Completion of the Saigon-Bien-Hoa Highway

South Vietnam, Completion of the Saigon-Bien-Hoa Highway, July 28th, 1961, Michel Nr. 243-246; Four stamps in nominals of 50c, 1D, 2D and 5D 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.

Enpreuves de Luxe; “Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Postes, 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 2D value.

Very rare single franking of the 0.50D value on a printed matter mailing sent from Saigon to belgium in October of 1961.

Very rare multiple franking of the 50c value (3) paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a printed matter mailing sent from Tourane to the United States in January of 1962.

Multiple franking of the 0.50D value (3) paying an overall postage of 1.50D on adoemstic airmail letter sent from a member of the military (KBC 3318/Naval Training Center & Commissioned Officer School / Ships reporting to Naval HQ located in Nha Trang) to a civilian in Saigon. Cancelled with the mute “Quan Buu” military cancel. Red circular KBC cachet on front.

Rare single franking of the 1D value on a domestic letter (full contents preserved) sent by a member of the military (KBC 4311) to a civilian in Hue. Quan Buu military cancel from October, 1961. Illegible KBC cachet on front. Saigon transit and Hue arrival cancels on the reverse. Members of the military only had to pay 50% of the regular postal tariff.

Rare multiple franking of the 1D value (2) paying an overall postage of 2D on a domestic letter (full contents preserved) sent from An Loc to Saigon in November of 1961. The stamp on the reverse was initially not cancelled but that was caught in Saigon upon the letter’s arrival.

Rare multiple franking of the 1D value (2) paying an overall postage of 2D on a domestic letter sent from Dong Nguyen to Gia Dinh in December of 1961. Gia Dinh arrival and Saigon machine trabst cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 1D and 2D Saigon-Bien-Hoa Highway stamps together with stamps from the Children’s Day and Moral Arming of the Youth sets paying an overall postage 4.50D on an international air mail letters ent from Qui Hon to France in December of 1961.

Rare multiple franking of the 2D value paying an overall postage of 4D on a domestic letter sent from Dalat to Saigon in June of 1961.

Mixed franking of two 5D Saigon-Bien-Hoa Highway stamps together with the 10D Development of Agriculture stamp paying an overall postage of 20D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to the United States in May of 1966.

Mixed franking of the 50c 1.Anniversary of the Revolt against Ngô Đình Diệm stamp together with stamps from the Buddhism, Reunification, Buildings and Landscapes, ITU and Highway Saigon-Bien HOa sets paying an overall postage of 10.50D on a printed matter mailing sent from Saigon to the United States in June of 1965.