THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Reference listings of 1970 stamp issues for Ajman printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive

AJMAN
1970

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

Please view my introduction to the Ajman stamps for historical information and details on the agencies.

INTRODUCTION TO THE AJMAN STAMPS PRINTED BY THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS

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

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


As I was stating at the end of the Ajman 1969 page it was at this time that conflicts broke out between certain agencies trying to break into the Trucial States contracts which were already established with Finbar Kenny. During this year, 1970, Martin Sellinger took over the contract and an established change in the photogravure side of printing can be seen. We can see various changes in styles of printing at the beginning of 1970. This was because there was also competition between the printers for contracts because at this point in time the Trucial States stamps were quite popular among the topical collectors and profits were huge. We see that the first half of 1970, stamp production slowed and in July it picked up again. It was at this time that Fournier became heavily involved on the side of photogravure printings. Format had upgraded their printing methods for much more detailed lithographic stamps and was ahead of all other competition in the field. It was during this year that the higher quality perf 14.5 issues began.

Let's get started!

In the beginning of 1970 changes were pronounced in styles and types of printing. The first set for 1970, The Apollo Space Program set was lithograph but perf 12 and again having that lesser quality appearance as the earlier 1969 Christmas set.
The Easter set was photogravure and is one of the only sets in which Michel lists the deluxe sheetlets, the other being the later Space Exploration set.
The perf 12 lithograph and photogravure sets continued until June 5 when the first higher quality perf 13.5 lithograph set was printed. A majority of the stamps printed for Ajman in 1970 were photogravure. It was in October that the even higher grade perf 14.5 issues were started.

Noting that during 1970 the style and information for the Promotional Postal Announcements (Press Releases) changed becoming more descriptive of what was issued but apparently not showing quantities printed any more.

1970 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF NAPOLEON I
Michel #542-8, Block 191 Minkus #460-7

The stamps exist perforated and imperforate as does the souvenir sheet.
The deluxe sheetlets are not listed in Michel. They appear to be very scarce.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 191
Saint Bernhard
NAPOLEON DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 OLYMPIC GAMES (Munich 1972)
Michel #570-5, Block 195 Minkus #424-30

The stamps exist perforated and imperforate as does the souvenir sheet.
The deluxe sheetlets are not listed in Michel. They appear to be very scarce.


SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 195
Runners
OLYMPIC GAMES DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 SPACE EXPLORATION
Michel #593-612, Block 198-213 Minkus #509-28

The stamps were printed as two blocks of 16 in panes of 32 stamps. The four high values, which are twice as large as the lower 16 values were printed eight blocks of 4 in panes of 16 stamps. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate.
The Deluxe sheetlet set is listed in Michel as Block 198-213. It appears that there are no deluxe sheets for the four high values.
Many are calling them souvenir sheets. They are not listed in Minkus and thus not souvenir sheets.


SPACE EXPLORATION PANE OF 32

SPACE EXPLORATION BLOCK 198-213 DELUXE SHEETLET SET


The 65th Anniversary Hubert V. Herkomer Rallye issue of Automobiles does not fall in line with Format issues. They are perf 11 and are of a very different style than issues by Format. The deluxe sheetlets are different as well.

1970 PRESIDENT EISENHOWER MEMORIAL
Michel #622-7, Block 216 Minkus #539-45

The stamps were printed in panes of 25 stamps. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate as does the souvenir sheet.
The Deluxe sheetlet set is noted in Michel but I cannot find any good images.
Noting that in 1971 the high value and high value deluxe sheetlet were overprinted for the meeting of Emperor Hirohito and President Nixon. What is interesting is that it appears all of the 5rl deluxe sheetlets were overprinted thus you cannot find the set of deluxe sheetlets with the 5rl one included. If it exists without the overprint then it is much rarer than the rest of them.


EISENHOWER MEMORIAL BLOCK 216 SOUVENIR SHEET
Eisenhower & Kennedy


Noting it is at this point that the higher grade Format printings began. Finer screens were used. Perf sizes made at a finer perf 14.5.

1970 PAINTINGS BY A. DOMINIQUE INGRES
Michel #629-36, Block 217 Minkus #629-636B

The stamps were printed as four blocks of 8 in panes of 32 stamps. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate as does the souvenir sheet.
The Deluxe sheetlet set is noted in Michel.


INGRES PAINTINGS BLOCK 217 SOUVENIR SHEET
Roger Delivering Angelica

INGRES PAINTINGS DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 PAINTINGS BY DURER
Michel #637-44, Minkus #555-62

The stamps were printed as four blocks of 8 in panes of 32 stamps. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate.
The Deluxe sheetlet set is noted in Michel.


DURER PAINTINGS DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 CHRISTMAS PAINTINGS BY DURER
Michel #645-52, Block 218 Minkus #546-54

The stamps were printed as four blocks of 8 in panes of 32 stamps. The stamps exist perforated and imperforate as does the souvenir sheet.
The Deluxe sheetlet set is noted in Michel.


CHRISTMAS DURER PAINTINGS BLOCK 218 SOUVENIR SHEET
Madonna

CHRISTMAS DURER PAINTINGS PANE OF 32


CHRISTMAS DURER PAINTINGS DELUXE SHEETLET SET


In the following year Questa Colour Limited (renamed The House of Questa later) became involved. A much larger printing of stamp sets began to occur which was the downfall in popularity of the stamps of Ajman.....

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

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