National Liberation Front, 30 Years Democratic Republic Vietnam, Michel Nr. NLF 55-58; Three stamps in the nominals of 15D (issued September 2nd, 1975), 30D, 60D and 300D (all issued January 28th, 1976) were released in perforation 11.0 and the currency of the former South Vietnamese Regime. These nominals did finally make sense. The 15D rate covered the intra-city rate, the 30D the standard letter rate, the 60D the surcharge for sending a letter by registered mail and the 300D was intended for larger envelopes, international mailings and packages.
Here is the cancelled to order set.
Perforation errors are known to exist. Here is the 60D value that is imperforate at the bottom margin.
After the fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975 the post office was closed for a number of days in order to allow the new administration to set up. The post office in Saigon reopened officially on May 7th, 1975, the day when the 10D and 20D Ho Chi Minh among solider set was released. Given that most South Vietnamese were laying low, not knowing what to expect from the new Government, very few letters were actually processed on that day. However, the next day philatelist did show up at the post office to get some blank envelopes cancelled with NLF stamps. Here is an envelope that features a number of NLF stamps cancelled with the new “M.N.” Saigon cancel.
Here is what looks like a First day Cover but there are a number of signs that may be a forgery. The 30D stamp was, according to the Vietnam Postage Samp Catalogue and Michel, issued on January 28th, 1976 so could not have been cancelled more than three months earlier. However the editor has postally used covers (see below) with this stamp that were used in November/December of 1975 which of course questions the catalogues accuracy. Also, the the special cancel showing the Vietnamese flag and country outline looks different from the one that is shown in Ta Phi Long’s book. Finally the Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh date canceler looks oval while the postally used cancel is round.
Postcard produced by the Tien Bo Printing House featuring a 1954 photo of Ho Chi Minh among soldiers.
Mixed franking of the the 10D value (2) from February 1974 and the 30xu value paying an overall postage of 50xu on a letter sent from Da-Nang to Ho Chi Minh City in September of 1976. Given that the standard letter rate was only 30xu the letter must have been heavier than 20g. Ho Chi Minh City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.
Single franking of the 30D value on a letter (full contents preserved) paying the standard letter rate and sent from Cantho to Ho Chi Minh City on December 31st, 1975. The date of use undermines the official issue date of this stamp (January, 28th, 1976). Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh arrival cancel on the reverse.
Single franking of the 30D stamp paying the standard letter rate and sent from Ben Tre to Ho Chi Minh City in July of 1975. Two Tanh Pho Ho Chi Minh machine arrival cancels on the reverse.
Single franking of the 30D value paying the standard letter rate and sent from Bin Phuoc to Truong Hoc Minh Viet on December 13th, 1975. The usage date of this stamp undermines the official release date of January, 28th, 1976 that is listed in various catalogues.
Single franking of the 30D stamp paying the standard letter rate and sent within Ho Chi Minh City on November 11th, 1975. The usage date of this stamp undermines the official release date of the stamp as published in various catalogues.
Single franking of the 30D value paying the standard domestic letter rate and sent within Ho Chi Minh City on September 22nd, 1976. Interesting “Ho Chi Minh Ville” bar and stamp on the reverse.
Single franking of the 30D value paying the standard domestic letter rate sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in February of 1976.
Rare multiple of the 30D value (2) franking paying the the 12xu letter rate in force at the time and sent from Tay Ninh (small post office) to Saigon on August 25th, 1976. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so the 60D franking amounted to exactly 12xu. Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh machine arrival cancel on the reverse.
Rare multiple franking of the 30D value (2) paying the 12xu letter tariff on a letter sent from a reeducation camp (Z30A) to a relative in Ho Chi Minh City in December of 1978. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so the 60D franking amounted to exactly 12xu at the time of mailing. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.
Another rare multiple franking of the 30D value (2) on a letter cancelled in Hanoi in January of 1977 paying the 12xu standard letter rate enforce at the time. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so the 60D franking amounted to exactly 12xu. NLF stamps sent on letters from the North are pretty scarce.
Mixed franking of the 10D Ho Chi Minh with tree value (2) with a 30D Ho Chi Minh among soldiers stamps paying a 50D rate on a letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on February 28th, 1976. This letter must have been heavier than the standard letter of 20g.
Single franking of the 60D value mailed on a letter in October of 1976 to Ho Chi Minh City. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so the 60D franking amounted to exactly 12xu which was the standard letter tariff at that time. HCM City machine arrival cancels on the reverse.
Single franking of the 60D value mailed on April 13th, 1976 from Da Nang to Saigon. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so the 60D franking amounted to exactly 12xu which represented the standard letter rate at that time. Red cachet celebrating the elections for the new national assembly.
Interesting mixed currency franking between the NLF Dong and the North Vietnamese Dong. The 300D NLF stamp was devalued by 500:1 ion September 22nd, 1975 so it was only worth 0.6 new Dong at the time of mailing. Together with the NLF stamps in new Dong the overall postage hence amounted to .084 new Dong on this letter sent to Hong Kong. International letters from this time period are rather rare.
Interesting mixed currency franking between the NLF Dong and the North Vietnamese Dong. The two 300D NLF stamps, the 10 and 300D NLF stamps were devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so were only worth 1.28 new Dong at the time of mailing. Together with the NLF stamp in new Dong the overall postage hence amounted to 1.40 Bank of Vietnam Money on this letter (full contents preserved) sent to France. International letters from this time period are rather rare.
Interesting mixed currency franking between the NLF Dong and the North Vietnamese Dong. The two 300D NLF stamps, the 10 and 30D NLF stamps were devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 so were only worth 1.28 new Dong at the time of mailing. Together with the NLF stamp in new Dong the overall postage hence amounted to 1.40 Bank of Vietnam Money on this letter sent HCM City to France. International letters from this time period are rather rare.
Mixed currency franking of NLF Dong stamps (310D) and unified currency stamps (18xu) on an air mail letter sent from Colon to the United States in 1976. The letter was cancelled with the special cancel produced for the national election of the new assembly. The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 which meant the two stamps in old currency were only worth 0.62D in new currency. Together with the two stamps in new currency the overall postage hence amounted to 0.80 new Dong. International letters from this time period are rather rare.
Interesting mixed currency franking of four stamps in the NLF Dong (620D) together with three stamps in unified currency (36xu). The NLF Dong was devalued by 500:1 on September 22nd, 1975 which meant the two stamps in old currency were only worth 1.24D in new currency at the time of mailing. Together with the 36xu stamps in new currency the overall postage hence amounted to 1.60D on this letter sent to Australia in July of 1976. International letters from this time period are rather rare.
Registration Nr. 200017
Comments are closed.