THE FORMAT INTERNATIONAL SECURITY PRINTERS LTD. ARCHIVE
Information and Reference of What was Found in the Archive
Reference listings of stamp issues for British Virgin Islands printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. and items found in the Archive
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
British Virgin Islands stamps printed by Format International Security Printers Ltd.
Links to pages with information on items found in the archive
1968 MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMEMORATIVE Scott #192-3, SG #226-7
1968 OPENING OF BEEF ISLAND AIRPORT EXTENSION Scott #194-7, SG #228-31
1971 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNICEF Scott #233-4, SG #267-8
1974 FAMOUS EXPLORERS Scott #270-3,273a, SG #312-15,MS316
1979 NATIVE CACTI Scott #350-5, SG #402-7
1982 HUMMINGBIRDS ON LOCAL FAUNA Scott #422-5, SG #479-82
1982 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIONS CLUB OF TORTOLA Scott #426-9,429a, SG #483-6,MS487
1984 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABOLITION OF SLAVERY Scott #478-9, SG #538-47
STRIPS OF 5
1985 UNISSUED MICHAEL JACKSON SET OF 4
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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.
1985 LEADERS OF THE WORLD LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER Scott #509-19, SG #579A-86A,MS587A,579B-86B
This issue exists in a set of unissued miniature sheets found in the archive.
250 of each in machine cut form were found in the archive. Full uncut composite sheets were found with these on them.
The $1.00 (Concord) and $2.50 mini sheets were from a "restricted printing" which Robson Lowe estimated to be between 500 and 1000 copies issued.
350 of each were found in the archive.
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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.
RESTRICTED PRINTING (500 to 2000 exist.)
RESTRICTED PRINTING (500 to 2000 exist.)
UNISSUED DESIGNS (250 of each known to exist)
1985 BIRTH BICENTENARY OF JOHN J. AUDUBON (ORNITHOLOGIST) Scott #520-3, SG #588-91
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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 VISITING CRUISE SHIPS Scott #524-7, SG #592-5
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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 INAUGURAL FLIGHT OF MIAMI-BEEF ISLAND AIR SERVICE
LEADERS OF THE WORLD LIFE AND TIMES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER OVERPRINTED "MIAMI/B.V.I./INAUGURAL FLIGHT" Scott #528-31, SG #596A-9A,596B-9B
1986 60TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II Scott #532-6, SG #600-3,MS604
This issue exists in a set of unissued miniature sheets found in the archive.
250 of each in machine cut form were found in the archive. Full uncut composite sheets were found with these on them.
Stanley Gibbons states a set of 5 exist. This is a typo error on their part.
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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.
UNISSUED DESIGNS (250 of each known to exist)
1986 ROYAL WEDDING OF SARAH FERGUSON AND PRINCE ANDREW Scott #537-40,546, SG #605-8,MS609
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CABLE AND WIRELESS CARIBBEAN HEADQUARTERS, TORTOLA Scott #547-58, SG #615-22,MS623
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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 CENTENARY OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Scott #559-67, SG #MS624
A number of these issues perforated, imperforate proofs and with 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.
These were the last stamps printed by the Format International Security Printers Ltd. for the British Virgin Islands. The company soon after went into bankruptcy.
References taken from:
Stanley Gibbons Leeward Islands
Scott Catalog
Inventory list for the Format Archive by Robson Lowe
