Sea Creatures

North Vietnam, Sea Creatures, October 25th, 1974, Michel Nr. 780-783; Six stamps with the nominals of 12 xu (2 stamps), 30 xu, 40 xu, 50 xu and ! Dong were issued perforated 12.5 and imperforate were issued.

Mint set in blocks of four:

Here is the mint imperforate set:

Single franking of the 12 xu stamp on domestic letter (full contents preserved) from Bao Tan Viet to Cholon in June of 1975.

Mixed franking of three Sea Creature stamps together with stamps from Goat Beetle and Total Liberation set for an overall postage of 2.10D sent to Paris, France.

Mixed franking of the 50 xu Sea Creature stamp together with the 1 Dong Lenin paying an overall postage of 1.50D on an air mail letter sent from Hai Phong to Switzerland in 1977.

Mixed franking of two of the 40xu Sea Creature stamps together with the 1D Protected Birds stamp for an overall postage of 1.80D on an air-mail letter sent to Sweden in July of 1977.

Very similar air-mail letter, again, franked with two of the 40xu Sea Creature stamps together with the 1D Air Defense stamp for an overall postage of 1.80D sent to Sweden in August of 1977.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in April of 1975. The letter carries the entire im-perforated set plus some im-per-forated stamps from the poisonous snake set. Im-perfroated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 3.76 Dong which appears to be in excess of the required tariff for a standard 20 gram registered express mail letter to West Germany (Tariff of 2.10 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Letter mailed from Hanoi to Oxford, England in May of 1975. It carries four stamps from 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 two values from the set plus a number of im-perforated stamps of the fish set. Imperforate 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.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in May of 1975. The letter features the 40 xu value of the set plus a number of the im-perforated chicken set from 1968. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 2.60 Dong which was higher than the standard 20 gram registered express mail letter to West Germany (Tariff of 2.10) but the letter may have been heavier than the standard.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz from July of 1975. The letter carries the 40 xu value of the perforated set plus parts of the 1975 medicinal plant set im-perforated. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 3.20 Dong which appears to be higher than the required tariff for a standard 20 gram registered express mail letter (2.10 Dong). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Another very rare registered express mail letter sent from Hai Phong to Klewitz in June of 1979. It features the other half of the im-perforated prehistoric animal set plus other stamps from the period for an overall postage of 4.80 Dong. Imperforate stamps on postally used cove are very rare. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated Animals souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the INDIA Stamp Exhibition, Off-shore Oil Production, Ocean Creatures sets. Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. The Ocean Creatures stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 2.04oD = 0.20 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,080 nD) plus the red free frank for 5,940 nD for 9,020.2nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Cosmonautic souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the INDIA Stamp Exhibition, Hydro Stations, Ocean Creatures, Cambodian National Day and Mammals of the Sea sets. Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. The Ocean Creatures stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 4 oD = 0.40 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (5,699 nD) plus the red free frank for 2,820 nD for 8,519.4nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.