South Vietnam, 4 Years Republic, October 26th, 1959, Michel Nr. SVN 192-195; Four stamps in nominals of 1D (Q:2,000,000), 2D, 4D (Q:1,000,000) and 5D (Q:2,000,000) and in perforation 13 were issued. The stamps were valid postage until January 1st, 1964 when they became invalid.

Here is the mint set

and here the postally used set

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

Color Trials; prior to authorizing the final printing run for stamps the Vietnamese Postal Authority requested a few sheets of color sheets on one particular value of a set in order to decide which final color combination would be best suited for each stamp within the set. The color sheets had the size of a standard sheet but contained alternating color options on the designated nominal value. While these sheets were only intended for internal postal use some of them came to market. Virtually all of these complete sheets were cut apart. So one mostly finds single color proofs or small strips of them. While they are actually very rare one can still obtain them for under $10 a piece (with some exceptions) as not many collectors appear to have an interest in them so far. Here are monochrome color trials of the 2D value.

Very rare complete sheet of the 2D color trials. Most of them were divided over time.

Enpreuves de Luxe; Name of the printing company “Atelier bde Fabrication des Timbres-Postes, Paris” on bottom right.

First Day Cover

Rare single franking of the 1D “4 Years Republic” stamp on a domestic letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 4061 to Dinh Tuong in june of 1960 in June of 1961. Mytho transit cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 1D “4 Years Republic” stamps (8) together with the 50c Buildings stamp paying an overall postage of 8.50D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in December, 1959. Partial Saigon machine transit cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 1D Four Years Republic stamps (4) together with 0.50 and 3D Trung Sisters stamps paying an overall postage of 7.5D on an international letter sent in December of 1959 from Saigon to France. The letter was judged as underpaid in Saigon and an unusual postage due note was manually attached to the reverse of the envelope indicating that additional postage was due upon delivery in Paris. This is the only time the editor has seen such a notice. Usually black or red “T” stamps were applied to the envelope in case a letter was under-paid..

Mixed franking of the 1D “4 Years Republic” stamp together with the 10D National Assembly and 3.30 Air Mail stamp paying an overall postage of 14.30D on a registered international air mail letter sent from Saigon to England in November of 1959. The stamp on the reverse was inadvertently not cancelled in Vietnam so the postman in England circled it with blue pen to invalidate it.

Rare multiple franking of the 1D value (5) paying an overall postage of 5D on an international letter sent from Saigon to France in August of 1960.

Rare single franking of the 2D “$ Years Republic” stamp on a domestic letter sent from Saigon to Thu Day Mot in June of 1961. Phu Guong transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 2D value on a sent from Saigon to Cholon in May of 1951.  Saigon machine transit and Saigon-Cholon machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Very rare single franking of the 2D value on a registration return receipt along with the receipt for mailing the registered letter. The return receipt was signed and stamped in Dakar.

Multiple franking of the 2D value (5) paying an overall postage of 10D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in May of 1961.

Mixed franking of the 2D “4 Years Republic” stamps (3) together with the 1D Prosperity Zones stamp paying an overall postage of 7D on an international letter sent from Tanmet Huot to France in December of 1960. Saigon machine transit cancel the reverse.

Singe franking of the 4D value on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to India in January of 1960.Indian arrival cancels on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 20c, 30c and 2D Fanily law stamps together with the 4D “$ Years Republic” stamp paying an overall postage of 6.50D on a registered domestic letter sent from Saigon to Cholon in February of 1960.

Mixed franking of the 4D “4 Years Republic” stamps (2) together with the 50c Children’s Day stamp paying an overall postage of 8.50D on an international air mail letter sent from Tourane to the United States.

Mixed franking of the 4D (3) and 5D Four Years Republic stamps together with stamps from the Reforming Living Standards, UNO and Sisters Tru’ng sets paying an overall postage of 22D on a registered air mail letter sent from Saigon to India in November of 1959.

Mixed franking of the 5D “4 Years Republic” stamps (3) together with the 2D UNESCO stamp paying an overall postage of 17D on an international air mail letter sent from Cholon to the United States in October of 1963.

Mixed franking of the the 2D “15 Years UNESCO” stamps (2) together with two 5D “4 Years Republic” stamps paying an overall postage of 14D on an international letter sent from Saigon to the United States in March of 1963.

Mixed franking of the 4D and 10D National Assembly stamps (3) together with the 5D Four Years Republic stamp paying an overall postage of 39D on an international air mail printed matter mailing sent from Saigon to the United States in 1959.

Registration Nr. 200300

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