THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

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

1968 MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMEMORATIVE Scott #192-3, SG #226-7



1968 OPENING OF BEEF ISLAND AIRPORT EXTENSION Scott #194-7, SG #228-31



1971 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNICEF Scott #233-4, SG #267-8



1974 FAMOUS EXPLORERS Scott #270-3,273a, SG #312-15,MS316




1979 NATIVE CACTI Scott #350-5, SG #402-7



1982 HUMMINGBIRDS ON LOCAL FAUNA Scott #422-5, SG #479-82



1982 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIONS CLUB OF TORTOLA Scott #426-9,429a, SG #483-6,MS487




1984 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABOLITION OF SLAVERY Scott #478-9, SG #538-47

STRIPS OF 5


1985 UNISSUED MICHAEL JACKSON SET OF 4

These two pairs of stamps were produced by the printer but were rejected at the last minute because:
"The BVI stamps were printed but were withdrawn before they were actually issued to the public on the orders of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, because at the time no living person, other than a member of the royal family was permitted on a postage stamp that required Royal Approval from HM The Queen."

These two particular pairs were fully produced for the British Virgin Islands and stocks were actually shipped to the island before they were vetoed by the Foreign Commonwealth Office in London.
This means that the standard quantities ordered for the British Virgin Islands stamp issues of the time which usually ran up to 100,000 sets was implemented for these two pairs. Because of the veto the shipment was rejected and sent back.

Philatelists Ltd. were the controllers of British Virgin Island stamps between 1985 and 1987. The main director of the company was Mr. Allan Grant, owner of Rushstamps. The rejected stamps were retained by him. Later on he basically bought up the stock in a London auction and when the printing company was liquidated he obtained the rest despite objections of how they were retained by Mr. Clive Feigenbaum.

These pairs were sold at the time and sold to this day at what I consider over inflated prices.

After Michael Jackson's untimely death on June 25, 2009, on July 7 as the memorial service was being held for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles, Mr. Grant made the statement:
"The sudden demise has created a demand for all sorts of Michael Jackson memorabilia especially stamps. As they are at a reasonable price and show a series of designs that reflect his magical music creations. Four stamps in two pairs were printed by Format International during 1985, however this was quickly stopped before the other two values and the miniature sheets could be produced and there was a lot of confusion and publicity. At the time these stamps fetched £200 (per pair). Today my company, Rushstamps (Retail) Ltd, is able to supply both pairs of stamps (four stamps) at a price of £19.95 of which £5 will be donated to two charities which Michael Jackson supported."

This is blatant use of the unfortunate death of a celebrity to produce personal profits. I must state here that the pairs are worth no more than the regular issue catalog prices for the Saint Vincent Michael Jackson issues with a slight markup for the nostalgia of them.
Selling them with color guide selvage or whatever does not increase value either because hundreds of the panes were saved.

Anyone who purchases these pairs for more than $5-10.00US is being duped!

A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with errors 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 which I have seen none) of these issues have a rarity factor. The regular issues do not!

Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2015 are on the market. They have the correct perf size!
I have a page created on the St. Vincent forgeries. I now verify that the unissued BVI Michael Jackson stamps have also been forged. Visit the linked page to define them and what to avoid. Both the St. Vincent and BVI forgeries are the same.

The Newly Discovered 1985 Michael Jackson Forgeries.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #509-19, SG #579A-86A,MS587A,579B-86B
This issue exists in a set of unissued miniature sheets found in the archive.
New information has been discovered.

View the SPECIALIZED British Virgin Islands 1985 85th Birthday Omnibus Series Page here.
Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2014 are on the market. They have the correct perf size!
Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered 85th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth Forgeries.


RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist)

RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist)

UNISSUED DESIGNS (5000 estimated to exist)


1985 BIRTH BICENTENARY OF JOHN J. AUDUBON (ORNITHOLOGIST) Scott #520-3, SG #588-91
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with errors 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.



1986 VISITING CRUISE SHIPS Scott #524-7, SG #592-5
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with errors 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.



1986 INAUGURAL FLIGHT OF MIAMI-BEEF ISLAND AIR SERVICE
LEADERS OF THE WORLD LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER OVERPRINTED "MIAMI/B.V.I./INAUGURAL FLIGHT" Scott #528-31, SG #596A-9A,596B-9B



1986 60TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #532-6, SG #600-3,MS604
This issue exists in a set of unissued miniature sheets found in the archive.
A lot of new information has been discovered.

View the SPECIALIZED British Virgin Islands 1986 60th Birthday Omnibus Series Page here.
Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2015 are on the market. Forgeries of the imperforate souvenir Sheets are on the market!
Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered 60th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth Forgeries.


UNISSUED DESIGNS (5000 estimated to exist)


1986 ROYAL WEDDING OF SARAH FERGUSON AND PRINCE ANDREW Scott #537-40,546, SG #605-8,MS609

View the SPECIALIZED British Virgin Islands 1986 Royal Wedding Omnibus Series Page here.
Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2015 are on the market. Perforated and imperforate forgeries are on the market!
Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered 1986 Royal Wedding Forgeries.



1986 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CABLE AND WIRELESS CARIBBEAN HEADQUARTERS, TORTOLA Scott #547-58, SG #615-22,MS623
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with errors 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.

Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2014 are on the market. They have the correct perf size!
Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered 20th Anniversary of Cable and Wireless Forgeries.




1986 CENTENARY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Scott #559-67, SG #MS624
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with errors 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.
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for the British Virgin Islands. The company soon after went into bankruptcy.



References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Leeward Islands
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe

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