International Year of the Calm Sun

North Vietnam, International Year of the Calm Sun, January 25th, 1964, Michel Nr. 296-297; Two stamps were issued in the nominals of 12 xu and 50 xu. The stamps were released perforated (11.0) and imperforate.

Here is the mint perforate set.

Mint im-perforated set in blocks of four:

Here is a letter mailed to Theo Klewitz in West Germany in April of 1964. It contains the entire set plus the rare imperforate set of the Wostok 5 and Wostok 6 group space flight. Imperforate stamps on postally used covers are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 1.52 Dong. The standard letter rate for a 20 gram registered letter to West Germany was 1.1 Dong, so this letter must have been heavier than the standard.

Rare registered letter sent from Hanoi to the editor of an East German publication in April of 1964. The letter is franked with the 1D Animal stamp, the 50xu Sun stamp and the 2xu Domestic Animal stamp for an overall postage of 1.52D. The required postage for a standard letter amounted to 12xu plus 60xu for registration, so this letter must have been heavier than the standard 20g.

Rare registered letter using three of the 12xu GANEFO stamps plus other NVN stamps (including the 50xu Calm Sun stamp) for an overall postage of 1.57D addressed to an editor of a newspaper called “The People” in East Germany. Given that the standard letter postage to East Germany was only 12xu and the registration fee 60xu this letter must have been heavier than the standard 20g.

Mixed franking of the 12xu and 30xu Wostock stamps on a rare registered letter with other NVN stamps (including the 50xu Calm Sun stamp) for an overall postage of 1.92D. Sent to the editor of a newspaper called “The People” in East Germany.

Mixed franking using two of the 12xu Flower values together with other NVN stamps (including the 50xu Calm Sun stamp) 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.