North Vietnam, 1. Five Year Plan (IV Series), August 11th, 1963, Michel Nr. 268-269; Clearly the Five Year Plan was a rather big deal for the North Vietnamese as is demonstrated by four stamp issues that red voted to the topic. Two stamps in the nominals of 3 xu and 12 xu were issued in perforation 11:0.

Here is the mint set:

These stamps were not officially released imperforate, however, a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Rare!

Here is a letter (ex Klewitz) that features the entire set among other North Vietnamese stamps. It carries an overall postage of 75 xu which was actually too little for a registered letter to West Germany (Tariff of 1.1 Dong). The letter was clearly marked as going to “Allemagne”. The abbreviation “BRD” stood for “Bundesrepublik Deutschland” which stood for West Germany. So, here the postal clerk simply made a mistake. The error was never caught and no postage due markings were applied.

Very rare letter (ex Klewitz) that features the souvenir sheet among other Vietnamese stamps (including the 12 xu 1.Five Year plan stamp). Souvenir sheets on postally used covers are very rare. The editor has only seen one other postally used letter with this souvenir sheet. Overall postage applied of 1.13 Dong. The required postage to West Germany was 1.1 (50 xu base letter rate, 60 xu registration fee).

Mixed franking of the 5xu Hai Phong stamp, the 4xu Start of the War and the 3xu Five Year Plan stamp for an overall franking of 12xu paying the correct letter rate to Czechoslovakia in 1963.

Letter (ex Klewitz) that contains the entire perforated set plus some additional stamps on the reverse. The overall franking applied was 1.93 Dong which was in excess of the standard 20g registered letter rate to West Germany (1.1 Dong) however, Klewitz’ liaison in Vietnam was not known to waste any postage. So, the letter probably contained mint stamps and was hence heavier than the standard 20 grams.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in West Germany featuring the 12 xu value of the series. The letter was actually under-franked at 74 xu as the registered letter rate t Western Europe was 1.10 Dong. However, the postal clerk was duped into thinking that the letter was routed towards East Germany (RD Allemagne ( East Germany) where the required rate as only 72 xu (12 xu standard letter rate plus 60 xu international registration fee)

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in December of 1980. It carries the entire set plus the 3 xu value of the Nguyen Trai series from 1962. 3 xu Five Year Plan stamp on front. The overall postage amounted to 5.12. Unusual hand-made express mail label. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. It features the Women Union set plus two Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 8.78 Dong (including the red free frank of 5.90 Dong). 12 xu Lotus stamp with post master perforation of 9.5. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Ho Chi Minh City) to Klewitz in January of 1982. The letter carries a strip of three stamps (Michel Nr. 1188). The left stamp shows the plate error “stone at HCM’s foot”. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Two Five Year Plan stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 8.28 Dong.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in March of 1981. The letter carries two complete Lenin sets. The 1 Dong stamps show both color variations of the star (orange and grey-ocre). One of the 1963 Five Year Plan stamp on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 13.90 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 100810

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