THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Reference listings of 1967-1968 stamp issues for Ajman printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive

AJMAN
1967-1968

Ajman stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.
Links to pages with information on items found in the archive

On October 15th, 1963, Baroody Stamp Co. Ltd. in Beirut announced that the ruler of Fujeirah, Umm al Qiwain, and Ajman will open there Independent post offices. Also announced that ordinary and registered, sea-mail and airmail correspondence will be accepted and delivered as a starting service.

Ajman opened its post office on November 29, 1963, and issued its first set of stamps on June 20, 1964. Before issuing the first set, mail from Ajman was sent to Dubai in bundles for dispatch. The Ajman post office established after a postal agreement between the ruler of Ajman Shaikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Na’imi and the Baroody Stamp Co. of Beirut signed on September 29th, 1963

Ajman issued a huge number of stamps and sets between 1963 and 1972 and the various catalogs differ in the numbers. There is no exact reference as to who the agencies were that were involved. There are conflicting views and references based on writings by Ken Lawrence and what is written on the ohmygosh website and other sources. The generalized references by Ken Lawrence are: There were three contracts for Ajman stamps:
1) Finbar Kenny of J & H Stolow of NY.
2) A firm in Beirut, Lebanon which printed them in Bulgaria.
3) A third unidentified firm.
All three were authorized and regarded as postally valid by the Ajman government.

As we can see the referenced firm in Beirut is the Baroody Stamp company. Finbar Kenny opened contracts throughout the Trucial States in 1964.
For Ajman this was immediate as we can see the first set listed for Ajman on June 20, 1964 was printed by Fournier.

References on (sic) Stampboards.com have erroneous posts stating:
From March 1964 - March 1967 (Finbar Kenny)
From March 1967 – August 31st, 1969 (Middle East Stamp Co.)
From September 1st, 1969 – August 31st, 1971 (Fouad Antoun & Martin Sellinger)
From September 1st, 1971 – March 31st, 1973 (George Koro)

These are obviously wrong since the Finbar Kenny original contract shows they were in charge through 1969 and then renewed automatically. Evidence shows the Middle East Stamp Companies dealings were bogus and stamps they stated they issued are not even listed in Michel. Their own bogus statements on the ohmygosh site stating they started a contract in 1969 are not to be believed.
All I have to say about the "contracts" shown on that site is anyone can type up a bunch of mumbo jumbo and call it a contract! Unless you have official signed documents that can be verified, the 1969 "contract" shown on the omygosh website isn't even worth viewing. It makes me wonder about certain people's expertise. If you knew anything about contracts with philatelic agencies...they are definitely not one pagers. The 1969 "contract" is just a statement saying the contract with Finbar Kenney ended. That is when Martin Sellinger took over. Martin Sellinger was also based in New York and had close ties with Finbar Kenny. It is unclear the exact date that the role of being the philatelic agency was taken over but I have narrowed it down (with valid documents I might add) to 1970 as it was registered as involved in the production and sale of the stamps on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) report to the U.S. Congress. Fouad Antoun was only an advisor to the postmaster and was based in Beirut. He had close ties with the British printing companies, namely Format and Questa. In 1971 the updated FARA report had changed the status to philatelic agent. In 1972 it still stood and in 1973 it was terminated
George Y. Koro was the postmaster for Ajman and was not a philatelic agency.

We now need to go into the stamps themselves to try to gain more insight and evidence. With the evidence found in the Format Printers archive and basing on evidence shown in Minkus of what type of printing was done (with a few errors I might add) for each stamp set I can narrow down at least on the side of Format which were contracted to print the stamps by Finbar Kenny all the lithograph issues for Ajman. Using the very strong evidence shown for the stamps of Ras al Khaima we can also see the similarities of the issues between the states.

To show you that evidence is strong that Finbar Kenny and Martin Sellinger had the officially honored contracts throughout the Ajman era the following image shows proof of printing by the Format International Security Printers and Questa Colour Limited (later renamed the House of Questa) as all of the sheets in the image were taken from their archive. All of them are listed in the catalogs and this image shows that the later issues were indeed made by Format and Questa and thus proving the Finbar contract (probably sold to Martin Sellinger) was still in effect all the way to the end of the issues for Ajman, Manama and so on. This completely disputes all statements made by the Middle East Stamp Company and basically disputes statements made by many "experts" on the subject. Not to say that indeed the possibility of some shady dealings were going on between certain states having lucrative deals going at the same time. At certain points some very "poorly made" sets were made which are below the standards set by British printers. Also existing a number of stamp issues which are not listed anywhere.

AJMAN AND OTHER TRUCIAL STATES UNCUT PRESS SHEETS FOUND IN THE FORMAT ARCHIVE


More evidence pointing to Finbar Kenny/Martin Sellinger being the true agency throughout the era are the photogravure sets. The following images are of proofs with color guides. This style of color guide is made only by one company. Fournier which were contracted by Finbar Kenny for all their photogravure sets for other countries like the Cook Islands, Aitutaki and Penrhyn Islands at the time. Therefore this evidence substantially supports the fact that Finbar Kenny/Martin Sellinger was and is the official agencies for the stamps of Ajman. I have many others but will not fill this page with them.

AJMAN 1971 BEETHOVEN PROOFS WITH COLOR GUIDE PROVING THEY WERE MADE BY FOURNIER STAMP PRINTERS


AJMAN 1971 CHRISTMAS PROOFS WITH COLOR GUIDE PROVING THEY WERE MADE BY FOURNIER STAMP PRINTERS


As for all the gold foil stamps issued, I at this time believe that Walsall Security Printers were the makers. They produced the first gold foil stamps for Tonga back in 1963 and were the producers of many gold and silver foil stamps for many different countries thus it falls right in line with the timeframe. Also Walsall specialized in many other variety stamps as in three dimensional and hologram stamps. Finbar Kenny used Walsall for many issues as well.

Let's get started!

Please visit my introduction page for the Trucial States to understand more how the following sets have been determined to have been printed by the Format International Security Printers.

INTRODUCTION TO THE TRUCIAL STATES STAMPS PRINTED BY THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS

On August 4, 1967 the Format International Security Printers were formally incorporated.

The first lithographic stamp set for Ajman was the 50th Birthday Anniversary of John F. Kennedy. They were issued on June 12, 1967 and printed by J. Saikali (alias Imp. J. Saikali) based in Beirut.
The next lithographic set was the Arabic Paintings set issued on July 10, 1967. It was either Format or Questa Colour Limited that printed them.
The last lithographic set printed before Format took over was the Arabic Fairy Tales set issued on August 5, 1967. I state this because Michel (1990) notes the set being produced in Budapest (printer unknown). The newest 2013 edition Gulf States edition does not have this note.

1967 (Sept. 1) ORIENTAL PAINTINGS
Michel #176-9, Minkus #143-6

The single stamps were printed in panes of 10. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate.
Noting the original frame plates from the earlier Arab Paintings issue were used on several stamps.
There are changes in style. The panes of 10 no longer have Arabic writing on the selvage. Titles imprinted on the imaged portions ect.


ORIENTAL PAINTINGS PANE OF 10

ARABIC PAINTINGS PANE OF 10 EXAMPLE


Here we have the very first promotional announcement from the Ajman general post office. This is proof of a major change in agency policies I note the currency conversion to sterling shillings and U.S. dollars. Evidence of American and British influence based from Finbar Kenny.
Also note the quantity of imperforate sets.

ARAB PAINTINGS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1967 TAJ-MAHAL PAINTING
Michel #180, Block 14 Minkus #147-8

The single stamp was printed in panes of 10. The stamp exists perforated and imperforate. The souvenir sheet is imperforate.
Noting again it appears the original frame plates from the earlier Arab Paintings issue were used.
Noting the changes noted on the Oriental Paintings set also apply to this stamp.


TAJ-MAHAL BLOCK 14 SOUVENIR SHEET

TAJ-MAHAL PAINTING PANE OF 10

TAJ-MAHAL PAINTING PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1967 OLYMPIC GAMES (Mexico 1968)
Michel #189-96, Block 16-17, Minkus #156-64

The single stamps were printed in panes of 20. Perforated and imperforates exist for all singles. The souvenir sheets are all imperforates. Deluxe sheet sets seem not to exist.
Noting at this point duplication of many of the following sets were issued by Manama at the same time.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 16

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 17
Many collectors and dealers are confused and/or wrong on this particular sheet. It is not listed in Minkus. In Michel it is unpriced. This is because it is extremely rare. It is a larger size than the basic souvenir sheet. It is light blue instead of greenish. The boarder is silver instead of gold and notice the pattern is reversed and much different than the normal souvenir sheet has. My opinion is that this sheet is actually one of the first attempts made by the Format printers at producing a deluxe sheetlet. Noting the uneven cut showing this sheet was probably cut from an uncut press sheet. Try to find it!

OLYMPIC GAMES PANES OF 20


OLYMPIC GAMES PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
I picked this image up off an eBay lot. I note here that the second souvenir sheet (Block 17) is not mentioned. More evidence that it is in fact a deluxe sheetlet. Notice how the quantity of imperforate sets is increasing. In later years the Format Printers standard for imperforate sets usually ran at 5,000 sets.

1967 WINTER OLYMPICS (Grenoble 1968)
Michel #199-206, Block 18-19 Minkus #165-73

The single stamps were printed in panes of 20. Perforated and imperforates exist for all singles. The souvenir sheets are all imperforates. Deluxe sheet sets seem not to exist.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 18

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 19
Many collectors and dealers are confused and/or wrong on this particular sheet. It is not listed in Minkus. In Michel it is unpriced. This is because it is extremely rare. It is a slightly larger size than the basic souvenir sheet. It has grayish intertwined circles as a background and is numbered. My opinion is that this sheet is actually the first numbered deluxe sheetlet made by the Format printers for Ajman.

OLYMPIC GAMES PANES OF 20


WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Again, I picked this image up off an eBay lot. I note here that the second souvenir sheet (Block 19) is not mentioned. More evidence that it is in fact a deluxe sheetlet. Notice how the quantity of imperforate sets is now increased to 5,000 sets. The Format Printers standard for imperforate sets.

1967 PAINTINGS BY RENOIR AND TERBRUGGHEN
Michel #209-14, Block 21, Minkus #176-82

The single stamps were printed in panes of 10. Perforated and imperforates exist for all singles. The souvenir sheets are all imperforates. Deluxe sheet sets seem not to exist.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 21

PAINTINGS PANES OF 10

PAINTINGS BY RENOIR AND TERBRUGGHEN PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 PAINTINGS BY VELASQUEZ
Michel #218-21, Block 22, Minkus #183-7

The single stamps were printed in panes of 20. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles do not exist.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 22

PAINTINGS BY VELASQUEZ PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Noting the imperforate sets were doubled! 10,000 sets!

1968 COSTUMES
Michel #238-45, Minkus #203-10

The single stamps were printed in two different panes of 20. Each pane containing 5 se-tenant strips of 4. One pane picturing women's costumes and the other pane picturing men's costumes.
The stamps exist perforated and imperforate. Deluxe sheet sets do not exist.


COSTUMES PANES OF 20 SET

COSTUMES PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES (Mexico)
Michel #247-54, Blocks 32-4, Minkus #211-19

The single stamps were printed in two different panes of 20. Each pane containing 5 se-tenant strips of 4. One pane containing the normal postage set and the other pane containing the airmail set.
The single stamps exist perforated and imperforate. The souvenir sheet also does.
Noting the perforated souvenir sheet has embossed perforations which are a bit hard to see in images made by many dealers.
Deluxe sheet sets of the singles do not exist.
Noting a discrepancy in Michel in regards to souvenir sheets. There are two, what I consider, deluxe sheetlets of the two values of the souvenir sheet listed in Michel as souvenir sheets (Blocks 33-4) Minkus does not list them. View the image for more information.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 32

DELUXE SHEETLETS MICHEL BLOCKS 33A AND 34A
The reason I consider these as deluxe sheetlets is because they are very similar to future deluxe sheetlets produced by the Format Printers. Not being listed in Minkus shows as with the earlier 1967 Olympic issues that these too are early versions of deluxe sheetlets. The perforated versions shown in the first image are unpriced in Michel. The imperforate versions are numbered as with many deluxe sheetlets made in the future.


DELUXE SHEETLETS MICHEL BLOCKS 33B AND 34B
Noting these are imperforate and numbered as many deluxe sheetlets are.

SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES PANES OF 20 SET

SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Noting this is the only image I could find. It is missing quantities printed section. Perhaps in future we will find it.

1968 SPACE RESEARCH
Michel #257-66, Block 35, Minkus #220-30

The single stamps were printed in panes of 20. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets do not exist.

Noting again the perforated souvenir sheet has embossed perforations which are a bit hard to see in images made by many dealers.

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 35

SPACE RESEARCH PANES OF 20 SET

SPACE RESEARCH PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 SPACE RESEARCH (Death in Space of Komarov and White)
Michel Block 36-7, Minkus unlisted

Because of the style of the stamps these must have been produced by Format to go with the Space Research set but apparently were never issued. They are not listed in Minkus and are a separate listing in Michel. They exist perforated and imperforate. They exist with and without numbers.
I consider them once again to be a variety of deluxe sheetlets. Some call them souvenir sheets. The style is more like future deluxe sheetlets.

DELUXE SHEETLETS MICHEL BLOCKS 36A AND 37A

1968 PAINTINGS WITH DOGS
Michel #271-6, Blocks 38-40, Minkus #231-7

The single stamps were printed in three different panes of 10. Each pane containing 5 se-tenant pairs. The single stamps exist perforated and imperforate. The souvenir sheet and deluxe sheetlets exists only imperforate.
I consider Block 39 and Block 40 to be deluxe sheetlets. The same as before as they are numbered and not listed in Minkus as souvenir sheets.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 38

DELUXE SHEETLETS

PAINTINGS WITH DOGS PANES OF 10 SET

PAINTINGS WITH DOGS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 PAINTINGS OF ADAM AND EVE
Michel #281-4, Blocks 41-3, Minkus #247-51

The single stamps were printed in panes of 20. The single stamps and souvenir sheet exist perforated and imperforate. The perforated souvenir sheet has embossed perforations. The deluxe sheetlets exists only imperforate.
Block 42 and Block 43 are definitely deluxe sheetlets. As you can see the style is definitely the style of Format deluxe sheetlets. They are not listed in Minkus as souvenir sheets.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 41

PAINTINGS OF ADAM AND EVE PANES OF 20 SET

PAINTINGS OF ADAM AND EVE DELUXE SHEETLET BLOCK 42

PAINTINGS OF ADAM AND EVE DELUXE SHEETLET BLOCK 43

PAINTINGS OF ADAM AND EVE PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 HUMAN RIGHTS MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL Michel #289-94, Block 44, Minkus #240-6

The single stamps were printed in panes of 12. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles do not exist.
The perforated souvenir sheet has embossed perforations. The deluxe sheetlets exists only imperforate.
Noting there exists two deluxe sheetlets of the two stamps from the souvenir sheet. Michel notes them as block 45 and 46 stating they are "not applicable".


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 44

HUMAN RIGHTS MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL PANES OF 12 SET

HUMAN RIGHTS MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL BLOCK 45 and 46 DELUXE SHEETLETS

HUMAN RIGHTS MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL BLOCKS 45-6 DELUXE SHEETLET
with Apollo 11 overprint (unlisted)

HUMAN RIGHTS MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 HUMAN RIGHTS ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL Michel #299-300, Blocks 47-8 Minkus #238-9, 238A and 239A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. The set exists perforated and imperforate.

Many sellers and collectors are mistaking the deluxe sheetlets as being souvenir sheets.
The reasons for this is because both Michel and Minkus have listed them as such in error. Noting up to this point the souvenir sheets were all higher values than the single stamps. The sheetlets are of the style of deluxe sheetlets, not souvenir sheets. They are some of the first perforated deluxe sheetlets. Finally noting the promotional announcements do not specify souvenir sheets for this nor the Martin Luther King Memorial issues in their introduction. Still, because the only images I could find on the announcements did not have the quantities section I am not positive yet on this. One other clue to my theory though...try to find them used or even CTO.

Another discrepancy in the catalogs is the issue date. Michel lists both the Kennedy and King sets as issued on July 25, 1968.
Minkus lists the Kennedy set issued on July 7, 1968. The promotional announcement has a stamp that just shows the date as July 9 therefore proving that Minkus is the correct catalog on this one.


HUMAN RIGHTS ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL PANES OF 6 SET

HUMAN RIGHTS ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL BLOCKS 47 AND 48 DELUXE SHEETLETS

HUMAN RIGHTS ROBERT F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 F.C. INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TEAM (Italy)
Michel #303-8, Blocks 49-55, Minkus #252-8

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. The single stamps and souvenir sheet exist perforated and imperforate. This set appears to be an extremely hard to get set! Even though 12,000 sets were printed I can find it nowhere! The imaged promotional announcement set sold for $42.00 on Delcampe with 32 bids! I theorize that possibly someone is hoarding this set. Noting the number of printed sets is lower than many other sets of the time.
Blocks 50-5 are definitely deluxe sheetlets. Although I cannot find an image at present I am sure they are the same style as the next set listed which is the soccer champions set. They are not listed in Minkus at all.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 49

F.C. INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TEAM PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 SOCCER CHAMPIONS
Michel #310-15, Blocks 56-63, Minkus #259-265A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. The single stamps and souvenir sheet exist perforated and imperforate.
Blocks 58-63 are definitely deluxe sheetlets. They are not listed in Minkus at all.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 56
Italy Team

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 57
England Team

SOCCER CHAMPIONS PANES OF 6 SET

SOCCER CHAMPIONS EXAMPLES OF DELUXE SHEETLETS

SOCCER CHAMPIONS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 CATS
Michel #318-22, Block 64, Minkus #266-71

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. The single stamps and souvenir sheet exist perforated and imperforate. I could find nothing on this set in regards to deluxe sheetlets.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 64

CATS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

1968 CHRISTMAS MADONNA
Michel #327-31, Block 66, Minkus #276-80, 281A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 25. The single stamps exist perforated and imperforate. The souvenir sheet is imperforate. I could find nothing on this set in regards to deluxe sheetlets.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 66

CHRISTMAS MADONNA PANES OF 25 SET

1968 SPACE EXPLORATIONS APOLLO 7
Michel #333-8, Block 67-74, Minkus #282-288A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. The single stamps and souvenir sheets exist perforated and imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets were produced for the singles and are listed in Michel as Blocks 69-74. They are not listed in Minkus. Many are calling them souvenir sheets.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 67
Moon Landscape

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 68
Trajectory of Apollo 8

SPACE EXPLORATIONS APOLLO 7 PANES OF 6 SET

SPACE EXPLORATIONS APOLLO 7 DELUXE SHEETLET SET BLOCKS 69-74

1968 SUMMER OLYMPICS GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Michel #341-8, Block 75-6, Minkus #289-93 (Airmails are not listed)

The single stamps were printed in panes of 25. The single stamps exist perforated and imperforate.
Deluxe sheetlets were produced for several values of the souvenir sheets and are listed in Michel as Blocks A75, B75 and A76. They are not listed in Minkus. Many are calling them souvenir sheets.
Noting Minkus does not list the Airmails (5r values) nor does it list the 10r souvenir sheet.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 75
J. Drimba and M. Wendon

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 76
E. Novikova and K. Dibiasi

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNERS PANES OF 25 SET

DELUXE SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK A75
J. Drimba

DELUXE SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK B75
M. Wendon

DELUXE SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK A76
K. Dibiasi
At the time of creating this page I could not find this deluxe souvenir sheet available anywhere.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNERS PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Noting no mention of the four airmail stamps

1968 CHRISTMAS MADONNA PAINTING BY GHERARDO DELLE NOTTI
Michel #353, Minkus #281

The stamp was printed se-tenant with Manama #133 in sheetlets with two labels. The stamp exists perforated and imperforate. No Deluxe sheetlet.
This stamp shows the printers logo at the bottom right. This is the first set for Ajman with the logo, "SECURITY PRINTERS" placed on the stamps.


CHRISTMAS MADONNA SE-TENANT SHEETLET

CHRISTMAS MADONNA PAINTING BY GHERARDO DELLE NOTTI PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT


Ajman stamps to be continued....

References taken from:
Michel Asien II
Minkus Trucial States Stamp Catalog
Evidence found in the Format Archive
Online research

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