Lot 20098 – 1904 Registered cover to U.S. Consul in CHEFOO, Ch

1904 Registered cover to U.S. Consul in CHEFOO, China, sent through Imperial Chinese post by British military observer, R.B.Denny, franked on reverse 5c ‘dragon’ (another stamp removed), tied by incomplete SHEN-YANG (MUKDEN) cds with POSTAL COUNTER (MUKDEN) alongside, dated 17 7 04 (lunar calendar = Gregorian 11 8 04). Black circular cachet with Cyrillic inscription around Imperial Russian Eagle: MILITARY COMMISSAR ATTACHED TO THE MUKDEN TZIAN-TZYUN (GOVERNOR GENERAL) alongside with further large boxed violet cachet in Cyrillic: PERMITTED/COLONEL…with signature of Colonel Pesteech (General Staff of Russian Viceroy of Far East) and number. Censorship of war despatches was at this time under the control of the Viceroy. Note that the letter was submitted for censorship before stamps and cancellations were applied.