North Vietnam, Satellite Launch of the Peoples Republic of China, April 10th, 1971, Michel Nr. 648-649; Two stamps in the nominals of 12 xu and 50 xu were issued in perforation 11.0.

Here is the mint perforated set.

These stamps were not officially released imperforate, however, a very small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here are two of them.

Rare single franking of the 12xu value on an air-mail letter sent to Jena, East Germany used in 1972.

Rare single franking of the 50xu value on a postcard sent in January of 1972 from Hanoi to Krakow, Poland. It appears that the sender used the international letter rate to Western countries as the postcard rate to fellow Socialist countries amounted to only 6xu.

Mixed franking of the 50xu Satellite stamp plus the 2xu NLF stamp for an overall postage of 52xu on an air-mail letter sent from Hanoi to Jena, East Germany. The required international letter postage to Eastern countries was only 12xu but the sender obviously was unaware of this so used the international letter rate to Western countries instead

Very rare letter (ex Klewitz) featuring the set and the entire Titow set imperforate. Imperforate stamps on postally used covers are very rare! There is also a block of four of the 12 xu imperforate flower stamp from 1962 on the back. The overall franking amounts to 1.84 Dong which looks tariff conform. The standard letter rate to West Germany was 50 xu, plus 60 xu international registration fee plus 50 xu express mail fee. So, the letter may have been a bit heavier than the standard 20 grams.

Mixed franking sent by Xunhasaba in May of 1971 using the Old 2,000D Handicraft stamp from 1958 (which had been devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 and hence was only worth 2 New Dong at the time of mailing) together with the 50xu Satellite Start stamp, two of the 20xu Democratic Republic stamps and other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 2.97D.

Mixed franking of the 12 xu brown Air Defense stamps (2) plus the 50 xu Satellite Start paying an overall postage of 74 xu on an international letter sent to Switzerland in March of 1975.

Mixed franking of the grey 12 xu Air Defense value (2) together with the 50 xu Satellite Start stamps paying an overall potage of 74 xu on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Switzerland.

Rare express mail letter mailed to Klewitz in March of 1976 carrying one of the 50 xu stamps plus various im-perfroated issues of previous series. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall franking amounted to 2.88 Dong which appears to be in excess of the required postage for a standard express mail letter to West Germany (Tariff of 1.00 Dong)

Letter mailed from Hanoi to Oxford, England in May of 1975. It carries the 50 xu value of the set plus an assortment of other NVN stamps including the 6 xu flower stamp that is rare on postal  history. Overall postage amounted to 2.90 Dong which appears to be high given that the standard 20 gram registered express mail letter to Western Europe amounted to 2.10, however the letter may have been heavier than the standard 20 grams.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in May of 1975. The letter features the 50 xu stamp of the set plus a number of im-perforated stamps of the fish set. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage on the letter amounted to 2.60 Dong which is above the Tariff of 2.10 Dong, but th heavier may have been heavier than the standard 20 grams.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in May of 1975 featuring the50 xu value plus a host of other NVN stamps. Overall postage of 2.90 Dong.

Registration Nr. 101870

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