Tropical Fruits

Unified Vietnam, Tropical Fruits, January 2nd, 1997, Michel Nr. 2819-2823; Five stamps all in a 400D nominal (the standard domestic letter rate at the time) were issued in perforation 13:13.25 (three stamps) and 13.5:13.25 (three stamps). So far only the Black/Light Olive Brow stamp is known with both perforation varieties.

Here is the mint set (the black/light-olive brown stamp is in perforation 13.5)

Single franking of the pink 400D value (Perforation 13:13.25) on a domestic air mail letter sent in March of 1997 from Tien Cat to HCM City. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the light-pink 400D value on a local letter sent from Vung Tau to HCM City in July of 1997. Vung Tau departure and HCM City arrival cancels on the reverse.

Single franking of the light-pink 400D value on a local letter sent within HCM City in August of 1997. Interesting “Saigon” cancel using the old name of the city. Binh Thanh transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the olive green 400D value (Perforation 13:13.25) on a domestic air mail letter sent in July of 1997 from Thong Tay Hai to HCM City.

Single franking of the light olive-brown 400D value on a local letter sent within HCM City in July of 1997.

Single franking of the olive-green 400D value (Perforation 13:13.25) on a domestic air mail letter sent in July of 19097 within HCM City. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the light olive-brown 400D value on a local letter sent from Thai Binh Province to HCM City in March of 2001. Binh Thanh transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the green 400D value on a local letter sent from Tam Binh (small post office) to HCM City in October of 1997. Binh Thanh transit and HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the green 400D value on a local letter sent from Chi Hoa (small post office) to HCM City in August of 1997. HCM City machine arrival cancel on the reverse.

Multiple franking of the green 400D value on a local letter sent in July of 1997 from Thung Quang to HCM City.

Multiple franking of the violett 400D value paying an overall postage of 800D on a local letter sent in May 2002 from Tea Vinh to HCM City.

Single franking of the red 400D value (Perforation 13:13.25) on a domestic air mail letter sent in February of 1998. 14 Binh transit cancel on the reverse.

Single franking of the red-lilac 400D value on a local letter sent within HCM City in May of 2001. Manual Saigon and machine HCM City arrival cancels on the reverse. The use of the old and new city name on the same envelope is rather unusual.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 1997 from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the Tropical Fruit set plus stamps from the Bird, Flowers and Orchid sets for an overall postage of 24,200D.

Registered air mail letter sent in February of 2000 from Saigon to Klewitz. The letter carries the imperforate Vietnamese Women Fashion set in pairs (with the Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG color scheme on the selvage) plus stamps from the Butterflies and Tropical Fruit sets for an overall postage of 45,300D (including there red free frank for 5,300D). Imperforate stamps on postally used cover are very rare. Incoming German Post registration receipt on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 2000 as a mixed currency mailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries block of four of the 150. Birthday of Tran Xuan Soan stamp plus stamps from the Fruits, Lilies (imperforate) and Qi Baishi (imperforate) and World Union Congress sets. The World Union Congress block of four shows a significant passer-shift of the green color downwards. Imperforate stamps and error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Union Congress stamps were still denominated in old Dong. On September 14th, 1985 the Vietnamese Government conducted a currency devaluation in which the old Dong was devalued by 10:1. Stamps issued prior to that date were hence only worth one tenth of their original face value. The overall postage of the letter therefore amounted to 20 oD :10 = 2 nD plus stamps in new Dong (34,000 nD) plus the red free frank for 7,900 nD for a total of 41,900 nD. Orange German Post route coding on front. Incoming German Post registration receipt o the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 2000 from Saigon to Klewitz. The letter carries a strip of three of the International Year of Peace Culture stamp plus stamps from the Fruit, Butterflies (imperforate) and Alpine Rose sets for an overall postage of 27,400D. Imperforate stamps on postally used co er are very rare. Incoming German Post registration receipt on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 2000 from Saigon to Klewitz. The letter carries the 70 Years Communist Party of Vietnam set plus stamps from the Fruits (Perf. 13.5:13.25), Lilies and 1995 Remembrance sets for an overall postage of 43,000D (including the red free frank for 9,000D). Orange German Post route coding on front. Incoming German Post registration receipt on the reverse.

Registered air mail letter sent in March of 2000 from Saigon to Klewitz. The letter carries the Vietnam in the 20th Century set plus stamps from the Alpine Roses and Fruit sets for an overall postage of 27,400D. Incoming German Post registration receipt on the reverse.