THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE
Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive
Reference listings of stamp issues for Vaitupu printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive
VAITUPU
Vaitupu stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.
Links to pages with information on items found in the archive
Vaitupu is one of the "islands" of Tuvalu. Actually it is an atoll comprising of at least 9 isles.
It is the largest island of Tuvalu and has a population presently of about 1700 making it the second
most populated of Tuvalu. Between 1984 to 1988 The Format Printers produced
stamps for this and all the islands of Tuvalu. Obviously many more stamps were produced than
would ever be used by the residents making them all "made for collectors" status. Still...they all
were legitimate postage and some WERE used legitimately making them have recognition in the main
catalogs. Scott Catalog gives them all numbers and collectible values. Stanley Gibbons lists them but
does not give them numbers nor collectible values. An interesting note is that Scott catalog lumps
all of the Leaders of the World series in single groups whereas Stanley Gibbons defines the different
series as they were produced. Listings here will be in the Stanley Gibbons format with Scott numbers
for reference.
Quantities of most all of the following issues perforated, imperforate proofs
came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1988.
There are some varieties that are legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues
have a rarity factor. More detail will be presented on these in another section of the study.
1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (1st series) Scott #2,5,7,12
1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, BRITISH MONARCHS Scott #17-22
1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (2nd series) Scott #1,3,6,8,10,13,14,16
1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (1st series) Scott #24,27,32,33
1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, BUTTERFLIES Scott #39-42
1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (3rd series) Scott #4,9,11,15
1985-6 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #51-57
The souvenir sheets are not noted in Stanley Gibbons. Unissued?
RESTRICTED PRINTING (500 to 2000 exist). Issued January 8, 1986.
RESTRICTED PRINTING (500 to 2000 exist). Issued January 8, 1986.
1986 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (2nd series) Scott #23,28,35,37
Not inscribed Leaders of the World.
1986 60TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #58-62
Again the souvenir sheet is not noted in Stanley Gibbons. Unissued?
1986 ROYAL WEDDING (1st issue) Scott #65-67
Yet again the souvenir sheet not noted in Stanley Gibbons. Unissued?
1986 ROYAL WEDDING (2nd issue) Scott #68-9
Noting the 60c is again found overprinted vertically.
Leads me to believe this is a "made for collectors" error.
It is impossible to run the sheet through by accident as the stamp positions of the 60c and $1 are completely different.
Overprinted Vertically.
1987 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (3rd series) Scott #25,26,29,30,31,34,36,38
Not inscribed Leaders of the World.
1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #72-6
Again the souvenir sheet is not noted in Stanley Gibbons. Unissued?
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Vaitupu.
The company soon after went into bankruptcy.
References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Western Pacific
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe
