South Vietnam, Commissioning of the first mobile Post Office, December 15th, 1967; Michel Nr. SVN A398; The 3D stamp that was issued within the Confucius set (Michel Nr. SVN 365) was repurposed to produce a stamp booklet of ten 3D stamps that was sold for 30D. The stamp was initially produced in rolls of 1,000 stamps that were separated by unprinted selvage every five stamps so that the rolls could be cut apart and the selvage be used to attach two times five stamps each into the booklet sleeve.  However, the image size of the stamp was reduced to 23.5×17.5mm instead of the larger 31.5×26.5mm that was used to print the initial Confucius stamp. Mobile post offices became necessary in both North and South Vietnam due to the damage suffered by postal infrastructure due to war actions. Michel values a single stamp at €25 and a complete booklet at €250 which is excessive. You can comfortably obtain them for about 10% of the quoted catalogue price.

Here is the mint stamp

Front of the stamp booklet

Reverse of the stamp booklet

Inside view of the stamp booklet. Note two rows of five stamps each were attached on top of each other. Also not the roll numbering system that is visible at the very right selvage of this particular booklet.

Single franking of the 3D booklet stamp on a domestic letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 3357, a marine unit in Vun Tau that also housed the 4th Battalion “Killer Sharks”) to a civilian in Phong Dinh. The letter must have first been transported to Saigonas it was cancelled there in February of 1973.

Single franking of the 3D booklet stamp on a domestic letter (full contents preserved) sent by a member of the military (KBC 3318, Naval Training Center in Nha Trang) to a civilian in Gia Dinh. Cancelled with the “mute” machine Quan Buu military cancel. Red circular KBC seal with naval insignia in front. Naval cachet of an anchor in front.

Single franking of the 3D booklet stamp on a domestic letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 4091, a military training academy in Quan Tre) to a civilian in Cholon. Cancelled by the mute Quan Buu military cancel.

Multiple franking of the 3D booklet stamp (2) paying an overall postage of 6D on a domestic letter (full contents preserved) sent by a member of the military in KBC 4286 to a civilian. This KBC number is associated with Military Prison of Phu Quoc which was a prison island in South Western Vietnam. Red KBC cachet on front.

Multiple franking of the 3D booklet stamp (2) paying an overall postage of 6D on a letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 3533, which was an Air Force Unit in Qui Nhon) to a civilian in Saigon in April of 1972. Red KBC cachet on front.

Multiple franking of the booklet stamp on a domestic air mail letter sent to Saigon in September of 1971.

Multiple franking of the 3D booklet stamp (3) paying an overall postage of 9D on a domestic letter sent from Dalat to Saigon in August of 1971.

Mixed franking of the 3D booklet stamp together with the 6D Agrarian Reform stamp paying an overall postage of 9D on a domestic letter sent from Mytho to Saigon in April of 1972.

Mixed franking of the 3D coil stamp together with the 5D Year of the Book stamp paying the 50% discounted military tariff for an overall postage of 8D on a letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 3533/6th Air Division in Pleiku) to a civilian in Gia Dinh. Cancelled by the “mute” Quan Buu military cancel. Black bridge type KBC cachet on front.

Mixed franking of the 3D booklet stamp together with two 20D Democratic Constitution stamps paying an overall postage of 43D on an international letter sent from Saigon to Switzerland.

Mixed franking of two of the Mobile Post Offices booklet stamps together with stamps from the Lions International, Confucius Year, Fruits, Buildings and 3.Anniversary of the Revolution sets paying an overall postage of 37.90D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to England in February of 1962.

Very rare registered express air mail letter carrying two full booklet strips of the 3D Mobile Post Office stamps plus stamps from the Allied Fighters, Historical Sites, 100 Years UPU, Ocean Fish and Development Aid sets paying an overall postage of 780D. Fulda arrival cancel on front. The editor has never seen another letter that carries a full booklet as postage. Ex Klewitz.

Registration Nr. 200780

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