Lot 20167 – 1904 Stampless cover to the Red Cross Community of

1904 Stampless cover to the Red Cross Community of St Eugene, St Petersburg, with notation in English « Via Chifoo » and in abbreviated Russian « From the fortress of Port Arthur ». On reverse red circular cachet reading: KWANTUNG MARIINSKI COMMUNITY OF SISTERS OF THE RED CROSS. Received CHEFOO 21 December (Old style = 3 January 1905 New Style. Cover faults. The post office at Port Arthur had ceased to function since early May, 1904. This item was evidently carried on one of the hospital ships permitted to pass through the Japanese naval blockade of the port and to cross the Strait of Pohai to the Chinese mainland at Chefoo. Port Arthur surrendered on 2 January 1905, the same day or the day after this item was dispatched. Fifteen thousand sick or wounded were found in the hospitals when the Japanese entered the port.