4. National Union Congress

Unified Vietnam, 4. National Union Congress, May 1st or May 8th, 1978, Michel Nr. 969-970; Two stamps, both with a 10 xu nominal, were issued in perforation 11.0.

Here are mint blocks of four of both stamps:

There are some perforation errors on both stamps. Here is a single corner margin yellow 10 xu stamp that shows a double vertical perforation comb strike on the left.

Here is a block of six of the red 10 xu stamp that shows a vertical double perforation comb strike in-between the two right stamp row:

There is also a printing error that shows the blue print run up-side down. Rare.

First Day Cover of the Issue (May 8th, 1978) with a decal of Ho Chi Minh on the envelope:

A range of alternative First Day Cancel designs were submitted to postal authorities. Below are seven different designs that were proposed. This is a very rare one of a kind document. The Government finally selected to go with design Nr. 7. Note the different proposed first days of issuance (ranging from May 6th, 1978 through May 20th, 1978). While catalogues state the stamps were issued on May 1st the First Day Cancel states May 8th.

Rare single franking of one of the 10xu values on a local letter (full contents preserved) sent to Ho Chi Minh City in December of 1978 paying the 50% discounted intra-city local letter rate in force at the time.

Another rare local letter featuring a single franking of the other 10xu stamp on a local letter sent by a member of the Vietnamese Military from Mytho to Can Tho using the discounted intra-city/regional letter rate in October of 1979.

Rare multiple franking of the 10xu value paying a 20xu tariff on a local letter sent from Hanoi to Vung Tau in June of 1978.

Large registered letter from January of 1982 with a mixed franking made up of ten of the 20 xu Pigeon stamp plus seven National Union Congress and five 35 Years of Independence stamps paying an overall postage of 7.70D. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in August of 1978. It carries the National Union set thrice plus a number of the bird set stamps. The overall postage amounted to 4.20 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent to Klewitz in June of 1982 sent from Nguyen Trai. It carries the National Union Congress set plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 11.04 (including the 8 Dong from the red free frank on the back). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Rare registered express mail letter set to Klewitz in December of 1970. It carries one of the10 xu values plus other NVN stamps from the period for an overall postage of 5.77 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Fulda green custom cachet on front.

Very rare registered express mail letter sent to Klewitz in September of 1978. The letter carries half of the im-perforated Sculpture set plus two of the 10 xu Union Congress stamps for an overall postage of 4.51 Dong. Im-perforated stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Rare registered air mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to West Germany in November of 1980. It carries pairs of the 6 xu and 12 xu Socialist Republic Map stamp that show a double perforation in-between stamps. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also one of the National Union stamps. The overall perforation amounted to 3.02 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Tran Hung Bao to Klewitz in April of 1982. It carries a wide variation of the post master perforation set of the Lotus stamp (block of four Perf.8-9, block of six Perf. 15 on white paper, block of seven Perf. 14 on yellowish paper and a single Per. 11). Post master perforations on postally used cover are very rare. There are also the other Flower and two National Union stamps on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in April of 1982. The letter carries three of the 2 Dong Nutrition Day stamps with the top left stamp showing the plate error “half-moon in emblem”. Plate errors on postally used cover are very rare. National Union stamps on front and back. The overall postage amounted to 8.29 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in June of 1982. The letter carries all the perforated high values of the Football set. There are also four of the rare Post Master Perforation (15) of the Lots stamp on the reverse. Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. National Union Congress stamps on the reverse. The overall postage amounted to 8.38 Dong . Green Fulda custom cachet on front.