Lot 20611 – 1918 Postcard with « Distaccamento Ra. Marina in China/Comando » circle and Chinese franking

The Irredentism refers to political or popular movements, formed in 1878, which claimed and seek to gain or regain for Italy territory considered « lost » (or « unredeemed »), based on language and history.

Irrendentist soldiers enlisted and fought with the Austro-Hungarians in 1914, and were made prisoners by the Russians, although they were released when Itay entered the war against Austria-Hungary. The prisoners in the Siberian camps were sent to Karbin in Manchuria and then to the Italian Concession in Tientsin. On 17 June the Irredentists were offered to join the Italian forces in China. 850 enlisted and eventually formed the famous « Black Battalion » or joined with the Italian Expedition Corps in the Far East (Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Estremo Oriente « C.S.I.E.O. »), which was formed in China to fight in Siberia during the Russian Civil War from October 1918 to August 1919.



1918 (July 5) Postcard from Peking to the « Irredenti » Detachment in Tientsin, with « Distaccamento Ra. Marina in China/Comando » circle with Savoyard coat of arms hs in violet on front represented in a blurred strike as usually found, franked on reverse with C.I.P. 1/2c pair tied by Peking bilingual cds’s. This mail was usually carried by the Italian military courier; some rare examples of mail consigned to the C.I.P. are known, but these were still struck with the Marine Detachment handstamp, since it is supposed that the correspondence was gathered in one office before being delivered to the courier or the C.I.P.