Completion of the Danhim Power Station

South Vietnam, Completion of the Danhim Power Station, January 15th, 1964, Michel Nr. SVN 304-307; Four stamps in nominals of 40c (Q:1,000,000), 1D (Q:1,000,000), 3D (Q:2,000,000) and 8D (Q:1,000,000) were issued in perforation 13.

Here is the mint set.

and here the postally used set.

These stamps were not officially released imperforate, however, a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here is the imperforate set with matching right sheet margins.

Enpreuves de Luxe; “Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Poste, Paris” inscribed at bottom right.

Color Trials; prior to authorizing the final printing run for stamps the Vietnamese Postal Authority requested a few sheets of color sheets on one particular value of a set in order to decide which final color combination would be best suited for each stamp within the set. The color sheets had the size of a standard sheet but contained alternating color options on the designated nominal value. While these sheets were only intended for internal postal use some of them came to market. Virtually all of these complete sheets were cut apart. So one mostly finds single color proofs or small strips of them. While they are actually very rare one can still obtain them for under $10 a piece (with some exceptions) as not many collectors appear to have an interest in them so far. Here are various color trials for the 0.40D value.

First Day Cover

Very rare multiple franking of the 40c (2) value paying an 80c postage on a printed matter mailing sent from Saigon to Cholon in November of 1963.

Another printed matter mailing, this time international from Saigon to France, featuring two of the 0.40D stamps paying an overall postage of 0.80D on June of 1966.

Rare printed matter mailing featuring a mixed franking of the 80c Nuclear Energy for Peace stamp together with stamps from the Danhim Power Station and World Day of Meteorology sets paying an overall postage of 1.70D on a printed matter mailing sent from Saigon to France.

Mixed franking of the 7D Prosperity Zone stamps (8) together with stamps from the Dam and Introduction of Postal Checks on a large envelope paying an overall postage 57.20D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in May of 1964.

Mixed franking of the 0.70D, 1D and 3D Human Rights stamps together with stamps from the Madonna, Revolt against Ngo Dinh Diem, Danhim Power Station, Buildings and Landscapes and Beach of Ha Tien sets paying an overall postage of 14.10D on an international air mail letter sent fromSaigon to the United States in April of 1965.

Mixed franking of the 3D Human Rights stamps (3) together with stamps from the Fight against Malaria and Dam sets paying an overall postage of 13D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in December of 1964.

Mixed franking of the 1D Dam stamp together with stamps from the Boy Scouts, World Day Meteorology and Atomic Power sets paying an overall postage of 44.50D on a registered international air mail letter sent from Saigon the United States n November of 1964.

Single franking of the 3D value on a domestic letter sent within Saigon in March of 1964. Saigon arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 3D value on a domestic air mail letter (full contents preserved) sent from Phu Vinh to Cho Lon in November, 1964. Saigon machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 3d value paying the 50% discounted military rate on a letter sent in August of 1971 by a member of the military (KBC 6279/Regional Forces located in Pleiku) to a civilian in Saigon. Unusual handmade red cachet that features a woman with bow and arrow, a tree and a house and circular red KBC cachet on front. Cancelled with the “mute” Quan Buu military cancel.

Mixed franking of the 3D Power Station stamp together with the 10D Air Mail stamp paying an overall postage of 13D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the Space and Naval Warfare Center in San Diego in the United States in November of 1964.

Single franking of the 8D value on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in February of 1964.

Single franking of the 8D Dam stamp on a registered domestic letter sent from Vinh Long to Saigon in June of 1968.

Mixed franking of the 8D Completion of the Danhim Power Station stamp together with the 7D “5Years Republic” paying an overall postage of 15D on a postcard sent from Can-Tho to the United States in November of 1967.

Mixed franking of the 1D (3) and 4D Fighters of the Republic stamps together with the 8D Danhim Power Station stamp paying an overall postage of 15D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in September of 1964.

Mixed franking of the 8D Dam stamps (2) together with the 0.50D Buildings and Landscapes stamp paying an overall postage of 16.50D on an international registered air mail letter set from Saigon to Japan in January of 1966. Rare destination. Tokyo arrival cancel on the reverse.