Unified Vietnam, Flowers, August 25th, 1980, Michel Nr. 1125A-1127; Three stamps all with a 12 xu nominal were issued. The standard perforation that was applied in the printing works was 11.0. The stamps were not officially issued im-perforated but im-perforated specimens of Michel Nr. 1127 are not difficult to obtain. This stamp also displays a range of hand-made perforation varieties. Both of these facts support the idea that a number of im-perforated sheets of Michel Nr. 1127 were released to post offices in the im-perforated state. The post offices then applied different post master perforations by either using a sewing machine or hand-held perforation irons. The same stamp is also known on white and yellowish paper.
Below are two mint blocks of four of Michel Nr. 1125A (Perf. 11.0) that show that the stamp shows a wide range of color tones:
The same is true for Michel Nr. 1126A. Below are two mint specimens (Perf. 11.0) that also show a range in shading:
Here are two mint stamps of Michel Nr. 1127 (Perf.11.0). The first is printed on white paper and the second one on yellowish paper.
These stamps were not officially released imperforate, however, a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here is one of them.
Here is a perforation error on a block of ten of the 12xu Lotus stamps that was left imperforate on top.
Post master perforation applied by using a sewing machine. One can tell this by the small lateral variations of the manually applied holes. Both pairs show a perforation of 9.5. The first pair is printed on white and the second pair on yellowish paper. Since most of these post master perforations were simply used up unrecognized in the post offices they were produced and later just thrown away they are actually pretty scarce. Certainly much scarer than the current Michel price suggests.
Here is a rather curious block of twelve that demonstrates the manual nature of the perforation. Here the most left vertical perforation row measures 14 while the other vertical and horizontal rows measure 9.5!
Another odd mixed perforation that was a result of the manual sewing machine perforation process. On this mint block of four that is generally perforated 15 the bottom part of the bottom left stamp is perforated 11. Here the operator simply moved the sheet a bit quicker. Also note the slanted perforation on the top right stamp. It was difficult for the operator to hold the sheet straight while moving it over the sewing machine.
Here is a single mint stamp printed on yellowish paper that shows a post master perforation of 14.0 applied by using hand-perforation irons.
Mint block of four with Post Master Perforation 14:
Another mint stamp printed on yellowish paper that shows post master perforation of 15.0 applied by using hand-perforation-irons.
Mint block of four with post master perforation 15:
Here is a mint stamp the shows a post master perforation of 5-6 applied by sewing machine. It is printed on yellowish paper. Clearly this perforation was not very useful to separate the stamps. It was therefore cut by scissor from the sheet.
Rare mint block of six that clearly shows the post master perforation 5-6. The right selvage shows a vertical double perforation error.
Here are the mint stamps imperforate. The first one is on white and the second one on yellowish paper:
Rare complete sheet of 200 of the imperforate stamp:
The set also shows a wide range of printing errors. Below is a mint pair of the 12 xu stamp with the roses. The upper stamp shows a white “7” in the flower. The error can be found in position 76 of the sheet.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Some stamps also show a too heavy print of the green color. This happened when too much color was guided to the printing plate during the green color run. Note that the white “Buu Chinh” on the left is totally missing and that the leaves at the bottom of the flowers are almost obscured.
Here are very rare phase prints of the 12 xu stamp with the roses. First the green printing run, then the red printing run followed by a pair of im-perforated finished stamps. Contrary to Michel Nr. 1127 this stamp was not released im-perforated. The finished pair is hence considered a rare trial proof. This is supported by the fact that the completed stamps also show printing on the reverse.
Michel Nr. 1127 is especially rich in re-occuring plate errors, some of which were corrected as the printing went along. Below is a mint block of four (Post Master Perf. 14.0) that shows a period within the “2” (top left stamp) a phantom “T” on the top margin (top let stamp) and a diagonal line crossing the frame (bottom right stamp). These errors can be found in positions 16, 17 and 27 in the sheet:
Detailed scan of the affected areas:
Here is mint block of four that shows the same plate errors but this time in the post master perforation 15.0.
Mint block of four (Post Master Perf. 9.5) that shows the plate error “dot next to 2” on field 153 of the sheet.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four with plate error “symbol next to 12” Post Master Perf. 14 on the top right stamp. The same block of four with the plate error with Post Master Perf. 15 is also in the collection.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Rare block of eighteen mint stamps (Post Master Perf. 9.5). The four stamp from the left in the bottom row shows the plate error “extended flower stem” (Field 153 of the sheet):
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four (Post Master Perf. 9.5) that shows a plate error “large green dot between A and M” on the top left stamp:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
The same plate error but this time on an im-perforated mint block of four (bottom left stamp):
This error was discovered and then re-touched for later printing runs. Here is a mint block of four (Post Master Perf. 14.0) which shows the re-touched area between the A and the M.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four (Post Master Perf. 14) that shows the plate error two additional green dots at the bottom of the stem (Field 187 of the sheet):
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of six (Perf. 11.0) that shows a plate error red dot in the leaves of the middle bottom stamp (Field 153 of the sheet)
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four (Perf. 11) that shows a plate error red dot next to the flower of the top right stamp (Field 65 of the sheet):
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Here are two vertical mint pairs in post master perforation 14. The top stamp shows the plate error “green line next to bloom” (Field 52 of the sheet)
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Vertical mint pair that shows the plate error “red dot below N” on the bottom stamp (Field 35 of the sheet):
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Here is a printing error on the 12xu Rose stamp that shows an almost complete failure of the pink color printing process.
There are also a range of perforation errors apart from the post master perforations. Here is a mint block of six of the rose stamp that shows a vertical double perforation strike in-between the right for stamps:
Mint block of four that shows a horizontal double perforation strike in-between the stamps:
Mint block of six that shows an errant vertical perforation strike that goes through the image of two stamps. Also not the remnant rose print on the top selvage of the stamps:
Mint block of four from the top left of the sheet that shows a mis-perforation as a result of a large paper fold. Also note the red ghost images in the top selvage:
Mint block of eight that shows missing perforation holes in the horizontal perforation as a result of broken perforation “teeth”.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai in January of 1984 to Klewitz. It features the 12 xu roses stamp with a too heavy green print that totally obscures the “Buu Chinh” on the left. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also features a military free frank issued in 1981. Military free franks were not valid for international postage but it appears that the postal clerk did not object to that. The overall postage amounted to 31.41 Dong (including the red free frank of 7.45 Dong on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet . Unusual red cancel.
Local letter featuring a single franking of the 12xu Rose stamp on a letter sent within Ho Chi Minh City in February of 1981 paying the 50% discounted intra-city rate-
Single franking on a local cover that was made from a military map and was sent from a training school in Tactical Zone 7B (Ben Thu) to Long An.
Multiple franking of two of the 12xu Rose stamps paying the standard letter rate of 24xu sent from Chau Thanh (small post office) to Ho Chi Minh City in June of 1981.
Multiple franking of the 12xu Rose stamp paying an overall postage of 36xu on a local letter from Thanh Dinh to Ho Chi Minh City in September of 1981.
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.
Mixed franking of two of the 1D Total Liberation and 12 xu Rose stamps paying an overall postage of 2.24D on a letter sent in July of 1981 from Hoa Binh to Czechoslovakia.
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. 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 in March of 1982 to Klewitz. It carries eleven of the Flower stamps plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 11.22 Dong (including the 5 Dong are frank). Unusual red cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Single franking of the 12 xu Roses stamp on a letter sent to Nha Trang in March of 1985.
Multiple franking of three 12 xu Roses stamps on a local letter from June 1982 Ty Hong to HCM City. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.
Mixed franking of the 6xu NLF stamp from 1976 together with two of the Roses stamps paying an overall postage of 30xu on a homemade letter sent to Bien Hoa.
Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in August of 1981. It carries a strip of five of the Lotus stamp (Perf. 11.0), a single Lotus stamp on white paper (Post Master Perf. 9.5) and a pair of the Lotus stamp on yellowish paper (Post Master Perf. 9.5). There is also a strip of five of the 1978 Flower series with the most right stamp missing the name of the designer at the bottom. The overall postage amounted to 8.24 (including the free frank for 5.90 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter featuring a large number of stamps from the Flower sets of 1980 sent in August of 1981 to Klewitz. The overall postage amounted to 8.20 Dong (including the free frank of 5.6 Dong on the reverse). Unusual red cancellation. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Multiple franking (3) of there of the Lotus stamps (Perf. 11.0) on a local letter sent within Hanoi in October of 1981.
Registered air mail letter sent from Dalat to Klewitz in December of 1981. It carries the flower stamps in different color shades (light and dark) It also carries pairs of the Lotus stamp Perf. 11.0 on yellowish paper and the post master perforations 9.5, 14 and 15 as well two im-perforated pairs. Post master perforations and im-perforated stems on postally used cover are very rare. Unusual black free frank for 5.60 Dong on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 8.14 Dong.
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. The overall postage (including the free frank for 4.5 Dong) amounted to 7.87 Dong.
Rare registert express mail letter sent from Dalat to Klewitz in May of 1981. It carries a wide variety of the 1977, 1978 and 1980 Flower stamps for an overall postage of 13.54 Dong (including the black free frank for 8.4 Dong). Strip of four of the Lotus stamp in post master perforation 9.5 on white paper. Post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. Frankfurt transit and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Unusual black free frank. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent from Quang 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in September of 1981. It carries the Lotus stamp in a number of perforations and paper (pair Perf 9.5 on yellowish paper, strip of three Perf. 11 on yellowish paper, pair Perf 9.5 on white paper, im-perfroated stamp on white paper). Post master perforations and im-perfroated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also a range of the Flower stamps from 1977/78. The overall postage (including the 9.70 red free frank) amounted to 14.22 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City in September of 1980 to Klewitz. It carries a pair of the 12 xu Rose stamp with a double horizontal perforation. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 3.40 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City in October of 1980 to Klewitz. It carries a pair of the 12 xu Rose stamp with a double vertical perforation. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 3.44 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Tran Hung Bao to Klewitz in April of 1982. It carries a wide variation of the post master perforation set of the Lotus stamp (block of four Perf.8-9, block of six Perf. 15 on white paper, block of seven Perf. 14 on yellowish paper and a single Per. 11). Post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. There are also the other Flower stamps on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
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 are also there of the Lotus stamps with post master perforations of 14 and 15 (yellowish paper) and one with perforation 15 (white paper). The overall postage 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. 12 xu Flower stamp on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 7.90 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
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.
Very rare registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in March of 1981. The letter carries four 6 xu Lenin stamps. Two of them show the plate error “partially missing mustache” and the other two the plate error “damaged script in Lenin”. Also the strip of three of the 12 xu rose stamp shows a severe perforation error in which the perforation comb struck through the left stamps image. The overall postage amounted to 8.20 Dong. Unusual red cancel.
Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in July of 1982. The letter carries one of the 2 Dong Nutritional Day stamps plus two of the 2 Dong Total Liberation stamps that sho a very significant shift of the yellow printing phase. The letter also carries the rare post master perforations 14 and 15 of the 12 xu Lotus stamp. Error stamps and Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare.The total postage amounted to 11.6 Dong (including the rare red free frank for 2.3 Dong created by DA3.1. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300”).
Registered letter sent from Quan 5 to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter features the entire Nutritional Day set plus the 2 Dong Total Liberation stamp that shows a very significant passer-shift of the yellow printing color. There is also a pair of the 12 xu Lots stamp with the rare Post Master Perforation 15. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 11.66 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in November of 1982. It features the set in different color variations. The top right 50 xu World Congress stamp shows the plate error “open “0” in 50″. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries the very rare Post Master Perforation of the 12 xu Lotus stamp (Perf 14). The overall postage amounted to 25.2 Dong. Frankfurt Airport arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in January of 1983. The letter carries the 50 xu World Congress stamp in various color tones and plate errors. The Einstein stamp also shows color variations. There is also a military free frank issued in 1976 on the reverse. Military free franks were not valid for international postage due to their lacking nominal value. Nevertheless, the postal clerk appears to have accepted the stamp as postage. Flower stamps on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter (inducing the implied 12 xu value of the free frank) amounted to 14.52 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter carries various error stamps of the red HCM stamps. Error stamps are very rare on postally used cover. Flower stamps on the reverse (including one with Post Master Perforation). The overall postage amounted to 11 Dong (including the red free frank for 8 Dong). Green Fula custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Dalat to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries a varieties of colors of the red 30 xu value, some passer-shifts and the “glass-eye” plate error. There is also a pair of the very rare Post Master Perforation (14) of the Lotus stamp. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 9.34 Dong (including the red free frank for 4.5 Dong).
Very large registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in March of 1983. The letter carries a mass franking of the red 30 xu value that all show production errors, passer-shifts or plate errors. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also six of the rare Post Master Perforation of the Lotus stamp. There are also two military free franks issued in 1981. Military free franks were not valid for international postage but it appears that the postal clerk nevertheless accepted them. The overall postage amounted to 10.76 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel and Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in November of 1982. The letter carries both Communist Party sets and two of the rare Post Master Perforation (15) of the 12 xu Lotus stamp. The 30 xu stamp issued in March shows a double printing of the black color. Post Master Perforations and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 13.84 Dong (including the rd free frank for 7.5 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very large registered envelope that features the entire perforated Soccer set. There are also a pair of the 1974 Flower series im-perforated and the rarer Post Master Perforation (15) of the 12 xu Lotus stamp. Im-perfroated stamps and Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. On front there is pair of the 1976 military free frank in both color variations the stamp is known. Military free franks were not valid for international postage due to their lacking nominal value, however it appears that the postal clerk was not familiar with that rule. The overall postage amounted to 23.13 Dong (including the red free frank for 9 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in June of 1982. The letter carries all the perforated high values of the Football set. There are also four of the rare Post Master Perforation (15) of the Lots stamp on the reverse. Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 8.38 Dong . Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in June of 1982. The letter carries many of the perforated high values of the Football set. There are also four of the rare Post Master Perforation (15) of the Lots stamp on the front. Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 7.71 Dong (including the red free frank of 61 xu). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter features the Militia stamp in Post Master Perforation 9-11.5. The letter also carries eight of the Lotus stamps in Post Master Perforation 14-15. Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 8.9 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very large letter setoff from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz. The letter features twenty six Militia stamps in Post Master Perforation 9. The thirteenth stamp from the top shows the plate error of a long white line behind the sun. The stamps also show a partial failure of the brown printing run. There are also six of the Lotus stamps with Post Master Perforation 14-15. Post Master Perforations and error stamps on postal used cover are very rare. The over-all postage of the letter amounted to 21.92 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very large letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in September of 1982. It features two blocks of eight of the Militia stamps. The upper block shows the Post Master Perforation 11.5 while the bottom block shows the Post Master perforation 12.5. The plate error “long white line behind the sun” and “damaged uniform bottom” is present on both blocks. The letter also carries ten of the Lotus stamps with Post Master Perforation 14-15. The overall postage amounted to 23.84 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter features three of the 2 Dong Bulgaria stamps. The left most stamp shows the plate error of “missing Chinh” and the middle stamp shows the re-engraved plate resulting in a partial white inscription. The letter also shows six 12 xu Lotus stamps with the rarer Post Master Perforation (Perf 14-15). Error stamps and post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 14.42 (including the red free frank for 5 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter carries the Red Cross set. The 1 Dong value shows the plate error of “additional point inside the E of VIETNAM”. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Flower stamps in front and back. The overall postage amounted to 13.24 (including the red free frank for 7.4 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz. It carries a number of Bird of Prey, Bird and Pigeon stamps for an overall postage of 13.84 Dong. The letter also carries the rare Post Master Perforation of the 12 xu Lotus stamp (three stamps Perf 14, four stamps Perf 15). Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter carries half of the perforated Dahlia set. On the reverse are other NVN stamps including the rare Post Master Perforation of the Lotus stamp (Perf-14-15). Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 13.28 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter carries the other half of the perforated Dahlia set. On the reverse are other NVN stamps including the rare Post Master Perforation of the Lotus stamp (Perf-14-15). Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 13.28 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz. The letter carries two pairs of the Environment HCM stamp that feature a number of the plate errors described above. The bottom pair also shows a double perforation in-between stamps. There are also six of the 12 xu Lotus stamp that show the rare Post Master Perforation (14-15). Error stamps and post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 14.42 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in November of 1982. The letter carries half of the perforated Harmful Insect set and other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 14.4 Dong (including the red free frank for 9 Dong). On the reverse is one of the rare post master perforations on the Lotus stamp (Perf. 14-15). Post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in October of 1986. The letter carries the United Nation stamp in different color variations and stamps from the Reconstruction, Traditional Houses, Dam Building and Halley sets that were already denominated in new Dong. The stamps from the Lotus set were still in old Dong. The Lotus stamps are in the rare post master perforation that is very hard to find on postally used cover. 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 (33D) for 33.05 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.
Registration Nr. 102990
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