Stamp Printers by Country

 B

      = Understood to be a current stamp printer.

Printer names in italic against "Stamp printing primarily done by..." signifies that the printer has been seen used by that country within a mid-2011 or later philatelic magazine new stamp issue listing. Non-italicised signifies a recent use, but prior to mid-2011.

BAHAMAS, The  
 First postage stamp issued: 1859.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: BDT (Ireland), Lowe-Martin (Canada), Cartor (France), Enschede (Netherlands) and Walsall (GB). 

No stamps appear to have been produced locally. However, overprinting did occur locally as recorded in the entry below.

The Nassau Guardian, Nassau.
Founded: 1844.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1916 (Overprinting to form Special Delivery stamps), 1940 (Surcharges) for the Bahamas.
The largest newspaper in The Bahamas.



BAHRAIN  
 First postage stamp issued: 1933. 
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: Oriental Press (Bahrain).

Arabian Printing and Publishing House W.L.L., State of Bahrain.
Abbreviation known by: APPH.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1966 (Overprints) for Abu Dhabi.

Arabian Printing & Publishing House, located in Manama-Bahrain, is one of the biggest commercial printers in the Gulf, established circa 1955 as a small print shop.



Oriental Press, State of Bahrain.
Abbreviation known by: OP.
Founded: 31 July 1952 by Issa A Al-Zeera.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1973 for Bahrain.
Main printing process(es): Litho
www.oriental-press.com

With five custom-built plants in Bahrain and Dubai, OP are leaders in the commercial printing industry in the Gulf region, producing books, computer stationery and calendars.

They also have a 'special set-up for security printing such as postage and revenue stamps' and are the only private stamp printer in the Middle East. It is rare for the company to include a printer imprint on its stamps, as they do not overtly seek publicity for their work.



BANGLADESH  
 First postage stamp issued: 1971. 
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: Security Printing (Bangladesh).

Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd, Gazipur.
Abbreviation known by: SPCBL.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1993 for Bangladesh.
Main printing process(es): Litho.
www.spcbl.org.bd/home.html

The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd. (SPCBL) is the only Printing Press in Bangladesh which prints various security items with a major proportion of banknote production and government postal stamps. Its aim is to provide high standard of security in printing documents with innovative designs in accordance with stringent quality and accountability standards in a totally secured environment. Its client for specialized high quality four colour postage stamps also includes Nepal.



 State Security Printing Press, Gazipur.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1989 for Bangladesh.
This printer was founded in 1989 and the first stamp it printed was to commemorate its own existence.  This might be a new name for the above printer. If anyone knows, then please advise webmaster.



BARBADOS  
 First postage stamp issued: 1852.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by:COT Printery (Barbados), Enschede (Netherlands) and BDT (Ireland). 

Local surcharging has been undertaken down the years (in addition to that listed below), although the name(s) of the printer(s) have not survived.

Barbados Advocate Company Limited, St. Michael.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1947 (Surcharges) for Barbados.

This local newspaper is still in existence, although it undertook a name change in February 2000. The change was reflected on the back and editorial pages of the 105-year-old Barbados Advocate newspaper, which retains its name.



COT Media Group, Christ Church.
The new name since 1999 for the holding company of COT Printery Limited.

Nigel Worme is managing director of COT Caribbean Graphics and his father had founded COT Printery in 1975, operating from the cellar of their house. Four years later, in 1979, the company relocated to a 6,000-sq.-ft. building nearby. That same year, the younger Worme, just 19 years old at the time, assumed responsibility for running the business and has done so for the past 23 years. During his tenure, COT Caribbean Graphics (the name was changed in 1999 after acquiring its largest competitor) has evolved into a state-of-the-art, high-technology graphic imaging firm. Now occupying a 32,000-sq.-ft., facility, the firm is one of the leading graphic arts communications providers in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, serving more than 12 territories.



COT Printery Limited, Christ Church.
Abbreviation known by: COT.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1994 for Barbados.
www.cot.com.bb/

The first stamps honoured the initial recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community, The Great West Indians. Printing orders quickly followed from countries such as Belize, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Jamaica and Anguilla.

Recognition was also swift, COT receiving the product quality award in Print and Production from the Barbados Investment and Development Board for their production and printing of postage stamps.



T. E. King & Co., Barbados.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1907 (Surcharges) for Barbados.

Known to have printed books, such as "Barbados Law Reports" selected and edited by W. Herbert Greaves & C.P. Clarke in 1897.



Letchworth Press Limited, St. Michael.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1979 (Overprints) for St. Vincent.

Known to have been a publisher of postcards and printed books.



West Indian Press, Bridgetown.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1878 (Surcharges) for Barbados.



BASUTOLAND  
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See LESOTHO)



BECHUANALAND
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See BOTSWANA)



BELARUS  
 First postage stamp issued: 1992.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: Belarussian House of Printing (Belarus).

Belarusskiy Dom Pechati, Minsk.
English language translation of name: Belarussian Printing House.
Founded: 1917.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1995 for Belarus.
Main printing process(es): Litho.
www.domdruku.by/en/services/Mailstamp/

Today they print tens of millions of definitive and commemorative stamps in a year. Its customers are: "Belpochta" (the Ministry of Communications and Information of Republic of Belarus), "Kyrgyz stamp
Kyrgyzmarkasy" (Kyrgyzstan), "Markazi Marka" (Tajikistan), "Azermarka" (Azerbaijan), "Kazpost" (Kazakhstan) and "MK–TSB" (Russia).



BELGIUM  
 First postage stamp issued: 1849.
Click country name or flag to access this database.



BELIZE  
(Formerly BRITISH HONDURAS)  
 First postage stamp issued: 1866 (For BRITISH HONDURAS)
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: [unknown printer].

No stamps appear to have been produced locally. However, local surcharging and overprinting has been undertaken, although the name(s) of the printer(s) have not survived. This is in addition to the entry recorded below.

Government Printery, Belize.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1978 (Overprints in gold) for Belize.



BENIN  
 First postage stamp issued: 1960.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: [unknown printer].
   
No stamps appear to have been produced locally.



BERMUDA  
 First postage stamp issued: 1848.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: BDT (Ireland) and Enschede (Netherlands). 

Overprinting and surcharging of some issues occurred locally, although the name(s) of the printer(s) have not survived.

Island Press (Holdings) Ltd., Hamilton.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1991 (Overprints) for Bermuda.
Changed its name to MediaHouse Limited in 2005.



W. B. Perot, The Postmaster, Hamilton.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1848 (Postmasters’ stamps) for use in Hamilton, Bermuda. These 'stamps' comprised hand-struck postmarks on gummed paper and were sold to cover mail posted at nighttime.

A recent report on a Bermudan holiday revealed: "We make our way past the tiny post office and the library, which are still in Par-La-Ville Park. The library is housed in the home of the former postmaster, W. B. Perot. It is a beautiful building, and boasts a magnificent rubber tree, which was sent to Postmaster Perot in 1847 from Essequibo, British Guiana. It is quite awesomely huge, and we stare at it appreciatively before moving on."



Queen's Printer, Donald McPhee Lee, Bermuda.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1875 (Surcharges) for Bermuda.



J. H. Thies, The Postmaster, Bermuda.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1848 (Postmasters’ stamps) for use in St. George’s, Bermuda.



BHUTAN  
 First postage stamp issued: 1955.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: Walsall (GB) and Madras Security Printers (India). 

No stamps appear to have been produced locally.

A user of this site very kindly supplied the following data about stamps from his country:
First issues around 1962-1974 - primarily Harrison and Sons, UK.

Surcharged and overprinted airmail issues 1967 and after - primarily Royal Government of Bhutan Press, Thimphu, later privatized and now called Kuensel Press ("Kuensel" in Dzongkha language means = "enlightenment". 

Surcharged Space lenticular, three people at the P&T Philatelic Bureau using rubber stamps.

Ca. 1966 -1980s, predominantly Format in London, UK (until it went broke) and Heraclio Fournier, Spain (same).

Steel Stamps issue:  Walt Disney and john Sutherland Productions in Los Angeles.

3D, Embossed cardboard and "Bas Relief" plastic stamps:  Toppan Printing, Tokyo.

Gold coin and similar foils: Walsall, UK  (hologram by Holographics in London, applied to Walsall printed paper).

Locally produced, non agency issues contrated by P&T: Secura, Singapore.

1966 paper, single and dual color paper and surcharged issues pre-1966, India Gov't Press, Nasik

1955 postal fiscals - unknowvn.



BIAFRA  
First postage stamp issued: 1968.
Country no longer exists by this name. See Nigeria.

Government Printer, Enugu and Port Harcourt.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1967 (overprints) for Biafra.
Poor quality of workmanship of the overprinting exercise proved how they were inexperienced at this kind of printing work.



BOLIVIA  
 First postage stamp issued: 1867.
Click country name or flag to access this database.



BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA  
 First postage stamp issued: 1879.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by:Grafotisak (Bosnia), Bundesdruckerei (Germany), Delo (Slovenia) and Cartor (France).

CPU & Moare, Sarajevo.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 2005 for Kosovo.
Main printing process(es): Litho.
No website found as of 2012.

A user of this site wrote in late 2011:
"CPU and Moare are far from what you'd call "Security Printers" - a lot of waste of Kosovo printed product got out, and it's hard to decipher what is simply junk and legitimate errors (imperforates).  The Europa issue of 2006 (?) was printed in far higher quantities than were authorized by the post... thousands of sheets were sold outside of the postal channels for small percentage of face value.  All other issues are scarce now, but that Europa issue is a drag on the market."



Grafotisak, Grude.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1999 for Bosnia & Herzegovina (Croatian Posts).
Main printing process(es): Litho.
www.grafotisak.com/



Surveying Institution, [Where?].
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: [when?].



BOTSWANA  
(Formerly BRITISH BECHUANALAND)
 First postage stamp issued: 1885 (For BRITISH BECHUANALAND 1885-1897).
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: BDT (Ireland), Cartor (France), Enschede (Netherlands) and Southern Colour Print (New Zealand). 

No stamps appear to have been produced locally. However, local surcharging did occur, as recorded in the entry below.

P. Townshend & Co., Vryberg.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1888 (Surcharges) for Stellaland.



BRAZIL
 First postage stamp issued: 1843.
Click country name or flag to access this database. 



BRITISH GUIANA  
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See GUYANA)



BRITISH HONDURAS  
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See BELIZE)



BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY  

 First postage stamp issued: [when?].
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: BDT (Ireland) and Cartor (France). 

No stamps appear to have been produced locally.



BRITISH LEVANT  
First postage stamp issued: 1873.
Country no longer exists by this name. See Turkey.

No stamps appear to have been produced locally. However, overprints were produced locally, as recorded in the entry below.

American Press, Beyrout.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1906 (Overprints) for British Levant.



BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS  
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See SOLOMON ISLANDS)



BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS  
 First postage stamp issued: 1968.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: BDT (Ireland) and Enschede (Netherlands).

No stamps appear to have been produced locally.



BRUNEI DARUSSALAM  
 First postage stamp issued: 1906.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: Southern Colour Print (New Zealand), Enschedé (Netherlands), Cartor (France) and Security Printers (Malaysia). 

No stamps appear to have been produced locally. However, overprints were produced locally, as recorded in the entry below.

Government Printer, Brunei.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1976 (Overprints) for Brunei.



BULGARIA  
 First postage stamp issued: 1879.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by:State Printing Works (Bulgaria) and Cartor (France).

Bulgarian National Bank Printing Works Corpë, Sofia
Founded: Apparently in operation since 1998 in place of the State Printing Works.  
www.bnbprint.com/en



State Printing Works [BFN], Sofia.
First stamp(s) traced by compiler: 1892 for Bulgaria.

An internet entry refers to "the former" State Printing Works in Sofia and notes that the new BNB Printing Works has been in operation since 1998.



BURKINO FASO  
(Formerley UPPER VOLTA)
 First postage stamp issued: 1984.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: [unknown printer].
 
No stamps appear to have been produced locally.



BURMA  
Country no longer exists by this name.

(See MYANMAR)



BURUNDI  
 First postage stamp issued: 1962.
Stamp printing for this country is primarily done by: [unknown printer].
 
No stamps appear to have been produced locally.

  Page Version: 1.1, 2012.  All material Copyright  © 2000-Date Glenn H Morgan FRPSL.