500. Birthday of Nikolaus Kopernikurs

North Vietnam, 500. Birthday of Nikolaus Kopernikurs, February 19th, 1973, Michel Nr. 723-725; Three stamps with the nominals of 12 xu (two stamps) and 30 xu were issued perforated 11.0. The 12 xu stamps were printed attached to each other in the same sheet.

Here is the mint set.

Here is a mint strip of the 12 xu value that shows how the sequence of the stamps:

The 30 xu stamp comes in two different color tones. One is lighter (left stamp) and one is darker (right stamp). These are likely just tonality issues that are caused by how much paint is direct to the printing plate.

This series was not officially released im-perforated however a handful of im-perforated trial proofs have come to market. Rare.

Mixed franking of one of the 12xu values together with the 40xu Aircraft Shot Down stamp for an overall postage of 52xu. The tariff to Western countries amounted to 50xu but the tariff to Eastern (socialist) countries was only 12xu. So it appears that the sender or postal clerk was unaware about the correct postage.

Mixed franking featuring five of the 12xu Kopernikus stamps together with the 30xu Domestic Wildlife and 50xu Chrysanthemum stamps for an overall postage of 1.40 on a letter fragment sent to Switzerland.

Rare letter sent to Klewitz in September of 1973 bearing a strip of the 12 xu stamps plus both color versions of the 30 xu stamp. It is interesting that there is a ghost image of the left 12 xu stamp visible on the large piece of margin to the right. There are also interesting printed handwritten printer notes on the right selvage piece. The postage of the letter amounted to 2.20 Dong which appears to be in excess of the required tariff of 1.00 Dong. Initially the letter was slated to be sent by registered mail (Tariff 1.60 Dong) but that never took place. Hannover and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Here is a close-up image of the ghost image. The most visible part is the Buu Chin to the right of the stamp. Since the ghost image is right side up it is not just a color offset that occurs often.

Close up of the printed printer markings on the right selvage:

Vey rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in January of 1975. Apart from the set the letter also carries some im-perforated stamps from the bird set. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 1.68 Dong which appears to slightly above the required tariff of 1.50 Dong for a standard express mail letter to West Germany.

Mixed franking of the 30 xu Kopernikus stamp together with the 50 xu Total Liberation and 1 Dong October Revolution stamps paying an overall postage of 1.80D on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Switzerland in January of 1979.