Page 59 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-006

Stamps

jor economic prosperity due quences for the future of Rus-
mainly to significant invest- sia, as it sped up the discre-
ment (financial and technolo- diting of the Romanov family,
gical) by Western countries in leading to their overthrow by
the development of local in- the Bolsheviks 13 years later,
dustry, despite growing social and a complete break with
tensions against the regime. the Western powers as provi-
War broke out on 8 February ders of funds and technology.
1904 and lasted until 5 Sep- For the Russian people, this
tember 1905. Fighting on meant a long period in the wil-
the ground was fierce and derness, full of pitfalls.... Its ef-
extremely deadly, turning fects for the Western powers
to the advantage of the Ja- were also very marked: the
panese. It was at sea that Ja- closure of booming markets,
pan delivered the final blow considerable losses for the
by sinking the Russian fleet holders of Russian loans (indi-
that had travelled from the viduals and banks, especially
Baltic (45 ships), a fleet sup- in Belgium).
posed to secure victory for the Of course, the military mail
Russians. ( Russia surrende- that circulated at that time
red ). between the front and the
From a military standpoint, countries involved tells us all
this conflict prefigured the about this. These documents
wars of the 20th century by are rather rare, and much
its duration (one and a half sought-after by collectors.
years), by the forces involved Two of these are presented
(probably more than 2.5 mil- below.
lion men in total) and by the The first is a Japanese letter
losses (between 130,000 and dated 12 July 1904. Although
180,000 dead, with some the Japanese commonly used
320,000 wounded) as well as the dates of the Gregorian
the use of the most modern calendar, years could also
warfare techniques (logistics, be counted according to the
lines of communication and dates of the emperors’ reigns.
intelligence; combined land This method was used in all of-
and sea operations; time taken ficial documents. For this rea-
to prepare for engagements). son, on the right-hand stamp
“Little” Japan, well-trained in of the document shown, the
Western techniques, was able numbers 7 and 12 appear for
to demonstrate its superiority the month and day, but the
over the “huge” Russian bear. first figure for the year is 37
The defeat had serious conse- rather than 1904: Emperor

Delcampe Magazine 59