THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

NIUTAO

Niutao stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.

Niutao is one of the islands of Tuvalu. It is one of only 3 single islands. It has two lagoons one of which has 3 islets in it.
It has a population presently of about 700. Between 1984 to 1988 The Format Printers produced stamps for this and all the islands of Tuvalu. They all were legitimate postage and some were used legitimately making them have recognition in the main catalogs. Scott Catalog gives them all numbers and collectible values. Stanley Gibbons lists them but does not give them numbers nor collectible values.

This should actually be changed as new information is showing that very low numbers were actually printed of most of the issues. In comparison to many countries that are listed with catalogued values in Stanley Gibbons they are well within range of not being classified as in excess of postal needs. Also all the issues were available through the philatelic bureau and other locations at face value.
We believe the separation of these issues was caused by influence made by certain entities who were angered by the loss of the trials against the printer and the cover up of monetary gains from the issues themselves.

Another interesting note is that Scott catalog lumps all of the Leaders of the World series in single groups whereas Stanley Gibbons defines the different series as they were produced. Scott catalog bases values on the face value of the issues which we have found is not accurate as later series do not exist in the same quantities as earlier series.
Listings here will be in the Stanley Gibbons format with Scott numbers for reference.

Quantities of most all of the following issues as in perforated, imperforate proofs, SPECIMEN overprinted, etc; did come onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1988. After the trials the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau sent agents in and confiscated much of the material and had it destroyed. Still much was saved and we now have many of these varieties available for collectors to add to their collections.

There are some varieties that are legitimately rare. Also full uncut press sheets of some issues have an extreme rarity factor. For more SPECIALIZED information on specific series please visit the linked pages at the bottom of this page. This is an ongoing project and links will be added for the issues as research is completed.

Let's get started!

1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (1st series) Scott #1,4,5,7
Scott catalog omitted number 13 in the notes.



1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (1st series) Scott #9,10,12,14,16,19



1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, FAMOUS CRICKET PLAYERS Scott #21-4

A quantity of these issues perforated with Specimen overprint came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1988. No other varieties appear to exist.

View the Niutao Cricket Players Stamps and Varieties Page here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, BIRTH BICENTENARY OF JOHN J. AUDUBON (ornithologist) Scott #25-8

View my Page on how to Define the Newly Discovered Audubon Birds Reprints here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (2nd series) Scott #2,3,6,8



1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (2nd series) Scott #11,13,15,17,18,20
Scott catalog does not list number 17 in the notes. This is a printing error on their part.



1985-86 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #37-43
The souvenir sheets are not noted in Stanley Gibbons.
New information has been discovered.

View the SPECIALIZED Niutao 1985 85th Birthday Omnibus Series Page here.


RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist) issued January 10, 1986

RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist) issued January 10, 1986


1986 60TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #44-8
A lot of new information has been discovered.

View the SPECIALIZED Niutao 1986 60th Birthday Omnibus Series Page here.



1986 ROYAL WEDDING (1st issue) Scott #51-3
Yet again the souvenir sheet not noted in Stanley Gibbons.




1986 ROYAL WEDDING (2nd issue) Scott #54-5



1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #58-62
Again the souvenir sheet is not noted in Stanley Gibbons.
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Niutao. The company soon after went into bankruptcy.

LINKS TO SPECIALIZED PAGES

View the SPECIALIZED Niutao Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.
View the SPECIALIZED Niutao 1986 Royal Wedding Omnibus Series Page here.
View the SPECIALIZED 1988 Seoul Olympics Unissued Stamp Sheetlets and Souvenir Sheets Page here.
References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Western Pacific
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe

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