Unified Vietnam, 40 Years Reconstruction , December 6th, 1985, Michel Nr. 1650-1653; Four values in nominals of 10D (two stamps), 20D and 30D were issued in this definitive series in perforation 11:10.75.

The stamps exist in two distinct versions. On one the yellow star is small and on the other it is large.

Here is the green 10D value with the small star

Here is the green 10D value with the large star (dark and shifted yellow color)

Here is the brown 10D value with the small star

Here is the green 20D value with the small star

Here is the green 20D value with the large star (the stamp also shows a plate error “broken Chinh”)

Detailed scan of the affected area

Here is the green 30D value with the small star

Here is the green 20D value with the large star

Printing flaw on the green 10D value on which the green color print is partially missing at the bottom.

Detailed scan of the affected area

Printing flaw on the brown 10D value which shows an over-inking of the red color print resulting in the white dates being hardly legible.

Detailed scan of the affected area

These stamps were not officially released imperforate however some imperforate trial and phase proofs have come to market. Here are matching imperforate pairs from the upper right/left sheet margin.

Imperforate phase prints of the green 10D value in blocks of four

Imperforate phase prints of the brown 10D value in blocks of four

Imperforate phase prints of the 20D value in blocks of four

Imperforate phase prints of the 30D value in blocks of four

Imperforate trial proof of the 30D value in dark violet and black color (printed on both sides)

Imperforate trial proof of the 30D value in dark violet and black colors with a major passer-shift of the black color towards the left bottom.

Mint pair of the 20D value (large star) which shows a passer-shift of the red color print towards the left top.

Detailed scan of the affected area

Mint pair of the 20D value (small star) on which the left stamp shows a printing flaw of a red color blotch.

Detailed scan of the affected area

Mixed franking of the 10D Reconstruction value (small star) together with three 1D Union Congress stamps paying an overall postage of 33D on an international aerogramme sent to the Soviet Union.

Mixed franking of the 2D Communist Party stamp in the rare 12.5 perforation together with the 10D Reconstruction stamp (small star) for an overall postage of 12D on an international letter from Thach Thanh in November of 1986. Special Communist Party cachet on front.

Multiple franking of the 10D stamps (8) paying an overall postage of 80D on an international letter sent in July of 1987 from Thanh Uyen to the United States.

Mixed franking of the 10D and 20D Reconstruction values (small and large star respectively) paying an overall postage of 30D on a international letter sent from Luong Son (small post office)  to Czechoslovakia in June of 1987.

Similar franking of the 10D (small star) and 20D (large star) Reconstruction values on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Czechoslovakia in September of 1987.

Single franking of the 20D Reconstruction value (large star) on an international air mail letter setoff rom Hanoi to France in July of 1986. French orange routing coding on front.

Mixed franking of the 20D Reconstruction value (large star) together with seven 1D Labor Day stamps paying an overall postage of 27D on a folded airmail letter sent from Quan 4 to the Soviet Union in February of 1987. Full writing preserved.

Mixed franking of the 20D value (small star) together with two of the 5D Labor Day stamps paying an overall postage of 30D on an international letter sent from Luong Son (small post office) to Czechoslovakiain October of 1986.

Multiple franking of the 20D value (both large star) on an international air mail letter sent from Bien Hoa to France in September of 1986.

Mixed franking of the 10D and 20D Reconstruction values (small and large star respectively) paying an overall postage of 30D on a international letter sent from Son La to Czechoslovakia.

Mixed franking o the 20D value (6-all large star), two 3D Water and Mountain Spirit and four of the 1D Dam Construction stamps paying an overall postage of 130D on an international air mail letter sent in February of 1988 from Hoa Quang to Czechoslovakia.

Single franking of the 30D Reconstruction value (small star) on an international air mail letter sent from Hanoi to Czechoslovakia in August of 1987.

The same single franking of the 30D Reconstruction value but this time on an international air mail letter sent from the HCM City area to a Vietnamese worker home in East Germany. The letter originated in Tran Hung Dao (small post office).

Interestingly the standard domestic letter rate reached the 30D postage as demonstrated on this local letter sent within HCM City in October of 1988. Illegible transit cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 30D value (8-all small star) together with eight of the Year of Peace stamps paying an overall postage of 248D on an international air mail letters ent from Hanoi to France.

Registered express air mail letter sent in March of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Ming City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire perforated Reconstruction set and KPdSU stamps that were already denominated in new Dong and stamps fro the Independence and Socialist Republic sets denominated in old 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 3.16oD =0.32 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (71D)  for71.32 nD. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking made up of five of the green 1D Geological Service tighter with the 10D and 20D Reconstruction stamps paying an overall postage of 35D on an international air mail letter sent from Quang Ngai (small post office) to France in April  of 1986.

International air mail letter sent from Hai Phong to Canada and featuring one of the 20D and five of the 30D Reconstruction stamps for an overall postage of 170D.

Registered express air mail letter sent in Aril of 1986 from Quan 5 and featuring the entire imperforate Reconstruction set for an overall postage of 70D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Unusual German R-Label that states “Registered Mail from Abroad”.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in March of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter features stamps from the Halley, Musical Instrument, Reconstruction and Le Lo’i sets that were already denominated in new Dong. The Dinosaur and Bird stamps are denominated in old 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 4.6 oD =0.46 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (41D)  for 41.46 nD. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking in April of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a number of the 50xu National Assembly stamps and stamps from the Reconstruction and Le Lo’i sets that were already denominated in new Dong and stamps from the Women Congress and World Communication Year sets that were denominated in old Dong.  There is also a military free frank issued in 1984 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  0.62 oD =0.06 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (27D)  plus the red free frank of 12 nD for 39.06 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in September of 1986. The letter carries the United Nation stamp in different color variations and stamps from the Reconstruction, Traditional Houses and Halley sets that were already denominated in new Dong. The stamps from the Mushroom set were still in old 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  14 oD =1.40 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (32D) for 33.4 nD. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz in December of 1986. The letter carries the United Nation stamp in different color variations and stamps from the Reconstruction, Traditional Houses, Dam Building and Vietnamese Post sets for an overall postage of 182 Dong (including the red free frank for 115D). Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter mailed as a mixed currency franking in September of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz.  The letter carries a block of four of the Thälmann stamp plus stamps from the Halley’s, Reconstruction and Mushroom sets. The Mushroom set was 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  6 oD =0.60 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (32D)  for 32.6nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps that were still denominated in old Dong (Provisional Overprints) and new Dong (Airplanes, Poultry (Imperforate), Reconstruction, Musical Instruments (imperforate)). The Provisional Overprint stamps show a double vertical perforation strikeImperforate 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. The overall postage hence amounted to  2 oD =0.20 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (78 nD) plus the red free frank for 292 nD for 370.2 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a mix of stamps denominated in old Dong (Asean Games) and new Dong (Laos, Cats, National Assembly, World Cup). The two Asian Games stamps on the reverse both shows the two major color variations of this stamp. The World Cup stamps are imperforate. 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  2 oD =0.20 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (83D) plus the red free frank for 290D for 373.20 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1987 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) and new Dong (all other stamps). The two 10 xu Communist Partystamp on front show the plate error of “broken T OF VIETNAM”. The World Cup stamps are imperforate. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There is also the rare 10D from the Bronze souvenir sheet from 1986. 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  0.1 oD =0.01 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (111D) plus the red free frank for 262D for 373.01 nD.

Air mail letter sent in February of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries half of the imperforate Cat set plus imperforate Traditional Houses and Reconstruction stamps for an overall postage of 42D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Air mail letter mailed in October of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire imperforate Traditional Houses set and the imperforate 30D Reconstruction stamp for an overall postage of 50D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps that were still denominated in old Dong (Protected Animals) and new Dong (Vietnamese Post, Bronze Vessels, Reconstruction, Traditional Houses, Year of the Cat). The Traditional House stamps and Protected Animal stamps are imperforate. 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  3.50 oD =0.35 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (112 nD) plus the red free frank for 236 nD for 348.35 nD.

Air mail letter sent in September of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire imperforate Vietnamese Post stamp set plus imperforate stamps from the Reconstruction set. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1986 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps that were still denominated in old Dong (Bulgaria) and new Dong ( Reconstruction, Thälmann, Communist Party). The 5D Communist Party stamps are in the rare perforation 12.5. 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  2 oD =0.20 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (86 nD) plus the red free frank for 324 nD for 410.20 nD. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two pairs of both color variations of the Union Congress stamp plus stamps from the Reconstruction, Thälmann, Communist Party, Poultry and Bronze Vessel sets for an overall postage of 227 (including the red free frank for 136D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries eight of the Year of the Cat stamps plus stamps from the August Revolution (souvenir-sheet), Flat Fish (imperforate) Reconstruction and Communist Party sets. Imperforate stamps and souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. The August Revolution stamps are in the yet unlisted perforation 10.75. The August Revolution and Flat Fish 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 10.70 oD =1.07 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (164 nD) plus the red free frank for 422 nD for 587.07 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries imperforate German Railway stamps plus stamps from the Reconstruction (imperforate) set. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 39 Dong.

Postally issued aerogramme that features pictures of a modern high-rise hotel in front and the HCM Market Hall on the reverse. The aerogramme was franked with stamps from the KPdSU, Labor Day and Reconstruction stamps for an overall postage of 16D and sent in September of 1988 from Tan Binh to Klewitz.

Registration Nr. 103970

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