THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

TANZANIA

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

1976 TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT Scott #54-7,57a, SG #177-80,MS81
A number of these issues 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 legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues have a rarity factor. More detail will be presented on these in another section of the study.




1976 OLYMPIC GAMES, MONTREAL Scott #58-61,61a, SG #182-5,MS186
A number of these issues 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 legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues have a rarity factor. More detail will be presented on these in another section of the study.




1976 RAILWAY TRANSPORT Scott #62-5,65a, SG #187-90,MS191
A number of these issues 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 legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues have a rarity factor. More detail will be presented on these in another section of the study.




1976 GAME FISH OF EAST AFRICA Scott #66-9,69a, SG #192-5,MS196
On the right hand side of the 5s value on the souvenir sheet the perforations are 13.5.




1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD (UNICEF) Scott #123-6,126a, SG #263-6,MS267
There is a conflict in Stanley Gibbons on who the printer was for this issue. There are no markings on panes that give a clue as to who the printer is. Stanley Gibbons notes that Bradbury Wilkinson printed them. Evidence of the master proofs now shows that Stanley Gibbons is wrong. The color guide on the proof block shown of the souvenir sheet which are mostly found on press sheets before they are cut is solid proof that the Format International Security Printers did indeed produce the 1979 Year of the Child issue. The color guide as shown is unique to Format produced stamps.



Proof Sheet Proving Format Printed the Issue

1980 WILDLIFE DEFINITIVES Scott #161-174, SG #307-320
Again, there is a conflict in Stanley Gibbons on who the printer was for this issue. There are no markings on panes that give a clue as to who the printer is. Stanley Gibbons notes that Bradbury Wilkinson printed them. On the 1984/5 reprint issues it is clearly marked that Waddingtons printed those and Stanley Gibbons concurred. Evidence of the master proofs now shows that Stanley Gibbons is wrong. The color bars on proof blocks which are only found on press sheets before they are cut is solid proof that the Format International Security Printers did indeed produce the 1980 Wildlife Definitives issue. The color bars as shown are unique to Format produced stamps.


Proof of Format Printing

Master Proof Sheet Proving Format Printed the Issue

In 1985 a printing company named HOLDER'S PRESS began printing stamps for Tanzania. Evidence is positive toward ties with the Format International Security Printers. They printed certain sets for Tanzania between 1985 and 1987 under direction of Clive Feigenbaum.

Dangerous modern fakes of these issues appearing first in 2014 are on the market. They have the correct perf size!
Visit the linked page to define them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered Tanzania Stamp Forgeries originally printed by Holders Press
1988 PREHISTORIC AND MODERN ANIMALS Scott #382-9, SG #550-7
These stamps were printed in panes which had the second and fourth stamps tete-beche in each horizontal row of five.



1988 CENTENARY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY (1986) Scott #395-6, SG #unlisted
These stamps were printed in two sheetlets.
A number of these issues 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 legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues have a rarity factor. More detail will be presented on these in another section of the study.
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Tanzania. The company went into bankrupt soon after in 1988.




References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons East Africa with Egypt & Sudan
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe

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