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Auction: SW1004 - The Collector's Series - Europe and Overseas
Lot: 1227

1919, Feb 5. Envelope to Fresno (United States) sent by a member of the Russian Railway Service Corps in Russia (RRSC), placed on the civil mail as confirmed by the Vladivostok cds and the Japanese censor´s cachet in purple, with British-Russian censorship in Siberia.The RRSC was a unit of American experienced railroad men formed to improve operations along the Trans-Siberian Railroad, having been sent to Siberia at the request of Kerensky´s Provisional Government; although they were organised as a military unit, they did not enjoy the free franking privilege as they were considered as civilian employees of the U.S. State Department (not until 1973 would an act of Congress qualify them for military benefits). As not being considered military mail, the cover was taxed with ´´T´´ marking on arrival and franked with 3c., thus being very rare. The lot includes the contents which reveal the precarious conditions in which they had to serve: ´´Nearly all men are blue, sick and disgusted and its got me so bad that at times I feel as I would go crazy´´. A fascinating usage from this little known and significant unit in Siberia.

Estimate
€250