THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Stamp issues for Ras al Khaima printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1970 and items found in the Archive

RAS AL KHAIMA
1970

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

Ras al Khaimah was the last of the Trucial States to issue its own stamps. Ras al Khaima post office was opened on December 21, 1964. Its first set, which was issued on the same day of the opening of the post office, was very similar to the original Trucial States designs. From the opening of post office in 1964 to the last issued set in December of 1972, According to Michel, Ras al Khaima issued 903 stamps and 148 souvenir sheets.
As far as the souvenir sheets are concerned though Michel has listed some of the deluxe sheetlets as souvenir sheets. They have also not listed many souvenir sheets also. Therefore the numbers are inaccurate.

Please visit my introduction page for the Trucial States to understand how the following sets have been determined to have been printed by the Format International Security Printers.

INTRODUCTION TO THE TRUCIAL STATES STAMPS PRINTED BY THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS

A NOTE ON THE AGENCIES

You will find here that the evidence presented refutes every document created and presented on the ohmygosh webpages by the Middle East Stamp Company as false and misleading including the statements and the "contracts" presented there. These "copies of documents" can be found at this link:

The Fujairah Stamps and Postal History Site

These "documents" are presented on the Ajman and Fujairah (Fujiera) webpages and can be Googled easily thus many collectors and dealers may become "misinformed" as to the true facts on the status of many Trucial States stamps.
If the documents that are presented on that website were true then almost every issue cataloged in Michel and Minkus during 1970 through 1972 would have to be considered as unofficial and fake issues. Judging from all the covers and such that are available all over the world and that have been shown to be officially honored by the various Trucial States, obviously this shows us that the "documents" presented are false and misleading. The Middle East Stamp Company never had any dealings with the Format International Security Printers and thus with the evidence shown here, proving who printed the stamps, we can see who really was the "jealous and envious" company yes?

1970 CHRISTMAS (1969) Michel #349-51, Blocks 77-8, Minkus #322-5, 329

The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. At present no Deluxe sheet sets of the singles found. Judging from the imaged uncut press sheet which has various sets combined it is logical that because deluxe sheetlets exist for the others that they exist for this set as well.

Noting that Michel lists the two souvenir sheets as belonging to this issue whereas Minkus wanted to put the "Rebecca et Elieze" souvenir sheet with the following Titian paintings set. Minkus was wrong. The "Rebecca et Elieze" souvenir sheet is a Murillo painting as are the singles. The souvenir sheet simply does not have the "Christmas 1969" overprint. As you can see on the imaged uncut press sheet they were all printed together. The sets were created as separate issues by the artists. The Tetian painting was included in this set because of the overprint. The set was issued on January 2, 1970. A bit late for the 1969 christmas. Possibly the "Christmas 1969" overprint was placed on the wrong souvenir sheet in error and thus both were issued out. Possibly done in a hurry thus causing the error.

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Rebecca et Elieze

SOUVENIR SHEET
La Vierge au Lapin

PANES OF 4 STRIPS PERFORATED AND IMPERFORATE

PROOF THAT THE FORMAT PRINTERS PRINTED THIS SET

1970 WORLD SOCCER CUP Michel #354-9, Block 79, Minkus #332-8

The single stamps were printed in panes of 12 (2 sets) and 3 labels. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles also exist.

Noting here is more proof of Format printing all the sport issues including overprints.

SE-TENANT BLOCK OF 6

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANE OF 12 PLUS 3 LABELS


DELUXE SHEETLET SET


PROOF THAT THE FORMAT PRINTERS PRINTED THIS SET

1970 EASTER Michel #361-3, Block 80, Minkus #355-8

The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheetlets exist for this issue.

Noting that the souvenir sheet featuring the Tiepolo painting of "The crucifixion" is overprinted "Easter 1970". Yet, both Michel and Minkus list the Champaigne painting of "Elias Dream" as the souvenir sheet for this set which does conform with what I stated earlier about the sets being issued according to the artist. This shows that Minkus was a bit mixed up on the earlier 1969 Christmas issue.

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANES OF 4 STRIPS PERFORATED AND IMPERFORATE

DELUXE SHEETLET

1970 PAINTINGS OF FAMOUS MASTERS Michel #368-73, Blocks 82-3, Minkus #326-8, 351-4, 377

The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. Deluxe sheetlets exist for this issue.

Noting that here is where Michel and Minkus seemed to get confused. For the Tiepolo set they did get it right placing "The crucifixion" as Block 82. Minkus as #354. But with the Gauguin painting "Nafea Foa Ipoipo" Michel conflicts with Minkus. It should be Block 88 of the Gauguin painting set but Michel is listing yet another Deluxe sheetlet in it's place! As for Minkus, I showed earlier that their placement of the "Rebecca et Elieze" Murillo painting was wrong and it does not go with the Titian set and therefore I do not list Minkus 329.
It is tough to get these all in order because of the earlier Christmas and Easter overprints. Michel has combined the two sets whereas Minkus has them separated. I am therefore leaving "the crucifixion" with its proper singles and moving "Nafea Foa Ipoipo" to Michel's Block 88 position.

THE TITIAN SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

THE TIEPOLO SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

THE TIEPOLO SOUVENIR SHEET

THE TITIAN PANE OF 4 STRIPS

THE TIEPOLO PANE OF 4 STRIPS

THE TITIAN DELUXE SHEETLET

THE TIEPOLO DELUXE SHEETLET

1970 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES (Sapporo 1972) Michel #377-82, Block 85, Minkus #339-44, 344A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 12 (2 sets) and 3 labels. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles also exist.

Noting this set is included on the proof sheet shown with the 1970 World Soccer Cup set proving it was printed by the Format Printers.

SE-TENANT BLOCK OF 6

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANE OF 12 PLUS 3 LABELS


DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 OLYMPIC GAMES (Munich 1972) Michel #384-9, Block 86, Minkus #345-50, 350A

The single stamps were printed in panes of 12 (2 sets) and 3 labels. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles also exist.

Noting this set is included on the proof sheet shown with the 1970 World Soccer Cup set proving it was printed by the Format Printers.

SE-TENANT BLOCK OF 6

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANE OF 12 PLUS 3 LABELS


DELUXE SHEETLET SET

1970 PAINTINGS BY PAUL GAUGUIN
Michel #392-4, Block 88, Minkus #374-7

The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheetlets exist for this issue.

Noting that the souvenir sheet featuring the Tiepolo painting of "The crucifixion" is overprinted "Easter 1970". Yet, both Michel and Minkus list the Champaigne painting of "Elias Dream" as the souvenir sheet for this set which does conform with what I stated earlier about the sets being issued according to the artist. This shows that Minkus was a bit mixed up on the earlier 1969 Christmas issue.

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANES OF 4 STRIPS PERFORATED AND IMPERFORATE

DELUXE SHEETLET

1970 EXPLORATION OF SPACE (Apollo X-XII) Michel Blocks 89-92, Minkus #304, 313-14, 316

This set is where the main conflict between Michel and Minkus lies for the Apollo issues. Minkus tries to place them with the 1969 Apollo issues when in fact these souvenir sheetlets and the souvenir sheet were not issued until 1970.
As you can see the souvenir sheetlets are of a unique design following the same styling as the 1969 Napoleon issue. These were produced as a set along with the "Inspecting Surveyor" souvenir sheet.
All exist perforated and imperforate.

RETURN OF APOLLO X SOUVENIR SHEETLET

RETURN OF APOLLO XI SOUVENIR SHEETLET

WORKING ON THE MOON SOUVENIR SHEETLET

INSPECTING SURVEYOR SOUVENIR SHEET

1970 CHRISTMAS PAINTINGS BY ANDREA DEL SARTO
Michel #399-401, Block 93, Minkus #417-20

The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheetlets exist for this issue.

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANES OF 4 STRIPS PERFORATED AND IMPERFORATE

DELUXE SHEETLET

1970 WORLD SOCCER CUP OVERPRINTED WORLD CHAMPIONS/BRAZIL
Michel #403-8, Block 94, Minkus #367-73

The single stamps were printed in panes of 12 (2 sets) and 3 labels. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. No deluxe sheet sets of the singles with overprints exist.

Noting this set is included on the proof sheet shown with the 1970 World Soccer Cup set proving it was printed by the Format Printers.

SE-TENANT BLOCK OF 6

SOUVENIR SHEET

PANE OF 12 PLUS 3 LABELS

1970 "EXPO 70" (Osaka)
Michel #410-25, Blocks A94 and B94, Minkus #359-66, 366A, 382-90

The single stamps were printed in panes of 6. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles seem not to exist.
Noting Minkus broke this set into two sets, one being the pavilions and the other being the stamp on stamp issues. Imaged is the proper order of the set as it should be.


PAVILION SOUVENIR SHEET

STAMP ON STAMP SOUVENIR SHEET

1970 EXPO (Osaka) JAPANESE PAINTINGS
Michel #426-33, Block 95, Minkus #449-57

The single stamps were printed in panes of 10. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheet. Deluxe sheetlets exist for this issue in two versions.


SOUVENIR SHEET

PANE OF 10 EXAMPLE

DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH WHITE BACKGROUND

DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH YELLOW BACKGROUND AND NUMBERED

UNCUT PROOFS FOUND IN THE FORMAT PRINTERS ARCHIVE

UNCUT PROOFS OF THE SOUVENIR SHEET SHOWING GRIPPER KEY
THIS IS ABSOLUTE PROOF THAT THE FORMAT PRINTERS MADE THIS SET!

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS

There are large differences between Michel and Minkus on this series of issues.
Michel lists them as only the se-tenant strips of 3 with no listings for the souvenir sheets that went with them. Also Michel's description on the order of them is basically non-existent. Only the first se-tenant strip can be defined using Michel. Michel must be in error on these since there are FDC's (First Day Covers) showing them with the matched souvenir sheets. If I can find the image of the FDC, I will present it here for verification. For this series I will use Minkus as the basis.

The following sets are inclusive and/or unlisted in Michel #434-51. The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. Deluxe sheetlets exist, at least for some, of this issue.

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XII
Minkus #395-8

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Exploring Surveyor 3

SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XII FDC

SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XII DELUXE SHEETLETS
There are two versions that exist. Imperforate with white backgrounds and imperforate with simulated perforations on grayish background.
I would theorize that these exist for all the following "Space Flights" series.

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XIII
Minkus #399-402

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Command & Lunar Modules

SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XIII DELUXE SHEETLETS

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION
Minkus #465-68

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Intelsat IV

SPACE FLIGHTS FRANCO-GERMAN COOPERATION FDC

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XIII ASTRONAUTS
Minkus #469-72

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Apollo XIII Recovery

SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XIII ASTRONAUTS DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH WHITE BACKGROUND

SPACE FLIGHTS APOLLO XIII ASTRONAUTS DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH GRAYISH BACKGROUND AND SIMULATED PERFORATIONS

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL SPACE RESEARCH
Minkus #473-6

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Mariner VII & Mars

SPACE FLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL SPACE RESEARCH FDC

1970 SPACE FLIGHTS SOVIET COSMONAUTS
Minkus #477-80

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Soyuz 4 & 5 Link Up

SPACE FLIGHTS SOVIET COSMONAUTS DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH WHITE BACKGROUND

1970 FRENCH HISTORY

Once again there are large differences between Michel and Minkus on this series of issues as well.
Michel lists them as only the se-tenant strips of 3 with no listings for the souvenir sheets that went with them. Michel must be in error on these since there are FDC's (First Day Covers) showing them with the matched souvenir sheets. I cannot find any images of the FDC's at present but due to the ones I did find for the Space series I am sure that Minkus was correct for these as well. For this series I will use Minkus as the basis.

The following sets are inclusive and/or unlisted in Michel #453-70. The single stamps were printed in se-tenant strips of 3.
The se-tenant strips were printed in panes of 4 strips. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. Deluxe sheetlets exist, at least for some, of this issue.

1970 FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
Minkus #391-4

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Napoleon Meeting the King of Prussia at Tilsit by Tardieu

1970 FRENCH HISTORY PRESIDENT DE GAULLE MEMORIAL
Minkus #429-32

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
President de Gaulle with President Kennedy

PANE OF FOUR FRENCH HISTORY DE GAULLE SE-TENANT STRIPS OF 3

FRENCH HISTORY DE GAULLE DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH GRAYISH BACKGROUND AND SIMULATED PERFORATIONS

1970 FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE IN MADRID
Minkus #433-6

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Napoleon Proclaimed Emperor by A. Rouget

FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON IN MADRID DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH WHITE BACKGROUND

1970 FRENCH HISTORY KING LOUIS XIV
Minkus #437-40

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Family of Divinities by Jean Nocret

PANE OF FOUR FRENCH HISTORY KING LOUIS XIV SE-TENANT STRIPS OF 3

1970 FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE BATTLE OF ESSLING
Minkus #482-4, 488

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Napoleon Meets the Baron Vincent at Erfurt by Gosse

FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BATTLE OF ESSLING DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH WHITE BACKGROUND

1970 FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ARRIVAL OF MARIE-LOUISE
Minkus #485-7, 489

SE-TENANT STRIP OF 3

SOUVENIR SHEET
Arrival of Napoleon & Marie-Louise in Tuileries by E.B. Garnier

FRENCH HISTORY NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ARRIVAL OF MARIE-LOUISE DELUXE SHEETLETS WITH GRAYISH BACKGROUND

1970 PHILYMPIA INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION (London) Michel #471-90, Minkus #490-513

The single stamps were printed all on one pane of 20. Perforated and imperforates exist for all including the souvenir sheets. Deluxe sheet sets of the singles (Perforated and imperforate) also exist.
Noting that Michel does not list the souvenir sheets.


THE TOGOLAISE SOUVENIR SHEET

THE MODERN PAINTING SOUVENIR SHEET

THE GERMANY SOUVENIR SHEET

THE EL SALVADOR SOUVENIR SHEET

DELUXE SHEETLET EXAMPLES


References taken from:
Michel Asien II
Minkus Trucial States Stamp Catalog
Evidence found in the Format Archive
Online research

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