U.S. Moon Landing

1969, 15 December

Printer: Format International Security Printers, Ltd.
Designer: Victor Whiteley
Sheet Size: 3 x 4 and 8 x 4 (Center stamp- unknown)
Perf.: 14 1/2

To commemorate the first manned landing on the moon on the 21st of July, 1969, by the Apollo astronauts, a set of three stamps - issued as a tryptiche, were released. The center stamp is an airmail stamp and the largest (horizontally) of the three and portrays the two astronauts and the Lunar Lander. The stamps on each side of the center stamp are vertical in design.

The stamps were also released in individual sheets. No mention of this is made in the postal announcement, which only mentions the tryptiche. The announcement originally had a date of 15th November, 1969 for the release date but "November" was crossed out by hand and "Dec." written above it.
 

A complete mint miniature sheet of the stamps was the most difficult of all Dubai stamps for me to find. I searched for years for one before being able to purchase it. Complete miniature sheets of the CTO sheet are also illusive.
 

It is more common to see the three stamps offered as three separate stamps, as a set, than the se-tenant strip. That is most likely because of larger quantities of the stamps having been printed in individual sheets. When it is offered as a strip, they are generally Cancelled To Order.

• The illusive mint complete sheet of the Man on the Moon stamps. This was the most difficult of all the Dubai items for me to find of the issued stamps.

• A very rare proof of the stamps from the archives of Format International Security Printers. This was purchased from Mr. Ezzet Mosden, who said he had purchased it from England.

• CTO sheets of the two side stamps of the strip of three. I have never seen a sheet of the center stamps, but they certainly exist.

• This postal announcement for the set of stamps is missing the bottom half for ordering as someone had filled it out and sent it in to order some of the stamps. The important information is what is shown.

Security Problems

Announcement of 1970 Issues

13 October - Oil Industry

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