New Machin definitive stamps not in all POs on 3 January

As previously reported on 17 October and November blogposts, new Machin definitive stamps will be available from 3 January 2013.  The two 1st class stamps will change from Diamond Blue to Royal Mail Red, and the 50p and £1 will also change.

The 1p-20p stamps will also be issued with an iridescent security overprint for the first time.

We did not expect the low value stamps to be available in all Post Office branches as they are not - from Royal Mail's philatelic point of view - fundamentally new stamps.  But we have recently been told that the other 4 values will not be sent to all Post Offices for the day of issue, and that the initial distribution will be confined to the 24 Philatelic Offices* and some others.  This may mean that not even all 370+ Crown Offices will have them.

Other Postmasters can order these stamps if there is a demand, so if you have a regular PO where you buy your new stamps, ask the postmaster if he will order them!  He may have to contact the helpline to find out how. 

Royal Mail's research has shown increasingly that collectors are not buying new definitives and definitive FDCs at Post Office branches on the day of issue, and there will be no general distribution of blank First Day Envelopes. 

* According to the Philatelic Bulletin these are the philatelic outlets which remain:

Bristol, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Croydon, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Grimsby, Harrogate, London (Eastcheap and Trafalgar Square), Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southend on Sea, Stevenage, Stroud, Trowbridge, Truro, York, and Newport Isle of Wight.
(Notable by their absence - Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Wales, Northern Ireland !!)

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We are planning to produce a small quantity of first day covers as follows:

1. Valued stamps - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50p and £1 cost £4.95

2. NVIs.  1st standard and 1st Large.  The cost of these covers depends on what stamps are available.  We have the following:

1st class counter sheet, booklet of 6, booklet of 12.    Awaited: Business Sheet, Coil
1st class Large counter sheet, booklet of 4.                 Awaited: Business Sheet.

Prices will be
- £8.25 if all stamps are available,
- £7.50 without the coil,
- £6.25 without the coil or business sheet stamps.

If you wish us to obtain FDCs for you please contact us as soon as possible at ian@norphil.co.uk so that we can obtain stocks.  Orders must be received by 21 December.

NB: Just over a week later the 1st class stamp from the mixed London Underground book will be issued, and we will do FDCs for that single stamp for £4 each, to be despatched with the above.  Please let us know if you also want that FDC.

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