South Vietnam, Air Mail, March 8th, 1952, Michel Nr. SVN 73-77;
The Landscapes/Bảo Đại set did not cover some specific air mail rates which precipitated the issuance of four air mail stamps in nominals of 3.30P (Q:1,000,000), 4P (3,000,000), 5.10P (1,000,000) and 6.30P (Q:1,000,000) in perforation 13.25:12.5. According to Michel the 4P value was issued last on November 24th, 1953.

Here is the mint set

and here the postally used set

The set was produced in large sheets that had panes that were separated by a horizontal gutter. The sheets were however cut prior to delivery to the post office. A small number of uncut large sheets was used to extract pairs of the stamps that actually show the gutter. Here is the mint set in gutter-pairs.

A very small number of Enpreuve de Luxe imperforate sheetlets, also called “Minister Blocks” were produced on light carton paper which had imperforate samples of the stamps attached and were handed out or sent to very important people of other countries. These early sheetlets are very rare and seldom come to market. They are not comparable to Enpreuve de Luxe issued later primarily for the benefit of collectors. They come in three versions. The one that features the official dry seal of the Postal Administration that was intended for archival purposes (rarer) and the one with and without the dry seal but covered by a glued on glassine with a message from the Postal and Telecommunication Ministry that was mailed to other postal administrations around the world.Here is the Enpreuve de Luxe of the 3.30P value without dry seal but with the glassine covering. Note that the writing on the glassine is in black color.

Here is the entire set of Enpreuve de Luxe with the official dry seal and with the glassine covering that features the inscription in red color.

Here is the entire set of Enpreuve de Luxe with the official dry seal but without the glassine covering

An alternative design and 20P nominal was apparently proposed in 1952 for the issuance of the air mail stamps but the design was ultimately rejected. Part of the production process for stamps included the production of a small number of sunken die proofs. These were used to ensure the final appearance of a stamp met the expectations of the postal administration. These are generally rare. Here is the 20P sunken die proof signed by the stamp designer.

Single franking of the 3.30P value on an international letter sent from Saigon to France in July of 1952.

Single franking of the 3.30P value on what appears to be a home made First Day Cover addressed to a Quan Loi address. The stamp is cancelled with a red fancy cancel on which only the word “Liberte” (Freedom) can be recognized. It is not clear if this an official cancel or some sort of private production.

Mixed franking of two 3.30P Air Mail stamps together with the 20c Landscape stamp paying an overall postage of 6.80D on an international printed matter letter sent from Saigon to New Zealand in July of 1953. Most printed matter mailings were tossed away and hence are hard to find nowadays.

Mixed franking of the 3P Bao Dai stamp together with the 3.30P Air Mail stamp paying an overall postage of 6.30P on a registered international letter sent from Hanoi to France in March of 1952. In 1952 the Viet Minh were in charge of most of rural North Vietnam but the cities were still held by the French. Paris arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 4P value on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to France in May of 1954.

Single franking of the 4P value on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in December of 1954.

Single franking of the 4P value on an “Avis de reception” card used in January of 1955.

Rare multiple franking of the 4P value (2) paying an overall postage of 8P on an international air mail letter sent by a French soldier from Saigon to West Germany in July of 1955.

Single franking of the 4P Air mail stamp from September of 1952 that apparently was insufficient to cover the entire postage. As  result the letter received a black “T” hand stamp that indicated t the delivery person that postage was due. In France 1.55 French Franks ere added in the shape of French postage due stamps.

Mixed franking of the 4P Air Mail and 2P Landscape values paying an overall postage of 6P on an international letter sent from Saigon to Switzerland in May of 1955.

Mixed franking of two 4P Air Mail stamps together with the 40c Bao Long stamp paying an overall postage of 8.40P on an international letter sent from Saigon to the United States in 1955.

Mixed franking of the 4P Air Mail stamp together with the 5P Landscape and 80c Bao Long stamp paying an overall postage of 9.80D.

Mixed franking of the 4P and 6.30P Air Mai stamps together with the 3.70P Festival of Searching Souls stamp paying an overall postage 14P on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States.

Single franking of the 5.10P value on an international letter sent from Tourane to France in August of 1952.

This cover looks like nothing special but it took the editor to find one. It features a rare single franking of the 6.30P stamp on a registered international air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in December of 1952.

Mixed franking of the 6.30P Air Mail stamp together with the 10c Landscape stamp paying an overall postage of 6.40P on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to West Germany in November of 1956.

Mixed franking mailed from the United States Operations Mission (USOM) located at the American embassy and in charge of special operations franked with two 1.20P Bảo Đại stamps together with the 6.30P Air Mail stamp paying an overall postage of 8.70P on an air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in May of 1954.

Mixed franking mailed from the United States Operations Mission (USOM) located at the American embassy and in charge of special operations franked with the 1P and 1.20P stamps plus the 6.30P Air Mail stamp paying an overall postage of 8.50P on an air mail letter to the United States in February of 1954.

Mixed ranking of two of the 10C Landscape values together with the 6.50P Air mail stamp paying an overall postage of 6.70P on a letter sent from Saigon to France. The bottom 10c stamp shows a plate error or printing flaw under “c” of “10c”. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registration Nr. 200010

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