Unified Vietnam, 100. Birthday of Albert Einstein, March 14th, 1979, Michel Nr. 1018-1019; Two stamps one with a 12 xu and one with a 60 xu nominal were issued in perforation 11.0. The 12 xu Einstein stamp is known to exist in a large number of production errors which points to either lacking screening procedures in the printing house or corruption by postal employees, which may have been entrusted to destroy discards. However, Klewitz, in his contemporary notes, does describe that the errors were actually sold at the postal counter in Ho-Chi-Minh City and that they were used without objection. May be some postal employee in HCM City beefed up their salaries by selling discards illegals at face value?
The mint version of the 12 xu stamp is known in three color variations, judged by the brownish color in the face:
12 Xu face color: light-olive
12 xu value in olive-brown:
12 xu value in red-brown:
The stamp is also known on two different paper types. One is on white paper and the other on chamois like paper that shows signs of wood pulp:
Here is the 12 xu stamp on white paper:
Here is the 12 xu stamp on toned wood pulp paper:
These stamps were not officially released imperforate but some imperforate samples have come to market (most likely from printer waste). Here is an imperforate pair with a special cancel.
A pretty common error is the 12 xu stamp without the black printing run. Here in a block of four that is also imperforate vertically in-between the stamps.
Here is a very similar block of four which, again is missing the black print run. This time the horizontal perforation looks like it was made by hand as the perforation line on the right shows a distinct upwards curve.
Here is the error of the missing black printing run cancelled to order with standard Hanoi date canceler totally im-perforated. This stamp was not officially released im-perforated.
Here is another block of four of the stamps with the missing black print run that shows a re-occuring plate error that shows a turquoise “under-score” between The “V” and “i” in “Vietnam” (bottom right stamp). The error can be found in field B10 or the 20th stamp in each sheet of the first printing. Klewitz reports that most of the plate errors and small printing flaws were retouched for the second printing that no longer show the error/flaws:
Here is a detailed scan of the plate error only known to exist on a partial printing:
This is a complete sheet of fifty of the 12 xu stamps. The sheet shows all the plate errors/plate flaws detailed below:
Here is another small printing flaw “turquoise point” below the “H” in “SINH”. Again, this error was eliminated in the second printing.
Here is another plate error that shows a damaged “3” in the left date on top of the stamp. It can be found in position D7 or the 38th stamp of the sheet in the first printing.
There were also small perforation errors on each sheet caused by a number of “teeth” of the vertical perforation comb having broken off causing small im-perforated areas in-between stamps. The perforation errors persisted into the second printing as the comb was apparently not repaired.
Here is another larger perforation error in this case on a used block of eight stamps. An additional strike of the perforation comb has struck directly in the middle of the right pair of stamps:
Here is a more rare printing error which shows the 12 xu stamp without the turquoise printing run. Here in a used block of four:
Passer shifts also occurred. Below are three blocks of four stamps used. The first one shows the turquoise printing run moved upwards and slanted towards the left. The second one shows the black printing run moved downwards and slated towards the right. The third one shows the turquoise printing run shifted lower and slanted towards the right. Interesting on the second and third block of four is the special cancel created for the issue of the Election for National Assembly series. It still shows the original date of April 15th, 1976 which was years before the Einstein stamp was actually issued!
Here is a perforation variety. This block of four is perforated 12.0 instead the standard 11.0. It also shows additional perforation holes in the left selvage of the block.
Here is another perforation error on a block of six used stamps. The left vertical perforation row was shifted too much towards the left and a second perforation comb strike runs across the three stamps on the left:
Here is another pass-shift and perforation error. In this block of six the olive-brown facial color is well to the left of the proper position and also slightly slanted. The block is horizontally im-perforated and the horizontal perforation is not properly lined up with the stamp images.
Here is a vertical im-perforated pair that features a black printing run where too much black ink was delivered to the printing plate causing the stamp to become too dark obscuring the nominal value entirely.
Here is another less common error that shows a used block of four on which the olive-brown printing run is missing entirely. The block is also im-perforated:
Also pretty rare is an error on which the black printing run is upside-down, as in this used block of four:
Also rarer are paper-fold issues as in this block of six that show that features significant paper fold across all three stamps on the left:
Here is a mint block of four of the 60 xu stamp that shows a double perforation comb strike on the left:
Here is a block of four that shows the horizontal perforation moved downwards into the stamps design:
One of the “8”s in “1879” became broken during printing. As a result the “8” was retouched prior to the next print run. Below is a mint bloc of four that shows the re-touched “8” in the bottom right stamp. Klewitz reports that the re-touched stamp was only sold in Ho Chi Minh City,
Here is a detailed scan of the re-touched “8”:
The top left stamp of this block of four shows a small printing flaw that looks like an additional plant circling the solar system:
Here is a detailed scan of the error stamp:
There are other re-occuring plate errors that occur like this “broken V in Vietnam” that occurs in Field B9 or the 19th stamp in the sheet:
Other plate errors include a version on which the bottom sun rays are white instead of yellow. The error occurs in Field E4 or 44th stamp in the sheet.
Rare local letter from March of 1981 featuring the 12 xu Einstein stamp (full contents preserved).
Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in February of 1980. It features the set with two color variations of the 12 xu value. It also carries a 12 xu stamp without the black printing run. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare as few philatelist water to expose their error stamp to get lost or damaged during transit. The overall postage amounted to 4.80 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Fulda green custom cachet on front.
Another very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in April of 1980. It features the set and also carries two 12 xu stamp without the black printing run. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare as few philatelist water to expose their error stamp to get lost or damaged during transit. The overall postage amounted to 4.98 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Fulda green custom cachet on front. Interesting hand-made Express Mail label produced with a typewriter. 
International air mail letter sent in October of 1981 from Lam Dong to the United States. The letter carrie two of the 60 xu Einstein stamps plus the 2D Final Victory stamp for an overall postage of 2.60D.
Air mail letter sent in March of 1982 from Hanoi to a Vietnamese in Czechoslovakia. The letter caries the 1D Red Cross stamp plus the 60 xu Einstein stamp for an overall postage of 1.60D.
International air mail letter sent in September of 1982 from Qui Nhon (small post office) to Czechoslovakia. The letter carries the 60xu Einstein stamp plus the 1D Year of the Cild stamp for an overall postage of 1.60D.
Rare international express mail letter sent in October of 1982 from Ban Dinh to Paris, France. The letter carries two of the 60 Einstein stamps plus seven of the 2D Bulgaria stamps for an overall postage of 15.20D.
Very rare registered letter featuring two of the 12xu Einstein stamps (one without the black print run) in a mixed franking with other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 3.40D mailed from Ho Chi Minh City to Huntington Beach, CA in November of 1979. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Huntington Beach arrival cancel on the reverse.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1981. In front it features a pair of the 60 xu stamp with the right stamp showing the re-touched “8” error. The overall postage amounted to 8.20 Dong (including the 5 Dong red free frank). Unusual red Ho Chi Minh cancel. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very rare registered letter sent to Klewitz in March of 1982. It features a mis-perforated 60 xu stamp where the horizontal perforation was moved downwards and runs across the stamps image. Again error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 8.31 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter mailed to Klewitz in October 1980. It features the set multiple times including some small plate errors on both the 12 and 60 xu stamps. The overall postage amounted to 4.80 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1980 that features all three color variations of the 12 xu value (see details above). It also features two military free franks that were issued in 1979. These free franks show no nominal value but were intended for the standard inland letter postage of 12 xu. Military free franks were not intended for mailings abroad but were obviously accepted here and counted as two times 12 xu. The overall postage amounted to 4.80 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Another very rare letter mailed to Klewitz in August of 1980. The letter features three of the 12 xu stamps, one being an error stamp without the black printing run. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 4.80 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very rare air mail letter sent to Hong Kong in August of 1979. It carries a pair of the 12 xu stamp without the black printing run. The pair is also im-perfroated in-between the two stamps. The overall postage amounted to 1.62 Dong.
Very rare large envelope sent to Klewitz in October of 1981. It features all three face color variations of the 12 xu value, a pair of 12 xu stamps without the black printing run. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of this large shipment amounted to 18.50 Dong (including the 15.1 Dong red free frank). Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda customs cachet on front.
Very rare registered express mail letter sent from Da Lat to Klewitz in July of 1980. The bottom left green 12 xu stamp shows the plate error “Qbang” instead of “Quang”. It also features the Einstein stamp with the missing black printing run. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare as most philatelist preferred to collect such errors mint and not risk one getting lost in the mail. The overall postage amounted to 4.92 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in October of 1980. It carries a variety of NVN stamps including a strip of four 10 xu flower stamps that show significant color variations.There is also the 60 xu Einstein stamp. It also accrues a 50 xu National Liberation stamp issued in 1971. NFL stamps were not valid in North Vietnam as the currency used by the Viet Cong in the South was not compatible with the currency used in the North. The stamp was nevertheless accepted by the postal clerk. Without the NLF stamp the postage amounted to 2.50 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent from Hoa Binh to Klewitz in October of 1981. The letter carries a mass franking of the Five Year Plan 12 xu stamp (1st Printing) plus two of the 60 xu Einstein stamps for an overall postage of 13.60 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in May of 1980. It carries the Stamp Exhibition set plus the 12 xu Einstein stamp without the black printing run. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 4.94 Dong. Hannover-Frankfurt train transit and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cancel on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1980. It carries two of the 1 Dong Day of the Cild stamps plus two of the 60 xu Einstein stamps for an overall postage of 4.42 Dong. Red “Franked by Sender” hand stamp and green Fulda custom cachet on front. The zero red free frank was required to produce the R-label as they came out of the same machine.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in September of 1980. It carries a variety of NVN stamps including one of the 60 xu Einstein stamps. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Hand -made Express Label.
Very rare registered letter featuring the Socialist Republic 6 xu and 12 xu stamps with the post master perforation sent from Ho Chi Minh City to West Germany in September of 1980. There is also the Einstein set. The overall postage amounted to 3 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent in May of 1981 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to West Germany. It carries two pairs of the Socialist Republic 6 xu stamp that shows a variation in the size of the star. The left pair features a small star while the right pair features a large star. Also not the color variations on the brown/ochre color. There are two of the 60 xu Einstein stamps. The overall postage amounted to 8.21 Dong.
Registered letter sent from Tran Hung Bao to Klewitz in August of 1980. The letter carries six of the Fish stamps plus a block of four of the 60 xu Einstein stamp for an overall postage of 8.22 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1980. It carries the entire set plus the 60 xu Einstein stamp for an overall postage of 4.81 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Unusual hand-made express mail label.
Rare registered express mail letter sent from Hung Vuong to Klewitz in May of 1981. It carries the train stamp with the two blocked out fields plus a range of stamps from the Total Liberation set for an overall postage of 13.90 Dong. There is also a 60 xu Einstein stamp. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse
Very large registered letter sent from Nguyen-Trai to Klewitz in May of 1982. It carries a mass franking of the 12 xu Train stamp plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 11.98 Dong (excluding the military free franks). There are two military free franks which were not valid for international mail due to the missing nominal. Nevertheless it appears that the postal clerk did not object to the use of these stamps. Two 60 xu Einstein stamps on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Rare registert express mail letter sent from Dalat to Klewitz in May of 1981. It carries a wide variety of the 1977, 1978 and 1980 Flower stamps for an overall postage of 13.54 Dong (including the black free frank for 8.4 Dong). Strip of four of the Lotus stamp in post master perforation 9.5 on white paper. There are also a number of the 1977 and 1978 Flower stamps. Post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. 60 xu Einstein stamp on the reverse. Frankfurt transit and Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Unusual black free frank. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City in October of 1980 to Klewitz. It carries a pair of the 12 xu Rose stamp with a double vertical perforation. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Two 60 xu Einstein stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 3.44 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter mailed on November 3rd, 1980 to Klewitz. The letter also carries the whole set plus the red special cancel that was used for the First Day Covers. 60 xu Einstein stamp on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. The overall postage amounted to 3.12 Dong.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in January of 1983. The letter carries the 50 xu World Congress stamp in various color tones and plate errors. The Einstein stamp also shows color variations. There is also a military free frank issued in 1976 on the reverse. Military free franks were not valid for international postage due to their lacking nominal value. Nevertheless, the postal clerk appears to have accepted the stamp as postage. The overall postage of the letter (inducing the implied 12 xu value of the free frank) amounted to 14.52 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klwitz. The letter carries two different color variations of the 50xu Union Congress stamps plus an imperforate pair. On the reverse is an Einstein stamp without the black printing color as well as a Karl Marx stamp that shows a partial failure of the pink color run. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 48.12D.
Registration Nr. 102790
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