VI
EN
"I write poetry on blank paper, and I attach a blue stork to it."
Sending greetings to a friend whose name is on this list.
This folk song from the Southern provinces of Vietnam tells the story of the postage stamp's journey from ancient times. Since the first post office in Vietnam opened in Saigon in 1859, stamps have been an indispensable part of postal communication. In the past, stamps were used to send letters, to inform the public about events that had occurred, or about the country's achievements. Interspersed among these were stamps depicting people, animals, nature, and more.
Each stamp, a historical milestone.
In the past, transportation was difficult, so the need for people across the country to visit relatives far away was replaced by the practice of sending and receiving letters, from North to South and from South to North.
When the postal service still held the upper hand in delivering and transmitting information, early postage stamps often attracted collectors.
In those days, for families with relatives living far away or those separated by vast distances, writing letters to each other from time to time was indispensable. Therefore, the post office became a central hub for everyone. People went there to buy stamps, send letters, and even ask someone to write letters for them. And of course, there were also those love letters, meticulously written with heartfelt words of affection, followed by the anxious waiting for a reply.
The image of each postage stamp affixed to the corner of an envelope was indispensable. Depending on the weight of the envelope, a stamp with a price corresponding to the postage cost had to be purchased. The price of each stamp was the postage fee. Therefore, the content of the stamp always reflected the social context.
Many believe that postage stamps were brought to Vietnam by the French (immediately after their landing at Da Nang port on August 31, 1858), but some argue that they were brought to Hoi An by Dutch and Portuguese navigators and merchants.
On September 2, 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established. From the very beginning, when the revolutionary government was still young, to fulfill the urgent political tasks of the Party and the State, the Vietnamese Post Office was authorized by the Government to overprint 53 Indochinese stamps, creating 57 Vietnamese stamps for temporary use. Some of these overprinted stamps bore titles such as "Democratic Republic of Vietnam," "Independence, Freedom, Happiness," "Postal Service," "National Defense," "Famine Relief," and "People's Welfare," among others – these were the first postal stamps of the revolutionary government.
It is very difficult to compile statistics on the number of postage stamps and first-day issue stamps issued in Vietnam, and there are currently no consistent figures.
Three months after all matters had been settled, the Revolutionary Post of Vietnam proposed printing and issuing new official stamps of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. To commemorate the first anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945), on August 27, 1946, the President of the Government signed Decree No. 172/SL issuing the first set of postage stamps bearing the national name of Vietnam and featuring a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh.
The stamps were printed using the letterpress technique on wooden blocks, at the Ministry of Finance, located at the Provisional Government of the Northern Region.
The artist who had the honor of designing this first postage stamp was the late Nguyen Sang. He focused his talent on painting a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, meeting the requirements of a postage stamp: detailed, distinctive, highly accurate, true to graphic style, and suitable for the difficult and limited printing conditions of the early days of nation-building. This was the first set of postage stamps of the revolutionary state, issued domestically and distributed worldwide, with historical significance linked to the history of the Vietnamese revolution. The issuance of the first postage stamp set bearing the national name of Vietnam marked an important milestone on the path of independent development of revolutionary postage stamps in Vietnam. These stamps have been and will forever be historical "witnesses" recording the glorious victories of the revolution, contributing to the establishment of national sovereignty.
It's not just a stamp; it's also history and culture.
In the past, stamp collecting, both globally and in Vietnam, was always considered a refined and elegant hobby. It attracted people of all ages and backgrounds. Stamp collecting became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, many provinces, towns, and cities had stamp collecting associations and clubs; some magazines even had dedicated sections for stamp collectors and their collecting expertise. Many stamp exhibitions were held worldwide, and in Vietnam, world-class and regional stamp collections grew steadily, demonstrating the Vietnamese people's love and appreciation for beauty reflected in each stamp.
Later, stamps were gradually printed using lithography, a method in which designs were drawn onto a flat stone or a piece of metal with a smooth surface.
The cultural values and historical depth of each stamp have captivated, conquered, and stimulated the curiosity and thirst for knowledge of countless people. The sparkle of colors, sometimes brilliant and elegant, sometimes profound and serene, the lines sometimes strong, sometimes gentle, along with the magical, multicolored world of stamps, seem to possess a wondrous pull from the invisible world, making it impossible for collectors to leave, and even harder to let go of. The profound and vast world of stamps has created a sacred and useful fascination.
Vietnamese cultural identity on postage stamps.
One collector said that, unlike collecting cars or paintings, stamp collecting allows one to learn about culture, society, national history, national treasures, the environment, and nature. It's not simply about finding and increasing the number of stamps or sets; collectors must also define themes, arrange disparate stamps into stories, design compositions, and provide annotations and explanations. Even with just the theme of roses, some collectors have been able to piece together a vast amount of information, from their evolutionary history, structure, cultivation, life values, and spiritual significance. Beyond the limitations of the stamp's perforations, each stamp becomes a miniature work of art, encapsulating everything from monumental architectural structures to tiny insects, stories about the environment, history, nature, and humanity… to communicate and convey many life messages to future generations. Stamp collecting is also a way to cultivate personal knowledge and "read" the past of the world.
Historical events and figures are recreated on "small-scale paintings".
Postage stamps are messengers that transcend borders, possessing their own voice. They become a unique document for each nation, marking milestones and important events. Stamps are also affectionately known as "stamp wings," the blue birds of Vietnam – messengers of culture flying to the ends of the earth, introducing Vietnamese culture to the world.
Vietnamese postage stamps have made a significant contribution to affirming the nation's cultural identity. Therefore, today, despite the availability of many modern media and information channels, postage stamps still play an important role in people's lives. Stamps continue to be cherished by stamp collectors around the world. A stamp truly comes alive when it is put into operation, fulfilling its noble mission, and spreading its wings to all corners of the world. Perhaps that is the enduring vitality of each stamp across time and space.
