South Vietnam, The Sisters Tru’ng, March 1st, 1963, Michel Nr. NVN 280-283; Four stamps in nominals of 50c, 1D, 3D and 8D ere issued in perforation 13.

Here is the mint set

Mint blocks of four from the top part of the sheet with first day cancels in the margins.

and here the three lower values postally used.

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.

Enpreuves de Luxe; “Atelier de Production des Timbres-Poste, Paris” inscribed at front 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.

First Day Cover

Rare mixed franking of the 50c and 1D The Sisters Tru’ng stamps paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a printed matter mailing sent from Tourane to the United States in 1963.

Here is the same franking but this time the 1.50D is paying the 50% discounted  military letter rate. Sent in September of 1969 by a member of the military (KBC 4100/Military School in Thu Doc) to a civilian in Saigon. Cancelled with the “mute” Quann Buu military cancel. Red circular KBC seal on front. Saigon machine arrival cancel on the reverse. The full contents of the letter is preserved.

Mixed franking of the 50c The Sisters Tru’ng stamps (2) together with two 5D “4 Years Republic” paying an overall postage of 11D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to Belgium in August of 1963.

Mixed franking of the 50c and 1D The Sisters Tru’ng stamps paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a domestic letter sent by a civilian in Saigon to a member of the military (KBC 3318, a Naval Training Center in Nha Trang). Letters to members of the military only had to pay 50% of the regular postal tariff. Saigon machine cancel from August of 1963.

Mixed franking of the 8D 9 Years Presidency of Ngô Đình Diệm stamps (3) together with stamps from the Sisters Tru’ng and National Assembly sets paying an overall postage of 44.50D on a registered air mail letter sent from the Japanese Embassy in Saigon to the United States.Kansas City arrival cancel on the reverse.

Multiple franking of the 1D value (3) paying an overall postage of 3D on a domestic air mail letter (full contents preserved) sent from Saigon to Binh Duong in May of 1963.

Multiple franking of the 1D stamp paying an overall postage of 9D on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to Switzerland in July of 1963.

Mixed franking of the 1D Sisters Tru’ng stamp together with the o.50D Fight against Hunger stamp paying an overall postage of 1.50D on a domestic letter sent by a member of the military (KBC 4721/ Air Force Training Center located in Nha Trang) to a fellow military  member (KBC 4804/9th Airborne Battalion located in Saigon). Circular KBC seal on frontThe cover was sent in October of most likely 1965 as indicated by the Bien Hoa transit cancel. Red propaganda cachet on the reverse.

Single franking of the 3D value on a domestic letter mailed from Cholon to Saigon in December of 1963. Saigon machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 0.50D and 3D Trung Sister stamps together with stamps from the Fight against Malaria and Land Reform sets paying an overall postage of 11D on a registered surface mail letter sent from Saigon on March 1st, 1963 (First Date of the Trung Sister set) to Argentina. Rare destination. Rural Saigon hexagon cancel.

Mixed franking of the 1D (2), 3D and 8D The Sisters Tru’ng stamps paying an overall postage of 13D on an international air mail letter sent from D Nang to the United States in April of 1963.Saigon machine transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 8D value on an international air mail letter sent from Gia Dinh to France in March of 1963.  Saigon machine transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 8D value on an international air mail letter sent from Saigon to France in May of 1963.

Mixed franking of the 5D Fight against Hunger and 8D Sisters Tru’ung stamps paying an overall postage of 13D on an international air mail letter sent from Da Nang to the United States in December of 1963.

Registration Nr. 200380

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