Bothe
15 NOVEMBER 1903
Postal reply-card set, mailed on-board “Train No. 1” on the Weihsien (eastward) direction route, with
supplementary “Tschingfschoufu" Postmark & train postmark “Tsingfau-Weihsien”
applied at Tschingtschoufu, sent to Weihsien.
_ Arrival Postmark:
“Weihsien, 15 November 1903”
10 Pfennig.. UPU International Postcard-Rate
Response Card .. Weihsien to Tschingischoufu
161
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Shantung Railway
Railway Post Offices & Mail (Shantung Province) 1903
Tschingtschoufu
EAST-BOUND MAIL TO TSINGTAU (KIAUTSCHOU PROTECTORATE TERRITORY)
Q RU ~ Wer (© BAUNPOST %p » ZUG 1
USAGE: USAGE 15 June - 2 June 1902-
31 October 1903 1 November 1904
Exp Kilian
3 SEPTEMBER 1903
Cover mailed on-board “Train No. 1” on the Tsingtau (eastward) direction route, with supplementary “Tschingtschoufu” Postmark
and train postmark “Tsingtau-Weihsien” applied at Tschingtschoufu, sent to Tsingfau
(general delivery).
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Tsingtau, Kiautschou, 4 September 1903”
10 Piennig.. Single-weight (20 grams) letter-rate sent
between German Post Offices in China 162
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Shantung Railway Railway Post Offices & Mail (Shantung Province)
1903-1904 Tschoutsun
AN ADDITIONAL POSTAL STATION TO BE OPENED ON THE SHANTUNG RAILWAY LINE AFTER “TSCHINGTSCHOUFU" WAS “TSCHOUTSUN” where
its supplementary postmark was applied to in-bound or out-bound mail.
15 November 1903 - 15 January 19704
1 JANUARY 1904
Postal stationery response card postmarked at Tschingtschoufu, and returned to sender
at Tschoutsun.
Arrival Postmark:
“Tschoutsun, German Post Office” (undated)
10 Pfennig.. UPU International Postcard-Rate. 163
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Railway Post Offices & Mail
1904-1914 Tsinanfu
“TSINANFU" WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE SHANTUNG (SCHANTUNG) PROVINCE, AN IMPORTANT RAILWAY JUNCTION AT THE END OF THE SHANTUNG RAILWAY
AND INTERSECTION WITH THE PUKOW-TIENTSIN RAILWAY, WITH AN ESTABLISHED GERMAN POST OFFICE.
On 1 October 1905, a monetary change from Marks/Pfennigs to Mexican Dollars/Cents took effect in China resulting in German postage being overprinied
Shantung Railway
(Shantung Province)
in “Dollars” or “Cents”.
17 APRIL 1912
Postal stationery
card, postmarked on “Train 2” of the
Tsingtav- Tsinanfu Line, routed “Via Siberia” to
Rastatl, Baden, Germany.
2 Cenis...
German
domestic
postcard-rate valid
1 July 1908 - 9. September
1915.
pd TSN LO eaunpost 9 : = i “ © LUG 1
USAGE:
1 November 1904 - 23 August 1914
<p ~ TS7p AR / Le saunpost wn WG 2
USAGE:
1 November 1904 —-
23 August 19714 7 February 1906
Exp Bothe
Doftfarte
(Strape ter Pousnamnuer)-
164
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Ost-Asiatische Linie German Seapost (East Asiatic Line)
The German ‘Easf-Asiatic Main Line’ serviced routes to Germany using a
variety of ships. After 1900, ‘The Eas? Asiatic Line’ operated ... EACH LINE HAVING DIFFERENT LETTER-INDICATORS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE
SHIP POSTMARKS DESIGNATING THE VESSEL APPLICABLE DURING A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD.
cHiE SEm "gst “S CTASIATISCHE %
HAUPTLINIE , 2619 4
06
EAST ASIATIC MAIN LINE
28 JUNE 19702 (Postmark ‘f = “Prinzregent Luifpold”)
Cover, mailed & postmarked aboard ship, sent to Berlin- Cahrlottenburg,
Germany. Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Charlottenburg, 30 June 1902”
20 Pfennig... UPU International
Single-Weight (15 grams)
Letter-Rate.
Ne
EAST ASIATIC LINE
UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
CEYLON (CEYLAN)
POSTCARD 9 AUGUST 1902 (Postmark ‘c’ = “Princess irene")
View-card of Ceylon, postmarked & mailed
eae aboard ship, sent to
eye eee eee Med WAL ANANZI, a ae eee Flensburg, Germany.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: “Columbo,
8 August 1902” “Flensburg,
29 August 1902”
10 Pfennig.. UPU International
Postcard-Rate
165
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL River Fleet Postmarks
Yangize River Line
Significant German commercial interests along the Yangtze River Valley
motivated German investment to develop passenger & freight shipping on the river, China’s largest, with river vessel service commencing in 1900 extending
from Shanghai in the east to lischang in the west.
GERMAN POSTAL SERVICE WAS AVAILABLE ON EACH SHIP OF THE FIVE-VESSEL RIVER FLEET WITH POST OFFICES ALSO OPENING AT CITIES ALONG THE RIVER.
Woatg-he i =
Ratha () uh
| )
il c e e
WGYANGTSE-B LINIE 7
Ii i). 06 a
THE YANGTZE RIVER FLEET CONSISTED OF FIVE VESSELS SERVICING MAIL BETWEEN 1903-1912 WITH EACH VESSEL HAVING ITS OWN DEDICATED POSTMARK.
D
VESSEL POSTMARK USAGE PERIOD
SUI-TAI Un-coded 13 July 1903 - November 1906
MAI-DAH “a” 19 October 1703 - 5 November 1912
SUI-AN “b” 25 June 17903 - November 1906
MEI-SHUN i 3 June 1903 - January 1912
MEI-LEE “d” 29 September 1703 - November 1911
166 Un-coded 22 May 1906 ‘a’ 16 December 1903 ‘c’ 25 November 1703 ‘d’ 5 May 1907
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Registered & Inner-China Mail
Yangize River Line
REGISTERED MAIL WAS POSSIBLE on any one of the five Yangtze River Line vessels, where vessel post offices affixed a registration label from a selected German
post office on the route, as applicable,
GEN SEED (2 YAN GTSE-@) LINIE
7/3.10 /
cL WITH SUCH MAIL FIRST BEING PROCESSED AT A GERMAN POST
OFFICE ON THE ROUTE, 99s on ‘ . eptember -
where a transit postmark would be applied. es 1911
9 MAY 1910
Registered cover postmarked aboard the
MEI-LEE Steamer, processed at the German
Post Office at Hankau (transit postmark applied),
sent to Berlin- Charlottenburg.
20-day transit time .. ‘Via Siberia’ Route.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: “Hankau, 12 May 1910”
(Reverse)
“Berlin-Charlottenburg, 29 May 1910”
14 Cents.. 4 Cents.. Single-weight
(20 grams) colonial letier-rate
to Germany + 10 Cents.. Registration fee
Ex Mizuhara a ey eS ee
Postkarte ~ Carte postale oo Weliposiverein —- Union postale universelle f o% ’
Karta korespondencyjna — Korespondentni lis act.
Briefkaart ~ Cartolina postale -’ Post card - Brefko wf
14 MAY 1904
View-card (Wuhv), postmarked —
aboard the MEI-LEE
! Steamer, processed at the German Post Office, sent fo
Shanghdai. 2-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmark: “Shanghai,
16 May 1904”
5 Pfennig .. Postcard-rate for
mail sent between
German Post
Offices in Ching.6 /
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Un-coded Postmark
Yangize River Line (Steamer: “Sui-Tai”)
Postmarks for the Yangtze River Fleet consisted of (1) un-coded and (4) coded versions ...
one dedicated fo each vessel.
GRE SES
Ke ERS,
fe S2\ fav YVANGTSE «“in\ xy YANGTSE cay USAGE: 13 July 1903 - > EINIE November 1706
. 19.77/05 / Seca gaat
a ae Bey
oie td
Exp. Stever
--- MARCH 1905
Cover postmarked aboard the SU/-TA/ Steamer, sent to Leipzig-Neuschdnefeld, Germany.
Approx. 20-day transit time .. ‘Via Siberia’ Route.
Arrival & Delivery Postmarks: (Reverse)
“Leipzig-Neuschdénefeld 8 April 1905, 7-8 AM”
“(Leipzig) L13, 8 April (1905), 4-5 AM”
20 Pfennig.. Single-weight (15 grams) UPU international Letier-Rate 168
Military Mail Through the German Post Office in China OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL
Coastal Seapost
East Asiatic Occupation Brigade
COASTAL VESSEL ‘SECRETARY OF STATE KRAETKE’ May 1901 — February 1914
1 September 1901 - 30 June 1906
AN INCREASE IN MAIL VOLUME, shortly before and during the military
campaign of 1900-1901 in North China, SUPPORTED THE NEED FOR AND
INTRODUCTION OF SEA-POST MAIL.
Ships sailed between the coastal cities of Shanghai and Tientsin (Port at
Tongku) by way of Tsingftau (Kiaufschou), Tschifu and,
occasionally, Tschinwangfao, & Schanhaikwan.
After cessation of the military campaign of 1900-1901, service was limited to Shanghai-Tsingtau-Tschifu-
Tongku (Tientsin).
Peking © Tientsin ©
Tonku *
F lichinuccnales (Chin Wang Tao}
~/ (Kiavischou}
Yellow Sea
TIschinklang
Nanking -<-s ~~
«. Hankau Shanghai /
Keene SEQ)
SSHANGHAI. OTIENTSIN + 29112 . 01
wr
USAGE:
May 1901 -— February 1914
23 SEPTEMBER 1909
‘Via Siberia’ routed cover, sent by a naval lievtenant, based at Tsingtau, Kiautschou, to his father, “General Danzer” at
Ulm, Wirttemberg, Germany.
4 Cents .. Single-weight (20 grams) colonial ietter-rate for mail sent to Germany.
169
OCCUPATION PERIOD MAIL Shanghai-Tientsin Seapost Mail
COASTAL VESSEL ‘SIKIANG’ June 1901 - 13 August 1913
Each coastal vessel having a post office, received a postmark with a dedicated code
dedicatedto that ship.
The postmark code for the ‘Sikiang' was ‘c’, as illustrated.
USAGE: June 1901 - 13 August 1913
Coastal Seapost
14 NOVEMBER 1906
So-called “Mandarin”
cover, mailed aboard
the ‘Sikiang’, sent to Tsingtau, Kiautschou. 2-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival
Postmarks: (reverse)
“Tsingtau, Kiautschou, 16 November 1906” “Tsingtau-Tapautau,
Kiautschou, 16 November 1906”
& Cenis ..
Second-weight level (20-250 grams) letter-rate for mail sent between
German Post Offices
in China.
170
iV. END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Kiautschou
World War ! Mail Out-Bound In-Transit Censored Mail
IN CESSATION OF ALL MAIL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, including mail transit over the trans-Siberian rail network.
A STATE OF WAR TOOK EFFECT ON 1 AUGUST 1914 BETWEEN RUSSIA & GERMANY RESULTING
KIAUTSCHOU-ORIGIN MAIL POSTMARKED “15-21 JULY 1914", ABOARD MOSCOW-BOUND ‘TRAIN IX’, WAS INTERCEPTED ABOUT 1-2 AUGUST, CENSORED, AND RE-DIRECTED TO THE ‘GERMAN POST OFFICE AT SHANGHAI’ WITH SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER TO THE AMERICAN POST OFFICE FOR FORWARDING TO GERMANY ‘VIA THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA‘.
AOZBONEHQ uEHnSyror Boenn ge yewso pe DOSWOLENO ZENSURO!
(Military Censorship Office) ... 4B opyausa,
seo. F. ‘ g Signed: Ist Lieutenant Babajew"
Ae — Post Card } Lovelezo-Lap — Karta. kore a postal — Brefkort — Br
“es i a= 5t a = es S ies ae = aes ot . = = a at —— St eS = a - <n i = es ees ns m en = aS ee a a
oes SS = ——
TSINGTAU (KIAUTSCHOU) ORIGIN MAIL TO GERMANY (German Post Office)
20 JULY 19714
View-card, postmarked at Tsingtau, with route endorsement
“dber Siberien” = “Via Siberia” to Brieg, Germany, intercepted on 1-2 August, held, censored &
re-directed to Shanghai by the Russian authorities.
Shanghai Arrival: Arrival in Germany:
“7 October 1914” Approx. 8 December 1914
Probable Route:
Tsingtau-Tsinanfu-Peking-Tientsin- Changchun-Harbin-Irkutsk-Moscow.....
Moscow-Irkutsk-Harbin-Changchun-Tientsin-Peking-Pukow-Shanghai
2 Cents...
Colonial postcard-raie for mail seni to Germany.
a h
, o t e h e m e s
en e n e a r
SS
171
IV. END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Peking
World War ! Mail Out-Bound In-Transit Censored Mail
PEKING-ORIGIN MAIL POSTMARKED “15-28 JULY 1914”, ABOARD MOSCOW-BOUND ‘TRAIN IX’, WAS INTERCEPTED ABOUT 1-2 AUGUST, CENSORED, AND RE-DIRECTED TO THE ‘GERMAN POST OFFICE AT
SHANGHAI’ WITH SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER TO THE AMERICAN POST OFFICE FOR FORWARDING TO GERMANY
‘VIA THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’.
AOBBOKEHO UENSYP OH Bocnntin gehsupa “DOSWOLENO ZENSUROI™ Wnt Mass. ( Military Censorship Office)
Signed: “Geivochu"
i z oo ee
PEKING (CHINA) ORIGIN MAIL TO GERMANY (German Post Office)
28 JULY 1914
Photo-card, postmarked at Peking, with route endorsement
“Via Siberia”
fo Naumburg, Germany, intercepted on 1-2 August, held, censored & re-directed to Shanghai by the Russian authorities.
Probable Rovte: Peking-Tientsin-Changchun-Harbin-Irkutsk-Moscow.....
Moscow-Irkutsk-Harbin-Changchun-Tientsin-Peking-Pukow-Shanghai 172
2 Cents...
Colonial posicard-rate for mail sent to Germany.
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Tientsin, China
World War! Mail In-Transit Censored Mail
IN-TRANSIT MAIL SENT FROM TIENTSIN, CHINA, ON 29 JULY 1914, aboard ‘Train XII’, was scheduled to arrive at Moscow on 7 August but
INTERCEPTED SOMEWHERE ON ROUTE ON/ABOUT 1 AUGUST, HELD, CENSORED BY RUSSIAN
AUTHORITIES & EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO THE POST OFFICE OF ORIGIN,
whereupon it was routed to America through the American Post Office at Shanghai (routing.. Pacific Mail Steamship Company .. Shanghai-San Francisco —
overland to New York - Hamburg-America Line to Germany.
Sec pS ie a
— a RR ee Te : , ee ae
TIENTSIN-ORIGIN MAIL TO GERMANY
27 JULY 1914
Cover, postmarked at Tientsin, China, with route endorsement “Via Siberia”
to Berlin, Germany, with interception on 1 August, held, censored and returned to Tientsin by the Russian authorities, forwarded to Shanghai where “Marinebrief" = “Naval Mail” cachet hand-stamp was applied before routing
through the American Post Office to America & Germany.
Route:
Tientsin-Changchun-Harbin-Irkutsk ... intercepted 173
4 Cenis...
Single-weight (20 grams) colonial lefier-rate for mail sent to Germany.
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Tschifu (Chefoo) to
World War | Mail Baden (Ausiria) Mail .. In-Transit Censored Mail
IN-TRANSIT MAIL TO GERMANY-ALLIED COUNTRIES WAS ALSO INTERCEPTED SOMEWHERE ON THE ROUTE ON/ABOUT 1 AUGUST, HELD,
CENSORED BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES AND EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO
POST OFFICE OF ORIGIN, WHEREUPON IT WAS ROUTED TO SHANGHAI
AND FROM THERE TO AMERICA & EUROPE.
TSCHIFU (CHEFOO)-ORIGIN MAILTO AUSTRIA
22 JULY 1914
Cover, postmarked at Tschifu, China,
with roufe endorsement “Via Siberia”, to Baden, Germany, with interception on 1 August, held, censored and
returned to Tschifu, forwarded to Shanghai with subsequent routing through the American Post Office to America & Austria.
Route: Tschifu-Dalny-Harbin-Irkutsk ... intercepted
Hand-Endorsed Arrival Mark:
“15 December 1914” (1446-day transit time) 174
10 Cents...
UPU International Single-Weight (20 grams) Letter-Rate.
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Shanghai to Germany World War | Mail (by German-Flag Vessel)
With movement of mail over the trans-Siberian rail network no longer possibie, THE GERMAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION IN CHINA AT SHANGHAI ATTEMPTED TO
MOVE ITS GERMANY-BOUND MAIL BY GERMAN-FLAG VESSELS before establishment of British sea route blockades along with high-sea inspections of any & all vessels.
1914 REGISTERED CHINA-ORIGIN GERMANY-BOUND MAIL
27 AUGUST 1914
Registered cover, postmarked at Shanghai, routed by sea aboard a German-flag vessel around the Cape of Africa
(Suez Canal was closed for such vessels). 57-day transit time.
Arrival in Germany: (Reverse)
“Bad Minster, 23 October 1914”
14 Cenis... 4 Cents.. Single-weight (20 grams) German colonial letter-rate
for mail sent to Germany 175 + 10 Cents... registration fee.
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1914 .. Tsinanfu-Peking World War I Mail Wartime Mail
MAIL SENT BETWEEN GERMAN POST OFFICES
6 DECEMBER 1914
Cover, postmarked at Tsinanfu, sent to the Single-weight (20 grams) letter-rate
“German School at the Imperial German Legation” for domestic mail sent in China at Peking. (between German Post Offices) .
Arrival Postmark:
“Peking, 7 December 1914” 176
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1915 .. China-Germa
World War! Mail
ny (by Neutral-Flag Vessel)
Prior to completion of a fully effective British blockade of sea-routes regarding German & allied-country mail from China to Europe,
EARLY WARTIME MAIL FROM CHINA WAS ROUTED BY NEUTRAL-FLAG VESSE LTO EUROPE
STANDARD LETTER MAIL
1 NOVEMBER 1915
a Herrn Cover, Re ee ee
postmarked at Tientsin, sent to
Munich, KARL DURRRWANGER © Germany. Bo pe : ae ee
| ee
10 Cents.. ee
UPU © 7
ve gor Marsstrasse No.16) Single-Weight ee
{20 grams) 2s : : fo
letter-rate to C? / fe S.
Germany, . ee fi
effective ss Ae =
September 1915. | M U PNM CR ER.
- Dewtsekleand. | es
REGISTERED COMMERCIAL MAIL
16 FEBRUARY 1915 |
sent to
53-day wartime
transit time.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
14 Cents...
4 Cents..
Single-weight (20 grams) colonial
letter-rate for mail sent to
Germany, uniil
September 1915.
+ 10 Cents...
Registration fee
___ Registered cover, _ postmarked at Tientsin,
Lauban, Germany.
“Lauban, 10 April 1915”
17/
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1915 .. China-Austria Hungary
World War I Mail (‘Via America’ Routed Mail)
As long as the United States of America remained neutral during World War I,
EARLY WARTIME MAIL FROM CHINATO AUSTRIA OR GERMANY WAS ROUTED ‘VIA AMERICA’
by way of the American Post Office at Shanghai using the ‘Pacific Mail Steamship Company’ .. Shanghai-San Francisco, overland to New York,
‘Hamburg-America Line’ to Germany.
EARLY REGISTERED MAIL SENT FROM THE
‘ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION FOR GERMAN & AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN PRISONERS-OF-WAR”
22 MAY 1915
Registered cover, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Bochdanec, Austria-Hungary
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Reverse)
“27 May 1915: United States Postal Agency Shanghai” “25 June 1915: New York Registry Division Arrival”
Arrival Postmark at Destination Unreadable
20 Cents... 10 Cenis.. UPU Single-weight
(20 grams) International Letier-Rate
+ 10 Cenis.. Registration fee
178
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1915 .. Internee Mail
World War! Mail “$90 Incident”
Upon outbreak of war in August 1914, German Torpedo Boat “S90” was located at Tsingtau, Kiautschou. Upon attack and naval blockade of the Kiavischou Territory by Japanese Forces in the summer of 1914, “S90” successfully broke
through the blockade by sinking the Japanese Cruiser “Takachino” successfully fleeing to Chinese territory, where Captain Brunner of the “S90”
ran the ship aground and scuttled her.
The ship’s officers and crew of fifty-five were subsequently interned by the Chinese at Nanking on the Yangtze River.
MAIL SENT BY THE “S90” INTERNEES WAS POSTMARKED BY THE GERMAN POST OFFICE AT NANKING BUT WAS ROUTED THROUGH THE
NETHERLANDS’ INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS.
Exp. Wilimann
INTERNEE MAIL THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
12 DECEMBER 1915
Free-frank Internee Mail, postmarked at Nanking, routed through the Netherlands’ Red Cross, to Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Cachet Handstamp: “Service des Prisonniers de Guerre”
(“Service Mail for Prisoners-of-War”)
179
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1915 .. Hong Kong-Germany World War | Mail (Prisoner-of-War Mail)
GERMAN PRISONER-OF-WAR MAIL ‘HUNGHOM’ CAMP HONG KONG
Upon the capitulation of Kiautschou to Japanese Forces on 7 November 1914, seventy-six heavily-wounded German & Austrian prisoners-of-war,
not transferred to camps in Japan, were transferred by ship to the British P.O.W. Camp at Hunghom in Hong Kong mid-February
1915, where they remained with interned Hong-Kong-Germans and German sailors from commercial vessels until all were moved to camps in Australia on 17 January 1916.
INCOMING AND OUTGOING MAIL TO/FROM THE HUNGHAM CAMP AT HONG KONG WAS CENSORED BY THE PROVOST MARCHAL’S OFFICE.
1915,
Prisoner's cover, cachet-postmarked “Post Free .. Prisoner of War” and (purple-ink) censored
“Provost Marshal Hong Kong”, sent fo
Crimmitschau, Saxony, Germany.
One of fwo known examples.
Reverse
Fritz Bosch: German-national & garden landscape technician interned at Hong Kong
and transferred to an Australian camp in 1916. 180
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA World War! Mail
1916 .. China-Germany
(by Neutral-Flag Vessel)
Once the British blockade of the sea routes for German shipping was established, British naval vessels stopped & boarded neutral-flag ships and fo confiscate any
German or allied country mail found aboard. CONFISCATED MAIL WAS CENSORED, SEALED AND RELEASED FOR LATER DELIVERY.
RE-DIRECTED MAIL
20 APRIL 1916
Cover, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to Hamburg and
re-directed to Karwedel,
Germany.
10 Cents.. {4 Cents franking on
reverse)
UPU
international
Single-Weight Letter-Rate fo
Germany,
effective September 1915.
BRITISH CONFISCATED. CENSORED & RELEASED MAIL
Exp. Willmann
Exp. Bothe / Cert. Steuer
EDUCATOR’S MAIL
1 DECEMBER 1916
Cover, postmarked at Tientsin, sent to
Nordhausen,
Germany.
16 Cents...
UPU International
Single-Weighi (20 grams)
Letter-Rate to
Germany,
effective September 1915.
181
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1916 .. China-America-France-
World War |! Mail Germany Nail
DOUBLE MILITARY CENSORED (FRENCH & GERMAN) MISSIONARY MAIL TO GERMANY
" Sa aie,
5 FEBRUARY 1916
Sealed missionary-mail cover, See ee postmarked at Kanton, endorsed “Via America”, E POSTAL WELITAIRE | __DONTROLE POSTAL BULITURE a
sent to Breslau, Germany, oo 78 fon vee ati ae a
arrival at Paris 17 May 1916, | Zt eee sffnet. inspected & sealed with removal by French Censor SS donne ore oe,
of postage stamp : a fen, (censor-endorsed), ake es ws
inspection & resealing Be aoe 3) cunrecsihfgi by German military censor at Munich, Tepe ris
20 May 1916, with subsequent forwarding to Breslau.
106 day transit time & release at Munich. Sevan
10 Cents... 10 Cents.. UPU Single-Weight (20 grams)
International Letier-Rate
182
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1916 .. China-America
World War | Mail
COMMERCIAL MAILTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
14 AUGUST 1916
Registered cover, from “Melchers & Company", postmarked at Tientsin, sent to
New York City.
10 Cents... UPU Single-Weighi (20 grams) International Leftter-Raie
183
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1916 .. Tientsin-Germany World War | Mail P.O.W. Assistance Mail
(“Via America” Route)
The German Community’s welfare & support organization at Tientsin communicated information conceming a prisoner's name, physical-condition & |
location to newspapers in Germany and Austro-Hungary for publishing. : SUCH MAIL WAS ROUTED ‘VIA AMERICA’ AS LONG AS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REMAINED NEUTRAL.
PRISONER-OF-WAR INFORMATION FOR PUBLICATION IN GERMANY
10 FEBRUARY 1916
Registered free-frank mail, postmarked at Tientsin, routed ‘Via America’,
sent to the “Wormser Zeifung” (“City of Worms Newspaper”),
with German-censorship at Emmerich. 126-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Reverse)
“Shanghai, US Postal Agency, 16 February 1916” “New York, 16 March 1916”
“Worms, 16 June 1916”
184
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1916 .. Tientsin-Germany
World War I Mail P.O.W. Assistance Mail
MAIL WAS SENT TO AMERICA AS LONG AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REMAINED
NEUTRAL .. UNTIL MARCH 1917.
DESTINATION ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’ MAIL
Postkarte. Weltp ostverein 13 APRIL 1916 Union postale universelle ie ee
A
: Pa s 3 am Se eS ate : z A is \ _* Se - il j
Free-frank, UPU P Service des prisonniers de Guérre. -./ Acknowledgement-of- BE ig DCE ee
Receipt-of-Mail ae Postcard, Gee
postmarked at e 2 2 Tientsin, 3 fa
sent to Be
Rock Springs, ue ie .
Wyoming. pe,
=
2 DECEMBER 1916
Registered (red marking}
free-frank
cover,
postmarked at
Tientsin,
sent to
New York City.
4] -day transit
time.
- Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
(Reverse)
“Shanghai,
US Postal Agency,
15 December
1916”
“New York,
12 January 1917”
185
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1916 .. Tientsin
World War | Mail P.O.W. Assistance Mail
In support of German and Austro-Hungarian Prisoners-of-War in Siberia, THE GERMAN COMMUNITY IN NORTH CHINA ESTABLISHED A WELFARE & SUPPORT
ORGANIZATION (“Hilfsaktion fGr Deutsche und Osterreich/Ungarische Gefangene in Sibirien")
located at Tientsin, which SENT WELFARE- ASSISTANCE in form of money, mail, books, etc., to the prisoners THROUGH THE RUSSIAN POST OFFICE IN CHINA.
MONEY TRANSFER MAIL TO A PRISONER-OF-WAR IN SIBERIA
24 NOVEMBER 1916 (7 December 19146 — Gregorian Calendar)
Cover reverse of a registered insured money letter (18 grams),
postmarked at the Russian Post Office at Tientsin, Forwarded through the Japanese Post Office to the Russian rail transfer point
sent to a prisoner-of-war at Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. 15-day transit fime.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks:
“Tientsin, 1.J.P.0.,8 December 1916”
“Krasnoyarsk, ? December 1916” (21 December 1916 = Gregorian Calendar)
36 Cents..
10 Cents.. Single weight (20 grams) letter-rate
+10 cents. Registration fee
+10 Cents.. Insured/10 Cents for each 112.50 Rubles
+ 6 Cenits.. Unexplained Franking 186
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA
World War! Mail
AMERICAN-CENSORED REGISTERED WARTIME MAIL NANKING-BERLIN
16 FEBRUARY 1916
Registered cover, postmarked at Nanking, | censored & re-sealed in America, sent to the City Tax Office, Berlin.
109-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Reverse)
“17 February 1916: American Post Office at Shanghai” “15 March 1916: New York City Registry Office”
“16 March 1916: New York City Foreign Mail Office” “5 June 1916: Berlin Magistrate's Office”
187
1916 .. Nanking-Germany
“Via America” Censored Mail
20 Cents...
10 Cents.. UPU Single-Weight (20 grams) International Letier-Rate + 10 Cents.. Registration fee
188
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1917 .. Germany-China
World War | Mail (“Via Submarine” Mail)
In an effort to keep strategic commerce alive between Germany and the
United States of America, on 8 November 1915 the ‘German Ocean
Navigation Company’ (Deutsche Ozean-Reederei) was founded. Two
submarines were built to carry cargo and mail: “Deufschiand” & “Bremen”.
The “Deutschland” had two successful voyages in 1916 with a third planned,
but canceled because of the worsening political climate between Germany and the United States in early 1917.
ANY MAIL TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES WAS RETURNED TO SENDER. The “Bremen” was lost at sea on 26 August 1916 on her maiden voyage.
3 JANUARY 1917
Cover, postmarked at Hamburg, Germany, endorsed “Tauchbootbrief” (submarine letter) along with
routing mark “Via San Francisco” sent to Shanghai.
Because of cancellation of the third voyage ofthe “Deutschland”, the mail was returned to the sender.
Return Cachet Marking & Postmark: “ZURUCK
Wegen Einstellung des Tauchboof- briefverkehrs zurdck an Absender”
“Bremen 1, T.B. D.O.R. 16 January 1917”
20 Pfennig.. UPU Single-Weight (20 grams) International Letter-Rate. 189
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA World War! Mail
1917 .. China-Germany
(‘Via America’ Returned Mail)
Upon cessation of
diplomatic
relations
between the
United States
of America &
Germany on
3 February
1917,
mail services
to/from
Germany were
suspended with any
transit mail
INSPECTED, SEALED AND
“RETURNED
TO SENDER”
17 FEBRUARY 1917
Registered commercial cover, postmarked at Tientsin,
routed “Via America”, sent to Berlin.
Upon arrival at New York, mail was inspected & returned to
China (mail to Germany suspended), where, upon arrival at
Tientsin/Chinese Post Office, China had already closed all
German Post Offices with mail being opened, censored &
resealed before being returned to the sender.
Transit & Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“21 February 1917, American Post Office at Shanghai” “30 March 1917, New York Registry Office”
“14 November 1917, Tientsin” (Chinese Post Office)
“19 November 1917, Tienitsin” (Chinese Post Office)
20 Cents...
10 Cents.. UPU Single-weight (20 grams) International Letter- Rate + 10 Cents.. Registration fee
Front Ex West
190
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1917 .. Sweden-China
World War | Mail (“Via Siberia” Neutral-Country Mail)
Despite Sweden being neutral in World War |, mail from/to China was Russian-censored &
DELAYED AS A RESULT OF THE RUSSIAN CIVIL CONDITIONS,
where a “Soviet Republic” was proclaimed by V. Lenin & L. Trotsky on 8 November 1917,
WITH SUBSEQUENT CIVIL HOSTILITIES.
1917-1918 RUSSIAN-CENSORED & DELAYED MAIL FROM SWEDEN TO CHINA
11 JUNE 1917
Registered cover, postmarked at Stockholm, Sweden, routing St. Petersburg &“Via Siberia”,
to Tientsin, by way of the Russian & Chinese Post Offices in China.
Origin, Transit & Arrival Postmarks: (Front & Reverse)
“11 June 1917, Stockholm, Sweden” “23 April 1918, Tientsin” (Russian Post Office) “7 May 1918, Tientsin” (Chinese Post Office)
35 Ore... 20 Ore.. UPU Single-Weight (20 grams) International
Letier-Rate + 15 Ore.. Registration fee
Reverse
191
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 16 March 1917 World War | Mail (Closure of German Post Offices)
On 14 March 1917, China broke diplomatic relations with Germany, RESULTING IN ALL GERMAN POST OFFICES IN CHINA
HAVING TO CLOSE ON/BY 16 MARCH 1917.
The German Post Office at Peking closed on 15 March 1917 while all others closed on 16 March 1917.
16 March 1917
Last Day Postmark
1917 RETURNED MAIL TO SENDER
26 JANUARY 1917
View-card, postmarked at Varel, Germany, sent to Tientsin.
Because of cessation of mail transit through the United States of America to China, German-origin mail was cachet hand-stamped and returned to sender:
“Zurdck/Keine Verbindung” (“Return/No Connection”)
15 Pfennig... 10 Pfennig.. UPU International Postcard-Rate
+ 5 Pfennig.. German Wartime Tax Surcharge 192
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1917 .. China-Germany World War | Mail (Prisoner-of-War Mail)
Soon after the Chinese Government's closure of German Post Offices in China, a Chinese declaration of war against Germany & Austria-Hungary took effect on 14 August 1917, . 7 whereupon remaining military & naval personnel of those countries were interned.
The alien population was not interned but was required to register with their local Chinese police, with travel restrictions.
WITH GERMAN POST OFFICES CLOSED, ALL INTERNMENT-ORIGIN MAIL TO GERMANY OR AUSTRIA- | HUNGRARY WAS SENT THROUGH THE CHINESE &, NETHERLANDS RED CROSS POSTALSERVICES. _
‘HAIDIEN INTERNMENT CAMP’ (CHINA)
Location of interned
German Marines & Guards from the Yangtze River Gunboats
1917 Free-frank interned prisoner's cover,
cachet-postmarked and censor-sealed, sent to Ludwigsburg, Germany. |
Front:
“Correspondance des prisonniers de Guerre” (Prisoner-of-War Mail)
Reverse/Censor Seal:
“Internierungslager Haidien”
(Haidien Internment Camp) Reverse Side Cachet Marking: : Hee “Netherlands Red Cross information Office Reverse
Princessegracht 27, The Hague”
193
END OF GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA 1917 .. China-Austria World War | Mail (Prisoner-of-War Mail)
Similar to German military & naval personnel internments, remaining marines and legation guards
of Austria-Hungary were also interned.
ANY MAIL SENT BY THOSE AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN PRISONERS-OF-WAR TO
THEIR HOME COUNTRY WAS CENSORED & FORWARDED THROUGH THE CHINESE & NETHERLANDS RED CROSS
OFFICES.
AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN PRISONER-OF-WAR MAIL
1917
Free-frank interned prisoner's view-card mail, posimarked at Peking,
cachet-marked (purple-ink), Chinese-censored, sent to Vienna, Austria.
Cachet Hand-Stamp Markings; “Correspondance des prisonniers de Guerre”
(Prisoner-of-War Mail)
“Censored”
194
EPILOGUE 1919-1920 Repatriation of Germans
With World War | having ended on 11 November 1918, Chinese authorities announced on 9 March 1919 that all German aliens in China were
to proceed to Shanghai for repatiation to Germany.
On 11 March, German aliens boarded the first of three British-flag vessels for transport to Germany, where the first vessel arrived on 7 May 1919.
German prisoners-of-war in Japan were repatriated to Germany aboard three Japanese-flag vessels between 28 December 1919 & 1 Janvary 1920.
THUS ENDED THE GERMAN PRESENCE IN CHINA.
GERMAN PRISONER-OF-WAR-IN-JAPAN MAIL TO HIS FAMILY IN SHANGHAI, CHINA
15 NOVEMBER 1919
Free-frank prisoner-or-war postcard mail, Japanese-censored at “Camp Aonagahara”, Japan,
where 478 German prisoners were held, sent by a father to his small son residing in Shanghai, China..
Manuscript Endorsement: “Service des prisonniers de Guerre”
(Prisoner-of-War Mail)
Because of repatriation of Germans from China earlier in the year, about which the sender may not have been aware,
this mail may not have ever reached the addressee. 195
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