Unified Vietnam, Worker Militia, April 22nd, 1982, Michel Nr. 1222; A single stamp with a perforation of 11 was officially issued. However, similar to what happened with Michel Nr. 1052 and Michel Nr. 1127 it appears that a number of sheets of this stamp were delivered ahead of the official issuing date to post offices in the South of Vietnam im-perforated .Not having access to the professional perforation machines that were available in the professional printing works these then applied varied Post Master Perforations using a sewing machine which resulted in the various perforations documented below.
Mint block of four. Note the woman looks to her right on the left pair of stamps, while looking straight ahead on the right pair of stamps:
Here are two samples of the mint stamps. Specialist distinguish between two types. One on which the woman looks out straight and one on which the woman appears to look towards her right. The latter is simply a function of a poorly assembled cliche on some stamps.
Woman looking straight at observer
Woman looking towards her right
There is a re-occuring plate error that appears on fields 23, 28, 35, 40, 73, 78, 85 and 90 and shows a long white line behind the sun. Also note the much darker nose segment.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Another re-occuring plate error that shows up on fields 22 and 72 features a damaged uniform bottom. Here seen on top right stamp of this block of four.
Detailed scan of the affected area:
Mint block of nine stamps in Post Master Perforation 8-8.5. The first stamp on the top left shows the re-occuring plate error of “30 and xu connected”. The central stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of a long white line behind the sun. The manual aspect of the sewing machine perforation can be seen in the curvy application of the vertical perforation lines.
Detail scan of the uneven perforation:
Mint pair of the stamp that has a Post Master Perforation of 8-8.5. The right stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of a long white line behind the sun.
Mint block of four that has a Post Master Perforation of 8-8.5. The bottom left stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of “red marking below M of Vietnam”. The bottom right stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of “30 and xu connected” (Fields 2, 7, 52 and 57).
Detailed scans of the affected areas:
Mint block of four that show a significant passer-shift of the red color downwards.
Here are two mint stamps from the top margins that both show a missing perforation hole. This was caused by broken spokes on the perforation comb.
Detail of the affected area.
Here is a mint strip of ten stamps that shows the rare Post Master Perforation of 9-10. The perforation varies inside the same sheet as it was unevenly applied using a sewing machine. The top left stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of “30 and xu connected” and the third stamp from the top left shows the plate error “damaged uniform bottom”.
Partial scan of a rare complete sheet of 90 stamps (all selvage intact) with Post Master Perforation 8-10. The sheet also shows all the plate errors described above.
Mint block of fourteen stamps in Post Master Perforation of 10 that also features the very rare color error on which the background color is in grey-blue instead of the normal violet. 
Mint block of four in Post Master Perforation of 10.5. The top left stamp shows the re-occuring plate error of “a long white line behind the sun”.
Partial scan of a complete mint sheet of 90 (all selvage intact) that shows a Post Master Perforation of 11.5-12.5. The sheet features all of the above mentioned plate errors s well.
This is a mint strip of twelve stamps (Perf 11) that shows a remarkable color variation due to a deficient brown color printing run. Some ion the woman’s cat are light brown while others are in dark brown. The fourth stamp from the top right shows the re-occuring plate error of a long white line behind the sun.
Below are a number of im-perforated trial proofs that shows various phases of the printing process. Here is a strip of four stamps that only shows the violet color and the brown color on just two stamps.
Im-perforated block of four trial proofs that only show the black and red color printing run.
Im-perforated block of four trial proofs that shows the black, red and brown printing run.
Im-perforated trial proof that shows red, violet and brown printing run. It also features a lone red printing run on the reverse.
Front:
Reverse
Im-perforated trial proof in the complete color spectrum. The red color shows significant passer-shift of the red color upwards. It is interesting to note that the second stamp at the bottom right shows the plate error “30 and xu connected” (Field 12). In the ultimately produced sheets this error occurs on position 2, 7, 52 and 57 which suggest that in-between the trial proofs and final production the individual stamp cliches were re-arranged.
Registered letter that features the first known usage of the stamp with the Post Master Perforation 8.5. The letter was cancelled on September 15th, 1981 more than seven months ahead of the official issuing date in Quang 5 (Ho Chi Minh City). Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 7.6 Dong. Green custom cachet on front.
Rare single franking of the 30 xu stamp with Post Master Perforation of 9 used in Ho Chi Minh City on December 27th, 1981, almost four months ahead of the official issuance date. Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare. 
Rare single franking of the 30 xu stamp with Post Master Perforation of 9 used in Quan 5 (Ho Chi Minh City) on March 12th, 1982, almost one month ahead of the official issuance date. Post Master Perforations on postally used cover are very rare. The stamp also shows the rare color error of grey-blue background color. Probably a unique cover. 
Rare single franking of the 30 xu stamp with Post Master Perforation of 10.5-11 used in Ho Chi Minh City on December 18th, 1981, four months ahead of the official issuance date. Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare.
Multiple franking of the 30 xu Militia stamp on a local letter hence paying an overall postage of 60 xu and sent from Hue to HCM City in October of 1983.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in January of 1982 (four months ahead of the official issuance date). It features pairs of the Militia stamp in Post Master Perforations 8.5 and 10.5. Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage of the letter amounted to 7.72 Dong.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in May of 1982. It features a pair of the Militia stamps in the Post Master Perforations 9.5 (stamps on the left side) that shows the woman looking towards her right. The right pair in perforation 11 shows the woman looking straight ahead. The letter also carries four of the military free frank issued in 1976. Military free franks were not valid for international postage due to their lacking nominal value, however it appears that the postal clerk was not familiar with this regulation. Th over-all postage amounted to 8.72 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in August of 1982. The letter features the Militia stamp in Post Master Perforation 9-11.5. The letter also carries eight of the Lotus stamps in Post Master Perforation 14-15. Post Master Perforation son postally used cover are very rare. The overall postage amounted to 8.9 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in September of 1982. It carries six of the Militia stamp in Post Master Perforation 9-11.5 (bottom right row of the sheet). On the first stamp the woman looks straight ahead and on the next two stamps the woman looks towards her right. The overall postage amounted to 14.44. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
International letter sent in October of 1982 from Binh Gia to Czechoslovakia carrying two of the 1D Bird of Prey stamps plus the 30 xu Militia Woman stamp (Perf. 11.0) for an overall postage of 2.60D.
Very large letter setoff from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz. The letter features twenty six Militia stamps in Post Master Perforation 9. The thirteenth stamp from the top shows the plate error of a long white line behind the sun. The stamps also show a partial failure of the brown printing run. There are also six of the Lotus stamps with Post Master Perforation 14-15. Post Master Perforations and error stamps on postal used cover are very rare. The over-all postage of the letter amounted to 21.92 Dong. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Very large letter sent from Nguyen Trai to Klewitz in September of 1982. It features two blocks of eight of the Militia stamps. The upper block shows the Post Master Perforation 11.5 while the bottom block shows the Post Master perforation 12.5. The plate error “long white line behind the sun” and “damaged uniform bottom” is present on both blocks. The letter also carries ten of the Lotus stamps with Post Master Perforation 14-15. The overall postage amounted to 23.84 Dong. Fulda arrival cancel on the reverse. Green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Exceedingly rare local letter featuring a single franking of a im-perforated 30 xu Militia stamp trial proof showing only the black, red and brown color. Trial proof on postal used cover are basically unheard of. The letter was sent from Nguyen Trai to Ho Chi Minh City. Quan 5 arrival stamp on the reverse.
Exceedingly rare local letter featuring a single franking of a 30 xu im-perforated Militia stamp trial proof showing only the black and red color. Trial proof on postal used cover are basically unheard of. The letter was sent from Nguyen Trai to Ho Chi Minh City. Quan 5 arrival stamp on the reverse.
Exceedingly rare local letter featuring a single franking of a 30 xu Militia stamp trial proof missing the black color. Trial proof on postal used cover are basically unheard of. The letter was sent from Nguyen Trai to Ho Chi Minh City. Quan 5 arrival stamp on the reverse.
Exceedingly rare local letter featuring a single franking of an im-perfroated 30 xu Militia stamp trial proof in final colors. The stamp also shows the plate error of “long white line behind the sun”. Trial proof on postal used cover are basically unheard of. The letter was sent from Nguyen Trai to Ho Chi Minh City. Quan 5 arrival stamp on the reverse.
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 from the Indochina War, Poultry, Labor Day, Reconstruction, Worker Militia and Communist Party sets. There are two of the military free franks issued in 1981 that were technically not valid for international postage but nevertheless appeared to be accepted by the postal clerk. One of the Miltia stamps show the plate error of “white line behind sun”. Error stamps on postally used cover are very rare. The Militia and Party 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 1.60 oD =0.16 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (61nD) plus the red free frank for 179 nD for 240.16 nD. Fragment of the green Fulda custom cachet on front.
Registered air mail letter sent in June of 1987 as a mixed currency franking from Ho Chi Minh City to Klewitz. The letter carries the perforated National Assembly stamp set plus stamps from the Contract with the USSR, Defense and production, Rabrindanath and Worker Militia sets. The Worker Militia, Rabrindanath, USSR and production and Defense 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 22.20 oD =2.22 nD. plus the stamps in new Dong (160 nD) plus the red free frank for 223 nD for 385.22nD.
Registration Nr. 103170
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