Vietnam - Year of the Cat 2023 issue

Today I went to the philately bureau as my personal tradition .  It is the first day issue of Year of the Cat 2023 stamps . It is always a very happy day to me because I can meet many other collectors and stamp designer there. 

About the issue of this year, it includes a set of 2 pieces and a souvenir sheet. I don't know how in your country call the souvenir sheet. In Vietnam, it is called "Bloc". And the minisheet, we call "Bloc" as well. 

This serie designed by Mr. Q. Vinh begins from year of the Rat. This year they issue a SS instead of a minisheet printed 2 set of stamps as precedent year.

Stampset - bloc of 4 with designer signature

Perforation stampset

Full stampset : the bottom of sheet, I drop all 4 first day postmark. They are pictorial postmark for 4 cities : Hanoi, Saigon, Hue and Khanh hoa. But on the first day issue, only in Hanoi, we have all of them for about one week. Then, they are transported to the cities they belong. 

Souvenir sheet shows a happy cat family. 

Perforation souvenir sheet

Here is couple of official cards issued by the post. I use the Hue postmark for the card as I quite like the "nón lá" (cone hat) . 

The back side of card, I drop all the postmark and daily cancellation. 

Another self-printed set cards I use for this issue. What do you think about the model? So hot.

This card I bought about 10 years ago. At that time, I still lived in France and bought some Nouvelle Image card for sending to my friends. The kitten looks so cool.

This set of card is self-printed too. They are a gift of stamp designer. He is so gentil.

The official FDC

Sending cards and make some souvenir with the lunar new year stamps is the first thing I prepare for lunar new year that is arriving in more than 1 months.  And I keep this routine for almost 10 years. Keep going!

 

Vietnam - Year of the Tigre 2022 issue

 

After more than a year, I continue updating on my blog. I come back with Year of the Tigre issue by Vietnam post.

The stamp set issued on first day of Dec 2021, designed by Mr Ng.Q.Vinh. As precedent years, I was in the philatelic bureau to get the stamp and took a quick meet with other collector friends. Unfortunatly, I came a pretty late so the designer, Mr Vinh, had left. So I had to demande another time to talk about the stamps and get his signature.

Here is the first day cover. I took totaly four pictorial postmarks. They are available in different cities in Vietnam (HoChiMinh city, Hanoi where I live, Khanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue). In fact, there are 5 , including Kontum but there was no white place so four is enough. They are in couple. 

The designer, Mr. Q. Vinh have give me this gift : a brochure and a set of cards. Inside the brochure, Mr Vinh shows all information about the stampset. All drafts, the final design, step by step.

The front cover

And inside

All items related to this issued by Vietnam post

Information about the design

The fron cover of postcard set. The tigre is inspired from the Hang Trong painting : five Tigres.

With designer signature.

The back cover

Thank you so much Mr Q. Vinh for another very nice lunar new year stampset and for your all gift.

Indonesia, Orchid cover with Postcrossing FDC,

I got this very nice Orchid cover from my friend. He tried his best to make me happy as I said I love flowers, especially Orchids.

Inside he sent me an FDC about Postcrossing.

Thank you so much Shinta!

Vietnam, Year of the Rat 2020 issue;

As usual, on the 8 of December 2019, I went to the philatelie bureau, the first day of issue of Lunar new year stamps to celebrate year of the Rat.

Actually, Year of the Rat stamps would be released on the first day of Dec but it mainly got the strict control from the communist about the sensible design 1 week before the issue day. Besides, there are some troubles about the consommation last two years. The client gave a lot of negative reviews about the design of old twelve-zodiac-cirle. Finnaly, they have canceled these samples of designer Phạm Hà Hải. Take a look on the old samples and feel how lucky we are.

The Rat year is the first year of new twelve-zodiac-cirle and it should begin with new style, new designer on stamps. For this time, Mr Nguyễn Quang Vinh is honor to pass the competition. Met him yesterday, he shared his design process, explaned about his art, signed and took photos with collectors.  He had one week to complet this set. It was the first time that only one designer make all the items for one stampset : maxicard, envelop, folder,etc.

A photo with Designer.

Waiting my turn for getting the signature of designer on my items.

Stamp in block of 6 with the first day postmark on the conner-color label and the signature at border.

Imperf stamp in block of 4 with the first day postmark on the conner and the signature at border:

 CTO stamps:

Imperf minisheet with designer signature.

Imperf minisheet with designer signature.

Specimen version:

Maxicard.

Dong Ho Folklore Paintings are well-known  by many pieces but the Rat marriage and Welcome Dragon by Rats are two of the most well-know. 

I bought this card in 2013 when I was in France. It is from the seri Nouvel-Image. So cool.

And some gift from Mr Vinh - designer to collectors. He made this envelop to offer some friends. You can see my name at the right-bottom. On the left, some traditional foods for the Tết holiday (lunar new year festival) in North of Vietnam. They are the symbol of Tết. 

Furthermore, Mr Vinh issued a brochure to talk about this set. All the passed-design and the not-released designs.

Another gift from Designer:

Hope to see you next year for Year of the Buffle!

To me, Lunar year stamp issue day is not only to get new stamps for my collection but also for the friendship. It is the only issue which attracts as much as collectors to attend the release. From Haiphong, HoaBinh and other provinces, they came to Hanoi. We had time to drink coffee, and talked about the stamps, about our hobbies. It was a beautiful day.

Thank you so much Mr Quang Vinh Nguyen!