United Vietnam, 100. Birthday of Georgi M. Dimitroff, My 16th, 1982, Michel Nr. 1228-1229; Two values in the nominals of 30 xu and 3 Dong were issued in perforation 11.

Here is the mint set:

There is a rare color variation that is printed with orange-red instead the normal brown-red. The block below is in this color variation:

These stamps were not officially released im-perforated but a handful of im-perforated trial prints have come to market. Here is the mint imperforate set in original colors.

Below is an imperforate trial print of the 3 Dong value (ex Klewitz) which is, however, printed in a color close to the issued 30 xu value. Also the proof is missing the currency name “Dong”. Very rare.

The much lighter brown color has also been seen on issued and perforated stamps but this time the word “DONG” was not missing:

Mint block of four  with a re-occuring plate error and color variations. The two lower stamps are printed in a darker tone as compared to the upper stamp. This was the result of a poorly adjusted printing machine. The bottom right stamp shows the plate error “white dot under the collar” (Field 20).

Detailed scan of the affected area:

Mint block of four of the 3 Dong value. Both right stamps shows re-occuring plate errors. The top stamp shows “a darker line in the O of ROP” (Field 10). The bottom right stamp shows the plate error “white dot in front of the face” (Field 20).

Detailed scans of the affected areas:

Another mint block of four of the 3 Dong value. The top right stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of “dark dot under the chin” (Field 2).

Detailed scan of the affected area:

Rare multiple franking of the 30 xu value on a local letter from June 1982 from Quang Ngai to Hai Phong probably representing the second weight level.

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries the Dinitroff set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 13.3 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries the Dimitroff set. The 30 xu value is of the rare color variation orange-red instead of brown-red. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries the entire Piegon set and some of the Football stamps. The overall postage amounted to 20.66 Dong (including the red free frank for 8 Dong). Unusual red cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare international express air mail letter sent from Bien Hoa to the United States. The letter features four of the 3D Dimitroff stamps plus the 40 xu 35 Years Independence stamp for an overall postage of 12.40D (full contents preserved).

Mixed franking composted of the 5D World Union Congress stamp plus the 3D Dimitroff stamp paying an overall postage of 8D on an international letter sent from Hanoi to Czechoslovakia in August of 1983. Unusual cancel filled above and below the date line. 

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1984. The letter carries a pair of the HCM Environment stamp. There also is the entire Dimitroff set plus a very rare im-perforated trial proof of the 3 Dong Dimitrof value on which “Dong”is omitted. Trial proofs on postally used cover are almost unheard of. The overall postage amounted to 54.9 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Unusual red cancels.

Very rare air mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in May of 1983. The letter carries the other half of the im-perforated Harmful Insects set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 5.3 Dong. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. 3 Dong Dimitroff stamp on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps and souvenir-sheet from the Insect set plus Reconstruction, Union Congress, Asian Games and  Dimitroff sets. Souvenir-Sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Apart from the Asian Games and Dimitroff  stamps all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong.  The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to  5.60 oD =0.56nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (104 nD) plus the red free frank for 269 nD for 373.56 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Air mail letter sent in April f 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate stamps from the Wickerwork, Dimitroff and Lenin sets. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Lenin and Dimitroff stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps are denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to  12.80 oD =1.28 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (6 nD) for 7.28 nD. 

Registration Nr. 103200

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