Flowers

North Vietnam, Flowers, April 10th, 1964, Michel Nr. 301-306; Six values with the nominals of 12 xu (four stamps, 20 xu and 30 xu) were issued. The set was released perforated (11.5) and imperforate.

Here is the mint perforate set.

Here is the mint imperforate set:

First Day Cover featuring the entire imperforate set.

Here is a letter sent to Klewitz in West Germany in May of 1964 with the complete perforated 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.

Very rare letter express mail cover sent to Klewitz in April of 1970 with the complete imperforate set. Two of the 50 xu imperforate stamps of the folk dance issue were added for an overall postage of 1.98 Dong. Imperforate stamps on postally used covers are ver rare. A standard letter to West Germany cost 50 xu, the international registration fee 60 xu and the express mail fee of 50 xu amounted to a required postage of 1.60 Dong, so the letter must have been heavier than the standard 20 grams. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking using two of the 12xu Flower values together with other NVN stamps for an overall franking of 92xu to a newspaper editor in East Germany. Sent in April of 1964. The letter carried the remark “Einschreiben” (=Registered Mail) and was franked to cover the 60xu surcharge but in the end the letter was sent by standard mail.

Mixed franking of the 1D Nguyen Du value together with the 12 xu Flower stamp from 1964 for an overall postage of 1.12D on a Xunhasaba letter sent to San Francisco, USA. Despite being at war with each other apparently the mail between the two countries did not impinge on mail delivery.

Registration Nr. 100890