Posts by Edward Chu

    Dear Andre:


    Sorry to bother you again. I would like to post the following two covers in the British Society of Russian Philately’s forum but without success. Maybe, you understand some Russian language and give me some helps. Both covers are from the collection

    of Dr. Raymond Casey and presently in the hands of my friend in Shanghai. We have the following questions:

    A On the cover front of the first cover from Peking (Beijing),

    1. are there indications, the cover was asked to be sent via Russia, St. Petersburg, etc.?
    2. what city was the cover supposed to be sent to?
    3. Apparently, a St. Petersburg c.d.s. was stamped on the cover reverse.


    B As for the second cover, which was sent from Tientsin (Tianjin)

    1. the rectangular-framed cancels have two lines,

      the first line should be “тяньцзинь.” = Tientsin

      the second line looks like “почта” = Postal

      but what are the characters behind?

    2 what is the month on the c.d.s.?



    Best regards,


    Edward

    Dear Andre:


    Definitely you will see me again. I am in the process of writing two articles, titled

    "The Winter Surcharges of Chinese Imperial Post" and

    "Via Siberia, Russia of Chinese Imperial Post", respectively.

    I will forward them to you before having them published in English.


    Best regards,


    Edward

    Dear Andre:


    Many thanks for Denis' comments on the cover, which pretty much clarify its status regarding the disinfection. However, I am still looking forward to seeing your opinions on

    1 the mail route to western Europe after Moscow in early 1900's, and

    2 the receiving Russian post offices for mail coming from Sinkiang and Mongolia.


    Finally, I would appreciate very much if you may also provide me with the following information,

    1 your last name so that I may include a note of thanks in any future publications in either Chinese or English,

    2 the names of literatures that Denis got his information from, and

    3 what is the complete title of Dr. Meyer's book?


    With my very best regards,


    Edward

    Dear Andre:


    After reading your article, titled "RUSSIAN DISINFECTION of mail, 1897 – 1914”, I would like to salute you with my highest admiration. Before I inserted my name in the Study Circle website, I had little knowledge on mail disinfection. I specialized in stamps and postal history of Chinese Imperial Dynasty, i.e., from 1878 – 1911. I would like to raise the following points and questions, if you do not mind answering. I would be most grateful if you could help.

    1. In fact, I have not seen one Chinese overseas mail, sent before 1911 and via Siberia, stamped by the cachets of OБEЗЗAPAЖЕНO. As almost all covers do not show transit postal markings, I hence assume the covers were not handled individually by the Russian post offices located along the Railway. Nonetheless, the arrival dates, from China to western Europe in approximately 15-20 days, indicate they were indeed sent via Siberia. Is it possible only the mailbags were disinfected, rather than the mail contained?
    2. As no signs of OБEЗЗAPAЖЕНO. were stamped on the cover previously displayed for your opinions, it was then treated in the London Post Office by tearing open one of the upper corners and resealed with a small piece the stamp sheet margin. The label on top might have been printed with slogan of some sort.
    3. I am interested to know how the mail could be sent from Moscow to western Europe in early 1900’s, from St. Petersburg to Warsaw? Or any other routes you may suggest.
    4. I am also very interested to know: mails from Mongolia, like Urga, and Sinkiang, like Tihwa, were delivered, via Siberia, to Peking (Beijing) after 1908. Could you suggest the respective Russian Post Offices for receiving these mails?


    Best Regards,


    Edward Chu

    disinfectedmail.org/index.php?attachment/465/


    Dear Andre:

    I am very grateful for your very kind attention and reply. The piece of

    paper attached underneath the label with the printed text should be

    the margin of some stamps, as indicated by the perforations. However,

    it surely did not belong to Chinese stamps issued at the time, as no sheets

    were printed with color-bars. This cover was sent via Siberia before the

    Tran-Siberian Railway was built completely, but some sections had been

    accomplished. Thousands of workers were dead due to some contageous

    diseases. This thus makes me feel the cover might have been disinfected,

    especially with words, like "hand", "cleaning", etc., appeared on the label.

    Again, I appreciate very much for your help.


    Best regards,


    Edward