THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE

Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive

Reference listings of stamp issues for Upper Yafa printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive

UPPER YAFA

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

Please visit my introduction page for the Trucial States to understand more 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

AJMAN AND OTHER TRUCIAL STATES UNCUT PRESS SHEETS FOUND IN THE FORMAT ARCHIVE


Let's get started!

Upper Yafa was one of approximately twenty small states in the Western Aden Protectorate. It was situated on the border with North Yemen in a mountainous region. Upper Yafa was the only Western Protectorate state that did not join the South Arabian Federation in the early 60's. The state therefore had the right to reject South Arabian stamps and release their own stamps in the same way that the Eastern Protectorate states, Kathiri, Qu'aiti, and Mahra states were doing in the mid 60's.

It is stated that all stamp issues were issued over a two month period in 1967. It is stated that none of the stamp issues were probably ever actually found inside Upper Yafa because of the intense civil war going on at the time. Michel Catalog recognizes them but their postal validity is questionable to this day.

It is stated that the stamp agency was different than the agency handling the Eastern Protectorate states. More than likely it was Finbar Kinney. The reason why is because the Format International Security Printers printed almost all of them!

If you have not read my introduction for the Trucial States, please take the time to so you understand why the following image is proof that the Format Printers produced the Upper Yafa stamps listed.

PROOFS FOUND FOR UPPER YAFA FROM THE ARCHIVE


In analyzing one of the very bad images from the person who found the stock of Trucial States press sheets taken from the Format Printers archive I was able to find an exact match for the Upper Yafa sheetlets as shown. This is positive proof of printing.

The very first Definitive issue was printed by Harrison and Sons Ltd. Because of the style and perforation differences of the World Cup Soccer issues I believe that set to also be printed by Harrison and Sons. All the other sets were printed by Format.

All of the following sets were printed in sheetlets of 10. All exist perforated, imperforate and CTO. All souvenir sheets are imperforate with simulated perforations. With the recent sale of the Martin Sellinger stock the mint souvenir sheets and sheetlets of 10 have become readily available. Martin Sellinger had close ties with Finbar Kinney and the Finbar stock was transferred into the Sellinger stock when the agency took over production of Trucial States stamps.

1967 SUMMER OLYMPICS, MEXICO, ANCIENT ART
Michel #11-15, Block 1 Chambliss #11-16

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 1
Carved Head (Classic Period)

1967 SCULPTURES
Michel #17-21, Block 2 Chambliss #17-22

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 2
Pieta by Michelangelo

1967 PAINTINGS FROM THE LOUVRE MUSEUM
Michel #23-27, Block 3-5 Chambliss #23-30

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 3
Louvre in Paris
SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 4
Self-Portrait by Leonardo da Vinci
SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 5
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

1967 PAINTINGS BY OLD MASTERS (1st Series)
Michel #33-42, Block 7-8 Chambliss #36-47

Note the partial color guide on the bottom edge. This type is unique to Format printings.

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 7
Self-Portrait as a Young Man by Rembrandt
SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 8
Banquet of the Officers of the Civic Guard of St. George by Frans Hals

1967 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1968
5th Death Anniversary of John F. Kennedy
Michel #44-48, Block 9 Chambliss #48-53

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 9
John F. Kennedy

1967 PERSIAN MINIATURES
Michel #50-54, Block 10 Chambliss #54-59

Note the full color guide on the top edge. This type is unique to Format printings.

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 10
Hunting Scene

1967 BALLET DANCERS BY EDGAR DEGAS
Michel #56-60, Block 11 Chambliss #60-65

Note the partial color guide on the top edge. Again proving Format printings.

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 11
Hunting Scene

1967 PAINTINGS BY OLD MASTERS (2nd Series)
Michel #62-71, Block 12-13 Chambliss #66-77

The partial color guide on the top edge is more proof.

Again note the partial color guide on the top edge.

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 12
Don Manuel Osorio de Zuniga by Goya
SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 13
Sick Bacchus by Caravaggio

1967 PAINTINGS OF CHILDREN, 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNICEF
Michel #83-87, Block 15 Chambliss #87-92

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 15
Young Peasant Boy by Murillo

1967 PAINTINGS OF FLOWERS
Michel #89-93, Block 16 Chambliss #93-98

SOUVENIR SHEET BLOCK 16
Chrysanthemums in a Vase by A. Renoir

These were the last issues for Upper Yaffa printed by the Format International Security Printers. They are also the last authorized issues by this country. There are stamps with the name Upper Yafa that have been produced in later years but they are simply illegal stamps.

References taken from:
Michel Gulf States 2013
Standard Catalog of the Postage Stamps of Yemen and South Arabia by C.R. Chambliss
Evidence found in the Format Archive
Online research

All Content Copyright © 2016 Golowe's Collector Stamps, All Rights Reserved

Return to Format International Security Printers Reference Homepage Here.