North Vietnam, 50. Anniversary of the October Revolution, October 15th, 1967, Michel Nr. 491-494; Four stamps with the nominals of 6 xu, 12 xu (two stamps) and 20 xu were issued in perforation 11.0. The 12 xu stamps were produced together in a single sheet of 125 stamps and hence exist attached to each other. They were perforated 11.0.
Here is the mint set:
Postally used 12xu and 20xu stamps. Postally used stamps are at least ten times rarer than cancelled to order stamps.
These stamps were not officially released im-perforated but a handful of imperforate proofs have come to market.
Printing flaws did occur on the 6 xu stamp. Here is a significant passer-shift on which the red color is shifted to the left and downwards:
Here is a mint strip of 12 xu stamps that shows the alternating printing of the the stamps.
Again, these stamps were not officially released im-perforated but a handful of im-perforated proofs have come to market.
There is also a very rare imperforate trial proof known of the 12 xu stamp. On it the words “Buu Chin” at the bottom of the stamp are written in “italics” and the palm trees on the right show larger white shading than on the finally released stamp. Note the slanted pencil mark under “Buu Chin” that was applied by the printer to mark the need for correction.
Here is a pair of the mint 20 xu value:
Again, these stamps were not officially released im-perforated but a handful of im-perforated proofs have come to market.
Printing flaws did occur on the 20 xu stamp. Here is a significant passer-shift on which the black color is shifted to the left and downwards:
Extremely rare single franking of the 6xu value demonstrating the 50% discounted intra-city rate that was available in Indochina and North Vietnam. Very few of these local letters survived.
Rare multiple franking of the 6xu value on a patriotic letter sent in 1968 to East Germany. The 6x value was usually intended for postcards and hence use on a letter is pretty scarce.
This letter, from the same correspondence, is a bit of a mystery. It was franked with only 6xu (which represented the postcard rate) and so was 6xu short of the required 12xu postage. Nevertheless no postage due remarks were added.
Here is a correctly franked postcard. It used a single 6xu stamp t cover the required tariff to Hungary.
Mixed franking of the 12xu Fruit, 6xu October Revolution and 40xu Aircraft Shot Down stamps paying an overall postage of 58xu on an air mail post card sent from Hanoi to East Germany.
Rare express mail letter featuring the entire set on a letter to Klewitz in January of 1968. The overall postage amounted to 1.10 Dong which was slightly above the required standard express mail letter toWest Germany (1.00 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel o the reverse.
Mixed franking of the 6xu October Revolution stamp with one 12xu Sport Games stamp for an overall postage of 18xu. The envelope was left open on purpose probably for postal inspection. So this unusual postage probably represented the printed matter tariff.
Rare multiple franking of the 50xu value on a letter to Czechoslovakia.
Mixed franking of the 50xu value plus one of the 12xu Vietnam China Friendship stamp for an overall postage of 1.12D. Mailed in a small post office of Hai-Ba. The standard letter tariff to East Germany was only 12xi so this letter must have been much heavier than normal.
Mixed franking of a block of four of the 40xu Children Games stamps together with the 8xu NLF stamp and 20xu October Revolution stamp for an overall postage of 1.88D on an air-mail letter from hanoi to Paris, France in 1975.
Mixed franking of the 12xu and two of the 20xu values of the set for an overall postage of 52xu on a letter addressed to a Vietnamese apprentice studying in East Germany in 1969.
Mixed franking of the 20xu October Revolution stamp plus two of the 40xu Lunar Calendar stamp for an overall postage of 1 Dong on a letter sent from Hai Phong to Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Mixed franking of two of the Medicinal Plant stamps together with the 12xu HCM stamp and 20 Xu October Revolution stamp paying an overall postage of 1.22D on a postcard to Switzerland sent in 1976.
Letter mailed from Hanoi to Oxford, England in May of 1975. It carries the 20 xu value of set plus an assortment of other NVN stamps including the 6 xu flower stamp that is rare on postal history. Overall postage amounted to 2.90 Dong which appears to be high given that the standard 20 gram registered express mail letter to Western Europe amounted to 2.10, however the letter may have been heavier than the standard 20 grams.
Exceedingly rare package wrapper from May of 1975. Most package wrappers were simply thrown out after the package was opened and hence very few of them survive today. The package was sent via registered mail from Hanoi to a clinic in East Germany and it featured a mixed franking of the 20xu October revolution stamp, the 50xu Hai Thu’o’ng stamp, the 2xu NLF stamp and the 6xu Production and Defense stamp for an overall postage of 78xu. The standard letter rate to East Germany was 12xu and the registration fee 60xu, so this package must have been very light. Red propaganda cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in May of 1975 featuring the 50 xu October Revolution stamp plus a host of other NVN stamps. Overall postage of 2.90 Dong.
Registration Nr. 101480
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