THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

NIGER

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

Noting for Niger that Stanley Gibbons nor any other catalog seems to note who the printers were during the time that Format printed stamps for Niger. 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.

As Noted in Scott Catalog, from 1960 onward the majority of sets were produced in limited numbers as imperforates, on deluxe sheetlets etc. Not only did Format have orders to produce them but Cartor, De la Rue and Editions de I'Aubetin SA and other companies also had the same orders long before Format ever made stamps for Niger. 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.

Orders for imperforates ran in quantities of 3-5,000 sets. Orders for deluxe sheetlets ran in quantities of 2-3,000 sets. In the 1980's they ran more toward 5,000 sets for popular topics. Most are not rare.

1976 12TH WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES, INNSBRUCK
Scott #347-9, C266-C268, SG #608-12, MS613

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or pink backgrounds were produced also.
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.




1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL
Scott #352-3, C269-C272, SG #616-20, MS621

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or light blue backgrounds were produced also.




1976 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ZEPPELIN
Scott #C273-C278, SG #624-8, MS629

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or pink backgrounds were produced also.




1976 21ST SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, MONTREAL
Scott #363-7, C279, SG #633-7, MS638

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with light pink backgrounds were produced also.
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.




1977 VIKING MARS PROJECT
Scott #389-90, C283-C286, SG #667-71, MS672

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or light blue backgrounds were produced also.




1977 NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
Scott #406-10, C287, SG #688-92, MS693

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or light green backgrounds were produced also. The light green are common.




1977 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, ARGENTINA
Scott #412-17, SG #695-99, MS700

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or pale green backgrounds were produced also.




1978 RUBENS PAINTINGS
Scott #426-31, SG #708-12, MS713

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe souvenir sheets of the singles were produced also.


1978 Rubens Paintings Deluxe Souvenir Sheet Set




1978 11TH WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, ARGENTINA
Scott #438-42, SG #722-5, MS726

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or light pink with red wavy lined backgrounds were produced also.




1978 ANIMALS, ENDANGERED SPECIES (WWF)
Scott #447-52, SG #735-40

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with salmon color backgrounds were produced also.



1978 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Scott #453-8, SG #741-5, MS746

The overprint exists in silver or red. It is stated that 2,000 sets exist with the red overprint.
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white or light pink with red wavy lined backgrounds were produced also.



1978 World Cup Soccer Championship Winners Stamp Set with Red Overprints


1979 DÜRER PAINTINGS
Scott #462-6, SG #752-5, MS756

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe souvenir sheets were produced also. I could not find the 50fr value in this form. Does it exist?


1979 Dürer Paintings Deluxe Souvenir Sheet Set




1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD (IYC)
Scott #469-71, SG #761-3

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not seem to exist for this issue.



1979 DEATH CENTENARY OF SIR ROWLAND HILL
Scott #474-8, SG #764-7, MS768

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.




1979 PRE-OLYMPIC YEAR
Scott #484-8, SG #775-8, MS779

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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. There were several press sheets of the souvenir sheet. All were cut into imperf between pairs and large selvage singles.




1979 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Scott #489, SG #771

The stamps do not exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not seem to exist for this issue.
One or two of the uncut press sheets were found in the archive for this stamp. Intact pieces from them as in cross gutters, gutters and large selvage pieces are very rare.



1979 13TH WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES, LAKE PLACID
Scott #491-6, SG #787-91, MS792

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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. There were several press sheets of the souvenir sheet. All were cut into imperf between pairs and large selvage singles.




1979 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING
Scott #497-8, C295-C297, SG #782-5, MS786

The overprint was printed in silver and black. Also in red. It is stated that 1,000 sets exist with the red overprint.
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not exist with the overprint.



1979 Viking Space Project Souvenir Sheet with Apollo 11 Moon Landing Red Overprints


1980 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS
Scott #501-6, SG #802-6, MS807

The overprint was printed in black and also in red. It is stated that 2,000 sets exist with the red overprint.
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not exist with the overprint.
Errors and varieties of the overprint exist.


1979 Winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid Souvenir Sheet with Winners Red Overprint


1980 22ND SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, MOSCOW
Scott #507-11, SG #797-800, MS801

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.




1980 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS
Scott #527-31, SG #816-19, MS820

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.




1981 ROYAL WEDDING OF PRINCE CHARLES AND LADY DIANA
Scott #548-51, SG #860-2, MS863

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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. There were several press sheets of the souvenir sheet. All were cut into imperf between pairs and large selvage singles.




1981 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, ESPANA '82
Scott #557-62, SG #868-72, MS873

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with white background and designed backgrounds were produced also.
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. There were several press sheets of the souvenir sheet. All were cut into imperf between pairs and large selvage singles.




1981 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GRAND PRIX
Scott #563-8, SG #868-72, MS873

The stamps were issued in sheetlets of 15 with borders.
The souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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. There were only one or two press sheets of the souvenir sheet. All were cut into imperf between pairs and large selvage singles.


1981 75th Anniversary of the Grand Prix Sheetlet of 15 with Borders



1982 ROYAL BIRTH OF PRINCE WILLIAM
Scott #595-8, SG #905-7, MS908

The overprint was printed in blue. A red overprint exist only on the 300fr value. It is standard that at least 1,000 were produced with the red overprint.
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not exist with this overprint.



1982 Royal Birth of Prince William 300fr Stamp with Red Overprint


1982 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Scott #603-8, SG #915-19, MS920

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with the designed backgrounds were also overprinted.




1982 CHRISTMAS, RUBENS PAINTINGS
Scott #C315-C317, SG #923-5

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets do not seem to exist for this issue.
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.


1983 BICENTENARY OF MANNED FLIGHT
Scott #C318-C323, SG #926-31

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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.


1983 RAPHAEL PAINTINGS
Scott #614-21, SG #936-43

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets with designed backgrounds were produced also.
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.


1983 CHRISTMAS, BOTTICELLI PAINTINGS
Scott #C329-C331, SG #973-5

The stamps exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlets seem not to exist for this issue.
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Niger. 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 De la Rue or another company 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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