South Vietnam, Development of Agriculture, January 3rd, 1961, Michel Nr. SVN 227-230; Four stamps in nominals of 50c, 70c, 80c and 10D (Q:1,000,000 sets) 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 in pairs.

Imperforate stamps from South Vietnam and Enpreuves de Luxe sheetlets were not valid postage but in rare cases cancelled imperforate stamps have been observed. They were either used undetected or were favor cancelled by a “friendly”postal clerk. The brother of President Ngô Đình Diệm, who was a stamp collector, used his position to have a number of imperforate stamps and Enpreves de Luxe cancelled but these were purely favor cancelled. Here is a single cancelled imperforate 0.70D stamp from the right sheet margin

Enpreuves de Luxe; “Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Postes, Paris” imprinted 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 0.50D value. Note that the blue tone is different from the finally issued stamp. Here are various color trials for the 0.50D value.

Mixed franking of the 1D Land Reform value (2) together with stamps from the Development of Agriculture and Beach of Ha Tien sets paying an overall postage of 6.50D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to Portugal in December of 1961.

Mixed franking of the 0.50D Reelection of Ngo Dinh Diem stamp together with stamps from the Air Mail, Properity Zones, World Food Organization, Children Protection, 4 Years Constitution, Development of Agriculture and Election of Ngo Dinh Diem sets paying an overall postage of 8.50D on an international air mail letters ent to the United States in June of 1961.

Mixed franking of the 50C stamps of the Agricultural Development, Red Cross and Wandering Soul sets paying the 50% discounted military rate of 1.50D on a letter sent in July of 1968 by a member of the military (KBC 4828/ARVN 4th Division, 558th Regional Forces) to a civilian in Saigon. The letter is missing the KBC seal that normally was required to get the discounted rate so the letter was processed by the civilian Mytho post office. However, no postage due was charged. Saigon-Colon arrival cancel on the reverse.

Nice mixed franking of the low nominals of 0.50D (3), 0.70D (1) and 0.80D (1) paying an overall postage of 3D on an international surface letter (note the air mail decal was crossed out) sent in January of 1961 from Saigon to Aukland, New Zealand.

Very rare single franking of the 70c value on a very small letter that contains a small card with a handwritten note and that was sent to a member of the military (KBC 4721) in February of 1961.

Mixed franking of the 80c Development of Agriculture and 70c Land Reform set paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a domestic letter sent by a member of the military from KBC 3318 to Saigon in April of 1962. Red KBC hand cachet illegible. Saigon machine arrival cancel o the reverse. Members of the military only paid 50% of the regular postal tariff.

Mixed franking of the 80c Development of Agriculture stamps (2) and two 20c Election of Ngô Đình Diệm paying an overall postage of 2D on a domestic letter (full contents preserved) sent within Hue 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 entire Development of Agriculture paying an overall postage of 12D on a registered international air mail letter sent from Danang to West Germany in January of 1961.

Mixed franking of the 4D Relief for Vietnam stamp together with stamps from the Confucius Year, Fruits and Development of Agriculture sets paying an overall postage of 18D on an international air mail letter sent from Dalat to Czechoslovakia in April of 1967.

Mixed franking of the 10D Development of Agriculture stamps plus stamps from the Air Mail and Madonna sets paying an overall postage of 33D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to The United States in February of 1967.

Registration Nr. 200240