Unified Vietnam, 5. Vietnamese Union Congress, November 16th, 1983, Michel Nr. 1387-1389; Three stamps in the nominals of 50xu, 2D and 30D were issued in perforation 10.75.

Here is the mint set.

This issue is subject to significant color variations. Below are two mint 50xu stamps. The first one has a “light-ochre” base color while the second stamp is of a “dark-ochre base color.

The darker base color version of the 50xu stamp like this block of four, printed in dark-ochre and dark blue , is the rarer of the two.

Here are two color variations of the 2 Dong value and the 30D value. The light color version are printed on grayish paper and the darker color versions on white paper. 

This set was not officially released imperforate, however a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here’s the entire imperforate set from the top left sheet margin showing the printers guidance marks.

Here is the imperforate mint trial proof of the 30D value printed on grayish paper.

Imperforate phase prints of the 50xu value. First the ochre-black printing phase, second the blue-black printing phase and last the completed design.

Mint pair of the 50xu value on which the left stamp shows the plate error “blue dot on girls nose” and the right stamp the plate error “white crack across stamp design”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows a passer-shift of the black color towards the bottom. Also, all four stamps show the plate error of “mark on girls cheek”.

Detailed scan of parts of the affected area.

Mint block of four that shows a significant passer-shift of the ochre color towards the top.

Detail of one area affected.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows a significant passer-shift of the black and blue color towards the top. The top right stamp also shows the plate error of “blue dot on girls forehead” and the bottom right stamp the plate error of ” dot on girls blouse”. All four stamps also show the plate error “mark on girls cheek”

Detailed scans of the affect areas.

 

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows a significant passer-shift of the black printing downwards. The block also shows a double printing of the blue color due to a lose rubber mat.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four 50xu stamps that shows a significant paper fold which results in a distorted image of the two bottom stamps. There is also a double printing of the blue color due to a lose rubber mat.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint pair of the 50xu value printed in light-blue. The left stamp shows the plate error “crack in building”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four on which the bottom right stamp shows the plate error of “blue mark on girls cheek”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of sixteen of the 50xu values (only eight shown) which was printed in very light blue and that shows a slightly slanted blue and black printing phase. That means the black/blue is higher on the left most stamps as compared to be lower on the right most stamps. Also the top right stamp shows the plate error of “slanted blue line across emblem” and the bottom right stamp the plate error of “slanted black line above 50”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value. The top left stamp shows the plate error “slanted blue line across emblem”and the top right stamp the plate error “blue line above THU”.

Detailed scan of the affected areas.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value which shows a paper fold affecting the two top stamps. The top right stamp also shows the plate error “diagonal line under E of VIETNAM”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four on which the bottom right stamp shows the plate error of “missing blue building pillar on right”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four of the 50xu stamp that shows the plate error of “burning building” on the two left stamps and the plate error “white crack through building” on the top right stamp.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows the plate error of “enlarged head dress of girl”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows two significant paper folds affecting the two top stamps.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of fish on which the two right stamps have been folded back to reveal the backside of the stamps. One ca see a significant “color kiss” of the blue printing run that was caused by stacking still wet sheets on top of one another.

Mint block of twelve 50xu stamps (Only ten are shown here) that shows a horizontal double perforation strike in-between the stamps. The stamp is also printed in light-blue color. The second stamp from the top left shows the plate error of “black dot on blouse”, the top right stamp the plate error of “apostrophe to the left of 50”, the second stamp from the left at the bottom the plate error “symbol on emblem” and the third stamp from the bottom left the plate error “blue line above THU”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value on which the two right stamps show a partial failure of the black print.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Here is a similar error on a mint block of four 50xu stamps that shows a plate error on the bottom left stamp that looks like “girl with blind eye”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that shows different shades of blue of the right and the left two stamps.

Mint block of four of the 50xu value that was printed on a dirty plate.

Mint block of sixteen 2D stamps (right row folded over) that shows a significant “color kiss” of the blue color caused by stacking still wet sheets on top of one another.

Mint block of eight stamp (left row folded over) that shows a significant paper fold affecting three stamps plus a “color kiss” of the blue color.

Mint block of ten 2 D stamps that shows a significant paper fold on the top stamps. Also the middle top stamp shows a plate error of “blue object at bottom right”. According to Klwitz this error only occurs once per sheet and this is not just a printing flaw caused by an object falling on the printing plate. The error must be part of the individual cliche design.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of six of the 2D value. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error of “dot under elbow”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four 2 D stamps on which the bottom left stamp shows the plate error of “dot in E of VIETNAM”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four 2D stamps on which the top right and bottom left stamp is affected by a significant paper fold .

Detailed scan of the affected area.

The 2 D stamp is also known to exist printed in dark-brown colors. This is a rather rare version. The top right stamp also shows the plate error of “diagonal line across T of VIETNAM”. The reverse of the stamps shows a “color kiss” due to stacking still wet sheets on top of one another.

Mint pair of two 2 D stamps that shows an almost complete failure of the brown color run.

Local registered letter sent from Tay Phong to HCM City. The letter carries two of the military free franks (valued at the standard letter rate of 50 xu) issued in 1981 plus three 50 xu Union Congress stamps for an overall postage of 2.50D. HCM City transit and illegible arrival cancel on the reverse.

Local letter sent in June of 1985 from Khan Loi to Quan 8 featuring four of the 50 xu Union Congress stamps paying an overall postage of 2D.

Similar franking of four of the 50 xu Union Congress stamps on a local letter sent in May of 1985 to HCM City.

Single franking of the 2D Union Congress value on a local letter sent in July of 1985 from Hanoi to Can Tho.

Air mail letter sent in July of 1984 from Binh Thanh to a Vietnamese in West Germany. The letter carries a rare multiple franking of twelve 2D Union Congress stamps for an overall postage of 24D.

Multiple franking of the 2D value (12) paying an overall postage of 24D on an international air mail letter sent from Dong Nai to Switzerland in June of 1984.

A rare single franking of the 30D value sent in August of 1984 to a Vietnamese in West Germany.

Single franking of the 30D value on an international air mail letter sent from Dong Nai to Switzerland in August of 1984.

Single franking of the 30D value on an international air mail letter sent from Dong Nai to Switzerland in May of 1985.

Mixed franking made up of the 5D Koch stamp together with the 30D Union Congress and 3D Locomotive stamp paying an overall postage of 38D on a rare international express air mail letter sets rom Ben Tre to the United States in August of 1984. Sacramento arrival cancels on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 2D and 30D Union Congress stamps paying an overall postage of 32D on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Czechoslovakia.

Multiple franking of the 30D value (2) on an international letter sent in November of 1985 from Son La to Czechoslovakia.

Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire set plus stamps from the ASEAD set for an overall postage 102.50D (including the red free frank for 60D). The two blocks of four 1D ASEAD stamps show the same plate errors (partial black printing failure, dot in head). Plate errors on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter that features the entire Union Congress set plus other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of 83.74D (including the red free frank for 29.0D).

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter features the entire Union Congress set (two value printed on grayish paper) plus other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of 61.0D. The zero money free frank was required to produce the R-label that came out of the same machine. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire perforate and imperforate Union Congress set, two color tones of the perforated 2D value and the Vietnam, Laos Cambodia Friendship set (on which one of the 50xu values shows the plate error “blue dot on 5 of 50”. Error and imperfroate stamps on postally used covers are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 82 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries nine of the 50xu Union Congree set plus other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of 67 Dong (including the red free frank for 38D). Some of the 50xu stamps carry the plate errors detailed above (white crack through building, blue mark in symbol, blue line above THU. Two of the Insect stamps on the reverse are imperforate. Error and imperforate stamps on postally use cover are very rare. Free Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1985 to Klewitz. the letter carries eight of the 50xu Union Congree stamps that carry some of the plate errors detailed above (girl with blue dot on nose, white line across face of stamp). On the reverse there are two fo the imperforate Insect stamps. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 67D (including the red free frank for 35D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letters ent in June of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries eight of the 50xu Union Congress stamps plus stamps from the Flat Fish and Olympic Winter Games stamps for an overall postage of 210.7D (including the red free frank for 168.6D). The Flat Fish stamps are imperforate and the Union Congress stamps carry passer-shifts and plate errors detailed above (i.e. during building). Error and imperforate stamps on postally used letters are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries eight of the 50xu Union Congress stamps. The left block of four shows a horizontal double perforation and the plate error of “girl with blue nose”. The right block of four is of the light-blue color variety. The Bird of Prey stamps on the reverse are imperforate. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 229.6D (including the red free frank for 186.6D).

Registered air mail letter from August of 1985 that features four of the 50xu Union Congress set stamps that shows a partial failure of the black printing run. There is also a mis-perforated 5D Liberation of Hai Phong stamp. Error stamps on petal used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 129.8D (including the red free frank for 46D). Green Fula custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries eight of the 50xu Union Congress stamps. The strip shows a veryhorizontal double perforation strike plus the two Vietnam, Laos Cambodia Friendship stamps show plate errors. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 243.8D (including the red free frank for 216D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on September 12th, 1985 (two days prior to the new currency reform) to Klewitz. The letter carries eleven of the 50xu Union Congress stamps. These stamps show passer-shifts and some of the plate errors detailed above (missing blue column of building). They are also of two different color shades. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 243.50 (Including the red free frank for 26D).

Registered air-mail lettre sent in November of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. On September 14th, 1985 Vietnam conducted another currency reform in which the old Dong was devalued by 10:1. Apart from the red free frank for 2.8D the stamps applied to the cover were only worth one tenth of their face value which was 210.8D (=21.1 New Dong). With the free frank the overall postage of the letter amounted to 23.9D. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter that shows different color variations of the 2D value. Some of the stamp also shows some of the plate errors detailed above (dot in E of VIETNAM, blue object at bottom right). Ton the reverse there are imperforate Cactus stamps. Error and imperfroate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. On September 14th, 1985 Vietnam conducted another currency reform in which the old Dong was devalued by 10:1. So the postage value of most of the stamps on the envelope (which are still Old Dong) were only worth one tenth of their face value. The top line of the stamps on the reverse and the red free frank is already denominated in New Dong. The mixed currency postage calculation therefore comes out as 58.78 Old Dong divided by 10 = 5.88 New Dong plus stamps and free frank in New Dong (14 D) for an overall postage of 19.88D. Partial green Fulda custom cancel on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from HO Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheet in yellow-green yellow color plus stamps from the Union Confederation and Karl Marx sets for an overall postage of 54.50D. Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare.  Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City which carries two blocks of four of the 50xu and 10D Friendship set. The 50xu stamps show a double printing of the blue color while two of the 10D stamps show plate errors (apostrophe over 1; blue dot in Cambodian flag). Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. On the reverse there are also stamps from the provisional overprint and Union Congress sets for an overall postage of 51D. Green Fold custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries four 10D values from the Friendship set plus stamps from the Orchids, Peoples Army and Union Congress sets for an overall postage of 71D (including the red free frank for 18D). The Union Congress stamps she two different color shades. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front. Special Cachet “Liberation of Hanoi”on the reverse.

Multiple franking of the 2D Union Congress value (5) paying an overall postage of 10D on a local letter sent in December of 1985 to a member of the Vietnamese military.

Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the rare pink color shade of the Communist Party stamp and the rare dark brown color shade and other color shaded of the Union Congress stamp. The Vietnamese Government conducted a currency reform on September 14th, 1985 by which the Dong was devalued by 10:1. This meant that all the stamps (other than the Laos stamps that were already in the new currency) on this cover were only worth one tenth of their face value at the time of mailing. The overall postage of the letter hence was 84.5 oD = 8.45 nD plus 14 nD for the Laos stamps and the red free frank for 22.45 nDD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on September 28th, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheets of the HCM Birthday and Union Conference sets plus stamps from the Youth Festival, World Food Year, Reforestation and Bird sets. The Birds stamps are imperforate and the top left Union Conference stamp shows the plate error of “crack through building”. Souvenir-sheets and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date (i.e. all stamps on this envelope) were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 41.37 oD = 4.14 nD. plus the red free frank for 35 nD or 39.14 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps that were still denominated in old Dong (Union Congress, Defense and Production, HCM Birthday) and new Dong (Airplanes, Bonsai, National Assembly). There is also a 30D stamp from the National Liberation Front denominated in South Vietnamese Dong. These stamps became valid after reunification but were devalued by 500:1. There are also different color variations of the Union Congress stamps. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. 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  19 oD =1.90 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (43 nD) plus the red free frank for 320 nD plus the NLF stamp 30 SVND: 500 = 0.06 nD for 364.96 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Sport Games set plus stamps from the Hanoi Liberation, Vietnamese Laos Friendship, Peace Meeting, Union Conference and Union Congress sets for an overall postage of 242.5D (including the red free frank for 15D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Sport Games set plus stamps from the Asia Games (both color variations), Year of the Child, Vietnamese Laos Friendship, World Food Day, Communist Party, Peace Meeting and Provisional Overprint  sets for an overall postage of 140D (including the red free frank for 10D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 103540

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