Unified Vietnam, 100. Death Anniversary of Karl Marx, October 10th, 1983, Michel Nr. 1367-1368; Two stamps with nominals of 50xu and 10D were issued in perforation 10.75. The printing works did not show much consistency on producing this issue which resulted in a number of color and paper varieties that can be distinguished.

Here is the mint 50xu stamp that was printed on white paper. The orange color was printed first and then the black color which was the correct order.

Here is the same stamp but this time printed on tanned paper. Again the orange color was printed first and then the black color.

At times the printer produced stamps where the black color was printed first and then overlaid with the orange color.  Here is such a stamp produced on tanned paper.

Mint block of four printed on tanned paper in a pale-orange red color (orange on black). Note the bottom right stamp has the plate error “white spot under M of MAC”

Mint block of six 50 xu stamps printed on thick white paper in a red-brown color.

The stamp exists in a wide variety of colors. Here is a particular rare shade of “dark-orange-brown” on white paper .

Here is the mint 10D stamp. While it also shows some different color shades they are not as extreme as on the 50xu value.

These stamps were not officially released imperforate however a small number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here is a mint imperforate example of the 50xu value in lighter colors.

Mint block of four imperforate trial proofs of the 50xu value in slightly darker colors.

Mint pair of the imperforate 10D trial proof from the right sheet margin.

Here is a rare presentation sheetlet (15.5.x10.6cm) of the 10D value.

Here are two printing errors which show a paper folds. The first pair is printed in brown-red color (black on red). The second pair is in orange-red color (printed black on red).

Detailed scan of the affected area.

 

Large mint block of twenty-eight 50xu stamps in brown-red color (red on black) (Fields 24-75 that shows a consistent failure of the black printing color in the country name “VIETNAM”. The middle stamp in the top row (Field 27) also shows a plate error “white circle under beard”, the third stamp from the left in the third row shows the plate error “black dot in beard” and the bottom right stamp the plate error “white field under M of MAC”.

Detailed scans of the printing error and the plate errors.

Mint pair in brown-red color (red on black). The bottom stamp shows the plate error “red dot in A of VIETNAM”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four in brown-red color (red on black) on tanned paper on which the top left stamp shows the plate error “blind eye”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four in pale red color (red on black) on which the top left stamp shows the plate error “hole in head”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint blocks of four in brown-red color on white paper and red-brown on tanned paper on which, both, the top left stamps shows the plate error “white circle on top left of head”. Both top right stamp show a partial failure of the black printing run.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

 

 

Mint pair in dark brown-red (red on black) on which the top stamp shows the plate error “black line at bottom right”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Here is the same plate error “black line at bottom right” on a mint pair which is in pale range-red color (black on red).

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four in red-brown color (black on red) that shows a double perforation strike in the center of the block plus the bottom right stamp shows the plate error “red circle above N of VIETNAM”.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Here is another mint block of four in light orange-red color (black on red) that shows the same plate error as above (“red circle above N of VIETNAM”) on the top left stamp and both bottom stamps are affected by a paper fold.

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint block of sixteen stamps that shows a significant change of the red/orange color printing run within the same sheet!

Mint pair on tanned paper that was printed on a dirty plate.

Mint pair on white paper (black on red)  that shows a double printing of the red and black color run. 

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint pair of two (red on black) that shows a printing error of two red vertical bars across both stamps. This may stem from a temporarily stopped printing press.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

 

Mint pair of two on tanned paper that show a significant printing failure. Most likely due to an overly wet printing plate both colors did not adhere well to the paper resulting in a very pale print of both colors.

Mint pair of two on tanned paper (red on black) on which both stamps show a printing error of the black color that results in a “filled out A of VIETNAM”

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four of the 10D value in dark lilac-red color on which the bottom two stamps show the plate errors “plug in mouth” (left stamp) and “white circle on left” (right stamp). 

Detailed scans of the affected areas.

Mint pair in lilac-carmine color on which the left stamp shows a partial printing failure of the black color.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four in light lilac color on white paper on which the top right stamp shows some significant printing errors of the lilac color 

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Mint block of four in light lilac color on white paper on which the top right stamp shows the plate error “scar in face”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

Here is another mint block of four, the time in lilac-carmine color with the same plate error of “scar in face”.

Detailed scan of the affected area.

 

Mint block of twelve 10D stamps that is significantly mis-perforated with the vertical perforation running straight through the middle of the stamps.

Mixed franking of the 1D Year of the Cild value (7) with two 50xu Karl Marx stamps paying an overall postage of 8D on an international air mail letter sent to Czechoslovakia.

Registered air mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City in September of 1984 to Klewitz that features the rare color shade of dark orange-brown in a pair, a stamp that has significant printing flaws of both colors, a stamp with a double print of the red and black color along with one normal 50xu Karl Marx stamp. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also some ASEAN stamps on the reverse along with other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of 29.42 (including the red free frank for 2.40D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare express air mail cover sent to West Germany and featuring three of the 10D Karl Marx stamps on front and nine 50 xu World Communication Year stamps (partially missing) paying an overall postage of 34.50D.

Registered air mail letter sent from Tan Binh to Klewitz in December of 1983. The letter carries the 10D Karl Marx value in both color variations, a number of stamps from the Hymenopterons set, the stamp set Cooperation with Soviet Union plus other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of  58.54D. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter that features 50xu and 10D Karl Marx stamps that feature some of the plate and printing errors detailed above for an  overall postage of 37.40D (including the red free frank for 90xu). Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in March of 1984. The letter features a number of the color, plate , perforation and printing errors detailed above. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amount ted to 44.80 (including the red free frank of 1.80D). Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City featuring four of the 10D Karl Marx stamps plus two Summit stamp sets for an overall postage of 51.50D. The zero money free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

 Registered air mail letter the features both Karl Marx stamps plus a block of four of the Red Cross stamp that shows a double printing of the black color on the top two stamps. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also some Wading Bird stamps. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 43.50D. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter setoff rom Quan 5 to Klewitz in August of 1984. The letter carries some of the Karl Marx stamps plus the Hymenopterons set for an overall postage of 35.86D (including the red free frank for 1.66D). Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1984. The letter carries some of the color variations and plate errors detailed above plus an unissued imperforate 50xu Karl Marx stamp. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also four Wading Birds stamps on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 61.50D. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.  Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent from Quan 5 to Klewitz in July of 1984. The letter carries four of the 10D Karl Marx stamps in bot  color variations. One stamp shows the lilac color production error detailed above. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Stamps from the Raffael and ASEAD stamp set on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 50.90D.

Larger envelope weighing 40g that carries a mass franking of both Karl Marx stamps and other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 110D. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Green Fulda custom cachet on the front.

Large envelope mailed as a registered air mail letter and sent from Ho Chi Minh City in May of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries a large block of sixteen of the 50xu Karl Marx stamps that shows a significant printing error on the red-orange color that fades towards the bottom of the block. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Flowering Woods stamps on the back. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 98.4D. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Green Fukda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Correggio souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Communication Year, Flat Fish, Karl Marx and Production and Defense sets for an overall postage of 45.40D. The Karl Marx stamps are represented in two different color shades (including the rare orange-brown one). Souvenir-Sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter mailed from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in December of 1989 featuring four significantly mis-perforated 10D Karl Marx stamps as well as the India Stamp Exhibition souvenir-sheet plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 9,540D (including the red free frank for 5,530D). Error stamps and souvenir sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1985 from Quan 5 to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate Peace Meeting set, the 3D Trade Union Confederation stamp with the plate error “incomplete dates” and the Friendship between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia stamp with the plate error of “dot in Lao flag”. There are also two paper varieties of the Karl Mary stamp. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 45.40D. Partial green Fulda custom cachet.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1984 from Tan Binh to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Olympic Winter Games souvenir-sheet, a Communist Party stamp with a significant passer-shift as well as stamps from the Karl Marx and Chess set for an overall postage of 51.30D. Souvenir-sheets and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent in February of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter features half of the perforated Protected Animals set, Karl Marx stamps in different color shades, Tagore and Vietnamese Union Conference stamps for an overall postage of 27.60D (including the red free frank for 90xu). Fragment of the the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent in February of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter features the other half of the perforated Protected Animals set, Karl Marx stamps in different color shades, and Vietnamese Union Conference stamps for an overall postage of 30.800D (the red free frank is illegible). Fragment of the the green Fulda custom cachet on front. Curiously enough the letter was never cancelled but travelled through the mail as documented by the custom cachet.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1984 from HO Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire perforated Flowering Trees set, stamps from the Dahlia, Karl Marx and Raffael sets for an overall postage of 50.90D (the red free frank is illegible). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Air mail letter mailed in October of 1984 from Quan 5 to Klewitz. The letter carries the other half of the imperforate Ocean Fish set and two Karl Marx stamps for an overall postage of 28.36D. The Karl Marx stamps both show plate errorsImperforate stamps and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

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.

Registered letter sent in June of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City. The letter carries the yellow/black overprint in the light-yellow base color plus stamps from the Karl Marx, Socialist Republic, Locomotive, Vietnamese Summit and other contemporary sets for an overall postage of 83.86D (including the red free frank for 23D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the yellow/black Nguyen Trai stamp in different base colors, with an overprint that is too high and the base stamp without overprint. The letter also carries stamps from the Karl Marx, Five Year Plan, Asia Games sets and other contemporary NVN stamps for an overall postage of 47.92D. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registration Nr. 103480

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