South Vietnam, Establishment of Prosperity Zones, July 7th, 1960, Michel Nr. SVN 212-215; Four stamps with nominals of 50c, 1D, 3D and 7D (Q:2,000,000 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 set in imperforate pairs.
Imperforate stamps and Enpreuves de Luxe were not valid postage, however in some very rare circumstances one can find a canceled specimen, like the imperforate one below from the left sheet margin.
Enpreuves de Luxe; Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Poste, Paros” 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 0.50D value.
Mixed franking of the 50c value paying an overall postage of 2D on a domestic letter sent from Chau-Phi to Saigon in June of 1961.
Mixed franking of the 50c value paying an overall postage of 2D on a domestic letter sent from Saigon to Hue in August of 1960. Hue arrival cancel on the reverse.
Mixed franking of the 50c and 1D Prosperity Zones stamps together with the 50c Buildings stamp paying an overall postage of 3D on an international surface letter sent from Dalat to Switzerland in December of 1960.
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.
Very rare local postcard (just ask yourself how many of them have you seen) sent in 1960 from Mytho to Saigon. The great majority of postcards that still exist from this time are mailed internationally.
Rare multiple franking of the 1D value on a domestic letter sent from Da Nang to Saigon in November of 1960. Saigon machine arrival cancel on the reverse.
Rare mixed franking of the 1D Prosperity Zones and 20c Family Law stamps paying an overall postage of 1.20D on a printed matter mailing sent in December of 1960 from Saigon to West Germany.
Single franking of the 3D value on a domestic letter sent from Nha Trang to Saigon in June of 1962. Saigon arrival cancel on the reverse.
Multiple franking of the 3D value (3) paying an overall postage of 9D on an air mail letter sent from Hue to France in March of 1962.
Mixed franking of the 3D Prosperity Values together with stamps from the de Rhodes and 4 Years Constitution sets paying an overall postage of 12D on an international surface letter sent from Saigon to France in July of 1963.
Single franking of the 7D value on a registered domestic letter sent from Saigon Tan Dinh to Cholon in May of 1964. Saigon transit cancels on the reverse.
Mixed franking of the 7D Prosperity Zones stamp together with stamps from the World RefugeeYEar and Defense sets paying an overall postage of 11D on an international letter sent from Transit Cham to Switzerland in November of 1962.
Mixed franking of the entire Country Dfense set together with stamps from the Four Years Republic and Prosperity Zons sets paying an overall postage of 39.30D on a registered air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in July of 1963.
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 7D Economic Development Zone stamps together with stamps from the UNESCO and Meteorology sets paying an overall postage of 30.50D on a rare international registered express letter sent in June of 1964 from Saigon to Sweden. Stockholm arrival cancel on there reverse.
Registration Nr. 200280
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