THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CENTRAFRICAINE

Central Africa stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.

There is no real source of information that describes who printed stamps for Central Africa. Through internet research I was able to find the evidence proving that the Format Printers were the company that printed the following issues.

The majority of Central African stamps and souvenir sheets produced by Format and the other printing companies exist as imperforates and were also produced on deluxe sheetlets. These were ordered by the various philatelic agents to promote the stamp issues. The imperforates usually were produced in the quantity of 3,000 to 5,000 sets. The deluxe sheetlets were produced in quantities of 1,000 to 3,000 sets. None were actually issued as postage "over the counter" but first day covers exist with them on them usually sent to stamp dealers involved with the promotion and sales of the issues. Some now have become difficult to find.

Gold stamp issues were not produced by the Format Printer but because they are part of a set I display them for you.
I may have missed a couple sets because I could not find proof of who printed the set. If you have evidence please contact me and this page can be updated.

1976 APOLLO SOYUZ SPACE TEST PROJECT
Scott #251-2, C135-8, SG #410-14, MS415
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist. The deluxe sheetlets are difficult to acquire.
A number of these issues as 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 extremely rare.




1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL
Scott #C139-44, SG #416-20, MS421
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1976 12TH WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS
Scott #255-6, C147-50, SG #426-30, MS431
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1976 VIKING MARS PROJECT
Scott #257-8, C151-4, SG #433-7, MS438
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




On December 4, 1976 The Central African Republic changed the name to the Central African Empire.

1977 NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
Scott #293-4, C180-3, SG #503-7, MS508
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1977 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ZEPPELIN
Scott #295-6, C184-7, SG #509-13, MS514
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1977 HISTORY OF AVIATION, FAMOUS FLYERS
Scott #297-302, SG #515-19, MS520
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1977 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, ARGENTINA
Scott #303-8, SG #527-31, MS532
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1977 CORONATION OF EMPEROR BOKASSA I
Scott #309-12, C188-9. C189a, SG #533-8, MS539
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist. The deluxe sheetlets are difficult to acquire.




Coronation of Emperor Bokassa Gold Embossed Stamp noted in Scott Catalog


1977 LILIUM AND HIBISCUS FLOWERS
Scott #313-14, SG #521-2



1977 WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS DAY
Scott #315, SG #523
Limited quantities of deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist. The deluxe sheetlets are difficult to acquire.



1978 RUBENS PAINTINGS
Scott #318-22, SG #545-8, MS549
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist. Also deluxe souvenir sheets of the single issues exist perforated and imperforate.




1978 ENDANGERED ANIMALS (WWF)
Scott #323-8, SG #550-5



1978 BOKASSA SPORTS PALACE
Scott #329-30, SG #543-4



1978 AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, BANGUI
Scott #331-2, SG #541-2



1978 CENTENARY OF PROGRESS POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS (U.P.U.)
Scott #333-6, C191-3, C193A-B, SG #556-61, MS562
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe souvenir sheets of this issue exist.




Centenary of Progress Gold Embossed Stamp Scott 193A


Centenary of Progress Gold Embossed Souvenir Sheet Scott 193B


1978 BLACK-AFRICAN WORLD ARTS FESTIVAL
Scott #337-40, SG #582-5



1978 CAPTAIN JAMES COOK, EXPLORER
Scott #341-4, SG #578-81
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe souvenir sheets of this issue exist.



1978 HISTORY OF AVIATION
Scott #C194-9, SG #586-90, MS591





1978 DÜRER PAINTINGS
Scott #345-8, SG #592-5
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe souvenir sheets of this issue exist.



1978 TREASURES OF TUTANKHAMON
Scott #349-56, SG #598-605
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe souvenir sheets of this issue exist.



1978 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF EMPEROR BOKASSA I
Scott #364-5, C202, SG #613-14, MS615, MS616
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.





1st Anniversary of the Coronation of Emperor Bokassa Souvenir Sheet Not listed in Scott Catalog nor Stanley Gibbons


1st Anniversary of the Coronation of Emperor Bokassa Gold Embossed Souvenir Sheet Noted in Scott Catalog


1978 ROWLAND HILL (1st issue)
Scott #366-9, C203-5, SG #617-22, MS623, MS624
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.





Rowland Hill (1st issue) Gold Embossed Stamp Noted in Scott Catalog


Rowland Hill (1st issue) Gold Embossed Souvenir Sheet Noted in Scott Catalog


1978 ARGENTINA'S VICTORY IN THE WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Scott #370-5, SG #625-9, MS630
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.

The 1977 World Cup Soccer Championship Set Overprinted in Silver


The 1977 World Cup Soccer Championship Set Overprinted in Red (2,000 sets stated to exist)


1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD (1st issue)
Scott #376-9, C206-8, SG #631-6, MS637, MS638
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.





International Year of the Child (1st issue) Gold Embossed Stamp Noted in Scott Catalog


International Year of the Child (1st issue) Gold Embossed Souvenir Sheet Noted in Scott Catalog


1979 22ND SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, MOSCOW
Scott #380-3, C209-10, SG #639-44, MS645, MS646
Issued in sheetlets of 6.
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.



22nd Summer Olympic Games Sheetlet of 6


22nd Summer Olympic Games Souvenir Sheet not Listed in Scott Catalog


22nd Summer Olympic Games Gold Embossed Stamp Noted in Scott Catalog


22nd Summer Olympic Games Gold Embossed Souvenir Sheet Noted in Scott Catalog


1979 NATIONAL HUSBANDRY ASSOCIATION
Scott #387-9, C211, SG #651-4
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.



1979 ALBRECHT DÜRER
Scott #390, SG #MS650



In November 1979 The Central African Empire changed the name to the Central African Republic.

1979 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING
Scott #391-2, C212-15, SG #unlisted
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.

The 1976 Viking Mars Project Set Overprinted in Silver and Black


The 1976 Viking Mars Project Set Overprinted in Red (2,000 sets stated to exist)


1979 13TH WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES, LAKE PLACID
Scott #C216-20, SG #655-8, MS659
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD (2nd issue)
Scott #393-7, SG #666-70
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.



1979 DEATH CENTENARY OF SIR ROWLAND HILL
Scott #398-402, SG #671-4, MS675
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.
A number of this issue as perforated, imperforate proofs came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1989. There are some varieties that are legitimately rare. A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties and souvenir sheet pairs imperforate between. They are extremely rare.




1979 PRE-OLYMPIC YEAR, BASKETBALL
Scott #403-7, SG #676-80
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.



1980 WINTER OLYMPIC GAME WINNERS, LAKE PLACID
Scott #C224-8, SG #unlisted
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.
Inverted overprints exist. They are made for collectors.

The 1979 Winter Olympic Games Set and Souvenir Sheet Overprinted in Black




The 1979 Winter Olympic Games Set Overprinted in Red (2,000 sets stated to exist)


1980 OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS, BASKETBALL
Scott #425-9, SG #717-21



1981 SPACE EXPLORATION
Scott #445-9, SG #752-5, MS756
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.
A number of this issue as perforated, imperforate proofs came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1989. There are some varieties that are legitimately rare.




1981 REMBRANDT PAINTINGS
Scott #C240-4, SG #739-42, MS743
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.




1981 ROYAL WEDDING OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA
Scott #457-61, SG #767-70, MS771
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.
A number of this issue as perforated, imperforate proofs came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1989. There are some varieties that are legitimately rare. A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties and souvenir sheet pairs imperforate between. They are extremely rare.




1982 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING
Scott #497-501, SG #815-18, MS819
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.




1982 NORMAN ROCKWELL ILLUSTRATIONS
Scott #506-9, SG #827-30
A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties. They are extremely rare.



1982 BIRTH OF PRINCE WILLIAM
Scott #529-33, SG #864-7, MS868
Limited quantities of imperforates of this issue exist.
A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties and souvenir sheet pairs imperforate between. They are extremely rare.




From this point I could not find solid evidence for many sets issued between 1983 and 1988 except for the following three sets. It is possible and most probable that several sets (especially the airmails) were printed by Format. If I find it or if one of you find any evidence this page will be updated accordingly.

1983 BICENTENARY OF MANNED FLIGHT
Scott #C282-6, SG #930-3, MS934
Limited quantities of imperforates and deluxe sheetlets of this issue exist.
A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties. They are extremely rare.




1985 SUMMER OLYMPIC WINNERS
Scott #C303-7, SG #1068-71, MS1072
A few uncut press sheets were found in the archive. All were broken into gutter varieties. They are extremely rare.




1988 DINOSAURS
Scott #872-9, SG #1068-71, MS1072
A number of this issue as perforated, imperforate proofs came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1989.

These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Central Africa. The company went into bankruptcy in 1989.


References taken from:
Scott Catalog
Internet research
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe

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