700th Birthday of Chu Van An

Unified Vietnam, 700th Birthday of Chu Van An, January 18th, 1992, Michel Nr. 2392; A single stamp with a nominal of 200D was issued in perforation 13. Shortly after the release of the stamp it was discovered that instead of the word “Birthday” the word “Date of Death” was printed on the stamp which, of course was incorrect. As a result the Postal Administration decided to withdraw the stamp’s publication. This decision was published in Cable Nr. 15 from March 14th, 1992 and the formal decision Nr. 466 of the postal administration dated March 17th, 1992. So, overall, the stamp was for sale for slightly less than two months. The stamp remained valid postage after the withdrawal.

Here is the communication of the official Vietnamese stamp agency Vietafil published on March 26th, 1992

Here is the mint stamp

Mint block of four

This stamp was not officially released imperforate, however, some imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Below is a mint copy from the bottom margin and a rare block of four.

The stamp was also produced with a printed Hanoi cancel reflecting the first day of issuance . This appears to be the first time the Vietnamese Post experimented with these printed cancels.

Rare local letter from within the two month time period in which the stamp was officially on sale (February 23rd, 1992) sent from Quan 3 to Tan Binh. Binh Tran and HCM City transit cancels on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent on March 16th, 1992 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate Chu Van An stamp plus stamps from the Nguyen Binh Khiem, Frogs and Poisonous Mushroom sets for an overall postage of 20,500D (including the red free franks for 11,800D). The withdrawal order led to collectors to not using the stamp on mail but retaining it in their albums, as a result postally used copies are fairly rare. This is the only letter the editor has ever seen featuring the imperforate Chu Van An stamp.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1992 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated and imperforate Golden Heart stamps plus stamps from the Communist Party, Chess, Women Traditional Clothing (Imperforate) and the rare withdrawn Chu Van An stamp for an overall postage of 21,000 (including the red free frank for 300D). Postally used Chu Van An stamps used around the issuance date are not easy to find. Imperfroate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.