Unified Vietnam, Five Year Plan , May 1st, 1981, Michel Nr. 1028A-1037A; A new definite stamp series that was intended to address domestic postage needs was begun to be issue on May 1st. (Michel Nr. 1033A-1037A), other stamps were added on June 1st (Michel Nr. 1028A-1032A). The series was issued on two different paper types. Most stamps were issued on paper that was slightly tanned, flat where the image was supposed to appear but ribbed on the back. Two values (Michel Nr. 1029A-1030A) however, were issued on white newsprint type paper. The perforation of all stamps was 11.0 except an additional printing of Michel Nr.1033A was perforated 12.25.

Here is the mint set.

These stamp were not intentionally released imperforate but a few imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here is a imperforate pair of the 6xu stamp:

Another imperforate 6xu stamp cancelled to order.

This mi t block of four of a trial proof that is also missing the yellow printing run:

Trial proof of the 12xu value here in a pair.

Perforation errors do occur. Here are three stamps that are imperforate on the bottom or right.

This is a mint block of four of the 12xu value (Perf 11.0) that is imperforate on the right margin.

Here is a pair of the 12xu value that is totally misperforated.

Block of four of the 6 xu value with passer-shift of the pink color towards the left:

This pair also shows a signifiant passer-shift of there blue color towards the right:

Some trial printings on white glossy news print have appeared that clearly where not intended for release. They are probably from the discards that were intended to be burnt. The green color in the background is from an earlier printing the paper was first used.

Other printing errors/flaws have also become known. Here is a block of four of the green/yellow 12 xu value that shows a re-occuring printing flaw on the top left stamp. The block is also printed on the wrong side of the paper (the rougher, ribbed side instead on the flat side that was intended for the image).

Detailed scan of the affected stamp. The error looks like it was caused by an object falling onto the printing plate. The error may have been not as transient as one would expect as it is known to exist on multiple sheets.

Another printing error of the 12xu green/yellow value that shows a right side up slanted ghost print of the green color (nicely to see on the selvage).

 The green/yellow 12 xu stamp is known in two very distinct printings. The first (issued in May 1st, 1979) shows a women driver of a tractor that appears to be smiling, shows a hair line that shows less white, paper that was lighter and a perforation of 11.0. The second printing (issued in February of 1981) shows a tractor driver that has lost her smile due to a shortened lip line, shows more green color in the hair of the woman, has paper that is more tanned looking and a perforation of 12.25. The second printing is much rarer than what the Michel valuation currently suggests.

Below are two mint blocks of four. The left one is of the 1st printing from May of 1979, while the right one is of the second printing from February of 1981. Note the cleaner perforation on the right block. 

Detailed scan of the 1st printing:

Detailed scan of the 2nd printing:

There is also a rather curious error that looks like a trial printing that was carried out in a mixed fashion. One side of the sheet looks normal but the other side shows a light brownish grid that was overprinted and that gives the stamp a more tanned appearance. The left six stamps of this unit are normal while the right six stamps shows the brownish grid. This block is ex Klewitz. In his notes Klewitz writes that this error has only become known in a single sheet!

Detailed scan of the area in-between the two types of stamps:

This stamp also is known in two very different printings. The stamp was first produced with a light brown “12” with a white edge. However this version was judged to not be legible enough as the background behind the nominal value was a darker brown. Therefore a alternative version was printed that showed a purely white “12” that was much better to see. So, the version with the white “12” was issued first. However, sheets of the first version with the light brown “12” remained in postal archives. In order to salvage the stamps the postal authority decided that it should be over-printed with a black “12”. That version was released in February of 1982 but apparently this release was not communicated to the public by postal authorities. According to SICP member Lucan Lu, who lived in Ho Chi Minh City until 1984, the overprinted stamps were not sold at post offices but were only included in Year Stamp Sets sold by official stamp company (Xunhasaba). This explains why the overprinted stamp was initially very rare and hence priced highly in the various catalogues. Later on the overprinted stamp was released in large quantities by Xunhasaba (mostly cancelled to order but also some mint) and today one can buy complete sheets of the overprinted stamp for under $10. So, do not trust the high prices that are still shown in the various catalogues. They do not reflect the market reality.

Here is the version with the black “12 xu”overprint:

Here is a rare single stamp that shows the black printer guidance marks for the overprint on the top left of the stamp:

Perforation error in a mint block of six stamps. The vertical perforation comb was missing some “teeth” which resulted in small areas of the stamps to remain im-perforated:

Detailed scan of the affected area:

There are also a number of perforation errors that have been recorded. Here is the 12 xu value featuring the Vietnam map that shows a double vertical perforation comb strike in-between the two blocks of four:

Here is another small perforation error. The horizontal perforation comb had some “teeth” missing creating small im-perforated areas:

Here are two large mint units of the rarer, second printing of the stamp with perforation 12.25 that show significant perforation shifts:

Blok of twelve mint stamps that shows a vertical perforation error. The vertical perforation comb was missing some “teeth”resulting in small areas remaining im-perforated:

Detailed scan of the affected area:

Rare multiple franking of the “Intellectual” 6 xu value on a local letter sent to HCM City and paying the 30xu domestic letter rte in force at the time.

Single franking of the un-overprinted 12 xu value sent in June of 1979 Ho Chi Minh City to a member of the military (note the Hom Thu number as part of the address). Interesting machine cancel that shows the zip code on the left side. 12 xu was the standard inland letter rate.

International mailing from Da Nang to Czechoslovakia sent in June of 1979 and featuring two of the 12 xu August Revolution and nine of the “Industrial Worker” stamps paying an overall postage of 1.20D.

Single franking of the 12 xu “Intellectual” stamp on a local cover sent within HCM City in November of 1979. HCM arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 12 xu “Intellectual” stamp on a local cover sent to HCM City in August of 1979. HCM machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 12 xu “Soldier” stamp on a local letter sent by a member of the military to HCM City in March of 1980. HCM City hand and machine arrival cancels on the reverse.

Single franking of the 12xu Soldier stamp on a domestic letter sent from Vinh Long to HCM City in December of 1979. HCM machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of a rare local registered letter (full contents preserved) sent from HCM City to An Giang and using the 12 xu “Soldier” stamp plus the 20xu Fish stamp paying an overall postage of 32 xu. This documents that the registration surcharge at the time was 20 xu. Illegible arrival cancel on the reverse.

Multiple franking of the 12 xu “Soldier” stamp on an air mail letter sent in March of 1981 from Hanoi to HCM City. Binh Thanh transit and HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Multiple franking of there 12 xu “Soldier” stamp on a handmade local letter sent from Ha Bae to Ninh Song Be in July of 1981.

Single franking of the “Map” 12 xu value on a local letter from July of 1981 sent within Dong Nai. Illegible arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the “Map” 12 xu value on a local letter from July of 1981 sent within Ten Covang to Song Be.

International letter sent in September of 1980 from Tuy Hoa to Belgium and featuring a mass franking of the 12 xu “Industrial Worker” dying an overall postage of 2.16D.

Local letter sent within HCM City and  featuring a very rare single franking of the 12 xu “Tractor Driver” stamp in perforation 12.25. The use date suggest that the publishing date in the Michel catalogue (February 1981) is not correct.

Another local letter sent by a member of the Vietnamese military (note the Hom Thu number in the sender line) sent from Hau Giang to HCM City in September of 1980. The letter also features the very rare 12 xu “Tractor Driver” stamp in perforation 12.25 (full contents preserved).

Single franking using the 12 xu Traktorist stamp (Perf. 11.0) on a letter sent from the Cambodian Occupation Zone (HT 7A) to HCM City in March of 1980 (full content preserved). Th letter was written on March 23rd, 1980 and arrive on April 14th, 1980, a full 22 days in transit. This shows that Cambodian mail was transported by surface and not by air.

Multiple franking of the 12 xu traktorist stamp (Perf. 11.0) on a letter sent from Ha Bac to HCM City. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 12xu Five Year Plan tractors stamp, together with the 12xu Flower and two 6xu  Final Victory stamps paying an overall postage of 36xu on a domestic letter sent from Dallas to HCM City in November of 1981.

Here is a very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in July of 1981 that carried the entire set. It also carries a pair of the 12 xu (Michel Nr. 1036A) that is im-perforated. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries the two versions of the 12 xu (Michel Nr. 1033A and C) stamp with different perforation. The overall postage (including the red free frank for 5.94) amounted to 13.90 Dong. Bebra rail transit cancel and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Multiple franking of the 12 xu “Tractor Driver” stamp (Perf. 11.0) on a local cover sent in October of 1981 from Tan Dinh to HCM City and paying an overall postage of 36 xu. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Hoa Binh to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries a mass franking of the 12 xu stamp (1st Printing) plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 13.60 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Mixed franking of the 12 xu “Tractor Driver” stamp (10/Perf 11.0) plus four of the 5xu Unified Vietnam stamp on an international air mail letter sent to Belgium and paying an overall postage 1.40D.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in August of 1981. It carries four blocks of four of the 12 xu value. The left and right most block are of the first printing while the middle blocks of four are the second printing. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 8.21 Dong. Green Fold custom cachet on front.

Local letter featuring four of the 12 xu “Tractor Driver stamps (Perf. 11.0) hence paying an overall potage of 48 xu on a letter sent to HCM City. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Very rare registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong in November of 1980. The letter features the entire set plus one of the 50xu values that is imperforated at the top and bottom margin. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries three of the second print 12 xu Five Year Plan stamps (Perf. 12.25) on the reverse. The overall postage amounted 2.50D.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in July of 1981. It carries a block of nine of the green/yellow 12 xu stamp that is grossly mis-perforated. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There is also a 3 Dong National Liberation Front stamp from 1970. The currency used by the NLF in the South was not compatible with the currency of the North. As a result these stamps were not valid postage there. Nevertheless it appears that the postal clerk was not aware of this fact and hence he/she accepted the 3 Dong stamp in full. The overall postage including the NLF stamp was 13.96 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in September of 1981. It carries a large number of the Five Year Plan stamps (the green/yellow 12 xu stamp is all from the 1st printing) plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 8.40 Dong. Red Ho Chi Minh cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries a large number of the Five Year Plan stamps plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 7.90 Dong (excluding the military free franks). The letter also carries two military free franks that were only valid for domestic postage as they do not carry a nominal value. The 12 xu value shows various color and paper variations.

Rare registered express mail letter sent von Nha-Trang to Klewitz in June of 1980. The letter carries the entire Five Year Plan set (1st printing of the green/yellow 12 xu value) plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 4.80 Dong. The pair of 12 xu 35 Years of the Peoples Army stamp show a double horizontal perforation in-between stamps. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Spectacular mass franking of the Five Year Plan series on a large registered express mail envelope mailed to Klewitz in October of 1980. The letter carries a number of the perforation errors featured above. The overall postage amounted to 6.14 Dong. Hand-made express mail label using a typewriter. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Local letter from December of 1981 sent from Long An Province to HCM City  featuring two of the 12 xu “Soldier” stamps plus one 6 xu Final Victory stamp paying the 30 xu domestic letter rate in force at the time.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in December of 1981. It carries a pair of mis-perforated  green/yellow 12 xu stamps of the 2nd printing. There is also a block of nine of the 12 xu stamp 1st printing. The overall postage amounted to 8.34 Dong.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1982. Th eletter carris three of the 12 xu stamps with the white “12” and one stamp with the black over-printed “12”. The overall postage amounted to 8.22 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Local letter from Quan 5 (Cholon) and Ho Chi Minh City franked with two of the 12 xu values. One of the value is the black overprinted “12” version. Unusual red cancel.

Very rare registered letter sent from Quang 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in November of 1981. It carries a block of four of the Year of the Child stamps plus a mis-perforated 6 xu People Sports stamp plus other NVN stamps. There is also block of 12 of the 10 xu Flower stamps that shows a double perforation strike. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. One 12 xu 5 Year Plan stamp is on front. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 11.30 Dong (including the red dress frank for 5.70 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1980. It carries two of the 1 Dong Day of the Cild stamps plus the 12 xu Bond of Cities stamp for an overall postage of 4.42 Dong. Red “Franked by Sender” hand stamp and green Fulda custom cachet on front.  The zero red free frank was required to produce the R-label as they came out of the same machine.

Very rare registered letter sent in March of 1982 from Ho Chi Minh City to West Germany. It carries the entire Socialist Republic set with “normal” perforation and a pair of the 12 xu Map stamp with the rouletted perforation. There is also one of the 6 xu Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage (including the red free frank for 8.00 Dong) amounted to 11.04 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent in May of 1981 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to West Germany. It carries two pairs of the Socialist Republic 6 xu stamp that shows a variation in the size of the star. The left pair features a small star while the right pair features a large star. Also not the color variations on the brown/ochre color. There are also some Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage amounted to 8.21 Dong.

Rare registered express mail letter sent in May of 1981 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to West Germany. It carries two of the regular Socialist republic 6 xu stamps plus other flag stamps for an overall postage of 13.68 Dong. Curious use of three free franks totaling 12 Dong. There are also a number of the Five Year Plan stamps. Unusual hand-made express mail label. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in March of 1981. The letter carries six stamps from the Fish plus one of the 12 xu Five Year Plan stamps. There also is a military free frank that was issued in 1973 (in the rare version with perforation 12.5). Military free franks were not valid for international postage due to the fact that they did not carry any nominal value. Nevertheless it appears that the postal clerk accepted the stamp with a face value of 12 xu (which corresponded to the standard domestic letter rate). The overall postage amounted to 4.80 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter carrying the entire set plus a range of Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 7.62 Dong. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label that came out of the same machine.  Unusual sheet numbers on top of the selvage of all stamps in the set. Very rarely seen on cover. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail latter sent in December of 1981 to Klewitz. It shows six pairs of the lotus flower stamp in the rare post master perforations: 9.5, 11, 14, 15, 5-6 and 9.5. It also carries two shads of the single rose stamp. Four 12 xu Five Year Plan stamps on the back. The overall postage amounted to 8.80 Dong  (including the 3 Dong free frank on front). Unusual red cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in December of 1981. The letter carries a wide variety of the Lotus stamp (pair in Perf. 9.5 on yellowish paper, pair in 9.5 on white paper, pair im-perforated on yellowish paper, single stamp im-perforated on white paper, pair Perf. 5-6, pairs Perf 11 on yellowish and white paper, pairs Perf. 14 and 15 on white paper and a pair Perf. 14 on yellowish paper). Post master perforations and im-perfroated stamps on postally used cover are ver rare. Three 12 xu Five Year Plan stamps on the reverse. The overall postage (including the free frank for 4.5 Dong) amounted to 7.87 Dong.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in December of 1981. It carries two stamps from the Independence set with sheet numbers. Stamp with sheet numbers on postally used cover are rare. There is also a military free frank issued in 1970. Since it did not carry a nominal value it was not valid for international postage but it appears that the postal clerk was not aware of that. There are also two of the Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage (including ther free frank that was worth 12 xu) amounted to 8.32 Dong.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in February of 1982. It carries the entire set with pairs of both colors of the 12 xu Coat of Arms stamp. Two Five Year stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 7.90 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. It features the Women Union set plus eight 12xu Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 8.78 Dong (including the red free frank of 5.90 Dong). 12 xu Lotus stamp with post master perforation of 9.5. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in June of 1981. The letter carries half of the perforated Fish set plus some of the Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 8.04 Dong (including the red free rural for 5 Dong). The letter also carries a military free frank issued in 1970 that was not valid for international postage but it appears that the postal clerk accepted it for its domestic value of 12 xu.

Another registered letter sent from Quan 1 (Ho Chi Minh City) to Klewitz in June of 1981. The letter carries the other half of the perforated Fish set plus some Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 8.07 Dong.

Rare very large registered express mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in January of 1982. It carries both color tones of the 50 xu stamp- Also the top left block of four shows a horizontal double perforation. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also features the 12 xu Lotus stamp (Perf.11) on yellowish paper and the the Telephonist stamp with the passer-cross at the bottom right (left stamp of the pair). There are also a number of the Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage amounted to 12.62 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in April of 1981. It features a block of four of the 20 xu KPdSU stamp plus two pairs of the the two perforation varieties of the 12 xu Five Year Plan stamp plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 13.90 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries half of the perforated Mammal set plus some of the Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 7.94 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries the other half of the perforated Mammal set plus some of the Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 7.90 Dong (including the red free frank for 5.5. Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries the entire perforated Bird set plus some of the Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 8.20 Dong. Note that the scan of the reverse looks like that the stamps on the sids have been cut off but this is not the case. They are only hidden under a strip of paper. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1981. It carries half of the perforated Cat set plus three 6 xu Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 13.90 Dong (including the two red free franks for 9.10 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Unusual hand-made express mail label.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in March of 1981. It carries half of the perforated Cat set plus four Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 13.90 Dong (including the red free franks for 9.10 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Unusual hand-made express mail label.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Dalat to Klewitz in July of 1980. The letter carries pairs of the set and the entire Five Year Plan set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 4.81 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Unusual hand-made express mail label.

Rare registered express mail letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in March of 1981. The letter carries two complete Lenin sets. The 1 Dong stamps show both color variations of the star (orange and grey-ocre). There is also a block of six  of one of the 6 xu Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage amounted to 13.90 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Another very rare registered express mail letter sent from Quan 5 to Klewitz in November of 1981. The letter carries the souvenir sheet (1st Printing) and some perforated Intercosmo and Five Year Plan stamps for an overall postage of 14.2 Dong. Souvenir sheets used on postally traveled mail are very rare. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Note that the red free frank in the amount of 7 Dong shows an incorrect date (December 17th instead of November 17th).

Registered letter setoff rom Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in March of 1984. The letter two of the 50 xu World Congress stamps. The left stamp was erroneously printed on the unglued gum side of the paper which led to a partial failure of the red printing color. The right stamp was printed on yellowish paper. Five Year Plan stamps in front and back. The over-all postage amounted to 9.14 Doing (including the red free rank for 5.04 Dong).

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in March of 1984. It carries a strip of ten 50 xu stamps which show the additional printing of the red and pink color on the reverse (two stamps from each side folded over). Below are pairs of the 50 xu stamp that shows various color tones, printing flaws (covered 50) and plate errors (blue dot in x). On the reverse there are pairs of the 5 xu stamp. One pair without dot over X and one pair with dot over X. Five Year Plan stamps in front .The overall postage amounted to 34.09 Dong (cover stamps not counted). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in September of 1984. The letter carries the entire perforated Bird of Prey set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 40.44 Dong (excluding the red free frank which is unreadable). Five Year Plan stamps in front. Unusual red cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from theINDIA Stamp Exhibition set plus stamps from the Five Year Plan (mis-perforated), Sea Snails and Dong Da sets. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Five Year Plan  stamps  were still denominated in old Dong while 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 0.48 oD =  0.05 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (2,281 nD) plus the two red free franks for 6,240 nD for 8,521.05 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 102810

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