40 Years German Democratic Republic

Unified Vietnam, 40 Years German Democratic Republic, October 7th, 1989; Michel Nr. 2101; A single stamp with a nominal value of 200D was issued in perforation 13. Little did the Vietnamese postal authorities know that the long term allied country would perish within months after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Here is the mint stamp

The stamp was apparently printed in Switzerland by the firm UGRA. This is based on the printer color guidance mark that were printed in the selvage of the sheets like the pair below which shows the olive green printers mark.

This stamp was not officially released imperforate however some imperforate trial proofs have come to market like the mint block of four below that shows the blue printers mark.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate East Germany stamps (orange and red printers mark in the selvage) plus stamps from the Hydro Stations, Ceramics, French Revolution II and Off-shore Oil Production sets for an overall postage of 9,860D (including the red free frank for 3,710D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet in front.Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated East Germany stamps plus stamps from the Hydro Stations, Cambodian National Day, French Revolution I and Off-shore Oil Production sets for an overall postage of 15,290D (including the red free frank for 9,890D).

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate and perforated Rice Planting set plus stamps from the Ice Dancing, HydroStations and 40 Years East Germany sets for an overall postage of 9,710D (including the red free frank for 2,790D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The postal clerk in Vietnam failed to cancel the two top left stamps on front of the cover which prompted the postal clerk in West Germany to apply the Fulda cancel “Nachtraeglich Entwertet” (=Subsequently cancelled). This cancel is rarely ever seen. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Fruits stamps plus stamps from the Horses, French Revolution I, Hydro Stations, Cuban Revolution and FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition sets for an overall postage of 8,110D (including the red free frank for 3,290D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in January of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Fruits stamps plus stamps from the Horses, French Revolution I, Hydro Stations, Cuban Revolution and FINLANDIA Stamp Exhibition, Locomotives, Off-shore Oil Production, INDIA Stamp Exhibition and 40 Years East Germany sets for an overall postage of 9,660D (including the red free frank for 2,360D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate stamps from the Ink Drawing set plus stamps from the 40 Years East Germany, Thanh Giong and India Stamp Exhibition sets for an overall postage of 10,000D (including the red free frank for 6,800D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate stamps from the Ink Drawing set plus stamps from the 40 Years East Germany, Thanh Giong and India Stamp Exhibition sets for an overall postage of 11,200D (including the red free frank for7,500D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated souvenir-sheet from the Ink Drawing set plus stamps from the 40 Years East Germany, Thanh Giong and Communication Stamp Exhibition sets for an overall postage of 8,450D (including the red free frank for2,800D). Souvenir–sheets on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klwitz. The letter carries the perforated Duck sheetlet plus stamps from the 40 Years East Germany, Poisonous Snakes and French Revolution (souvenir-sheet) for an overall postage of 16,050D (including the red free frank for 8,180D). Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent on April 19th, 1990 (the First Date of issuance according to Michel) from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps from the perforated World Cup Italia I and II (souvenir-sheets), Thanh Giong, 40 Years East Germany (imperforate), Rice Harvest (partially imperforate) and Dong Da sets for an overall postage of 8,800D (including the red free frank for 2,250D). Imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate Truck stamps plus stamps from the 40 Years East Germany, Inter-Parlamentarian Union and Dog sets for an overall postage if 8,920D (including the red free frank for 3,350D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter mailed in April of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries perforated stamps from the Capital Hue set plus stamps from the Communication, 40 Years East Germany and Ink Drawings Horses (some imperforate) sets for an overall postage of 7,950D (including the red free frank for 1,450D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter mailed in April of 1990 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated souvenir-sheet from the Capital Hue set plus stamps from the French Revolution I, 40 Years East Germany and Ink Drawings Horses (some imperforate) sets for an overall postage of 8,100D (including the red free frank for 3,500D). Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.