Unified Vietnam, 33. Anniversary of the August Revolution, August 15th, 1978, Michel Nr. 986-989; Four stamps with nominals of 6 xu (two stamps) and 12 xu (two stamps) were issued in perforation 11.0.

Here are the mint 6 xu stamps:

Mint blocks of four of the 12 xu value:

Here is a small perforation error on a row of the green 6 xu stamp. The perforation comb used was missing one tooth which caused a small area in each horizontal row to remain im-perforated. The error is on the second stamp from the left.

Here is a detailed scan of the affected area:

The bottom left stamp of the pink 12 xu value shows a re-occuring plate error that takes the shape of a small red dot inside the pink flower arrangement at the bottom:

Here is a strip of ten of the stamp that shows the error stamp in the 9th position of each second horizontal row. Klewitz calls these small markings “secret signs” that were used by printers, however, they may also simply reflect small cliche errors or impurities that are repeated by duplicating cliches to complete a sheet.

There is an addition re-occuring plate error in position 1 (A1) that shows a small red dot on the left frame of the stamp and a small red dot above the transportation belt.

Here are detailed scans of the two errors:

This stamp was also printed on two distinct papers. The first printing occurred on normal grayish paper and the second on white paper that reflects under a quartz light (fluorescent reaction). Here is the normal grey paper:

This strip of ten also shows that the sheet was produced by copying 5 stamps each. This detailed scan shows positions 5 and 6 whereas the fifth stamp is set about 1 mm lower than the 6th stamp.

Here is a row of then on white fluorescent paper:

These stamps were not officially released im-perforated, however a handful of im-perforated trial prints have come to market:

The red 12 xu value also shows a small plate error that appears on the fourth and ninth stamp of every second row. It takes the shape of a small dot at the bottom of the frame.

Here is a detailed scan of the affected area (fourth position):

Here is a detailed scan of the affected area (ninth position):

The error looks identical to the editor which suggests that it is simply a cliche defect that was repeated as the various original cliches were duplicated to complete the sheet.

The red 12 xu value comes in two distinct printings. The first shows that the lilac color was printed first and yellow second:

The second printing was done in the reverse order (yellow first and lilac second) giving the stamps a different appearance:

There is an additional plate error on the red 12 xu stamp. It comes in the shape of a “star” below the sickle. It can be found on the 52nd stamp of each sheet (E2). The middle stamp of this strip of three is the error stamp.

Here is a detailed scan of the affected area:

This plate error is not to be mistaken for small printing flaws that also occur. Here on the right stamp of the strip of three above. In this case a small object had fallen on the printing plate causing a red dot with a yellow circle.

Rare multiple franking of the 6xu value on a local letter sent from Hanoi to My Xuyen in April of 1979. HCM City machine transit and My Xuyen arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 6 xu stamp together with the 10 xu Sunflower stamp paying an overall postage of 16 xu on a domestic letter sent from Dalat to Ha Giang in March of 1979. Long My transit cancel on the reverse.

Rare single franking of one of the 12xu stamps on a local letter sent to Dong Nam in April of 1979. Vung Tau transit cancel on the reverse.

Rare single franking of one of the 12xu stamps on a local letter sent from Qui Nhonh to HCM City in April of 1979. Vung Tau transit cancel on the reverse. The stamp actually is a color variety as the background base color here is orange compared to red.

Rare multiple franking of one of the 12xu stamps paying the second weight level on a local letter sent to Dong Phu to HCM City  in October of 1978. Various transit cancels on the reverse.

Rare single franking of the pink 12 xu stamp on a local letter sent to Ho Chi Minh City in October of 1979. Ho Chi Minh machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the 12 xu value on a domestic letter sent from Tu LIem (small post office) to HCM City in August of 1978.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in October of 1978. It carries blocks of four of the the 12 xu August Revolution stamps and some of the Total Liberation stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 4.22 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel o the reverse.

Another rarer registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in December of 1978. It carries the entire August Revolution set in multiples plus some other stamps from the period. The overall postage amounted to 6.74 Dong. Fula arrival cancel on the reverse.

Very large envelope mailed registered and via express mail with a spectacular mass franking of the set. The letter was sent to Klewitz in March of 1980. It also carries a mass franking of the Sports Games series. It carries the plate error on the red xu stamp “Star under Sickle” and the two different paper varieties of the pink 12 xu stamp. The overall postage amounted to 6.32 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Fulda green custom cachet on front.

Mixed franking of two of the 6xu August Revolution stamps together with a block of four of the 12xu Flower and 1D Defense and production stamps paying an overall postage of 1.60D on an air-mail letter sent to Czechoslovakia in 1983.

Another very rare registered express mail letter sent from Hai Phong to Klewitz in June of 1979. It features the other half of the im-perforated prehistoric animal set plus the 6 xu stamp from the August revolution set for an overall postage of 4.80 Dong.  Im-perforate stamps on postally used cove are very rare. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent to Klewitz in April of 1983. It features a number of the color variations and passer-shifts of the HCM Museum set. There are also a number of the August Revolution stamps. The overall postage amounted to 2.68 Dong (including the 1.38 Dong free frank). Note that the two 10 xu flower stamps also show a printing flaw that looks like diagonal lines across the stamp image and pale inscriptions. Fulda arrival cancel and green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in December of 1981. It carries a pair of mis-perforated  green/yellow 12 xu stamps of the 2nd printing. There is also a block of nine of the 12 xu stamp 1st printing and a number of the August Revolution stamps. The overall postage amounted to 8.34 Dong.

Registered letter sent from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz in December of 1981. The letter carries a wide variety of the Lotus stamp (pair in Perf. 9.5 on yellowish paper, pair in 9.5 on white paper, pair im-perforated on yellowish paper, single stamp im-perforated on white paper, pair Perf. 5-6, pairs Perf 11 on yellowish and white paper, pairs Perf. 14 and 15 on white paper and a pair Perf. 14 on yellowish paper). Post master perforations and im-perfroated stamps on postally used cover are ver rare. 12 xu August Revolution stamp on the reverse. The overall postage (including the free frank for 4.5 Dong) amounted to 7.87 Dong.

Registration Nr. 102700

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