Vietnam Postal First Days

Typical First Day Covers (FDCs) mark the initial distribution of a postage stamp. These covers mark the first days of other postal events.

This cover, created by a member of the Air Force Advisory Team 2 (AFAT-2) commemorates the free-franking privilege going into effect for American military personnel on September 1, 1965.

The Department of the Army provided this information to new arrivals in Vietnam:

Free mail service went into effect 1 September 1965 for all military personnel serving in Vietnam and adjacent waters. Personal letters, letter size tape recordings and post cards in their generally accepted form are entitled to free transit. Letters sent under this free mail policy will be handled as US air mail. Your full military address to include name, rank, and service number must appear on the envelope. The word FREE in the upper right hand corner must be in YOUR handwriting. It cannot be typed or mechanically marked.

Mail may be sent free to the Foreign countries. Letters so mailed cannot be registered. They may be sent special delivery if an additional special delivery charge is paid. The words "Postage Paid" or "Port Paye" must be stamped in the upper right hand corner. APO will perform this service. Handwritten or type written lettering is not acceptable.

Packages under 5 pounds sent regular mail will, whenever possible, be handled via Air Mail between Saigon and the San Francisco Post Office.

April 1, 1967 was the first day of use of a QUAN-BUU machine cancel by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). 

At least I believe this to be a FDC of this machine cancel. Does anyone have any example of an earlier use?

Vietnam Studies Monograph / Havre De Grace Bookstore

Driving home from NAPEX, I stopped in Havre De Grace, Maryland for lunch and discovered a terrific bookstore, Washington Street Books & Music. They have one of the best selections of military history books I have found anywhere, not to mention games, role playing books, comics, music, dvds and an excellent selection of science fiction - all of which are right up my alley. I definitely recommend checking it out if you are in the area.

At the store I picked up a copy of a Vietnam Studies monograph I didn't have, The War in the Northern Provinces. Turning it over, I saw the book, which is around 1/2" thick, was sent through the mail as evidenced by the mailing label.

My Anthony Wawrukiewicz book on US postal rates isn't handy, so perhaps someone can explain why the monograph qualified for 3rd class mail, which is typically used for advertising or "junk" mail.  Printed in the upper right corner of the label it clearly reads "Special Fourth Class Rate Books."

In addition to a useful book I got a nifty piece of postal history, not to mention a new destination to visit each year.

Registry and Urgent Delivery Rates on Military Covers

An "M3" style letter sheet with a Registry label is shown front and back. The cover was sent on 15 Nov 1972 franked with 24 dong in stamps - in addition to the military free-frank stamp printed on the letter sheet.

The registry rate was 15d through November 1972. How to account for the additional 9d in postage? In this case, the free-frank stamp apparently did not cover the basic letter rate. The military letter rate was 5d and the civilian rate was 10d. The domestic air mail rate was 18d. Any ideas how the 9d was calculated - or was the amount paid simply incorrect?

The second cover, sent express or for "urgent" delivery was sent from the Vietnamese 8th Marine Battalion at KBC 6618 on 9 August 1973. The cover is franked with 50 dong in postage, covering 10d for the civilian letter rate and 40d for express service.


Thanks to John Carroll for the updated rate tables.