North Vietnam, Traditional Country Costumes, January 6th, 1960, Michel Nr. 116-119; A set that appealed to locals as well as philatelists abroad was issued featuring four values: 2 xu, 10 xu, and two times 12 xu. The set was perforated 11:0. Below is the official Xunhasaba stamp bulletin that was released upon issuance of the stamp set.

Here is the mint set.

Postally used 12xu stamp. Postall used stamps are at least ten times rarer than cancelled to order ones.

Here is a an over-franked locally mailed letter that features the entire set on a First Day Cover.

Very rare single franking of the 10xu value on what was most likely a printed matter greeting card to Paris, France (the letter was left open for postal inspection). Little is known about printed matter rates and very little postal history in that regard survives.

Rare multiple franking of the 10xu value on a letter sent from Dong My to East Germany. The 20xu tariff was in force until March 1st, 1960 when it dropped to 12xu. Ha-Dong transit cancel on the reverse. Red propaganda cachet on front stating: “All citizen, actively participate in the census”.

Mixed franking using the 2xu and 10xu Costume values to pay the correct 12xu tariff foran air mail letter to east Germany. The letter has the remark “Can” which means urgent but was not sent by Express Mail.

Similar mixed currency franking on a registered letter sent by the Czechoslovakian Embassy to a company in Czechoslovakia. Th letter carries the 500D October Revolution stamp that had been devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 so was only worth 50xu at the time of mailing. Together with the other stamps the overall postage amounted to 72xu. That amounted to the correct tariff (12xu postage plus 60xu registration fee).

Rare express mail letter sent registered to Klewitz in February of 1970. It carried a block of four of the 12 xu traditional costume stamps. Overall postage amounted to 1.48 Dong. Numerical arrival line stamp on the reverse.

Rare single franking of one of the 12xu values on a letter to Czechoslovakia in March of 1960.

Mixed currency franking using the old 100D 12 Years Democratic Republic stamp that was devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 and hence was only worth 10xu at the time of mailing. The overall postage amounted to 30xu (including the 2xu Costume stamp) which represented the standard international surface rate as of March 13th, 1957.

Mixed ranking featuring two of the 1xu Sport Games stamp plus one of the 10xu Costumes stamp for an overall postage of 12xu on a letter from Hai-Phong to Czechoslovakia sent in March of 1960. Boxed Czech arrival hand stamp on the reverse.

Colorful mixed franking from 1960 featuring stamps from five different sets from the time. The overall postage amounted to 30xu. The letter rate to Western countries, such as England, amounted to 50xu as of March 1st, 1960. So, while this letter was under-franked this was not noted by the postal clerks.

Mixed franking sent by Xunhasaba to a client in London, England. England was still a rarer destination in the early 1960’s. The letter features two of the Ha Long stamps and the Handicraft Exhibition in Old Dong (devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959) worth only 1.7 New Dong. Together with the stamps (including one of the 2xu Costume stamps) in new currency the overall postage amounted to 1.78D. Red propaganda cachet on front.

Very rare express mail letter (ex Klewitz) that features the entire im-perforated bird set in front and three of the 12 xu costume stamps on the reverse. Overall postage applied was 1.62 Dong. The required postage was 1.60 Dong (50 xu base letter rate, 60 xu registration fee, 50 xu express fee). Fulda numerical arrival cancel on the reverse.

Rare registered express mail letter mailed to Klewitz in February of 1970 containing the entire im-perforated set of the GANEFO Games plus five of the 10 xu value and one 2 xu value of the costume set. Im-perforated stamps on postally used covers are very rare. The envelope is franked with 1.3 Dong in overall postage.

Very rare express mail letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1970 . The letter contains the entire im-perforated set of the Dien Bine Phu issue and a pair of the 10 xu and the two 12 xu values of the costumes set. Im-perforated stamps on postal used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 1.61 Dong. The standard letter rate to West Germany amounted to 50 xu, the registration fee to 60 xu and the express mail fee to 50 xu for a required postage of 1.60 Dong.

Rare registered express mail letter mailed from Hai Phong to Klewitz in June of 1979. It carries the Cuba set in pairs plus a 2 xu National Costumes stamp for an overall postage of 5.04 Dong. Bad Nauheim transit and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter mailed on November 3rd, 1980 to Klewitz. The letter also carries the whole set plus the red special cancel that was used for the First Day Covers. Late usage of the 10 xu Costume series. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. The overall postage amounted to 3.12 Dong.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in October of 1980. The letter carries pairs of the Women Union set plus two 2 xu Costume stamps for an overall postage of 7.93 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in June of 1981. There is a single 50 xu KPdSU stamp plus a block of four of the 10 xu Costumes stamp for an overall postage of 7.95 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in May of 1982. The letter carries three of the 2 Dong value of the Nutritional Day set. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error “deformed d”. Late usage of the 2 xu Costue stamps. The overall postage amounted to 8.22 Dong.  Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter setoff rom Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in June of 1982. The letter carries other parts of the Bird of Prey and Pigeon set plus some other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 8.45 Dong. Late usage of the Costume stamp in front. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registration Nr. 100330

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