Original 1910 antique Polish illustrated postcard connected with Henryk Sienkiewicz's famous historical novel “The Deluge” (Potop).

The picture side reproduces a dramatic mounted battle scene by M. Adamczewski, with Polish horsemen fighting in mountainous terrain.

The original Polish caption reads:

“Potop H. Sienkiewicza”

and:

“Kmicic broni króla w górach”

approximately translated as:

“Kmicic defends the King in the mountains.”

The reverse is particularly interesting for its Imperial Russian postal history.

The postcard was genuinely mailed in 1910 and retains an original 3-kopeck Imperial Russian postage stamp together with several postal cancellations.

One prominent blue cancellation reads:

“ЧАРДЖУЙ ЗАКАСП.” – Chardjui, Transcaspian Region

Chardjui was then part of the Transcaspian Oblast of the Russian Empire and is today Türkmenabat, Turkmenistan.

Of particular interest is the additional Russian railway postal cancellation associated with a postal railway car.

The railway postal route is identified as Postal Car No. 102, Łapy–Lublin, connecting Łapy and Lublin in what was then Russian Poland.

The combination of Chardjui / Transcaspian postal history and an Imperial Russian railway postal marking makes this considerably more interesting than an ordinary Sienkiewicz art postcard.

The reverse also contains an original handwritten message in Polish.

Date: 1910
Subject: Henryk Sienkiewicz – Potop / The Deluge
Scene: Kmicic defending the King in the mountains
Artist: M. Adamczewski
Postal origin / marking: Chardjui, Transcaspian Oblast, Russian Empire
Railway postal marking: Postal Car No. 102 – Łapy–Lublin route
Postage: 3-kopeck Imperial Russian stamp
Language of correspondence: Polish
Dimensions: 88 × 138 mm (approximately 3.46 × 5.43 in)
Postally used: Yes

An unusual piece combining Polish literary history, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Imperial Russian postal history, Transcaspian Chardjui and railway mail.

Excellent for collectors of Sienkiewicz, Polish postcards, Imperial Russia, railway postmarks, postal history, Central Asia and Transcaspian postal history.

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