| Addressed
to ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, FLAG "SHIP OLYMPIA", MANILA, PHILIPPINES. Dated
May 16, 1898 from New York, backstamped San Francisco, May 22. Endorsed
VIA HONG KONG. Embossed on verso "THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB / NEW YORK."
Possibly one
of the earliest incoming Spanish American War covers to the Philippines.
Estimated it would have reached the Philippines early July, 1898.
The first dispatch
from the Philippines by the U.S. Transport Post Office was made on July
1, 1898 (dated folded letter, ex F.W. Lange). The transport ship was bound
for Hong Kong to connect with luiner ships to the U.S.
I will presume
that this letter was carried on the first dispatch return trip from Hong
Kong and hand delivered to Admiral Dewey. There are no arrival markings
since the first U.S. Military Post Office in the Philippines was opened
at Cavite on July 30, 1898. |
