1917 American Red Cross Mission to Russia, cover sent via Diplomatic Pouch by Lt. Col. Raymond Robins to Elizabeth Robins in England, opened by censor label, handstamped "War Office Postal Censor" in violet, fine (during WWI, Raymond Robins headed the American Red Cross Mission to Russia. After the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II on March, 1917, Robins became the de facto representative of the U.S. State Department and a strong supporter of Alexander Kerensky. After the Russian Revolution, Robins allegedly met with Lenin on average three times a week. He left Russia in May 1918) (Image)

Est.$250

1918 (4 Dec) picture postcard to Newark, N.J., with three-line "On Active Service With A.E.F. in Russia No Stamps Available" handstamp, supported by "Army Post Office P.B.1" postmark and "X11" censor strike, minor corner crease, fine and rare (Image)

Est.$200

1918 U.S. Troops en route to Russia, cover franked with 3c violet and 10c Special Delivery, tied by Battle Creek, Michigan June 15 1918 cds, return address indicates that this came from a soldier with a battalion of the 339th Infantry regiment, Camp Custer, Michigan (which left Camp Custer on 11th July for its embarkation for England) (Image)

Est.$150

1918 newspaper wrapper with Russian 3x2k green, tied by Archangel cds and addressed to Seattle, oval "Tarasov" handstamp on back, with violet "C.I.A 6 / Censure Militaire Archangel" cachet (C.I.A. Censure Military Archangel 6 cachet was used by A.I.C.D., Censored Inter Allied (CIA) (Image)

Est.$150

1919 two covers endorsed "American Soldier's Mail", each with "A.E.F. Passed as Censored" cachets, other markings, one sent via London, without APO or FPO cancels, probably because they were posted from ships which carried the U.S. Transportation Corps, fine (Image)

Est.$200

1919 (15 Apr) Allied YMCA North Russian Expeditionary Forces corner cachet cover to Detroit, from a private James Clark at Archangel, Russia, two strikes of British Army P.B. 2 Post Office cds, censor's handstamp and signature at bottom left, some cover wear, otherwise fine (Image)

Est.$150

1919 (3 July) cover from Pawnee, IL to a soldier with the American North Russia Expedition in the Archangel area, showing various "Return to Writer" handstamps, one via France, finally coming back in August to the United States. The last U.S. Troops left Archangel on June 27, 1919 (Image)

Est.$150

1919 (21 June) cover from an American soldier to USA, with British Army Post Office P.B.2 (Archangel) and censor markings, Aug 15 Ridgely, Tenn arrival back, handstamped "Unclaimed", fine. The last U.S. Troops left Archangel on June 27, 1919 (Image)

Est.$150

1918 balance of the collection, seven covers or cards, written-up on pages, various unit and censor markings, YMCA enclosure, mostly fine or better (Image)

Est.$500

1918 (11 Sep) "Sailor's Mail Foreign Service" cover to Mt.Vernon, NY, showing return address of "U.S.S. Olympia", with YMCA stationery letter, "Passed by Censor" handstamp (dated filled in by hand), some cover wear and tears, fine (U.S.S. Olympia was stationed in Murmansk from 28th May to 13 November, 1918) (Image)

Est.$150

1919 (4 Sep) cover endorsed "Sailor's Mail", canceled "U.S.S. Des Moines/Archangel Russia", addressed to New York, large mended tear away from the otherwise excellent strike, scarce usage from the Naval Cruiser (Des Moines sailed from New York on 11 April 1919 for Archangel, Russia, and duty with the Naval Forces in Northern Russia, where it protected American interests from the disturbances of the Russian Revolution, and carried home American troops who had served around Archangel, returning to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 27 October) (Image)

Est.$250

1919 (26 July) cover with letter from U.S.S. Brooklyn stationed in the Philippines (Olongapo), franked with 2c carmine, canceled "U.S. Brooklyn", addressed to a soldier with Headquarters Det. A.E.F. Headquarters, Vladivostok, Siberia, Manila transit pmk on back, fine (The U.S.S. Brooklyn was the Flagship of the U.S.Siberian Naval Forces) (Image)

Est.$250