North Vietnam, Moon Landing of “Luna 9” on February 3rd, 1966, August 5th, 1966, Michel Nr. 448-449; Luna 9 was an un-manned space mission of the Soviet Union that accomplished the first soft landing on the moon’s surface (Wikipedia). Two stamps with nominals of 6 xu and 12 xu were issued perforated 11.0 and im-perforated.

Here is the mint perforated set:

This is the mint im-perforated set in pairs:

Perforation errors do occur, like here on the 50 xu value which was left im-perforated on the right side margin:

Mixed franking of the perforated and imperforate Lune 9 set on a letter sent in March of 1985 from Hanoi to the Czech Republic. Imperforate stamps on postally used letters are very rare.

Rare local letter (with content) featuring the correct standard domestic postage of 12 xu. The sender was a member of the military as indicated by Buu Cuc 24, the army unit the sender belonged to. The letter was addressed to Nguyễn Đức Thuận a revolutionary active in the National Liberation Front.  He stayed behind in the South after the division of the country in 1954 and was later captured and tortured by the South Vietnamese Regime. He later became the author of  a famous book „Bất khuất“ (Invincibility) and later rose to prominence as the head of the Union Association. Most local letters did not survive the multi-decadal war, the very humid climate that could destroy paper in a matter of years or the constant paper recycling efforts in order to save raw materials. 

Very rare air-mail letter featuring the im-perforated set on a patriotic cover that was mailed to Czechoslovakia in November of 1966. With 62xu it was well over the required tariff of 12xu. Nevertheless im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Air mail letter sent by a member of the Czech Embassy to Czechoslovakia in 1965 featuring the 8xu Lenin stamp, the 2xu Mountain Province stamp and the 50xu Moon Landing stamp for an overall postage of 60xu.

Rare express mail letter featuring the perforated and im-perforated set mailed to Klewitz in September of 1967. Im-perfroated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage as also indicated in pencil at the bottom left of the cover amounted 1.24 Dong. Interesting red Hanoi-Berlin air mail hand cachet. Apparently a direct flight between Hanoi and East Berlin had been inaugurated Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. 

Here is a rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in September of 1967 featuring the entire im-perforated bird set and two of the 12 xu lunar lander stamps. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall franking amounts to 1.12 Dong which is slightly above the required tariff of 1.00 Dog (50 xu standard letter rate, 50 xu express mail fee). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Note the red boxed Hanoi – (East) Berlin air mail cachet. The letter took nine days to be transmitted.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1972. Souvenir sheets on postally used cover are hardly ever seen. This letter features the version printed on flat paper and darker frame colors. On the reverse it features im-perforated stamps of the 1966 orchid set and Luna moon landing set of the same year. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are also very rare. The overall postage of this large envelope amounted to 1.74 Dong which appears to be in line with the required tariff.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1972. Souvenir sheets on postally used cover are hardly ever seen. This letter features the version printed on woven paper and lighter frame colors. On the reverse it features im-perforated stamps of the Luna moon landing set of the same year. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are also very rare. The overall postage of this large envelope amounted to 1.74 Dong which appears to be in line with the required tariff.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1972 featuring half of the im-perforated set pagoda set plus a single 12 xu lunar 9 stamp. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 1.66 Dong which was just a tad above the required tariff od 1.60 Dong.

Mixed franking of the 50xu Luna9 and the 20xu Hydrogen Bomb stamp for an overall postage of 70xu on an air mail letter to Canada sent in May of 1969.

Rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in March of 1976. The letter carries the entire set. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 3.28 Dong which makes it most likely over-franked. The required postage for a standard 20 gram express mail letter to West Germany was only 1.00 Dong.

Very rare letter featuring the entire set plus im-perforated stamps of the Luna 9 and poisonous snake series sent to Klewitz in September of 1973. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 1.99 Dong which was probably in excess of the required tariff of 1.00 Dong for a standard express mail letter to West Germany. It was initially signed to be sent by registered mail (Tariff of 1.60 Dong) but that did not take place.  Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registration Nr. 101370

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