Page 24 - Russo-Persian Postal Relations

I.A.2.(c) The Opening of North Eastern Persia NE Persia
Forerunner to Russia's and NE Persia postal exchange before 1896
1887 letter from the Head ofTranscaspian Territory, Lieutenant-General A. V. Komarov to Naser al-Molk
the Governor of Khorasan in N.E Persia, erroneously sent to Kherson (Russia), readdressed to NE Persia
The only recorded from the Transcaspian Territory in 1880s or earlier sent to NE Persia
Russian official mail not franked. The postal clerc missread Khorasan (in Persia) for Kherson in
Russia. The letter was returned to Askhabad where the postal clerc added Persia. No charge up to the
border at Julfa. Either the Persian postmaster at the Persian Julfa E PO "overlooked" this "problem" as
the letter was addressed to the Governor of Khorasan or more likely there were special arrangements for
official mail. Remnants of a label at the back might have given the real answer -about the treatment.

23.04 Askhabad 10.05.Tiflis
26.04 Baku 17. 05 .Ashkabad-
03.05.Nickolaev 27. 05 Julfa, Armenia
03.05.Kherson
(All Julian)
No Persian postmarks. Official mail probably delivered
Under special arrangements.

J.·J } \.-&. ,;.

Seal real size•

From Askhabad 23 April 1887. missent to Kherson in Ukraine instead of Khorasan. ("Persia" not stated).
Mailed via Baku 26 April, Nikolaev, to Kherson where the postal clarc wrote: "There is no such governor
general in Kherson." On the front "return to Askhabad" in m/s. Returned via Tiflis 10 May to Askhabad
17 May. There "Persia via Baku" was added in m/s at bottom. Still the letter entered Persia via J ulfa
(Dzhulfy), 27 May. From there to Meched probably by special agent as there are no Persian postmarks.
*The ~eal reads "Packet" across the center, and "Staff of Transcaspian Territory" around the edge