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THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

Flag of Ivory Coast
Marquee for Golowe's Reference Site on the Format International Security Printers

Ivory Coast

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

Noting for the Ivory Coast that Stanley Gibbons nor any other catalog seems to note who the printers were during the time that Format printed stamps for the Ivory Coast. By scanning thousands of images looking for clues like the color guides and logo's and analyzing archival material I am able to present this page.

Scott Catalog notes that during from 1959 onward almost all sets were produced in limited numbers as imperforates, on deluxe sheetlets etc. Not only did Format have orders to produce them but De La Rue and other printing companies also had the same orders long before Format ever made stamps for the Ivory Coast. The evidence is the stamps themselves. Again I state that many other printing companies of the time were producing imperforates, deluxe sheetlets, specimen's, color proofs etc. in limited quantities exactly as the Format printers were. The quantities they produced were just never exposed because they were never put on trial. Therefore valuation of these varieties should be equal no matter who printed them.

1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL
Scott #421-6, SG #479-83, Souvenir Sheet not listed

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
They appear to be quite common on the market.

Ivory Coast 1976 American Bicentennial Stamps
George Washington
Ivory Coast 1976 American Bicentennial Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1976 American Bicentennial Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1977 HISTORY OF AVIATION
Scott #434-9, SG #497-501, MS502

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
They appear to be quite common on the market.

Ivory Coast 1977 History of Aviation Stamps
Lindbergh and Spirit of St. Louis
Ivory Coast 1977 History of Aviation Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1977 History of Aviation Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1977 HISTORY OF THE ZEPPELIN
Scott #440-4,C63, SG #503-7, Souvenir Sheet not listed

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
They appear to be quite common on the market.

Ivory Coast 1977 History of the Zeppelin Stamps
Graf Zeppelin LZ127 Over New York
Ivory Coast 1977 History of the Zeppelin Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1977 History of the Zeppelin Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1978 RUBENS PAINTINGS
Scott #451-5, SG #525-8, Souvenir Sheet not listed

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
There exists the set of unlisted souvenir sheets which were planned but never issued. Estimated quantity is around 3-5,000 sets. A couple of the uncut press sheets were found in the archive of these.

Ivory Coast 1978 Rubens Paintings Stamps

Virgin and Child
Ivory Coast 1978 Rubens Paintings Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1978 Rubens Paintings Deluxe Sheetlet Set

Unlisted Deluxe Souvenir Sheet Set
Ivory Coast 1978 Rubens Paintings Unlisted Deluxe Souvenir Sheet Set

1978 NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
Scott #460-5, SG #534-8, Souvenir Sheet not listed

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets although not many are offered at present. Deluxe sheetlet sets seem not to exist for this set. A couple of the uncut press sheets including composite sheets were found in the archive of these.

Ivory Coast 1978 Nobel Prize Winners Stamps

Max Planck, Rockets and Earth
Ivory Coast 1978 Nobel Prize Winners Souvenir Sheet

1978 11TH WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Scott #466-71, SG #604-8, Souvenir Sheet not listed

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets. A number of the uncut press sheets were found in the archive of these.

Ivory Coast 1978 11th World Cup Soccer Championship Stamps

Ball as Globe with Argentina on Map of South America
Ivory Coast 1978 11th World Cup Soccer Championship Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1978 11th World Cup Soccer Championship Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1978 CENTENARY OF THE CONGRESS OF PARIS
Scott #485, SG #561

There appears to be no varieties of this issue. It appears that a mint copy is getting difficult to find. The majority available are CTO.

Ivory Coast 1978 Centenary of the Congress of Paris Stamp
1979 DEATH CENTENARY OF SIR ROWLAND HILL, TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVES
Scott #514-19, SG #594-8, MS599

The stamps and souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2,000 sets. A popular stamp on stamp set.
A small number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1979 Death Centenary of Sir Rowland Hill Stamps
Rowland Hill and Ivory Coast Stamp
Ivory Coast 1979 Death Centenary of Sir Rowland Hill Souvenir Sheet
Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1979 Death Centenary of Sir Rowland Hill Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1979 PRE-OLYMPIC YEAR
Scott #522-7, SG #607-11, MS612

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
A number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1979 Pre-Olympic Year Stamps
Gymnastics
Ivory Coast 1979 Pre-Olympic Year Stamps
Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1979 Pre-Olympic Year Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1979 WILDLIFE PROTECTION (WWF)
Scott #528-33, SG #613-18

The stamps exist imperforate. 5,000 were produced. At the time I created this page no deluxe sheetlet sets seem to exist.

Ivory Coast 1979 Wildlife Protection (WWF) Stamps

1980 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, MOSCOW
Scott #C66-C70, SG #642-5, MS646

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. I could not find the souvenir sheet as imperforate. Deluxe sheetlet sets seem not to exist.
A small number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1980 Summer Olympic Games, Moscow Stamps

Gymnastics
Ivory Coast 1980 Summer Olympic Games, Moscow Souvenir Sheet

1981 CONQUEST OF SPACE
Scott #585-9, SG #673-6, MS677

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2,000 sets.
A small number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1981 Conquest of Space Stamps

Columbia Space Shuttle 1981
Ivory Coast 1981 Conquest of Space Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1981 Conquest of Space Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1981 ROYAL WEDDING OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA
Scott #593-6, SG #681-3, MS684

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1,000 sets. They appear to not be very common.
I have discovered there are two perf varieties of the souvenir sheet. Scott catalog states the souvenir sheet is perf 12.5. It also exists as perf 13.5! In scanning the market both varieties are available but here again is the case where sellers, buyers and the major catalogs do not even notice such an important difference. Well to make this definite I present images of both types below. Just count the perforations!
Again the catalogs are confusing. The 1982 souvenir sheet with Prince William overprint is perf 13.5 not 12.5. Obviously what happened was the souvenir sheet was reprinted with perf 13.5 for the Prince William issue and some were not overprinted. The major catalogs just assumed that the original souvenir sheet was overprinted. Again...no proper research before listing them.
A number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1981 Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Stamps

The Royal Couple and Coach Souvenir sheet perf 12.5
Ivory Coast 1981 Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Souvenir Sheet perf 12.5

The Royal Couple and Coach Souvenir Sheet perf 13.5
Ivory Coast 1981 Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Souvenir Sheet perf 14.5

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1981 Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1981 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP (1982)
Scott #600-5, SG #688-92, MS693

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets. Two types of deluxe sheetlet sets exist. A number of the uncut press sheets were found in the archive of these.

Ivory Coast 1981 World Cup Soccer Championship (1982) Stamps

Soccer Player Kicking Ball
Ivory Coast 1981 World Cup Soccer Championship (1982) Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background
Ivory Coast 1981 World Cup Soccer Championship (1982) Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background

Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Decorative Green Background
Ivory Coast 1981 World Cup Soccer Championship (1982) Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Decorative Green Background

1982 BIRTH OF PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES
Scott #642-5, SG not listed?

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 3,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets do not seem to exist with the overprint.

Ivory Coast 1982 Birth of Prince William of Wales Stamps

The Royal Couple with Overprint
Ivory Coast 1982 Birth of Prince William of Wales Souvenir Sheet

1982 PICASSO PAINTINGS
Scott #646-50, SG #734-8

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.

Ivory Coast 1982 Picasso Paintings Stamps

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1982 Picasso Paintings Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1982 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS, SPAIN (1982)
Scott #651-6, SG #743-7, MS748

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 2,500 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets do not seem to exist with the overprint.

Ivory Coast 1982 World Cup Soccer Championship Winners Stamps

Soccer Player Kicking Ball with Winners Overprint
Ivory Coast 1982 World Cup Soccer Championship Winners Souvenir Sheet

1983 BICENTENARY OF MANNED FLIGHT
Scott #C71-C75, SG #760-4

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set would be around 1-2,000 sets. At present I could only find the Zeppelin Stamp on Deluxe Sheetlets. It is possible the others (balloons) are still being held somewhere.

Ivory Coast 1983 Bicentenary of Manned Flight Stamps

Zeppelin Deluxe Sheetlet
Ivory Coast 1983 Bicentenary of Manned Flight Zeppelin Deluxe Sheetlet

1983 PRE-OLYMPIC YEAR
Scott #C76-C80, SG #774-7, MS778

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
A number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1983 Pre-Olympic Year Stamps
Water Polo
Ivory Coast 1983 Pre-Olympic Year Stamps
Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1983 Pre-Olympic Year Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1984 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, LOS ANGELES
Scott #C81-C85, SG #798-801, MS802

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets would be around 1-2,000 sets.
A small number of uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this set. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.

Ivory Coast 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Los Angeles Stamps

Equestrian
Ivory Coast 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Los Angeles Souvenir Sheet

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1984 Summer Olympic Games, Los Angeles Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1984 TRAINS AND SHIPS
Scott #722-9, SG #812-15, 816-19

Noting Stanley Gibbons lists these as two separate sets.
The train stamps exist imperforate. I could not find any ships stamps as imperforates. The imperforates were produced in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets would be around 1-2,000 sets.

Ivory Coast 1984 Trains and Ships Stamps

Trains Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1984 Trains Deluxe Sheetlet Set

Ships Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1984 Ships Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1984 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS, LOS ANGELES
Scott #C86-C89, SG #824-7

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets would be around 1-2,000 sets.

Ivory Coast 1984 Summer Olympic Games Winners, Los Angeles Stamps

Deluxe Sheetlet Set
Ivory Coast 1984 Summer Olympic Games Winners, Los Angeles Deluxe Sheetlet Set

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

As you can see every set has imperforates that were made as do most sets made by other printers during the same time era. This is proof that the printers were under contracts that allowed them to be made for promotional reasons and for sale to collectors. Therefore any discrepancy with pricing them for less because they were made by the Format Printers and more because they were made by Questa or De la Rue should be disregarded because the quantities that exist are equal no matter who made the stamps.

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

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UPDATED LAST ON: 23-Jan-2015 03:29 PM