THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Stamp issues for Upper Volta (Later named Burkina Faso) printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive

UPPER VOLTA (Burkina Faso)

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

Noting for Upper Volta that Stanley Gibbons nor any other catalog seems to note who the printers were during the time that Format printed stamps for Upper Volta. 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 1959 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 Questa, De la Rue and other printing companies also had the same orders long before Format ever made stamps for Upper Volta. 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.

Also noting that the earlier sets up through 1975 and then some, are listed in the addendum in Stanley Gibbons catalogs.

1974 CENTENARY OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (1st issue)
Scott #332-4, C189-C192, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2-3,000 sets.
The deluxe sheetlets exist with two types. White backgrounds and blue backgrounds. The white backgrounds are scarcer whereas the blue are very common as far as availability.


Telstar Satellite


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Blue Background


1974 WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Scott #335-7, C193-C196, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2-3,000 sets.



England Winners in England 1966


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1974 CENTENARY OF THE UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (2nd issue)
Scott #339-41, C197-C200, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2-3,000 sets.
This set with overprint does not seem to exist with white backgrounds.


Telstar Satellite Overprinted


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1975 BIRTH CENTENARY OF SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
Scott #346-51, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist but appear rare.


Churchill and HMS Resolution


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


Deluxe Sheetlet with White Background


1975 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL (1st issue)
Scott #352-8, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist but appear rare.


U.S. Stamps and the Boston Tea Party


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pink Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1975 LOCOMOTIVES
Scott #359-61, C203-C205, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet do not seem to exist imperforate. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1,000 sets. They are difficult to find.



1882 Forquenot


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1975 FLAGS AND OLD CARS
Scott #362-4, C206-C208, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist but appear rare.



Great Britain Flag and 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Lavender Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1975 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL (2nd issue)
Scott #365-7, 367a, C209-C210, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist but appear rare.


George Washington Taking the Oath of Office


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1975 BIRTH CENTENARY OF ALBERT SCHWEITZER
Scott #368-9, C212-C215, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist but appear rarer.



Crested corythornis


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Yellow Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1975 APOLLO-SOYUZ SPACE TEST PROJECT
Scott #370-1, C216-C219, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist.



Apollo Soyuz Emblem and U.S. and U.S.S.R. Flags


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Salmon Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1975 PAINTINGS BY PABLO PICASSO
Scott #372-4, C220-C222, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist.



Science and Charity


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Pink Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1975 OKINAWA OCEANOGRAPHIC EXPOSITION
Scott #375-8, C223-C224, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears many sets with white backgrounds are broken and being sold individually.



Future Floating City Aquapolis


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1975 12TH WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
Scott #384-6, C225-C227, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears these are getting rare.



Speed Skating


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1976 21ST OLYMPIC GAMES (1st issue)
Scott #387-9, C228-C230, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are very difficult to find.
This is the first set where the Format Printers perforated the deluxe sheetlets.



Sprint


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Light Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1976 21ST OLYMPIC GAMES (2nd issue)
Scott #390-2, C231-C233, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are very difficult to find.



Two Man Sculls


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Light Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1976 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ZEPPELIN
Scott #395-7, C234-C237, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are slightly rarer.



Zeppelin Over Bodensee


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pale Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1976 VIKING MARS PROJECT
Scott #398-400, C238-C240, SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are rarer.



Viking in Mars Orbit


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Pink Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1976 AMERICAN BICENTENNIAL (3rd issue) INTERPHIL
Scott #403-4, C241-C243, SG #414-18, MS419

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. It appears that mint normal sets are getting scarcer. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Noting Stanley Gibbons began listing sets with numbers again at this point.
Also noting both types of deluxe sheetlets are imperforate and difficult to define with lower quality images because the tan color is so light.


Surrender of the Hessians


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with light Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1977 21ST OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS
Scott #434-5 SG # Addendum

The stamps and the souvenir sheet with the overprints do not exist imperforate.



Two Man Sculls Overprinted


1977 GENERAL DE GAULLE AND KING BAUDOUIN
Scott #395-7, SG # 446-7

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are rarer.
Noting that the deluxe sheetlets were inscribed. In 1980 the King Baudouin sheetlet was inscribed for his 50th birth anniversary. In 1990 the de Gaulle sheetlet was inscribed for his 20th death anniversary. In 1994 the de gaulle stamp and the sheetlet were inscribed and overprinted for the 50th anniversary of the Normandy landings. All are not listed.



Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1977 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Scott #436-8, SG # 448-9, MS450

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears that they are scarcer than the tan ones.



Elizabeth II After Coronation


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1977 NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
Scott #440-5, SG # 452-6, MS457

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.
Deluxe sheetlets with white backgrounds exist. It appears the sheetlets with white background are rarer.



Albert Schweitzer, Peace


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Light Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlets with White Background


1977 RUBENS PAINTINGS
Scott #446-51, SG #458-63

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.



Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Tan Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1977 11TH WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Scott #456-61, SG #469-73, MS474

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.



Stadium and German Stamp


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Green Background


Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background


1978 HISTORY OF AVIATION
Scott #462-7, SG #475-9, MS480

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.



Charles Lindbergh and Spirit of St. Louis


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1978 RUBENS PAINTING
Scott #470, SG souvenir sheet is not listed

The souvenir sheet exists imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 2,500.

Virgin and Child by Rubens

1978 DEATH BICENTENARY OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
Scott #474-7, SG #487-90

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1-2,000 sets.


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1978 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORONATION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Scott #478-80, SG #495-6, MS497
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1,000 sets. These too exist on deluxe sheetlets with white background.
Noting there is the variety of metallic red overprint on the stamps and souvenir sheet which is noted in Scott. It has been stated that 2,000 sets exist.


Elizabeth II After Coronation With Silver Overprint

Deluxe Sheetlet Set with Tan Background

Deluxe Sheetlet Set with White Background

1978 PAINTINGS BY DÜRER
Scott #481-4, SG #500-3
The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. The deluxe souvenir sheet set was planned but never issued. Around 3-5,000 sets exist.
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. No deluxe sheetlets found.


Unlisted Deluxe Souvenir Sheet Set

1979 11TH WORLD CUP SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
Scott #486-91, SG #addendum
The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 2,500 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 1,000 sets. No deluxe sheetlets with white background exist with the overprints.


Stadium and German Stamp Souvenir Sheet with Silver Overprint

Deluxe Sheetlet Set

1979 YEAR OF THE CHILD
Scott #494, SG #516

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 3,000 sets. No Deluxe sheetlets found.


1979 DEATH CENTENARY OF SIR ROWLAND HILL, TRAINS, LOCOMOTIVES
Scott #501-5, SG #523-6, MS527

The stamps and souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2,000 sets. A popular stamp on stamp set.
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.

Rowland Hill, Locomotive and Various Haute Volta Stamps

Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1979 ENDANGERED ANIMALS (WWF)
Scott #506-11, SG #528-33

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. At the time I created this page no deluxe sheetlet sets seem to exist.



1980 WINTER OLYMPIC GAME WINNERS, LAKE PLACID
Scott #533-7, SG #555-8, MS559

The stamps and souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2,000 sets.

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.



Speed Skating

Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1980 GOURMANTCHE CHIEF INITIATION, EMPEROR MORO NABA AND PRINCESS GUIMBE QUATTARA
Scott #541-3, SG #568-70

The stamps exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets seem not to exist.
Errors of missing colors exist.



1980 22ND SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES, BICYCLING
Scott #C258-C262, SG #563-6, MS567

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 5,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet set around 2,000 sets.
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.



Bicyclist


Deluxe Sheetlet Set


1980 22ND SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES WINNERS
Scott #C263-C267, SG #addendum?

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 3,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets seem not to exist with the overprints.



Bicyclist Souvenir Sheet Overprinted


1983 ANNIVERSARIES AND EVENTS
Scott #C273-C277, SG #665-8, MS669

The stamps and the souvenir sheet exist imperforate. The imperforates exist in quantities of around 3,000 sets. Deluxe sheetlet sets seem not to exist.



Prince Charles and Lady Diana


These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for Upper Volta. 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 the House of Questa or De la Rue 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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