Unified Vietnam, 55 Years Vietnamese Communist Party, April 26th, 1985, Michel Nr. 1553; A single stamp with a 2D nominal was issued in perforation 10.75. This issue is subject to significant color variations as is documented below.

Here is a mint pair of the stamp in “blood-red” color

here a mint pair in “light-red” color

A much rarer version is the stamp in a “pink” base color

This stamp was not officially released imperforate however a number of imperforate trial proofs and phase prints have come to market.

Pair of phase prints in dark grey color and printed on white paper. The left stamp shows the plate error “V in VIETNAM broken”.

Pair of phase prints in dark grey color and printed on yellowish paper. The left stamp shows the plate error “V in VIETNAM broken”.

Pair of phase prints in red color and printed on yellowish paper. The grey print is barely visible.

Completed trial proofs in imperforate pairs. The left stamp shows the plate error “V in VIETNAM broken and red dot under V”

Block of four of the imperforate trial proofs on yellowish paper. The lower pair shows the plate error “V in VIETNAM broken and red dot under V”

Mint block of four in “dar-red” color. The top left stamp shows the plate error “crest in hair and broken frame” (Field 76)

Detailed scan of the affected area

Mint block of four on yellowish paper in the base color “dark-red”. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error of “VIETNAM broken”

Detailed scan of the affected area

Mint bloc of four in “blood-red” base color. The block is mis-perforated and the top left stamp shows the plate error of “black slash to the right of head” and the bottom left stamp the plate error of “black dot at top right of stamp”.

Detailed scan of the affected areas

Mint pair which both show the plate error of “V in VIETNAM broken and red dot under V”

Detailed scan of the affected area

Mint block of four on which the two top stamps show the plate error “eye without pupil”, the bottom right stamp the plate error “weak print of eye” and all stamps the plate error “V in VIETNAM broken and red dot under V”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas

Mint block of ten in “brick-red” base color which is of a very light print. All stamps show the plate error of “V in VIETNAM broken and red dot under V”.

Mint strip of ten stamps (only eight shown for technical reasons) on which the center stamp shows the plate error of “red and black dot under 0 of 1930”. The fourth stamp from the right one can see the plate error of “black slash to the right of head”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas

Mint block of ten stamps in “blood-red” base color that is mis-perforated

Mint block of sixteen on which three stamps are affected by a significant paper fold. Also the top left stamp shows the plate error of “black slaw to the right of head”.

Detailed scans of the affect areas

Large block of fifteen stamps in the rare “pink” base color. The second stamp from the middle right shows the plate error “crest in hair and broken frame”.

Detailed scan of the affected area

Pre-First Day Cover.While the stamp was released on April 26th, 1985 the special cancel for the first date showed the  actual anniversary date of February 2nd, 1985.

Local letter sent in September of 1985 from Hue to HCM City and featuring a single franking of the 2D Communist Party stamp.

Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh To Klewitz. The letter carries a strip of three of the Communist Party stamp plus stamp from the Vietnamese Painters, Provisional Overprint, Friendship and Raffael stamps for an overall postage of 243.30D (including the red free frank for 172D). 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 a mass franking of the 2D Communist Party value plus the Vietnamese Painters set. 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 (including there Vietnamese Painter set) 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 247.80 = 24.78 plus 18D of the red free frank for 42.78D. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The carries a block of four of the Communist Party value on which the lower left stamp shows the plate error “broken VIETNAM”. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries the rare 6xu Flower stamp from 1974 plus stamps from the World Communication Year, Friendship Contract and Union Congress stamps for an overall postage of 216.68 old Dong. The military free frank from 1981 was technically not valid for international mail as it lacked any displayed nominal value but apparently was accepted by the postal clerk. 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 on this cover were only worth one tenth of their face value at the time of mailing (=21.66 nD). Together with the red free frank of 1.3 nD the overall postage of the letter amounted to 22.96nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz as a very rare triple currency franking. The letter carries the Southern Resistance stamp from 1958 that was devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 and then again by 10:1 on September 14th, 1985. As a result it was only worth 1.5xu. All the other stamp were issued prior to the 1985 devaluation date so were only worth one tenth of their face value at the time of mailing (175.01oD = 17.5nD). The red free frank for 5.5nD is already in the new currency. The overall postage of the letter hence amounted to 23nD. 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 nine of the Communist Part stamps some of which show the plate errors detailed above (broken V of VIETNAM) and stamps with a very pale grey print. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also stamps from the End of World War, Friendship Treaty, Union Congress sets plus a military free frank from 1981. The latter was technically not valid for international postage due to its lacking nominal value but was apparently accepted by the postal clerk. 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 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 132oD = 13.2nD plus 10nD of the red free frank for 23.2nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries seven of the Communist Party stamps that either are mis-perforated or carry some of the plate errors detailed above(crest in hair). There is also one stamp with a printing flaw. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also stamps from the Ha Long, Hanoi Liberation, World Communication Year and Friendship Contract sets for an overall postage of 131oD. 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 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 131oD = 13.1nD plus 10D of the red free frank for 23.1nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet.

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 in January of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two strips of five of the Communist Party stamp one which is in the rare “pink” color. 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 (including the New Year, Friendship and Union Congress stamps) 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 52oD = 5.2nD plus 16nD of the red free frank for 21.2nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a man franking of the 2D Communist Party stamps some of which show the plate errors detailed above (crest in hair, V in VIETNAM broken). There are also two stamps with the plate error “missing hair on forehead”. There are also two color shades of the New Year stamp. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. 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 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 52 oD = 5.2nD plus 16.5nD of the red free frank for 21.7nD.

Registered air mail letter sent on October 21st, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Hai Phong souvenir-sheet in dark colors plus stamps from the Friendship Contract, Orchids, Communist Party and Peace Meeting sets for an overall postage of 133 oD. 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. This was true for all stamps on the cover. The overall postage hence amounted to 133 oD = 13.3 nD. plus the red free frank for 11 nD for a total of 24.3 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on October 21st, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Hai Phong souvenir-sheet in light colors plus stamps from the Friendship Contract, Orchids and Communist Party  sets for an overall postage of 134 oD. 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. This was true for all stamps on the cover. The overall postage hence amounted to 134 oD = 13.4 nD. plus the red free frank for 11 nD for a total of 24.4 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Air mail letter sent in June of 1986 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Motorcycles set. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also stamps from the Communist Party, Prehistoric Animals and August Revolution sets. Two of the Communist Party stamps are significantly mis-perforated. All of the stamps were still denominated in old 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 37 oD = 3.7 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in December of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter which features the Laos set (already denominated in new Dong) plus stamps from the Friendship Treaty, II. World War, Union Congress and Communist Party sets (all denominated in old Dong). The Communist Party stamps all show different color variations plus a mis-perforated stamp. 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 120.5 oD =12.05 nD. plus the Laos stamps (2D) and the red free frank  for 9 nD or 23.05 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in June of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a number of the National Assembly stamps and stamps from the Reconstruction sets that were already denominated in new Dong and stamps from the Communist Party, Karl Marx and imperforate Cacti Year sets that were denominated in old Dong. 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  12.5 oD =1.25 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (17D)  plus the red free frank of 13 nD for 31.25 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in June of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a number of the National Assembly stamps and stamps from the Reconstruction sets that were already denominated in new Dong and stamps from the Communist Party, Hai Phong Liberation and imperforate Cacti sets that were denominated in old Dong. The Communist Party stamps show various shades and a perforation error. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There is also a military free frank issued in 1983 that was not valid for international postage but nevertheless was accepted by the postal clerk. 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  16.2 oD =1.62 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (16D)  plus the red free frank of 17 nD for 34.62 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Air mail letter sent in February of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the other half of the imperforate World Cup set plus stamps from the Communist Party (imperforate), a block of four of the Lotus stamp with the rare post master perforation and Poultry sets (imperforate) . There is also a pair of the military free frank issued in 1984 that was not valid for international postage but apparently was accepted by the postal clerk nevertheless. Imperforate stamps on postally mused cover are very rare. The Lotus and Communist Party stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all the other stamps were 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  4.48oD =0.45 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (23D)  for 23.45 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a mix of stamps denominated in old Dong (Communist Party, Cacti, Liberation of Hai Phong, National Liberation Front) and new Dong (National Assembly Labor Day). The two National Assembly stamps on the reverse both shows the plate error of “broken jacket line on HCM#s left side. Error 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  17.12 oD =1.71 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (7D) plus the red free frank for 24D for 32.71 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from the August Revolution set plus stamps from the Union Conference, Communist Part and Vietnamese-Cambodian Friendship sets for an overall postage of 203D (including the red free frank for 3D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 103840

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