THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

LIBYA

Libya stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.

The Format Printers produced quite a few sets of stamps for Libya. As with many of the African countries imperforate and deluxe sheetlet varieties were produced for many stamp issues from 1962 onward. Standard practices under orders from the philatelic agents was to produce them in limited numbers. Usually imperforate sets ranged around 5,000 sets. The deluxe sheetlets ranged from 1,000 sets to 3,000 sets depending on popularity of the subject.

Libya stamps are an interesting study. There appears to be no catalogs that tell us who printed the stamp issues. On many earlier issues we can see by logo's and color guides on the selvage who printed them. From the mid 1970's onward the majority of stamps do not have neither logo's nor color guides and thus it is very difficult to define who the printer was. Through online research I have been able to present this page with verified issues the Format International Security Printers printed. As luck would have it many are verified by materials found in the printers archive. Artist sketches, proofs and some uncut press sheets were found. Finding some earlier issues with the Format Logo and such still attached also qualified them for this page. The probability that some issues are missing of which Format was the printer is real. Some issues I expect are but I could not find proof of printing and so they are not shown here. Should you have proof of printing for an issue not found on this page, please contact me with your evidence and I will add the issue to this page.

There is proof from the archive that the Format Printers were involved in the design of at least one of the generic First Day Covers on which many Libya stamp issues are on. Issues from 1978 to 1989 are on the cover designed by Format shown here.


The last FDC I could find on this cover was a 1989 issue. That is when the printing company began liquidation proceedings. I also wish to note the similarities to stamps of the Trucial States (Ajman, Fujiera, etc.) for some sets for Libya. The strips of three for many issues is one example.

The following sets are verified to have been printed by the Format Printers.

1971 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #420-1, SG #224-7



1976 INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES COUNCIL
Scott #639-41, SG #324-7



1977 7TH INTERNATIONAL TURF CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TRIPOLI
Scott #699-704, SG #324-7




1977 DOME OF THE ROCK IN JERUSALEM
Scott #705-6, SG #324-7



1977 THE GREEN BOOK
Scott #707, SG #324-7

Printed in panes of 5 strips.


Stamp Pane of Five Strips of Three


1978 TURKISH-LIBYAN FRIENDSHIP
Scott #739-41, SG #324-7



1978 9TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #742-5, SG #224-7




1978 TECHNICAL COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONFERENCE
Scott #756-8, SG #324-7



1978 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT
Scott #769-75, SG #224-7

It is with this set that production of varieties like deluxe sheets, imperforates and sheetlet varieties became a standard for popular issues.
All exist imperforate. Standard printing practices would produce 3-5000 sets.


Icarus Falling

Eagle and Boeing 727

A Set of Sheetlets of Four


A Set of Deluxe Sheets


1979 FLORA OF LIBYA, FLOWERS
Scott #779-84, SG #324-7

Exist imperforate.



1979 ANIMALS
Scott #797-804, SG #324-7



1979 17TH TRIPOLI FAIR RUGS
Scott #805-9, SG #324-7

Exist imperforate.



1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD
Scott #810, SG #324-7

Exist imperforate.



1979 THE ARABS ACHIEVEMENTS
Scott #815-16, SG #324-7



1979 WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY
Scott #817-19, SG #324-7



1979 WORLD HEALTH DAY
Scott #820, SG #324-7



1979 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #821-6, SG #224-7


Revolution Symbols and the Green Book

Monument Building


1979 WORLD UNIVERSITY SUMMER GAMES
Scott #827-8, SG #324-7

Exist imperforate.



1979 3RD WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXHIBITION
Scott #832-3, SG #324-7



1979 INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR OF THE GREEN BOOK, BENGHAZI
Scott #834-5, SG #224-7




1979 EVACUATION OF FOREIGN FORCES
Scott #837-9, SG #224-7




1980 MILITARY BATTLES (1st Issue)
Scott #853-6, SG #324-7

Essays and Documents show that Format printed all of the Battles issues.
Some imperforates exist but appear uncommon. Certain stamps from some issues appear to be quite uncommon now.



1980 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPEC
Scott #867-8, SG #324-7



1980 MARTYRDOM OF OMAR MUKTAR
Scott #869-70, 870A SG #224-7

Exist as imperforates.




1980 SCHOOL SCIENTIFIC EXHIBITION AND BIRTH MILLENIUM OF AVICENNA
Scott #871-2, SG #324-7



1980 MILITARY BATTLES (2nd Issue)
Scott #893-6, SG #324-7



1981 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED
Scott #910-12, SG #324-7

Exist imperforate.



1981 UPA DISABLED PERSONS CAMPAIGN
Scott #913-14, SG #324-7



1981 MILITARY BATTLES (3rd Issue)
Scott #921-32, SG #324-7



1981 THE GREEN BOOK, PEOPLE'S AUTHORITY DECLARATION
Scott #950-1, SG #324-7



1981 INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR COMBATING RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Scott #958-9, SG #324-7

Imperforates Exist.



1981 12TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #960-5, SG #224-7

Imperforates exist.




1981 BUTTERFLIES
Scott #966, SG #324-7

Issued in panes of 16 and sheetlets of 4. Imperforates and the color proof sets in the panes and sheetlets Exist.



A Set of Sheetlets of Four


1981 WORLD FOOD DAY
Scott #967-8, SG #324-7

Imperforates and color proof sets Exist.



1982 MILITARY BATTLES (4th Issue)
Scott #980-91, SG #324-7



1982 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS
Scott #1016-21, SG #224-7

Issued in Sheetlets of 4 and sheetlets of 8. Sheetlets of 8 were overprinted with large soccer ball in motion across the sheetlet. Unoverprinted sets come from the sheetlets of 4. All the varieties exist imperforate. Standard printing practices would produce 3-5000 sets.

Set with no Overprint

Set with Overprint

Head Shot

Goal Kick

A Set of Sheetlets of Four


A Set of Sheetlets of Eight


A Set of Deluxe Sheets


1982 BIRDS
Scott #1023, SG #324-7

Issued in panes of 16 and sheetlets of 4.



A Set of Block Panes Containing four Blocks of Four


1982 19TH SUMMIT FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY
Scott #1035-8, SG #224-7




1982 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #1039-45, SG #224-7

Imperforates exist.




1983 FLOWERS
Scott #1052, SG #224-7



1983 MILITARY BATTLES (5th Issue)
Scott #1059-70, SG #324-7



1983 FARM ANIMALS
Scott #1083, SG #224-7



1983 1ST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON KHADAFY'S GREEN BOOK
Scott #1097-1100, SG #224-7




1983 FISH
Scott #1107, SG #224-7



1983 PAINTINGS
Scott #1108-9, SG #224-7

Issued in Strips of four on panes of 16.



1983 SCIENTISTS
Scott #1110, SG #224-7



1983 WOMEN IN THE ARMED FORCES
Scott #1130-6, SG #224-7




1984 WATER SPORTS
Scott #1164, SG #224-7



1984 AFRICAN CHILDREN'S DAY
Scott #1165, SG #224-7



1984 THE GREAT MAN-RIVER BUILDER
Scott #1169-71, SG #224-7

The strips of 3 were issued in panes of 5 strips. The 100d stamp was issued in panes of 12 stamps.
The Gold embossed souvenir sheet was made by an affiliate to the Format Printers. The Format Printers did not create embossed stamps.




1984 TRIPOLI INTERNATIONAL FAIR TEA SERVING
Scott #1179-84, SG #224-7



1984 MUSICIANS
Scott #1185, SG #224-7

Issued in panes of 5 Strips plus labels. Imperforates and color proof sets exist.



Full Pane of Four Strips


1984 ABROGATION OF THE MAY 17 TREATY
Scott #1196-8, SG #224-7



1984 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #1214, SG #224-7

Imperforates and color proofs in full panes exist.



1984 EVACUATION DAY
Scott #1215-18, SG #224-7



1985 MUSICIANS
Scott #1239-42, SG #224-7

Imperforates in full panes exist.



1985 PEOPLE'S AUTHORITY DECLARATION
Scott #1248, SG #224-7

Issued in panes of four strips.



1985 MUSICIANS PLAYING INSTRUMENTS
Scott #1249, SG #224-7

Issued in panes of five strips.



1985 CHILDREN'S DAY DRAWINGS
Scott #1250, SG #224-7

Issued in panes of five strips.
Imperforates and color proofs in full panes exist.



1985 TRIPOLI INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR
Scott #1258-9, SG #224-7

Imperforates and color proofs exist.



1985 MOSQUE MINARETS AND TOWERS
Scott #1262, SG #224-7



1985 TEACHER'S DAY
Scott #1263-4, SG #224-7



1985 BATTLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA
Scott #1265, SG #224-7

Issued in Panes of five strips.



1985 KHADAFY'S ISLAMIC PILGRIMAGE
Scott #1266-7, SG #224-7

The strips were issued in Panes of five strips.





1985 MOSQUE ENTRANCES
Scott #1273, SG #224-7

Issued in Panes of five strips.



1985 EVACUATION DAY
Scott #1275, SG #224-7

Issued in Panes of six strips.



1986 GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Scott #1305, SG #224-7

Issued in Panes of five strips.



1986 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 1ST REVOLUTION
Scott #1316, SG #224-7

Issued in Panes of five strips.



1986 INTERNATIONAL PEACE YEAR
Scott #1320-1, SG #224-7



These were the last stamps with proof that they were printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Libya.

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

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