Unified Vietnam, 55 Years Vietnamese Union Congress, July 20th, 1984 (as per Michel) but July 28th, 1984 as per the official FDC’s, Michel Nr. 1460-1466, Block 29; Six stamps with nominals of 50xu (two stamps) 1D, 2D, 3D, 5D and a souvenir-sheet with a 10D nominal were issued in perforation 10.75. The two 50xu values were printed together in the same sheet. The other values were printed individually in sheets. Se-tenant pairs between the 1D and 2D and the 5D and 3D values were only available from unseparated from large sheets that normally were separated prior to delivery to the post office. As a result such se-tenant pairs are very rare.
Large piece of eight stamps each of the 50xu values in dark color. The top right stamp shows the plate error of “comma after T of THANH”, the bottom left stamp shows a “production flaw of the black color print“and the fourth stamp from the bottom left the plate error “strike through 28”.
Detailed scans of the affected areas.
Here is a mint strip of two each of the 50xu stamps which was printed in much lighter colors.
Mint block of four of the 50xu values in light color. The bottom right stamp shows production flaw resulting in two large circles in the stamp image.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Mint block of four of the 50xu values. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error of “red in M of VIETNAM” and the bottom right stamp the plate error of “DOANVIET partially crossed out”.
Detailed scans of the affected areas.
Mint block of five 50xu stamps each in dark color on which the bottom center stamp shows the plate error “20.7. instead of 28.7”.
Detailed scan of the affected area
Mint block of six 50xu stamps each in red-brown color. The right most column of stamps is covered by some sort of grid that makes the face of Nguyen Duc Canh look like it is covered with pockmarks.
Detailed scan (first the normal stamp then the stamp with the grid)
Mint pair of the 50xu values that was printed in pink and black colors.
Mint block of ten 50xu stamps each (four stamps not shown for technical reasons). The strip represents Fields 1-20 of the sheet. The third stamp from the top left shows the plate error “slant under 55”, the second stamp from the top right the plate error of “DOANGVIET partially crossed out” and the third stamp from the bottom left the plate error “beam of T of THANH crooked”. The block is printed very light colors.
Detailed scans of the affected areas
Mint block of six 50xu stamps each on which the top left stamp shows the plate error “NGAY with apostrophe” (Field 3), the second stamp from the top right the plate error “damage to building” (Field 7), the bottom left stamp the plate error “beam of T of THANH crooked”(Field 13) and the bottom third stamp from the right the plate error “line under 28” (Field 16).
Detailed scans of the affected areas.
Mint block of four 50xu stamps. The bottom left stamp shows the plate error “black rose over N of NAM”.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Mint block of four of the 1D value that shows a double printing of the black color.This was caused by a lose rubber mat during the printing process. The resulting vibration of the sheet caused the double impression.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Mint stamp of the 1D value that shows the plate error “girl with white bag”.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Mint pair of the 2D value that shows a double printing of the black color.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Here is a mint strip of three 1D values (only two shown for technical reasons) and three 2D values as well as a mint strip of three 5D (only two shown for technical reasons) and 3D values. The two most right 3D stamps show plate errors. This arrangement can only be obtained from the large sheets inside the printing works. The sheets were separated by value prior to delivery to the post office and hence these set-tenants are correspondingly rare.
Here is a strip of ten 3D values that is attached to ten 5D values (only the 3D value are show, the 5D values are folded over). The strips represent Fields 91-100 in the large sheet. This arrangement can only be obtained from the large sheets inside the printing works. The sheets were separated by value prior to delivery to the post office and hence these set-tenants are correspondingly rare. The 3D values show here carry a number of plate errors. The three most right columns all carry the plate error of “small cloud next to chimney” (Fields 88-90 and 98-100), the two most right stamp also have the plate error “big cloud” (Fields 90 and 100) and the second and third stamp from the bottom left the plate error “damaged dates” (Fields 97-98).
Detailed scans of the affected areas.
Here is a mint pair of the 3D stamp on which the right stamp shows the plate error “missing blue sky at top right”.
Detail of the affected area:
Here is a perforation error of the 3D stamp from the bottom left of the sheet margin.
These stamps were not officially released imperforate however a very small number of imperforate trial proofs and phase prints have come to market.
Here are the imperforate trial proofs of the 50xu value in both color variations.
The second pair also features the plate error “dot on T of VIETNAM” as well as the imprint of a black code. Here are detailed scans of these errors.
Imperforate trial proof pairs of the 1D, 2D, 3D and 5D values. The bottom stamp of the 3D pair shows the plate error “damaged date”.
Imperforate trial proofs of the very rare se-tenant 1D/2D and 5D/3D that came from the large sheets that were only available in the printing works but not the post offices.
Black and red-brown color imperforate phase prints of the 50xu values.
Yellow, pale blue, black and color combination imperforate phase prints of the 1D value.
Yellow, pale blue, black and color combination imperforate phase prints of the 2D value.
Yellow, pale blue, black and color combination imperforate phase prints of the 3D value.
Yellow, pale blue, black and color combination imperforate phase prints of the 5D value.
On the same occasion a postal stationary intended for domestic use with a 50xu nominal was released. Here is the mint stationary with a passer-shift of the light brown color towards the bottom right.
First Day Covers of the entire set.
Sometimes the special First Day cancel was also struck in red color.
Rare local registered letter sent in August of 1984 within HCM City using two of the 1D Union Conference and the 50 xu Karl Marx stamp paying an overall postage of 2.50D.
Single franking of the 3D Union Conference stamp on a post card from Hanoi to East Germany in September of 1984.
Mixed franking of the 3D value (8) together with the 1D Asia Games stamps (2) paying an overall postage of 26 Dong on an international letter sent from HCM City to France in February of 1985. The second 3D stamp on the top left shows the plate error missing blue sky on top right. Error stamps on postally used correspondence are very rare.
Detailed scan of the error stamp:
Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1985 from Quan 5 to Klewitz. the letter carries the 3D value of the Union Congress stamp with the plate error of “small cloud next to chimney”, stamps from the Vietnamese, Laos, Cambodian Friendship and Harmful Insect sets. The letter also carries stamps that were issued in 1958 and that were devalued by 1,000:1 on March 1st, 1959 and hence were only worth 40xu at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 53.07D. Green Fulda custom cachet oil the reverse.
Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. On September 14th, 1985 the Vietnamese Dong was devalued by 10:1. This meant that the Union Congress stamps that were issued prior to this date were only worth one tenth of their face value in New Dong (8D = 80xu). The stamps and red free frank issued after the devaluation maintained their face value as they were already issued in New Dong. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 104 New Dong. The 1D Union Congress stamps all show a double printing of the black color. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in September of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. It carries the higher values of the Union Congress set in multiple sets, the 30xu October Revolution stamp with a double printing of the red color and with a dirty printing plate. There are also some Harmful Insect stamps for an overall postage of 48.20D (including the red free frank for 24D). Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1985 from Quan 5 to Klewitz. The letter carries the se-tenant of the 5D and 3D value plus 3D Union Congress stamps that show plate errors (extra cloud next to chimney, missing clouds) and some Ocean Fish stamps for an overall postage of 48.10D. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire Union Congress set, a stamp from the Union Conference and some Harmful Insect stamps for an overall postage of 51.50D. Partial green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klwitz. The letter carries two different color variations of the 50xu Union Congress stamps plus an imperforate pair. On the reverse is an Einstein stamp without the black printing color as well as a Karl Marx stamp that shows a partial failure of the pink color run. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 48.12D.
Registered air mail letter sent in September of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire Union Congress set including the two color variations of the 50xu stamps. The right 50xu stamp shows the plate error of “dot on G of CONG”. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage without the red free frank (that is illegible) amounted to 31D. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent in December of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries a block of four of the 1D Union Congress value that carries a double printing of the black color. Also several of the 3D stamps have plate errors (missing clouds, big cloud). Errors stamps on postally used over are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 49.12D. Green Fulda custom cachet on front. The zero money free frank was required to produce the R-label that came out of the same machine.
Registered air mail letter that carries the rare se-tenant strips of the 1D and 2D and 5D and 3D values that came from the large sheets that were only available in the printing works. The letter also carries the rare Post Master Perforation of the 12xu Lotus stamp as well as stamps for the World Food Day and Winter Olympics. Errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter (including the red free frank for 165D) amounted to 209.62D. Fragment of green Fulda custom cacjet on front. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse.
Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The postal stationary was intended for domestic mail so had to be supplemented with the 50xu stamps from the Union Congress set, some Dien Bien Phu stamps, two provisional overprints as well as the 10 Years Liberation of South Vietnam set. The overall postage (including the red free frank for 24D) amounted to 70.50D. Fragment of a green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Local use of the postal stationary sent within Hanoi on the First Day Issue.
Locally mailed postal stationary sent from Ban Co to Ho Chi Minh City in November of 1984. The stamp imprinted on the stationary shows a lack of the dark printing run. Rare.
Detailed scan of the imprint.
Local letter mailed in January of 1986 from Tan Binh to Ho Chi Minh City. The imprint on the postal stationary shows a significant paper fold. Since the postal tariff since 1984 had further increased to 10D the 50xu imprint had to be supplemented with stamps from the Union Congress and Reptiles.
Details scan of the affected area.
Another local letter sent rom Thanh Binh to Ho Chi Minh City in January of 1986 using the postal stationary. The imprint again shows a paper fold. Total postage of 10D made up from stamps the Union Congress and Reptile sets.
Detailed scan of the affected area.
Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from HO Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheet in yellow-green yellow color plus stamps from the Union Confederation and Karl Marx sets for an overall postage of 54.50D. Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from HO Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheet in blue-green pale yellow color plus stamps from the Ocean Fish and provisional overprint sets for an overall postage of 50D. The overprint on the rose stamps was mistakenly applied at top not bottom. Souvenir-sheets and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter featuring both color variations of the imperforate Union Congress souvenir-sheets. The letter also carries two color variations of the 1D Asia Games stamp. Souvenir-sheets and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter was mailed in January of 1986 as a mixed currency franking. On September 14th, 1985 the Vietnamese Government devalued the Dong by 10:1. This meant that stamps issued prior to tha date were only worth one tenth of their face value at the time of mailing (40.7 Old Dong = 4.07 New Dong). Stamps issued after the davaluation date as well as the red free frank amounted to 34 NewDong for an overall postage of 38.07ND.
Registered air mail letter sent in September of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the yellow/black overprint in two different base colors plus a block of six of the double rose overprints that shows different vertical heights of the overprint (from center of the sheet). There are also stamps from the Karl Marx, Union Congress and Defense and Production sets for an overall postage of 34.50 (the red free frank is illegible). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet.
Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1984 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klwitz. The letter carries four of the yellow/black and double rose overprints. The yellow/black overprint shows a vertical double perforation strike in-between stamps and the double rose overprint different colors of the base stamps (light green and dark green). Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also stamps from the Union Congress and Harmful Insects sets for an overall postage of 52D. The zero money red free frank was required to produce the R-label as it came out of the same machine. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet.
Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1984 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klwitz. The letter carries a block of eight and a pair of the double rose overprints from the center of the sheet that shows different vertical overprint heights. There also is the yellow/black overprint that shows a vertical double perforation strike in-between stamps. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. There are also stamps from the Ocean Fish and Union Congress sets for an overall postage of 52D. Green Fulds custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in October, 1984 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz. The letter carries half of the perforated Ha Long Bay set plus stamps from the Chess, Union Congress and Union Conference sets for an overall postage of 51.60D. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet.
Air mail letter sent in February of 1985 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz. The letter carries half of the imperforate Historic Automobiles set plus stamps from the Dien Bien Phu and Union Conference sets for an overall postage of 29.12D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.
Air mail letter sent in November of 1985 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz. The letter carries half of there imperforate Peoples Army set, imperforate Soccer and perforated stamps from the Orchids and Union Congress sets for an overall postage of 31.5D. One of the Union Congress stamps shows the plate error of “missing clouds”. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare.
Air mail letter sent in November of 1985 from Quan 5 (Cholon) to Klewitz. The letter carries half of there imperforate Peoples Army set, imperforate Soccer and Union Congress stamps plus perforated stamps from the Orchids set for an overall postage of 30D. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare.
Registered air mail letter sent in May of 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the rare purple 3D New Year stamp plus stamps from the Union Congress, Hanoi Liberation, Winter Olympics and Provisional Overprint stamps for an overall postage of 81D (including the red free frank for 33D). Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on front. The first Union Congress stamp on the reverse shows the plate error “rose over NAM of VIETNAM”. Plate errors on postally yused cover are very rare.
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 on September 28th, 1985 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheets of the HCM Birthday and Union Conference sets plus stamps from the Youth Festival, World Food Year, Reforestation and Bird sets. The Birds stamps are imperforate and the top left Union Conference stamp shows the plate error of “crack through building”. Souvenir-sheets 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 (i.e. all stamps on this envelope) were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 41.37 oD = 4.14 nD. plus the red free frank for 35 nD or 39.14 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registration Nr. 103680
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