Unified Vietnam, 30. Anniversary of the Liberation of Hai Phong, May 13th, 1985, Michel Nr. 1559-1561, Block 34; Two stamps in the nominals of 2D and 5D were issued in perforation 10.75. An imperforate souvenir-sheet was also released with a 10D nominal. The Hai Phong harbor stayed occupied by French forces until May 13th, 1955 aver which they left according to the Geneva Agreement.
Here is a pair of the 2D value in light-purple
and here is a pair of the 2D value in dark-purple
Here is the 5D value in a grey-blue base color
and here the 5D stamp in light-blue color
Here is the mint souvenir-sheet. It does not exist perforated.
The stamps were not officially issued imperforate however a number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Below are two pairs of them.
Here is a rare trial proof that was executed on the issued paper but in a differs color scheme to the issued stamp. The background is a light blue and the color of the lighthouse his greenish instead of brown.
Mint souvenir-sheet that shows the plate error of a number of white circles surrounding the dove. The sheet also shows a color off-set of the mustard color on the reverse.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint souvenir-sheet that shows a very light print of the brown color.
The souvenir-sheets were printed in large sheets that contained multiple souvenir-sheets but these were separated prior to leaving the printing works. A very small number of souvenir-sheet pairs have emerged from the printing works as the vertical and horizontal samples below demonstrate. Note the very dark printing colors. Very rare.
Mint block of four which shows a passer-shift of the black color towards the top and right. It was also printed in heavy colors leading to the elimination of the contrails in the top left part of the stamps.
Detailed scan of an affected area
Mint block of four of the 2D value on which the top left stamp shows the plate error of “shot cross-bar of T in VIETNAM and white crack in rocks”.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of four of the 2D value on which all four values show a printing error of “white rocks under tower”.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of four of the 2D value on which the bottom left stamp shows the plate error of “dot in Buu Chinh”. The two right stamps show the production flaw of partially failed purple color.
Detailed scans of the affected areas
Mint block of six of the 2D values. The tower in the block shows a progressive darkening towards the right. Also the top middle stamp shows the plate error of “dot under Buu Chinh”
Mint block of then of the 2D values that shows a passer-shift of the black color towards the top. The middle bottom stamp shows the plate error of “fire on airplane wreck on the ground”
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Mint block of six 2D value that shows a significant perforation shift towards the right.
Rare mint block of four stamps which shows the printing error on which the entire black color run is missing.
Three mint pairs with printing errors that stem from the same sheet. The blue color run is printed upside down and the blue color run is shifted very significantly towards the right.
Mint block of eight of the 5D value that shows progressive failure of the black color printing phase towards the bottom. The block also shows a passer-shift of the black color downwards resulting in the top inscription to be inside the stamp design.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of twenty 5D stamps (only ten shown for technical reasons). The strip shows a weak print of the blue color. The center bottom stamp shows the plate error of “rock fall from bridge”.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of eight of the 5D value on which the top left stamp shows the plate error of “missing color on bridge pillar” and the top right stamp the plate error of “rock in the water”.
Detailed scans of the affected areas
Mint block of eight 5D stamps that shows progressive failure of the black color towards the bottom, there is a passer-shift of the black color downwards, all stamps show the error of “flag on N of VIETNAM” and the bottom right stamp the plate error of “rock fall from bridge”.
Detailed scans of the affected areas
Mint block of six 5D stamps on which the top right stamp shows the plate error of “blue dot above bridge” and the bottom left stamp the plate error of “E in VIETNAM with cross-bar”.
Detailed scans of the affected areas
Mint block of four 5D stamps on which the top left stamp shows the plate error of “hole in the river”
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of fifteen 5D stamps which shows a significant passer-shift of the blue color downwards leading to the bridge pillars being white at the bottom and the middle bottom stamp shows the plate error of “rock-fall from bridge”.
Detailed scans of the affected ares
Mint 5D value which shows the plate error of “dot right of 5d”.
Detailed scan the affected area
Very rare printing error of the souvenir-sheet on which the brown and mustard printing run is missing in its entirety (ex Klewitz). The editor has never seen another one offered in there market place.
First Day Covers with the black First Day Cancel
First Day Cover with the red First Day Cancel
Multiple franking of the 2D value (5) paying an overall postage of 10D on a domestic letter sent from Hue to HCM City .
Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Hai-Phong souvenir-sheet plus stamps fro the Friendship and Dien Bien Phu sets for an overall postage of 253D (including the red free frank for 210D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps from the Hai-Phong Liberation, Ha Long, Lenin, Friendship and Hanoi Liberation sets for an overall postage of 377.50D (including the red free frank for 330D). Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.
Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps from the Hai Phong Liberation, Orchids, Five Year Plan, Friendship, Vietnamese Painters and other sets for an overall postage of 230.02D (including the red free frank for 173D). Framenr of green Fulda custom cachet on front and reverse.
Registered air mail letter sent on September 22nd, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries six 5D Liberation of Ha Phong stamps showing different errors (passer-shift and weak printing) plus imperforate stamps from the 1982 Bird set, perforated Friendship Agreement and Asia Games sets. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 148.1 oD = 14.81 nD. plus the red free frank for 10.2 nD or 25.01 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent on October 21st, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Hai Phong souvenir-sheet in dark colors plus stamps from the Friendship Contract, Orchids, Communist Party and Peace Meeting sets for an overall postage of 133 oD. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for all stamps on the cover. The overall postage hence amounted to 133 oD = 13.3 nD. plus the red free frank for 11 nD for a total of 24.3 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent on October 21st, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Hai Phong souvenir-sheet in light colors plus stamps from the Friendship Contract, Orchids and Communist Party sets for an overall postage of 134 oD. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for all stamps on the cover. The overall postage hence amounted to 134 oD = 13.4 nD. plus the red free frank for 11 nD for a total of 24.4 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Large envelope mailed as registered air mail letter from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in December of 1985. The letter carries the Union Congress and Liberation Hai Phong souvenir-sheets plus stamps from the Hai Phon Liberation, Hanoi Liberation, Friendship, Union Conference and other contemporary stamps for an overall postage of 183.72 oD. There are also two of the 1976 military free frank in both color versions that was technically not valid for international postage but apparently was accepted by the postal clerk nevertheless. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for all stamps on the cover. The overall postage hence amounted to 183.72 oD = 18.37 nD. plus the red free frank for 23.3 nD for a total of 41.67 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two blocks of four of the 2D Hai Phong Liberation that show some of the plate errors detailed above (damaged Chinh in Buu Chinh, crack in rocks under tower and short T) plus stamps from the Peoples Army, Cacti, Laos and Reconstruction sets. The Cacti stamps are imperforate. Plate errors and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for all stamps on the cover other than the stamps from the Reconstruction and Laos set. The overall postage hence amounted to 30.5 oD = 3.5 nD. plus the red free frank for 7 nD plus stamps in new currency 13nD for a total of 23.5 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the 2D and 5D Hai Phong Liberation stamps that show some of the errors and plate errors detailed above (rock fall from bridge, light print, passer-shift, missing contrails) plus stamps from the Ha Long and Laos sets. Plate errors on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for all stamps on the cover other than the stamps from the Laos set. The overall postage hence amounted to 32.5 oD = 3.25 nD. plus the red free frank for 16 nD plus stamps in new currency 4nD for a total of 23.25 nD Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent on September 12th, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated HCM Birthday set plus stamps from the Friendship Contract, Hai Phong Liberation and World Food Day sets for an overall postage of 244D (including the red free frank for 110D). Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1988 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate and mis-perforated Hai Phong Liberation stamps plus two fo the 5D stamps that show an upside -down printing the blue color and a significant passer-shift of the same color. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. This was true for the stamps from the Hai Phong Liberation and Red Cross sets. The overall postage hence amounted to 22 oD = 2.2 nD. plus the red free frank for 466 nD plus stamps in new currency of 412 nD for a total of 880.2 nD.
Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in June of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a number of the National Assembly stamps and stamps from the Reconstruction sets that were already denominated in new Dong and stamps from the Communist Party, Hai Phong Liberation and imperforate Cacti sets that were denominated in old Dong. The Communist Party stamps show various shades and a perforation error. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There is also a military free frank issued in 1983 that was not valid for international postage but nevertheless was accepted by the postal clerk. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 16.2 oD =1.62 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (16D) plus the red free frank of 17 nD for 34.62 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the other half of the perforated Space Flight set and souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the Traditional Houses and Hanoi Liberation sets. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps show a significant passer-shift making the lower columns of th bridge appear white. Error stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. The World Food Day stamps were still denominated in old Dong. All other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 20 oD =2 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (33D) for 35 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.
Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a mix of stamps denominated in old Dong (Communist Party, Cacti, Liberation of Hai Phong, National Liberation Front) and new Dong (National Assembly Labor Day). The two National Assembly stamps on the reverse both shows the plate error of “broken jacket line on HCM’s left side and one of the Hai Phong Liberation stamp shows a production error. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 17.12 oD =1.71 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (7D) plus the red free frank for 24D for 32.71 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1988 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated USSR Friendship stamps plus stamps from the Cacti (imperforate), Hydro Stations, Fish (imperforate), STOCKHOLMIA Birds (souvenir-sheet), HAFNIA Airplanes (imperforate) and Hai Phong Liberation sets. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps shows a severe passer-shift. Error-, imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cove are very rare. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 10 oD = 1 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (3,385 nD) plus the red free frank for 3,240 nD for 6,626 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1989 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate USSR Friendship stamps plus stamps from the Mutual Economic Aid, Hydro Stations, Ton Due Thang, Bach Dang, Party Decisions and Hai Phong Liberation sets. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps shows a severe passer-shift. Error- and imperforate stamps on postally used cove are very rare. The Hai Phong Liberation stamps were still denominated in old Dong while all other stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The Vietnamese Government conducted a devaluation of the Dong on September 14th, 1985. This meant that all stamps issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 10 oD = 1 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (4,460 nD) plus the red free frank for 2,010 nD for 6,471 nD.
Registration Nr. 103860
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