SOUTH VIET-NAM 1974 CENTENARY OF U.P.U 493-495

    SUBJECT: Series of stamps issued commemorate the Centenary of the U.P.U. The Postal Union was created on October 9th. 1874 by the "Treaty of Berne" which was signed by 22 member-countries.    Three years later, it became "The Universal Postal Union".
    At present, over 150 nations, that is almost all the countries of the world, are members of this Organization. The Republic of VietNam joined the Universal Postal Union on the 12th of September
    1951.
    The three kinds of stamps below represent the noble objective of the Universal Postal Union, that is to provide for all the countries In the world an easy and rapid means of communication by exchanging mail between countries, thus promoting mutual understanding and establishing closer tie of friendship.

    20 DONG STAMP. SCOTT # 493: The picture of two hands, formed by the flags of many countries in the world, which are exchanging the mail.
    DATE OF ISSUE OCTOBER 9th ,1974
    Perf 12.5 x 12
    Values 20d
    Designer Nguyen-Van-Ri
    Quantities 1.000.000
    Size : 36mm x 25mm5, sheet of 50 stamps (10x5)
    Printing process: Photogravure (Detacryl)
    Colors : 4 colors
    Paper : High quality, white paper
    Printer : Thomas de la Rue, Basingstoke, England

    30 DONG STAMP. SCOTT # 494:  The picture of a bird's wing jointing the two hemispheres and some letters.
    DATE OF ISSUE OCTOBER 9th ,1974
    Perf 12.5 x 12
    Values 20d
    Designer Le Minh Ngu
    Quantities 2.000.000
    Size : 36mm x 25mm5, sheet of 50 stamps (10x5)
    Printing process: Photogravure (Detacryl)
    Colors : 4 colors
    Paper : High quality, white paper
    Printer : Thomas de la Rue, Basingstoke, England

    300 DONG STAMP. SCOTT # 493: Emblem Of the U.P.U. with a young Vietnamese lady holding a letter In her hand.
    DATE OF ISSUE OCTOBER 9th ,1974
    Perf 12.5 x 12
    Values 20d
    Designer Le Minh Duc
    Quantities 1.000.000
    Size : 36mm x 25mm5, sheet of 50 stamps (10x5)
    Printing process: Photogravure (Detacryl)
    Colors : 4 colors
    Paper : High quality, white paper
    Printer : Thomas de la Rue, Basingstoke, England

    SPECIAL MARK : A special postmark "First day of Issue" wasused at Saigon - Q.P.O. and at Can Tho, Da Lat, Nha Trang. Da Nang, Hue post offices.

    * Sources from the Philatelic Bulletin # 166 of the Directorate General of Posts (Republic of Vietnam)