United Vietnam, Founding of the Bulgarian Realm, May 7th, 1982, Michel Nr. 1223-1225; Three stamps in the nominals of 30 xu, 50 xu and 2 Dong were issued in perforation L11.
Here are the mint stamps:
Matching mint blocks of ten from the bottom right sheet corner:
There are some clear tonality issues resulting in some stamps being lighter or darker than normal. Here is a pair of the 30 xu value that shows an especially dark color spectrum.
Below are the there values in mint blocks of four, each of which, shows some printing flaws. The top left stamp of the 30 xu value shows a partial failure of the orange/salmon color print run:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of the 50 xu value. The top right stamp shows a partial failure the yellow printing run.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four of the 2 Dong value. All four stamps show an orange nominal value instead of the normal light violet color:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
There are also some re-occuring plate errors that have been observed. Here is a mint block of four of the 50 xu value. The bottom left stamp shows a plate error of a cliche damage in the top part of the stamp results in a white area:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Another mint block of four of the 50 xu stamp. The bottom left stamp shows a plate error of “a white ribbon to the right of the floral arrangement:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of four of the 50 xu stamps. The two stamps on the left show a re-occuring plate error “damaged 1981”. The top left stamp also shows the “lion with an violet dot”
Detailed scan of the affected areas:
Here is a mint block of twenty 2 Dong stamps. The fourth stamp down in the first column shows what looks like “a cliche nail obscuring the word “Buu”. Also the entire second column of stamps shows over-inking of the violet color partially obscuring the script.
Detailed scan of the affected areas:
There are also some pair varieties at least on the 2 Dong stamps. Below are two blocks of four that both show the same plate error “a cliche nail obscuring the word “Buu”. The first block is printed on yellowish paper while the second block is printed on white paper:
Mint block of ten 2 Dong stamps that show a variety of plate errors. The stamps are from fields 81-85 (top row) and 91-95 (bottom row) of a sheet of 100 stamps. Field 83 shows the plate error “Chinh damaged”, Field 85 shows the plate error “violet dot in lions paws”, Field 92 shows the plate error “Chinh partially missing”, Field 93 shows a partial re-engraving of the plate and finally, field 94 shows the plate error “VIET partially missing”.
Detailed scan of the affected areas:
Mint block of four that shows a printing flaw of over-inking of the violet color resulting in a partial obscuring the the nominal on the top right stamp:
Detailed scan of the affected area:
These stamps were not officially released im-perforated, however a small number of im-perforated trial proofs have come to market. Rare.
Im-perforated trial proofs of the 30 xu value in two very different color tones:
Im-perforated phase print of the 30 xu value of the violet color printing phase in pairs.
Im-perforated phase print of the 30 xu value of the salmon color printing phase:
Im-perforated phase print of the 30 xu value of the orange color printing phase:
Finished design of the 30xu value but with a passer shift of the orange color:
Mint block of four of an im-perforated trial proof of the 2 Dong value. The reverse shows a phase print of the violet color:
Front:
Reverse:
Mint pair of im-perforated 2 Dong trial proofs that shows the violet color print run plus an upside down and off-set orange print run. The reverse shows also shows an upside down orange print run:
Front
Reverse:
Here is the complete set of imperforate trial prints in different colors from the top margin with no printing on the reverse.
Here is a perforation error on the 30xu value where the bottom perforation hs shifted into the stamp image making it look like that it is imperforate.
Rare single franking of the 30 xu value on a local letter (full contents preserved) sent from Binh Minh to HCM City in February of 1983 paying the standard domestic letter rte in force at the time.
Here is a letter that was sent in July of 1982 from Hanoi to HCM City and that carries a single franking of the 50 xu Bulgaria stamp. The 50 xu rate may represent the second weight level or a North-South tariff that has ye to be discovered.
Rare single franking of the 2D value on an international air mail letter sent in April of 1983 from Hanoi to Czechoslovakia.
Multiple franking (3) of the 2D value paying an overall postage of 6D on a letter sent from Nghia Binh to Czechoslovakia.
Mixed franking of the 2D Bulgaria stamp together with a 1D Red Cross stamp paying an overall postage of 3D on an international air mail letter sent from Hue to France in March of 1983.
Mixed franking of the Tay-Phu’o’ng Pagoda II set together with stamps from the Bulgaria and Year of the Child sets paying an overall postage of 22.06D (including the red free frank for 5.2D) on a registered international air mail letter sent from HCM City to Hong Kong in October of 1982. Note that one of the 2D Bulgaria stamps shows a printing error on which the 2D nominal is barely legible.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries the entire Bulgaria set- The 2 Dong on the reverse shows the orange/salmon color error of the nominal value (instead of light violet). Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 14.56 Dong (including the red free frank for 7 Dong). 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 Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries a block of four of the 2 Dong value. The top right stamp shows the partially obscured nominal value due to over-inking. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Th over-all postage of the letter amounted to 19.44 Dong (including the red rank frank for 5 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in May of 1983. The letter features the entire set. The 2 Dong values are represented in both yellowish and white paper. Two of the values show the plate error of “plate nail obscuring “Buu”. The overall postage amounted to 19.8 (including the red free frank for 5 Dong). Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1984. The letter features four of the 50 xu Bulgaria values. The two bottom stamps both show plate errors, as described above. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 10.7 Dong. (including the red free frank of 5.5.Dong). Unusual red cancel. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in November of 1983. The letter carries a number of the Bulgaria stamp plus two blocks of four of the HCM Communist Party stamps in two color versions. The top right stamps in each block show the plate error of “left exe of HCM covered” and “right eye of HCM missing”. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 13.5 Dong (including the red free frank for 4.9 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very rare local letter mailed from Nguyen Trai to Quan 5/HCM City in October of 1982. The letter carries two im-perforated trio proofs of the Bulgaria set in slightly different colors. Trial proofs on postally used cover are basically unheard of. Quan 5 arrival cancel on the reverse. Probably unique cover.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in October of 1982. The letter carries the Dinitroff set plus a block of four of the 2 Dong Bulgaria stamp for an overall postage of 13.3 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. Two Bulgaria stamps in front. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in November of 1982. The letter carries the Environment set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 13.92 Dong (including the red free frank for 8 Dong). Pair of two 2 Dong Bulgaria stamps on the reverse. 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. Pair of two 2 Dong Bulgaria stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 14.42 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1983 from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz. It features a block of eight of the 30xu stamps which show some of the plate errors featured above (“white beard on girl”, “large dot on woman’s chest”, “spot on calf of girl”). Plate error on postal used coverage very rare. There are also some of the Bulgaria and Mammal stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 14.80D. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front and back.
Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1982 from Quan 5 to Klewitz. The letter features four of the ASEAD stamps plus a block of four of the 2D Bulgaria stamp that features the plate error of “881 instead 661”. Plate errors on postally used letter are very rare. There are also a number of Soccer stamps on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 15.80D. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai in February of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries four of the perforated Intercosomos set plus two of the 2D stamps from the Bulgaria set for an overall postage of 19.26D (including the red free frank for 4.30D). Note that the Bulgaria stamps are error stamps on which the top inscription and nominal value is barely visible. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai in February of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries the other perforated Intercosomos stamps from the set plus two of the 2D stamps from the Bulgaria set for an overall postage of 19.73D (including the red free frank for 4.25D). Note that one Bulgaria stamp is an error stamp on which the top inscription and nominal value is barely visible. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries a Military Free Frank issued in 1981. Military Free Franks were not valid for international mail due to their missing nominal value but clearly the postal clerk did not have any objections in this case. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registration Nr. 103180
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