THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

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

TUVALU

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

1977 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #43-5,45a, SG #50-2,MS53




1977 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION Scott #46-9, SG #54-7



1977 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC Scott #50-3, SG #73-6



1977 ROYAL SOCIETY EXPEDITIONS, 1896/7 Scott #54-7, SG #77-80



1978 WILD BIRDS OF TUVALU Scott #73-6, SG #81-4
The 40c with inverted impression of the 20c magenta plate on the reverse exists.



1978 SHIPS Scott #77-80, SG #85-8



1978 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #81-4,84a, SG #89-92,MS93
Printed in sheetlets of 6 plus 2 labels
Quantities of SPECIMEN overprinted sets exist.


Sheetlets of 6 plus 2 labels



1978 WILD FLOWERS Scott #92-5, SG #101-4



1979 DEFINITIVES, FISH (1st series) Scott #96-113, SG #105-22
Printed in sheetlets of 4 plus 2 labels

Example of a Sheetlet of 4 plus 2 labels.


1979 BICENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK Scott #114-17,117a, SG #123-6
Printed se-tenant in horizontal strips of 4 in sheets of 12
Quantities 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.


117a



1979 INAUGURATION OF INTERNAL AIR SERVICE Scott #118-21, SG #127-30
Printed in mini sheets of 4


Mini Sheets of 4


1979 DEATH CENTENARY OF SIR ROWLAND HILL Scott #122-4,124a, SG #131-3,MS134
Printed in mini sheets of 4




1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD Scott #125-8, SG #135-8
Printed in mini sheets of 4



1980 COWRY SHELLS Scott #129-32, SG #139-42
Printed in mini sheets of 4



1980 80TH BIRTHDAY OF THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #137, SG #148
Issued in sheets of 10 plus 2 labels.


Sheet of 10 Plus 2 Labels.


1980 MOTHS Scott #138-41, SG #149-52
Printed in mini sheets of 4



1980 AVIATION COMMEMORATIONS Scott #142-5, SG #153-6
Printed in mini sheets of 4



1981 THE 1979 DEFINITIVE 50c HAMMERHEAD STAMP SURCHARGED Scott #150, SG #157
Two types of surcharge exist. Scott catalog does not describe this.



1981 SHIPS (1st series) Scott #151-6, SG #162-7
Printed in sheets of 6 plus 2 labels


Sheetlets of 6 plus 2 labels.


1981 THE 1979 DEFINITIVES OVERPRINTED "OFFICIAL" Scott #O1-19, SG #O1-19
Varieties of Lithograph and Typographic overprints exist.



1982 21ST BIRTHDAY OF PRINCESS DIANA Scott #170-2, SG #184-6

Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2014 are on the market. They do not have the correct perf size!
Inverted frame errors perforated and imperforate are forgeries! Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered 21st Birthday of Princess Diana Invert Frame Error Forgeries.


1982 21ST BIRTHDAY OF PRINCESS DIANA STAMPS OVERPRINTED "ROYAL BABY" Scott #173-5, SG #189-91



1982 ROYAL VISIT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #180-2,182a, SG #196-8,MS199
Large quantities of the SPECIMEN overprinted souvenir sheet exist.




1983 COMMONWEALTH DAY Scott #196-9, SG #213-16



1983 DRAGONFLIES Scott #200-3, SG #217-20
Printed in mini sheets of 4
Large quantities of these issues SPECIMEN overprinted, came onto the market after the liquidation of the Format International Security Printers Ltd. in 1988. Quantities of perforated proofs also appeared. 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.



1983 CENTENARY OF THE BOY'S BRIGADE Scott #204-6, SG #221-3



1983 BICENTENARY OF MANNED FLIGHT Scott #208-11,211a, SG #225-8,MS229




1984 SHIPS (2nd series) Scott #216-21, SG #235-40
Printed in sheets of 6 plus 2 labels


Sheetlets of 6 plus 2 labels.


1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (1st series) Scott #222-5, SG #241-8
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (2nd series) Scott #236,238-40,242-4,246, SG #253-68
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1984 AUSIPEX INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION and 15TH SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM Scott #255-8, SG #269-72



1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (3rd series) Scott #235,237,241,245, SG #273-80
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, CRICKET PLAYERS Scott #259-62, SG #281-8
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 Tuvalu Cricket Players Stamps and Varieties Page here.


1984 CHRISTMAS, CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS Scott #267-70, SG #289-92



1984 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (1st series) Scott #271-4, SG #293-300
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, BIRTH BICENTENARY OF JOHN J. AUDUBON (ornithologist) Scott #279-82, SG #301-8
Quantities 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.

Reprints of this issue were created in 1991 that have different perforations.
Visit the linked page to define all of them.

The Newly Discovered Audubon Birds Reprint Stamps.
Dangerous modern fakes of this issue appearing first in 2014 are on the market. They have the correct perf size!
Visit the linked page to define all of them and what to avoid.

The Newly Discovered Audubon Birds Forgeries.


1985 BIRDS AND THEIR EGGS Scott #287-90, SG #309-12



1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (4th series) Scott #291-4, SG #313-20
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (2nd series) Scott #299-302, SG #321-8
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #311-17, SG #334-41,MS342
New information has been discovered.

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


RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist)

RESTRICTED PRINTING (5000 estimated to exist)


1985 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GIRL GUIDE MOVEMENT Scott #328-31,331a, SG #343-6,MS347
Quantities 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.




1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES (5th series) Scott #320-3, SG #348-55
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (3rd series) Scott #332-9, SG #356-71
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1986 CRABS Scott #348-51, SG #372-5
Quantities 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.



1986 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Scott #352, SG #MS376
Quantities of this issue with unauthorized overprints, 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.


With Decorative Borders.

With Unauthorized CAPEX '87 and Canadian Overprints.

With Unauthorized CAPEX '87 and Australian Overprints.


1986 SHIPS (3rd series) Scott #353-6, SG #377-80
Quantities 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.



1986 60TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #357-61, SG #381-4,MS385
A lot of new information has been discovered.

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



1986 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP, MEXICO Scott #364-73, SG #388-95,MS396





1986 ROYAL WEDDING (1st issue) Scott #381-3, SG #397-400, MS401
Quantities of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs, errors and intentional errors 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu 1986 Royal Wedding Stamps Page here.



1986 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM Scott #388, SG #407-20
Printed se-tenant as a sheetlet of 14 surrounding a central label
Quantities of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs, errors and intentional errors 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.



1986 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (4th series) Scott #391-6, SG #421-32
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.


1986 ROYAL WEDDING (2nd issue) Scott #389-90, SG #433-6
Quantities of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs, errors and intentional errors 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu 1986 Royal Wedding Stamps Page here.


1986 CENTENARY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Scott #401-9, SG #MS441
A set with white borders was produced but never issued.

View a SPECIAL Tuvalu 1987 Unissued Statue of Liberty Stamps Page here.

Unissued set with white borders.


1987 LEADERS OF THE WORLD, AUTOMOBILES (5th series) Scott #414-25,425a, SG #446-69,MS470
Quantities 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.

View the SPECIALIZED Tuvalu Automobiles and Locomotives Series Page here.



1987 ROYAL RUBY WEDDING AND 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S ACCESSION Scott #454-9, SG #484-8,MS489
Quantities 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.




1987 WORLD SCOUT JAMBOREE, AUSTRALIA and BICENTENNIAL OF AUSTRALIAN SETTLEMENT Scott #460-4, SG #493-6,MS497
Quantities of the souvenir sheet 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.




1988 CORAL REEF LIFE (2nd series) Scott #465-8, SG #498-501



1988 BIRDS Scott #469-84, SG #502-17
I would like to note here that in observing the offerings and sales all over the internet and especially on eBay of the color "errors" and the imperforates of this set that it appears many buyers are unaware of the quantities that exist and are paying in many cases a lot more than what they are worth. Judging from availability, the topic, and the practices of the printer during this...the final year of their existence that the imperforate sets of the single stamps exist in the quantity of 10,000 sets or more and the "errors" at 5,000 sets at least! Therefore a complete set of the imperfs should be priced no more than $15.00 and the "errors" which are made for collector errors at the same pricing. Anyone who is asking more should be looked at closely and this includes anything else they are selling as apparently they are trying to rip you off!

Quantities of these issues missing colors, 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.



1988 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS Scott #485-9, SG #518-21,MS522
Quantities of these issues missing colors, 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.




1988 VOYAGES OF CAPTAIN COOK Scott #490-6, SG #523-8,MS529
Quantities of SPECIMEN overprinted sets exist.
Appears imperforate examples of the 50c and quantities of imperforate souvenir sheets of this issue exist.




1988 FUNGI (1st series) Scott #497-500, SG #530-3



1988 OLYMPIC GAMES, SEOUL Scott #501-6, SG #534-9
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Tuvalu. The company soon after went into bankruptcy.
New information has been discovered on these.

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

All Content Copyright © 2010 Golowe's Collector Stamps, All Rights Reserved

Stamps for FUNAFUTI Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NANUMAGA Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NANUMEA Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NIUTAO Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NUI Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NUKUFETAU Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for NUKULAELAE Printed by the Format International Security Printers.

Stamps for VAITUPU Printed by the Format International Security Printers.



Return to Format International Security Printers Reference Homepage Here.