Lot 20634 – 1904 Postcard from the small contingent of 21 Italian men protecting the Legation in Seoul

1904 (March 3) Postcard from Seoul to Shanghai, posted at the Japanese P.O. in Seoul with Japan 3s (defective) tied by I.J.P.O. cds on dispatch, showing “Chef/I.J.P.O.” and blue “Shanghai/I.J.P.O.” (April 9) cds’s alongside, the sender indicating: “Kind regards from the Commander of the Italian troops in the garrison in the Korean capital”, who commanded the small contingent of 20 seamen. A rarity of the Russo-Japanase War.

Note: As a result of the Russo-Japanese crisis in January 1904 and the subsequent outbreak of the war in February, the Italians decided to install a garrison in the Italian Legation in Seoul to protect it, where they sent 20 seamen under the command of one officer, the first contingent belonging to the crew of the “Elba”, being replaced on 23.2.1904 by a second contingent of seamen from the “Piemonte” commanded by the Lieutenant L. Ornati (the sender of this item).