THE ROYAL RUBY WEDDING INVERTED FRAME ERROR STAMPS
AND OTHER VARIETIES PRINTED BY THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD.
Information and Reference on The 1987 Saint Vincent 150th Anniversary of Queen Victoria's Accession to the throne
and the 40th Anniversary of the Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip also Known as the Royal
Ruby Wedding Stamps and What was Found in the Archive
In 1987 the Format International Security Printers Ltd. were commissioned By the St. Vincent postal authorities to
produce a series of stamps depicting portraits and photographs of the Queens of England and their family members.
The stamps were to commemorate Queen Victoria's accession to the throne and the Royal Ruby Wedding. Sets
of stamps were produced for Saint Vincent and all of its dependencies. Many other commonwealth countries
were also included as well as other foreign countries. This page is only for Saint Vincent and its dependencies.
The following sets were produced and issued:
SAINT VINCENT
1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #1017-22, SG #1079-83, MS1084
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES
1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #568-73, SG #536-40, MS541
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES BEQUIA
1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #245-50
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES UNION ISLAND
1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #236-40
According to prior written information and internet research the following findings will be presented and will stand
until solid evidence is presented proving otherwise........
SAINT VINCENT
THE INVERTED FRAME ERRORS
In October 1987 (before the normal set was issued) the infamous St. Vincent Inverted Frame errors on Scott# 1017-21 appeared
on the market. Some shady stamp dealers presented these as legitimate errors and sold them to unknowledgeable collectors and
dealers for large sums. In actuality these 'errors' were produced by the Format Printers on purpose to promote collector interest.
The frame plates were purposely inverted. Some shady dealers/sellers with ties to the company presented
these at the time of appearance stating that only 200-250 of these 'errors' exist even though the printers revealed that more
than that were produced.
According to what little documentation still exists 2,500 sets with inverted frames were printed on special order.
This is proven from one of the documents used as part of exhibit 46 in the trial against the printers of which they
were proven not guilty of any wrong doing. You can view this document HERE.
As we can see by this document the order for 10,000 by the P.D.C. (Philatelic Distribution Corporation) was place for 4 values. Documentation
on the 5th value (probably the $5 value) is not present. It is presumed that the four low values of the set were printed on
one press sheet. Probably the $5 value was printed separately. This document shows the number of panes. Basically this shows
that 100 panes of each value would result. 100x25=2,500 singles of each value. Thus we have a finite number that can exist.
Any catalogs stating otherwise and written/produced
in the '90s are inaccurate and possibly biased toward the writers personal gains.
Here is solid proof that the Format International Security Printers produced these
"made for collector errors" solely for the purposes of promoting stamp sales in general
and did never produce these stamps secretly to sell to unaware collectors
under the pretext that they were ACTUAL LEGITIMATE ERRORS.
From present day analysis and personal buying endeavors these stamps have a value of no more than $5-8.00 for a single.
Anyone asking more is OVER INFLATING the value and should NOT be dealt with on ANY stamp dealings at all!
The above imaged set of blocks was purchased for $25.00! Yes, the whole set of blocks!
None of these "errors" were found in the archive. It is believed that the standards of what were to be retained
in the archive would NOT include "made for collector errors".
The Special presentation cards do have a rarity factor. They are valued at around $25.00 each as not many are out there.
THE IMPERFORATE INVERTED FRAME ERRORS
Here are examples of these "made for collector" error stamps in imperforate form. Probably the $2.50 stamp is also
in this form. The seller I grabbed this image from is asking $2,000.00 for this group! Completely OVER INFLATED and
should NOT be dealt with on ANY terms. Evidence points that these are probably in existence in close proximity to
1,000 sets. Value at maximum should be $20-30.00 a pair. If there is PROOF to the contrary
then modification to this will be made.
THE MISSING BLACK ON FRAME ERRORS
Here is a bad image of this "error". The seller of these seems to have THE WORST images of stamps on the internet! Half the
time he has no images at all. Is this on purpose? The asking price for this stamp is around $60.00. Supposedly this seller
also has the $5.00 with the same "error". Noting he has a "Call for Price" link under it. Until PROOF is presented these
"errors" also fall in the category of "made for collectors" and one should pay no more than $5-10.00 for either value.
Evidence is pointing toward at least 1,000 existing.
THE NORMAL IMPERFORATE PROOFS
Based on market scanning and analysis it is safe to say these are quite common. Price variances from $6-7.00 to $50.00 a set of singles
and $5-25.00 for the souvenir sheet shows that some dealers are OVER INFLATING the value again. One should pay no more than
$15.00 for the set of singles and no more than $15.00 for the souvenir sheet in this condition. Evidence points to quantities
between 2,000 to 5,000 existing of the singles. 1,000-2,000 souvenir sheets existing.
THE PROGRESSIVE COLOR PROOFS
These examples I found were for sale at around $20.00 each set. A fair price for these. If a seller asks for more than $30.00 for
the color proofs in blocks of 4 for each value they are asking too much. In other words a full set of single Progressive Color
Proofs should be priced at no more than $40.00. A single value in single form of these value should be set at $7-10.00 a set.
The standard practice of the printers was to produce 3,000 sets of progressive Color Proofs thus we can presume this to be so
with this set also.
THE SPECIMEN OVERPRINTS
I found only the souvenir sheet for sale with SPECIMEN overprint. Selling for around $5.00. Could find no singles nor sets of singles with the
overprint. Do any exist? Possibly not as there were soooo many variances of the singles printed there was really no
need for SPECIMEN overprints on this issue. I could be wrong here though. If evidence is found it will be posted here.
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES
No errors reported for this issue.
IMPERFORATE PROOFS
I found only one seller selling the singles sets on the internet. Price asked for above is around $20.00.
Saw this seller offering single sets, pair sets, and block sets so judging from this the seller must have acquired
quite a few full sheets. Research would estimate they should be around $5-10.00 for the set. Quantities are unknown
but judging from printing practices at the time 2,000 to 5,000 sets exist.
The asking price from a different seller for the souvenir sheet was around $7.00. A fair price.
Again the presumed quantity of 1,000 to 2,000 exist
THE PROGRESSIVE COLOR PROOFS
Very little is available on the market today. This shows that there is a rarity factor for these.
The seller wants around $6.00 for this one. What would a full set cost???
Again since it exists then probably the 3,000 set factor is in range. Time will tell.
THE SPECIMEN OVERPRINTS
No SPECIMEN overprinted stamps nor souvenir sheets for St. Vincent Grenadines 1987 Royal Ruby Wedding set found for sale.
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES BEQUIA
No errors reported for this issue.
IMPERFORATE PROOFS
Very little is available on the market for these also. These seem only available through the Stampdile network.
A set will cost around $30.00 for the singles. Judging from availability the price is fair. They do not offer the
souvenir sheet. It was offered for around $7.00 elsewhere. A fair price indeed.
Again the above mentioned quantities apply.
THE PROGRESSIVE COLOR PROOFS
Again, very little is available on the market. Only place found again is on the Stampdile network. A set of these
will cost you around $200.00. Quantities are unknown at present.
THE SPECIMEN OVERPRINTS
No SPECIMEN overprinted stamps nor souvenir sheets for St. Vincent Grenadines Bequia 1987 Royal Ruby Wedding set found for sale
except, for this one value offered on the stampdile network. It is imperforate and overprinted in silver and they state it came
from the archive. Priced at around $8.00
SAINT VINCENT GRENADINES UNION ISLAND
No errors reported for this issue.
IMPERFORATE PROOFS
No singles sets are for sale on the market at present time. This imperforate souvenir sheet is selling at around $10.00.
THE PROGRESSIVE COLOR PROOFS
None can be found.
THE SPECIMEN OVERPRINTS
Only the 15c, 45c, $1.50, and $3.00 stamps can be found with the SPECIMEN overprint. As you can see they were all printed
on one big sheet. The $4.00 value must have been printed separately and no sheets were found in the archive with the overprint.
This is the only possible explanation for the missing value from the set. The singles set is being offered for $10.00.
No souvenir sheets can be found with the SPECIMEN overprint.
There are several uncut press sheets still in existence for these sets but they are now extremely rare. Most have been
broken and the pieces are slowly dispersing among the collecting community. Because these issues deal with royalty the
estimated number of uncut press sheets that were saved range from 7 to 10 sheets. The range is higher for Saint Vincent
though as we can see the commonality of many of the varieties. The Format Printers last owners created a huge problem
in this area because:
1.) Saint Vincent Postal Authorities seemed not to care WHAT the printers did with their issues.
2.) The company produced quite a few "made for collector" errors for this country between 1986-7.
3.) The company produced and held onto a large number proofs and color trials for various (what they
considered) popular issues meaning LOW issues and topical issues and yes, royalty issues for Saint
Vincent.
As we can see in the declining numbers of items available variety wise with the dependencies, they obviously
at the time thought that the dependencies would not be as popular and thus less material was produced for them.
This same methodology appears to be apparent with other commonwealth countries also such as Tuvalu and its
dependencies. High numbers for Tuvalu and lower numbers for the dependencies.
Luckily the whistle was blown and this type of production was put to a screeching halt in late 1987 and early
1988. Some materials were destroyed before police raids could get to them. Inside sources are now portraying
the picture of what happened to some of the materials. Some quantities of sheets with errors were quickly
sold off to investors who quickly got them off their hands before the raids. Investors who bought them, out
of fear, locked them away and never resold them. Some destroyed the materials out of fear. SOME of the materials
may STILL be locked away. Certain sources are now retracing the trails to find out what happened to them. As time
goes by more and more information WILL be found and truths will be revealed. Shady dealers will be revealed and
scorned. Pricing of these materials will be stabilized and most of what the Format International Security Printers
produced will be shown to have been legitimately made and saved in the archive.
References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Windward Islands and Barbados
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe
Online internet research
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