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Sunday, 9 May 2010

More New Security Machins on sale at London 2010.

Dealers and collectors have been discussing at length which would be the next Machin stamps to show the new MA10 year code.  And we found out sooner than expected.  Not only did we find new stamps, but also found that they had been packed in 2009!


The 1st class and 2nd class Large booklets of 4 are now available with code MA10 to the left of the eye (adjusted in Photoshop Elements).
Edit:
Eagle-eyed Robert has commented on something we all seem to have overlooked!  The year code MA10 to the left of the eye is not the only change.  On the 2009 booklets the text to the top right is 
...YALMAIL at the top, followed by
...LFOY... followed by
.. MAI...

As you can see the FOYAL has been replaced with ROYAL in the 2010 stamps, and the line below it now incorporates the origin code, MAIL now reading MFIL.

Both booklets have been printed with W1 cylinders - base colour, phosphor and overlay.

The packing caption shows that the 2nd class booklets were packed in February, but the 1st class booklets were packed in December 2009!

Now on Sale
We have a limited supply of these and other stamps with security features now listed on our e-commerce site.

6 comments:

  1. Interesting to see that the latest edition (May) of the "Philatelic Bulletin" is taken up with a lot about London 2010 but no mention at all about the MA10 variations (not even the earlier now well published standard 1st & 2nd). Clearly shows that the "Royal Mail magazine for stamnp collectors" (that's how it is described) is becomming worthless.
    Doug Fairhurst (Enfield)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Doug, you're right - and wrong !

    It's still a magazine for stamp collectors but not for serious philatelists, and as a *Philatelic* Bulletin, and Bureau, the outfit is failing to live up to its name, not only for collectors but for dealers as well.

    That's not to say that 'stamp collectors' should not be interested in these details, and that makes them anything less than philatelists. I think many people who study and do more than 'collect' (ie =philatelists) mistakenly regard themselves as 'ordinary collectors', downgrading themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The image at the top isn't very clear but it seems to me that the original source code in the large books of four Large stamps, ie FOYAL to the right of the diadem is now reinstated as ROYAL whilst the line below seems to begin MFI... Could you confirm this?

    ReplyDelete
  4. OOPS! I think we (and there are several people who have these) were so concerned with the MA10 that we forgot to check back on the originals.

    You are quite correct, the original 2009 booklets have FOYAL at the top right, and on the 2010 booklets this reads ROYAL and MAIL below it reads MFIL.

    I'll correct the main post for the benefit of those who don't read comments. Thanks, Robert!

    ReplyDelete
  5. While I agree with Ian that the Philatelic Bureau has lost just about all of its philatelic, I think it is not reasonable to criticize the Bulletin for its lack of coverage of Machin Minutiae. By its nature, it has to be a somewhat general publication, and I think the most recent editor (John Holman, now retired) has been correct to leave that topic to Douglas Myall. Collector interest in that subject and Myall's ability to cover it has been shown by Myall being repeatedly voted best author in the Bulletin. Collectors who want more details (and faster news coverage) should join the MBPC or the MCC...or read these blogs!

    --Larry

    ReplyDelete
  6. Perhaps that is why, some time ago, it was renamed from Philatelic Bureau to simply Royal Mail Tallents House. Simply, RM no longer offer a full philatelic service.

    ReplyDelete

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