THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Stamp issues for Bahamas printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive

BAHAMAS

Bahamas stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.

In 1968 The Format Printers gained a presence as one of the stamp printers of stamps for the Bahamas. The Format Printers printed mainly the definitive issues for the Bahamas between 1971 and 1985. From 1973 onward The House of Questa also played a major role in the printing of stamps for the Bahamas. After the liquidation of the Format Printers the House of Questa took on the majority printing of stamps for the Bahamas for years afterward.
The stamps show us the consistent ties between the two companies. In 1988-9 The House of Questa printed several more series of the Discovery of America series of which the original designs were created by the Format Printers. A simple task of walking next door with the plates and artwork after the bankruptcy had begun. There are many countries which this same process occurred.

1968 14TH COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE IN NASSAU
Scott #280-3, SG #323-6



1969 TOURIST PUBLICITY Scott #290-3,293a, SG #333-6,MS337




1971 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #313-30, SG #359/473
Wmk. 314 Upright (Wmk. 314 Sideways on $1, $2, and $3)
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. Whole sections of numbers are missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue.


1973 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #313a/330b, SG #359/473
Wmk. 314 Sideways (Wmk. 314 Upright on $1, $2, and $3)
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. Whole sections of numbers are missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue.


1973 CHRISTMAS Scott #352-5,355a, SG #417-20,MS421




1976 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #317a/330a, SG #359/473
Wmk. 373
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. Whole sections of numbers are missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue.


1976 DEFINITIVE ISSUE (NEW VALUES) Scott #398-401, SG #359/473
Wmk. 373
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. Whole sections of numbers are missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue.


1978 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #426-43, SG #359/473
No Watermark
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. Whole sections of numbers are missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue.


1979 CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF SIR ROWLAND HILL
Scott #450-3,453a, SG #540-3,MS544




1980 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #464-79, SG #557-72
Wmk 373
The 10c value exists with watermark inverted. The 15c value exists with orange color shifted.



1981 COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS MEETING OVERPRINT
Scott #496-99, SG #594-7
Wmk 373
The 10c value exists with watermark inverted. The 5c value exists with overprint inverted.



1981 CHRISTMAS Scott #504, SG #603-11



1982 21ST BIRTHDAY OF PRINCESS DIANA ISSUE Scott #510-13, SG #622-5
Issued in Panes with gutters containing royal seals and image of Raglan Castle. Extremely rare in full form.
The 40c value exists with watermark inverted.


Gutter Strips


1982 CHRISTMAS Scott #522-7, SG #635-40



1983 DEFINITIVE ISSUE SURCHARGED WITH NEW VALUES
Scott #532-5, SG #645-8
Wmk 373
The 31c and 80c values exists with watermark inverted. This shows evidence of possible reprinting or surplus stock with inverted watermarks being used. A further study of the originals may be in order.



1984 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF BAHAMAS STAMPS
Scott #553-4, SG #673-4



1985 DEFINITIVE ISSUE Scott #464a/473a, SG #???
Wmk 384
With the definitive issues Scott Catalog is clear as to what was issued and when. Stanley Gibbons catalog is not. The section of numbers is missing in Stanley Gibbons general catalogs for this issue. The numbers between 719 and 736 are missing for 1985 issues.



1988 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Scott #640-4, SG #819-22,MS823




1988 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF LLOYDS OF LONDON
Scott #655-8, SG #835-8
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for the Bahamas. The company soon after went into bankruptcy.



References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Online Catalog
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe
Internet Research

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