Unified Vietnam, International Stamp Exhibition FINLANDIA 88 Ocean Turtles, May 1st, 1989, Michel Nr. 2036-2043, Block 69; Seven stamps in nominals of 10D (two stamps), 20D (two stamps), 30D (two stamps) and 50D were issued in perforation 12.5 and imperforate. There is a question about the actual issuance date of these stamps. The May 1989 date reported by Michel is likely not correct. FINLANDIA was held from June 1st through June 12th, 1988 so issuing these stamps almost a year after that date appears to be nonsensical, certainly true for there souvenir-sheet. Also there are postally used registered letters from October 15th, 1988 and April 2nd, 1989 (see below) ex Klewitz that features the stamp set and souvenir-sheet, clearly well before the reported Michel date.

Stamps sold at Vietnamese post offices were without gum while stamps sold by the official Vietnamese stamp agency were gummed. There were also slight color differences.

Here is the mint perforated set

and here the mint imperforate set

Here are two mint souvenir-sheets. The first one was sold without gum at the post office and shows a darker shade and the second sold by the agency with gum and in lighter colors.

Here is the mint imperforate souvenir-sheet

Registered air mail letter sent in October 15th, 1988 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. Note that the date of the free frank December 15th is wrong as documented by the hand cancel. The letter carries the perforated Turtle souvenir-sheet (agency type with gum) plus stamps from the Ocean Creatures and  Union Congress. The Sea Creature 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  59 oD = 5.9 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (230 nD)  and the red free frank for 4,780D for 5,015.9 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent on April 2nd, 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries part of the perforated Turtle set plus stamps from the Children Drawings, INDIA Stamp Exhibition, Cambodian National Day and Ton Du’c Thang (imperforate) for an overall postage of 6,670D (including the red free frank for 3,770D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent on April 2nd, 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries part of the perforated Turtle set and the perforated souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Children Drawings, Cuban Revolution and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 6,610D (including the red free frank for 4,450D). Souvenir-Sheets stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in July as a mixed currency franking of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from the Turtle set plus stamps from the Peace Meeting, Bach Dang, Off-shore Oil Production, Fruits, Hydro Stations and Cambodian National Day sets. The Peace Meeting stamp was 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 5 oD = 0.50 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,600 nD)  and the red free frank for 6,260nD for 9,860.5 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated Turtle stamps and the souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Hydro Station set for an overall postage of 9,860D (including the red free frank for 4,560D). Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated and imperforate stamps from the Turtle set plus stamps from the Hydro Stations and French Revolution and USSR Cooperation sets. The USSR Cooperation stamp was 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 4 oD = 0.40 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,570 nD)  and the red free frank for 5,950nD for 9,520.4 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated and imperforate stamps from the Turtle set plus the stamp from the Turtle souvenir-sheet and stamps from the Sea Shells and French Revolution I and II  sets for an overall postage of 9,030D (including the red free frank for 7,620D). Imperforate stamps and stamps from souvenir-shets on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Turtle set and the perforated and imperforate souvenir-sheet featuring both color variations plus stamps from the Old Sailship set for an overall postage of 17,340D (including the red free frank for 12,920D). Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. 

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate souvenir-sheet of the Helikopter set plus stamps from the Turtle, Hydro Stations, Cambodian National Day and French Revolution sets for an overall postage of 9,960D (including the red free frank for 6,470D). Souvenir-Sheets on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1988 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated USSR Friendship stamps plus stamps from the Cacti (imperforate), Hydro Stations, Fish (imperforate), STOCKHOLMIA Birds (souvenir-sheet), HAFNIA Airplanes (imperforate) and Hai Phong Liberation sets. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps shows a severe passer-shift. Error-, imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cove are very rare.  The Hai Phong Liberation 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 10 oD = 1 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,385 nD) plus the red free frank for 3,240 nD for 6,626 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated USSR Friendship stamp plus stamps from the FINLAND Turtles (souvenir-sheet), Tourism (imperforate), Cambodia National Day, Hydro Stations, Bach Dang and Inter Parlamentarian Union sets for an overall postage of 6,860D (including the red free frank for 3,979D). Imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Fruits stamps plus stamps from the Horses, French Revolution I, Hydro Stations, Cuban Revolution and FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition sets for an overall postage of 8,110D (including the red free frank for 3,290D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated Dog stamps plus stamps from the Poisonous Snakes, FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition, French Revolution I and Hydro Station sets for an overall postage of 9,860D (including the red free frank for 5,630D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated Dog stamps plus stamps from the Thanh Giong, FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition and Hydro Station sets for an overall postage of 9,210D (including the red free frank for5,420D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on October of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated and imperforate World Cup stamps plus stamps from the Children Drawings, Off-shore Oil Production, FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition and Rice Planting sets for an overall postage of 9,460D (including the red free frank for 7,220D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 104800

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