Los 8153
1904 (Feb 22): Registered cover at single rate with Type Sage franking of 50 c. made up with 1 c., 4 c., 5 c., 10 c. and 15 c. (2) all tied by 'Lavallois-Perret' datestamps in black, addressed to Port Arthur, China two weeks after the declaration of the Russo-Japanese War; with notation that the cover be forwarded to Seoul, Korea should the addressee not be found, which finaly was the case. Reverse with array of datestamps including Moscow (Feb 14, julian), PORT ARTHUR cds (March 1 and March 7, julian), CHEFOO (March 31), SHANGHAI (April 2), NAGASAKI (April 6) in violet (together with registration chop on obverse), SEOUL / I.J.P.O (April 12) in black and circular 'Hotel du Palais / Seoul, Coree' private cachet in red. Bilingual 'Inconnu' markings in red on front and thereafter returned to Paris (Aug 7). Insignificant opening tear repaired sensibly at top of a dramatic and most unusual cover.
