Inauguration of the new WHO Headquarters in Geneva

South Vietnam, Inauguration of the new WHO Headquarters in Geneva, October 12th, 1966, Michel Nr. SVN 368-370; Three stamps in nominals of 50c , 1.50D and 8D were issued in perforation 13 were issued.

Here is the mint set.

and here the postal used set.

Complete mint sheets of the set.

A plate error is known on the 50c value on which the lower parts of the red WHO logo at the top left is partially missing. The top left stamp in this mint block of four is the error stamp.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Any errors on South Vietnamese stamps are very rare as the stamps were produced in Western countries like France, England, Germany and Italy where printing methods and controls are much better than in Vietnam. Here is a very rare perforation error on a block of twelve stamps. During the perforation process the sheet must have gotten stuck which led to partially imperforate areas.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

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

Enpreuves de Luxe; “STCV Roma membro del gruppo Thomas de la Rue, Londra” inscribed at bottom right.

Mixed franking of the 50c WHO stamp together with the 3D Craft stamp paying an overall postage of 3.50D on a domestic letter sent from Saigon to Nha Trang in September of 1968.

Mixed ranking of the Human Rights set plus the UNICEF set paying an overall postage of 48D on a rare registered express mail letter sent from Dalat to West Germany in May of 1969. Frankfurt train and regular transit cancel plus Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Ex Klewitz.

Single franking of the 1.50D value on an air mail letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 3333/1st Battalion “Wild Birds” Marine Division) from Bach Dang to a civilian in Saigon. Red circular KBC cachet on front.

Single franking of the 1.50D value on an air mail letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 3337/3rd Battalion, Marine Division in Saigon) from Bach Dang to a civilian in Saigon. Black circular KBC cachet on front. Note the military insignia on the top left.

Single franking of the 1.50D value on the military air letter folded letter depicting the “Leaping Soldier” emblem on the top right and sent by a member of the military (KBC 4091/Quang Trung Training Center located in Quang Tre) to a civilian in Phan Rangin June of 1968. The air letter was first issued on April 1st, 1968 and it could be sent without postage from one KBC unit to another on official business. Black circular KBC cachet on front. Cancelled by the mute “Quan Buu” military cancel. Unusual red mute “Quan Buu” military transit cancel on the reverse. The air letter is inscribed on the reverse in red with “Let’s get going and join the army voluntarily and kill the Viet Cong”

Mixed franking of the 1.50D WHO stamp together with the 3D Craft stamp paying an overall postage of 4.50D on a domestic air mail letter sent from Da Nag to Nha Trang in June of 1968. Illegible arrival cancel on the reverse.

Rare multiple franking of the 1.50D WHO stamps (2) paying an overall postage of 3D on a domestic letter sent from Dalat to Kien Hoa. Illegible transit cancel on the reverse. The stamps appear to be printed on tanned paper but this could also be a function of tropical gum that reflected onto the stamps image.

Detailed scan of the stamps on tanned paper.

Mixed franking of the 1.50D WHO stamp together with stamps from the Sports, Third Anniversary of the Revolution and Day of Wandering Soul sets paying an overall postage of 4D on an international letter front sent from Saigon to Martinique in December of 1966. Martinique is a rare destination.

Single franking of the 8D WHO value on a registered domestic letter sent from Danang to Saigon in October of 1968.

Mixed franking of the 8D WHO stamp together with the UNESCO set paying an overall postage of 19D on an international air mail letter sent from Danang to West Germany in October of 1967.

Mixed franking of the 1.50D WHO stamps (4) together with the 1D Vietnamese Women stamp paying an overall postage of 7D on a registered domestic letter sent from My Tho to Saigon in May of 1969.