Space Exploration

North Vietnam, Space Exploration, October 5th, 1965, Michel Nr. 401-404; The space theme was still captivating audiences in the mid 1960’s and so four stamps with the nominals of 12 xu (two stamps) and 50 xu (two stamps) were issued perforated 11.0.

Here is the mint perforated set:

Interestingly enough these commemorative stamps that were clearly geared towards collectors were not officially released imperforate but some sets have come to market. Here is the complete imperforate set.

Here is a printing error on which the dark blue color printing run is missing entirely. The left stamp is a stamp of the normal color.

Here is another stamp design that was submitted to postal authorities as an alternative by Phan Chy who designed the 1965 Space Exploration stamp set. It is not clear for which specific issued set this hand drawn essay was submitted but the 12 xu nominals, the topic itself and the type of design put it right into the 1962-1965 time frame. Given that the four designs also deal with different space missions it is most likely that the essay was an alternative for the 1965 Space Exploration set, also designed by Phan Chy. Signed by the designer. Very rare unique item.

First Day Cover addressed to Klewitz. Since the standard letter rate to West Germany amounted to only 50 xu the letter is over-franked.

Registered letter sent October 29thm 1965 to Klewitz with the complete set. The overall postage amounted to 1.24 Dong which was slightly in excess f the required 1.10 Dong for a standard registered letter to West Germany.

Mixed currency franking of the 100D 12 Years Democratic Republic stamp (that was devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 and hence only worth 10xu at the time of mailing) with two of the Space Exploration stamps for an overall postage of 72xu (12xu postage plus 60xu registration fee) on a rare registered letter to Czechoslovakia.

Rare multiple franking of the 50xu value paying the second weight level tarif to Paris, France.

Mixed franking from July, 1966 on what looks like a man mailing from Hanoi to Munich, West Germany. The letter carries the 50xu Space Conquest stamp plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 1.94D.

Mixed franking by Xunhasaba featuring the 50xu Space Exploration stamp plus other stamps from the Mountain Tribe and Phu Lo’i set for an overall postage of 74xu.

Mixed ranking of the 50 xu Chicken stamp together with stamps from the Space and Maxi Gorki sets paying an overall postage of 74 xu on an international letter sent from Hai Phong to Switzerland in January of 1969. East Berlin transit cancel on the reverse.

Multiple franking of the blue 50xu value (2) paying an ov real postage of 1 Dong on an international air mail letter sent in May of 1978 from Nam Dinh to Czechoslovakia.

Mixed franking using the 3xu value of the Mountain Province set plus other NVN stamps (including the 50xu Space Exploration stamp) for an overall postage of 74xu on a homemade letter to France.

Mixed franking of two of the red 12xu Five Year Plan stamps plus the 50xu Space Exploration stamp for an overall postage of 74xu on a patriotic air mail cover from Hai Phong to France.

Mixed franking of two 12 xu NLF stamps plus the 50 xu Space stamp on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Switzerland in January of 1968.

Mixed franking of the Rice Harvest stamps (2) together with the 50 xu Space stamp paying an overall postage of 74 xu and sent in may of 1967 from Hai Phong to Switzerland.

Mixed franking of two of the Vietnamese Women Movement stamps together with the 50 xu Space and 1 xu NLF stamp paying an overall postage of 75 xu on an international air mail letter sent from Hai Phong to Switzerland.