6. Congress of the Communist Party in Vietnam

Unified Vietnam, 6. Congress of the Communist Party in Vietnam, November 20th, 1986, Michel Nr. 1736-1740, Block 49; Four stamps in nominals of 1D, 2D, 4D and 5D were issued perforation 11 and, rarer, in perforation 12.5. There is also a mixed perforation known on the 4D stamp that is 11:2.5 which is the rarest perforation of all. The souvenir-sheet was only issued imperforate.

Here are the 1D, 2D and 5D mint value in perforation 11.0

Here is the 4D value in the very rare mixed perforation 11:12.5

Here is the entire stamp set in perforation 12.5

The left stamp of the “D value shows a production flaw “missing silver color”. Detailed scan of the affected area.

Here are mint color variations of the 4D stamp. The left strip of three is printed in light-violet/brick-red and is perforated 10.75:11.00 which is yet unlisted in the Michel catalogue. The middle pair of two is the standard perforation 11.0 and the right strip of three is printed in dark-violet/red and also perforated 11.0.

Here is the mint souvenir-sheet that is imperforate (perforation visible is only printed).

Here is a very rare attached pair of the souvenir-sheet with top sheet margin. Sheets sent to post offices were already pre-cut by the printing works, so this pair must come straight from the printing works or was once in the Vietnamese postal archives.

Here is a very rare imperforate trial proof of the souvenir-sheet on thin normal paper (the final version of the souvenir-sheet is printed on glossy paper). The font of the orange inscription on top is larger than the final version. The perforation of the trial proof is only printed onto the sheet but looks different from the final version and most of the inserted stamp image is missing. The printed handwriting in place of the stamp image “Tem in you So 2” means “print stamp of sample Nr. 2.

The stamp set was not officially released imperforate however a number of imperforate trial proofs have come to market. Here are all four values in imperforate blocks of four. Two proof blocks show an additional print on the reverse.

Front

Reverse

Front

Reverse

There are also some perforation errors known of this set. Here is mint strip of ten (only eight shown for technical reasons) of the 1D value that is imperforate on the right sheet margin.

The top stamp in there strip shows the plate error of “white dot in hammer”. Detailed scan of the affected area.

Here is a single mint 5D stamp that is imperforate at the bottom sheet margin

There are various versions of the First Day Cover. Here is a folded brochure that includes the stamp set (Perforation 12.5) and souvenirs-sheet and that is cancelled by the black special cancel produced for the occasion plus a local HCM City cancel.

Here is a First Day Cover of the stamp set (Perf- 12.5) that features a red special first day cancel plus a standard red HCM City canceler.

Here is the First Day Cover of the stamp set (1D 2D and 5D in Perf. 11.0/ 4D in Perf. 12.5) cancelled with the black special cachet and a black standard HCM City canceler. This documents that the perforation varieties were already available upon the issuance of the stamp and they do not represent later printings.

Mixed franking (6) of the 1D value (Perf. 11.0) and 50D National Assembly (5) for an overall postage of 256D on an international letter sent from Hanoi to France in June of 1987.

Mixed franking of the 2D Communist Party stamp (Perf. 11.0) together with the 2D Vietnamese Post and 1D Laos stamp for an overall postage of 5D on a local letter sent from Tay Binh to HCM City in May of 1987.

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.

Mixed franking of the 2D (2) and 5D Communist Party stamps (Perf. 11.0) together with the 20D Reconstruction stamp paying an overall postage of 29D on an international folded letter sent from HCM Province to the Soviet Union in February of 1987. Fragment of Soviet arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking of the 4D Communist Party stamp in the rare 12.5 perforation together with three of the Dam Construction stamp paying an overall postage of 27D on an international air mail letter sent from QUan 11 to the Soviet Union in January of 1987.

Mixed franking of the 4D Communist Party stamp in the rare 12.5 perforation together with the 1D Labor Day stamp paying an overall postage of 5D on a domestic registered air mail letter sent from Dalat to HCM City.

Mixed franking of the 4D and 5D Communist Party stamps in the rare 12.5 perforation together with the 20D Reconstruction stamp (large star) paying an overall postage of 29D on an international air mail letter sent from Ta Not No (small post office) to the Soviet Union.

Multiple franking of the 5D value (4) in the rare 12.5 perforation paying an overall postage of 20D on an international letter sent from Long Son to the Soviet Union in February of 1986.

Mixed franking of the 5D Communist Party in the rare 12.5 perforation together with the 20D Reconstruction stamp (small star) paying an overall postage of 25D on an international letter sent from Chi Minh (small post office) to Czechoslovakia in February of 1987.

Multiple franking of the 5D value (2) in the rare 12.5 perforation on an international air mail letter sent from Dong Thap Province to Soviet Union in February of 1987. Soviet arrival cancel on the reverse.

Mixed franking (5) of the 5D Communist Party stamp (Perf. 11.0) together with two of the 1D Labor Day stamp paying an overall postage of 27D on an international folded letter sent from Quan 11 to the Soviet Union in May of 1987 (full writing preserved). Soviet arrival cancel on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in August of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two strips of three 4D stamps (Perf. 11) in the two major color variations. The 2D stamp (Perf. 12.5) shows the variety “orange instead of yellow star” and the right 4D stamp is of Perf. 12.5. Bonsai and National Assembly stamps on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 552D (including the red free frank for 402D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two stamp sets. The top row is in Perf 11.0 (except the 4D nominal is in the rare perforation 11:12.5) and the bottom row is in Perf. 12.5. Poultry set and 20D Reconstruction stamp on the reverse. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 233D (including the red free frank for 169D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Communist Party souvenir-sheet, the 1D, 2D and 5D stamp in Perf. 11.0 and the 4D stamp in rare Perf 11.0:12.5. The Year of the Cat stamp is imperforate. Souvenir-sheets and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Together with the stamps from the Reconstruction, Laos, Year of the Cat and Indochina War stamps and the red free frank (171D) the overall postage amounted to 242D. Fragment of green Fulda custom cachet on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1986 as a mixed currency mailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir-sheet of the Communist Party set plus the stamp set in Perf. 12.5. There are also stamps from the Labor Day, Reconstruction and Vietnamese Post sets. All of these stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The imperforate Cactus stamps, however, were still denominated in old Dong. 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 were only worth one tenth at the time of mailing. The overall postage hence amounted to 2.50 oD =0.25nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (128 nD) plus the red free frank for 397 nD for 525.25 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1986 as a mixed currency mailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Communist Party set in Perf. 12.5. There are also stamps from the Reconstruction and Year of the Cat and Vietnamese Post sets. All of these stamps were already denominated in new Dong. The 30xu Communist Party stamps, however, were still denominated in old Dong.The 30xu stamps are represented with different plate errors and passer-shifts. Error stamps on stall used cover are veryy 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 2.10 oD =0.21 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (81 nD) plus the red free frank for 462 nD for 543.21 nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries five 1D Communist Party stamps that are imperforate on the right sheet margin. The top stamp of the right pair shows the plate error of “white dot in hammer”. There are also stamps from the Poultry (imperforate), Labor Day and Reconstruction sets. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 590D (including the red free frank for 462D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the 4D Communist Party stamp (Perf. 11.0) plus stamps from the Reconstruction, Vietnamese Post (imperforate), Ha Long Bay, Bonsai, Union Congress and Rare Plant sets. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. All stamps on this cover, except the Ha Long Bay 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 oD =1 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (70 nD) plus the red free frank for 313 nD for 384 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet front. Interesting manual correction of the R-label from 326 to 326A.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1988 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Communist Party set perforated (Perf. 12.5, except 4D in 11) and imperforate. There is also an imperforate strip of four of the Water and Mountain Spirit set. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the kettle amounted to 1,302D (including the red free frank for 1,260D). Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries stamps from the Indochina War (color variations and one plate error), Reconstruction, Traditional Houses, August Revolution (souvenir-sheet), Union Congress, United Nations (color variations) and Communist Party (Perf. 12.5) sets. Imperforate and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Union Congress 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 2 oD =0.20 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (75 nD) plus the red free frank for 378 nD for 453.2 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in December of 1986 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated and imperforate Laos stamp sets plus stamps from the Reconstruction, Communist Party (Perf 12.5), Traditional Houses and Vietnamese Post sets for an overall postage of 402D (including the red free frank for 348D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the entire perforated and imperforate Water and Mountain Spirit set plus stamps from the Ha Long Bay (Imperforate), Bonsai, National Assembly,Union Congress, Communist Party (souvenir-sheet) and August Revolution (souvenir-sheet) sets. Souvenir-Sheets and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Ha Long Bay and August Revolution 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 19.50 oD =1.95 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (122 nD) plus the red free frank for 530 nD for 653.95nD.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries two perforated and one imperforate Water and Mountain Spirits sets plus stamps from the Communist Party (front 5D and all stamps on the reverse Perf. 12.5), Year of Peace, Butterflies and Postal Union sets for an overall postage of 1,301D (including the red free frank for 1167). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. 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 May of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries three of the Year of the Cat stamp plus stamps from the Chinese New Year (color variations), October Revolution, Traditional Houses, Union Congress, KPdSU and Reconstruction sets. The October Revolution stamps are all perforated 12.5. The Chinese New Year 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 26 oD =2.60 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (55.5 nD) plus the red free frank for 318 nD for 376.1 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in July of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries three of the perforated National Assembly stamp set plus stamps from the Traditional Houses (Imperforate), Communist Party, Bonsai, Labor Day and Rare Plants sets for an overall postage of 383D (including the red free frank for 272 D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in November of 1987 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the October Revolution souvenir-sheet plus stamps from the National Assembly, Communist Party, Water and Mountain Spirit, Butterflies, Humane Living and Vietnamese-Soviet Peace Agreement sets for an overall postage of 569D (including the red free frank for 383D). The 4D Communist Party stamp is in the rare perforation 11:12.5. Souvenir-sheets on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1988 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated Paracel and Spartly Island stamps plus stamps from the Communist Party, Butterflies, Old Motorcycles, and Hanoi Air Attack sets for an overall postage of 1,243D (including the red free frank for 1,072D). The 4D Communist Party stamps are the rare mixed perforation 12.5:11.0. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries different color variations and imperforate Cuban Revolution stamps plus stamps from the HAFNIA Airplanes, Communist Party (the rare 11:12.5 perforation) and Cacti sets for an overall postage of 6,779D (including the red free frank for 5,430D). Green Fulda custom cachet on front.

Registered air mail letter sent in April of 1989 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries parts of the imperforate Fishing Boat set plus stamps from the October Revolution, Cacti and HAFNIA Airplanes sets for an overall postage of 6,526D (including the red free frank for 6,300D). The October Revolution stamp is imperforate on the right margin. Error and imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.