1. Five Year Plan (1.Issue)

North Vietnam, 1. Five Year Plan, April 10th, 1962, Michel Nr. 211-213; Five Year Plans were of great importance in communist countries as they directed all economic production and investments. While they never worked very well as they never really encompassed the real need of the people they were held onto for many decades. Three stamps with the nominal of 1 xu, 3 xu and 6 xu were issued (Perforation 11.0). Here is the official Xunhasaba stamp bulletin that announces the release of this set.

Here is the set in mint blocks of four:

Cancelled to order block of four of the 3xu value on which the bottom left stamp shows there plate error “GT in NONG TRUONG damaged”.

Detailed scan of the affected area:

Letters addressed to Czechoslovakia both featuring a beautiful three color franking of the complete set paying the correct 12xu tariff.

Mixed franking of the 1xu 5 Year Plan stamp together with stamps from the Mountain Province and 20. Anniversary of the Revolution sets paying an overall postage of 12xu which was the correct tariff for a standard letter to East Germany.

Here is a letter sent to Klewitz in June of 1962. It carries the entire set plus some other North Vietnamese stamps for an overall ranking of 28 xu. That was actually insufficient as the standard letter rate to West Germany was actually 50 xu, however, the sender duped the postal clerk into thinking that the letter was actually addressed to East Germany (RDA stands for East Germany). To that destination the required rate was only 12 xu. So in the eyes of the clerk the letter was actually overfranked.

Mixed currency franking between service stamps and general public stamps on a letter from Hanoi to East Germany. The sender was most likely a member of the East German Embassy and hence had access to service stamps. The 40D Union Congress service stamp had been devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 soit was only worth 4xu at the time of mailing. Together with the other NVN stamps in new currency the franking amounted to 13xu which was 1xu above the required 12xu tariff. Note that the traces of gum arabicum on the envelope do not represent damage. The stamps were issued without gum so had to be affixed with gum arabicum that led to the stains.

Mixed franking using the 3xu National Heroes stamp together with various other NVN series (including the 1 xu Five Year Plan stamp) for an overall postage of 13xu (over-paying the 12xu standard letter rate by 1xu) on an air-mail letter to East Germany in 1962.

Mixed franking of the 1 D Woschod value together with six Five Year Plan, World Union Conference and three Wild Animal stamps paying an overall postage of 1.78D on this rare registered letter sent from Gia-Loc (small post office) to Switzerland.

Letter sent to Klewitz with one 8 xu stamp (left unconcealed) of the Five Year Plan series. The letter was slightly over-franked at 5 xu to West Germany.

Rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in Jun elf 1974 carrying two of the 3 xu Five Year Plan stamps. The overall postage amounted to 3.3. Dong. This was on account of the 50 xu standard letter rate plus the sizable express mail fee.

Here is a letter sent to Klewitz in West Germany in May of 1964 with one of the 8 xu stamps of the Five Year Plan set. The overall franking amounts to 1.01 Dong which was too little for a registered standard letter to West Germany (Tariff of 1.1Dong). The clever sender however duped the postal clerk into thinking that the letter was routed to East Germany by writing “RD Allemagne” which stands for Republique Democratic Allemagne or East Germany. The standard letter rate to that destination was only 12 xu (plus 60 xu registration fee) so paid postage of 1.01 was not questioned.

Another very rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in August of 1977. It carries some of the im-perforated dragon fly stamps plus other im-perforated pagoda and sculpture stamps. There is also one of the 1 xu 5 Year Plan set. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 1.95 Dong. Bad Nauheim transit and Fulda arrival cancels on the reverse.

Very rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in August of 1977. It carries some of the im-perforated dragon fly stamps plus other NVN stamps. There are also three of the 1 xu Five Year Plan stamps. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 3.71 Dong. Bad Nauheim transit and Fulda arrival cancels on the reverse.

Rathe curious postcard sent in April of 1963 to Italy using a single franking of the 1 xu Five Year Plan stamp. The domestic postcard rate real stood at 6 xu as of March 1st, 1960 so, clearly, the 1 xu postage was insufficient. Nevertheless the postcard was transported without any comments.