Unified Vietnam, Intercosmos Program , April 12th, 1983, Michel Nr. 1317-1326, Block 16; Nine stamps in the nominals 30xu, 50xu (two stamps), 1D (two stamps), 2D (two stamps), 5D and 8D as well as a souvenir sheet with a 10D nominal were issued in perforation 12.5:12.25 and imperforate.
Perforated souvenir sheet
Imperforate souvenir sheet
While these stamps were officially issued imperforate in sheets there are also exist a very small number of imperforate trial proofs with printer guidance markings that were printed individually as small imperforate sheetlets. These are very rare.
Alternative stamp designs were submitted for this issue but ultimately rejected by postal authorities. Some of these proposals were carried almost to full production, like the three examples provided below illustrate. One of a kind and very rare.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai in February of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries four of the perforated Intercosomos set plus two of the 2D stamps from the Bulgaria set for an overall postage of 19.26D (including the red free frank for 4.30D). Note that the Bulgaria stamps are error stamps on which the top inscription and nominal value is barely visible. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai in February of 1984 to Klewitz. The letter carries the other perforated Intercosomos stamps from the set plus two of the 2D stamps from the Bulgaria set for an overall postage of 19.73D (including the red free frank for 4.25D). Note that one Bulgaria stamp is an error stamp on which the top inscription and nominal value is barely visible. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The letter also carries a Military Free Frank issued in 1981. Military Free Franks were not valid for international mail due to their missing nominal value but clearly the postal clerk did not have any objections in this case. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in Germany in January of 1984. The letter carries the entire perforated Intercosmos set plus a red free frank for3.73D paying an overall postage of 24.03D. Green FUlda custom cachet on front.
Air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from Quan 5 and featuring five of the imperforate Intercosmos stamps plus two imperforate Wading Birds stamps and Chess stamps for an overall postage of 27.80D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.
Air mail letter sent in October of 1984 from Quan 5 and featuring the other of the imperforate Intercosmos stamps plus two imperforate Wading Birds stamps and imperforate Mushroom stamps for an overall postage of 27.50D. Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare.
International air mail letter sent from HCM City to Klewitz in Germany in January of 1984. The letter features the perforated Intercosmos souvenir-sheet along with stamps from the Cooperation with the USSR sets paying an overall postage of 58D. Green FUlda custom cachet on front. Postally used letters carrying souvenirs-sheets are very rare.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1984. The letter carries the perforated souvenir sheet, two 2D Bulgaria stamps plus other NVN stamps for an overall postage of 18.65D (including the red free frank for 4.35D). Note that the left Bulgar stamp is an error stamp on which most of the top line inscription is invisible. Souvenir sheets and errors stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in February of 1984. The letter carries the imperforate souvenir sheet, and a number of the overprinted stamps for an overall postage of 18.40D. Souvenir sheets on postally used cover are very rare.
Air mail letter sent from Quan 5 to Klewitz on May 26th, 1984. This is fifteen days after Vietnam declared its boycott of the Summer Games so technically the stamps should have been invalid by then but clearly the postal clerk was not aware of that restriction. Due to their relatively short period of validity these stamps are extremely hard to find postally used. The editor has not seen any other postally used letters (other than the Klewitz letters featured below) carrying these stamps. This letter carries the 30xu, 1D, 5D and 8D imperforate Olympic Games stamps and some of the Inter-cosmos and reptile stamps for an overall postage of 30.50D. Very rare.
Air mail letter sent from Quan 5 to Klewitz on May 26th, 1984. This is fifteen days after Vietnam declared its boycott of the Summer Games so technically the stamps should have been invalid by then but clearly the postal clerk was not aware of that restriction. Due to their relatively short period of validity these stamps are extremely hard to find postally used. The editor has not seen any other postally used letters (other than the Klewitz letters featured below) carrying these stamps. This letter carries the 50xu, 2D and 3D imperforate Olympic Games stamps and some of the Inter-cosmos stamps for an overall postage of 30.50D. Very rare.
Registration Nr. 103390
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