Siam Postcard as German Ship Post Cruiser Hertha
Attached is a German 5 Pfennig Germania stamp, tied by a ship post cancellation: „Kais. Deutsche Marine Schiffspost No, 39 17. 1. 02“ Good condition.
This vessel, SMS Hertha, was a protected cruiser of the Victoria Louise class, built for the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in the 1890s. Hertha served abroad in the German East Asia Squadron for the first six years of her career; she served briefly as the Squadron flagship in 1900. She contributed a landing party to the force that captured the Taku Forts during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.
More Postal History: HERE and HERE
