Hong Kong 1941 Censored envelope to Japan SG166 15c

Censored envelope to Japan bearing SG166, 15c black and scarlet (pair) tied by "Kowloon 1st Oct 1941 Hong Kong" double-ring with "Opened by Censor Hong Kong" label and boxed 31 cachet, routed via Victoria with Japanese plain brown censor label and segment black circle chop "Communications Ministry / Censored". A very rare item of international censorship from Japan in the interim period when mail was authorized to be censored from October 20 1941 until printed labels were used in November. Only a few covers known. Japanese censorship of international mail was authorized by an Imperial ordinance October 4, 1941 to began October 20, 1941. Printed censorship tape paper seals were used tied with a three segment black circle chop. The top is "Communications Ministry" and bottom "Censored". The middle section was for the censorship station number but is blank until January 1942. This cover postmarked Kowloon, Hong Kong, October 1, 1941 was censored in Hong Kong and in Japan during this short interim period. There are no arrival postmarks. The postage was 30c. (pt)

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