NVN Red Leaping Soldier Stamp on Cover - 1966

I periodically upgrade the covers in my collection with ones that are in better condition, show a more interesting usage, have historical context or simply have more eye appeal. Case in point is the cover shown here. My previous example of this stamp on cover had a roughly opened edge and a 1978 usage, despite the stamp being issued in 1965 (after the war ended in 1975, the military used reserve stocks of stamps until they were exhausted).

In addition to the contemporary postmark from 1966 and the military return address, the cachet appealed to me as I had not seen in before.

I reached out to my friend, Vinh Nguyen, who quickly translated the cover's details. The cachet reads, Vừa sản xuất vừa chiến đấu, that translates as "Produce While Fighting". The central circular logo bears the phrase, chống mỹ cứu nước meaning, "Fight the US aggressors to safeguard our country."

The recipient is a traditional medicine doctor at the Thai Binh provincial medical department. This was not a hospital, but rather the medical department of the province.

The hand-written text at the bottom reads, "Medical department, please forward to Doctor Cúc, traditional medicine, to where here department is temporarily evacuated."


All in all an interesting cover that I am happy to add to my collection.

SMA Baby Formula Flyer with Quan Buu Postmark

Here is an unusual item - a promotional flyer for baby formula from the "SMA" company. It was sent to Doctor Mai Le Hiep at the Cong Hoa hospital in 1965. This was the largest military hospital in Saigon, the other military hospital in the city was the operated by the Navy along the Saigon River.

The military hospital had its own KBC number (I'll try and find it), but the sender apparently didn't know the number so it was addressed directly to the hospital and placed in the civilian mail on April 3rd. A meter paid 0.80d postage. The cover was transfered to the military post office for delivery and received the military "Quan Buu" postmark on April 5th.