THE FORMAT ARCHIVE
This sale includes everything currently under the control of the liquidator of Format International Security Printers Limited. The Metropolitan Police are holding a section consisting, Christie's understands, solely of St. Vincent and her dedpedencies.
This sale is arranged as follows:
Great Britain Locals A-Z
Private Carriers A-Z
British Commonwealth A-Z
Foreign Countries A-Z
Within each country, the archive is arranged as follows:
Artwork and Essays
Die Proofs - Working including progressive (W)
- Loose including progressives (L)
- Folder including progressive (F)
Plate Proofs - As issued but imperforate (I)
- Progressive, imperforate (P)
- Miniature sheet, imperforate (MS)
Specimens
Stamps with varieties
Stamps, mostly in printer's sheets, reference examples
Most working die proofs are on plastic card, usually with 40mm. + margins; most loose die proofs are on plastic card, usually with 2mm. margins; most of the die proofs in folders have 2mm. margins; most plate proofs and progressive are in printer's imperforate folded sheets often showing panes of four or more designs separated by wide margins; most of the stamp stock consists of printer's perforated composite folded sheets showing panes of various design se-tenant and this section includes perforated miniature sheets contained in printer's uncut sheets. In many lots one row of proofs, stamps or miniature sheets in the sheet has been creased by folding, but overall condition is generally very fine.
While great care has been taken with the descriptions, because of the bulk involved, no lot may be returned on any grounds including any error in quantity or face value; each lot is offered "as is".
Virtually every lot has thematic appeal; topics include Aeroplanes, Animals, Athletics, Automobiles, Birds, Flowers, Fungi, Locomotives, Marine Life, Olympics, Royalty, Ships, Statue of Liberty and World Cup Football.
With certain exceptions, the following have been used as bases for estimates:
Die Proof 10.00
Die Proof (progressive) 8.00
Plate Proof .10p
Plate Proof (progressive) .01p
Face value figures refer solely to perforated stamps and miniature sheets; many of the estimates are based on one-tenth of face value.
This sale represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a representation of the work of a printer active in the 1980s; while modern, it gives a very good indication of the work involved in producing a modern stamp issue.
GREAT BRITAIN LOCALS
BARDSEY ISLAND
1979-81c., range including artists Butterfly coloured drawing on paper with plastic Barssdsey overlay; working die proofs (9); plate proofs (48); sheetlets of four imperf. with 75 including six progressives contained in printer's sheets and 60 cut to size, many showing "PROOF"; miniature sheets imperf. with 27 including six progressives contained in printer's sheets and 20 cut to size; also the stamp stock with perforated sheetlets of four (118), of eight (6) and miniature sheets (32), face circa 95; issues represented include 1979 Christmas, Rowland Hill, 1980 London International, 1981 Europe and Royal Wedding
Details
1979-81c., range including artists Butterfly coloured drawing on paper with plastic Barssdsey overlay; working die proofs (9); plate proofs (48); sheetlets of four imperf. with 75 including six progressives contained in printer's sheets and 60 cut to size, many showing "PROOF"; miniature sheets imperf. with 27 including six progressives contained in printer's sheets and 20 cut to size; also the stamp stock with perforated sheetlets of four (118), of eight (6) and miniature sheets (32), face circa 95; issues represented include 1979 Christmas, Rowland Hill, 1980 London International, 1981 Europe and Royal Wedding