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Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Christmas Robins Post and Go stamps make a return

As expected some Post Offices and other outlets are to use Robins Faststamps again this year.  This post will help keep track of what is happening where.

There is no formal 'first day' of Robins with the MA13 code at post offices.

1. The new stamps have been installed at the British Postal Museum and Archive in Phoenix Place effective 5 November.  These have the BPMA inscription and are sold from the Hytech/Next Generation machine.  (For images see here.)

2. Stamps with no additional inscription were on sale from machines A3 and A4 at the Stafford Stamp Fair on Friday 8 / Saturday 9 November. (For images see here.)

3. Use at ordinary post offices will be varied.  Some will continue to use MA12 stock which they have left over from last year.  Replenishment orders from Swindon stores may be MA12 initially then MA13.  Available at Trafalgar Square on 12 November - others see below!

4. It is likely that any 'pop-up' post office, as at Camden Lock last year, will use new stock. We have no details of such a post office yet - expect it in early December.  Details now available here.


Update 7 December - Summary of comments so far:

 Old St London    5 November - robins not yet available
Farringdon St      5 November - no robins available
York (Lendal)      5 November - Christmas Pigs 
Glasgow              5 November - Flags in 1 (since exhausted), Machins in 2+3.
Edinburgh           5 November - Rivers in 1,2,3
Stockport             6 November - Robins MA12
Plymouth             6 November - "have no intention of having Robins" (they say!) §
London Baker St  6 November - Rivers
York (Lendal)       8 November - Pigs (thanks PB!)
London Farringdon R 12 November - Ponds (Christmas Newt)
*Exeter                  11 November - Robins MA12
Devon/Cornwall  11 November - MA12 Robins widespread
Exmouth              12 November - Birds 4, Christmas Ringed Plover
Tonbridge             12 November - Pigs
Trafalgar Sq       12 November - ROBINS MA13
Aldwych              13 November - m/c 1 Rivers, m/c 2 Flags
Norwich              13 November - ROBINS MA13 
Reading               13 November - Rivers in both machines
Harrogate             13 November - Machins (1), Rivers (2)
Maidstone            14 November - Machin (1), Rivers (2) 
Plymouth  §          16 November - Robins MA12 in all machines
Macclesfield         16 November - Pond life
* Exeter               16 November - Robins MA12 in 1+2, MA13 in 3
Paignton               16 November - Rivers (update - see 19th)
Yeovil                   16 November - Rivers
Balham High St    18 Nov - Lakes
Clapham High St  18 Nov - Rivers x 3 m/c
Lavender Hill        19 Nov - Cattle (Clapham Junction)
New Malden         19 Nov - Rivers (1), Robins MA12 (2)
Croydon               19 Nov - Robins MA13 in all machines
Paignton                19 Nov - Robins, MA12  
Tudor Street (L)  21 Nov - MA13 Robins, Flag + Machin (* flag MA13 only briefly)
Aldwych (Lon)    21Nov - Robins MA13
Bristol Galleries   22 Nov - Robins MA12 in all 5
Aberystwyth         22 Nov - Cattle 
* Exeter               23 Nov - still Robins MA12 in 1+2, MA13 in 3
Blackfriars Road   25 Nov - Lakes
Great Portland St  25 Nov -  Machin Head original
Baker Street          25 Nov -  Rivers in both m/c
Paddington            25 Nov - Union Flag (original) in both m/c
Birmingham        27 Nov - Flag in #2; Machin in #3, 7 and 8; Fish in #4-6; Robin MA13 in #9-10
Plymouth   §        28 Nov - Robins MA13

Update 13 December
Farringdon Road - Ponds
Blackfriars Road, Southwark - Sheep (not Lakes)
* Tudor Street - Machins, MA13 in machines 1 & 3. Union Flags, no date in machine 2
Aldwych - Robins, MA13 in both machines (no Rivers)
Covent Garden - 2nd class & 2nd class Large Machins, MA13 in one machine
.... and because no Rivers at Aldwych:-
Baker Street - Ponds (not Rivers)

at

52 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 07:27

    Tuesday 5th visit to London. Robins Post & Go not in Farringdon's machine. Went also to Old Street - several machines and helpful staff. They knew about them but had none allocated to them. The BPMA machine working well with "13" Robins with 'overprint'.
    Doug (Enfield)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 07:30

    Post Office - Trafalgar Square :

    Post & Go Robins : These were not available at all. They had none in stock, and when further enquiries were made, they would be sent Stock from last year (MA12). So the chance of seeing the new Stock (MA13) this Christmas I think is very slim. Unless someone knows better.
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 08:02

    Lendal - York; Tuesday 5th. Christmas Pigs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 11:43

    I wonder how many people realised that the Flag stamp with a BPMA overprint and a November date code was only available for two days, and if the info provided by the BPMA is accurate, the flag stamp with a December date code will also be available for only two days.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 14:39

    Why are they still being called "Fastamps"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic9 November 2013 at 17:52

      I suspect your comment is facetious.
      You wouldn't expect other than old stock is used up before new stock taken in.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 15:26

    No Robins at all at Macclesfield, when asked they said "they only get what they are sent". Spoke to a helpful lady at Stockport who said they had some Robins and would put them in for me but they were MA12.
    Stuart

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9 November 2013 at 19:38

      I think a lot of collectors will be looking for both MA12 and MA13 from Wincor Nixdorf machines with November/December receipts this year. I know I am. You're halfway there!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous6 November 2013 at 20:50

    Plymouth Crown Office have informed ...'We don't have any Ma12 left and don't intend ordering any Ma13 - they will be no Robins here this year.'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robert16 November 2013 at 15:20

      Plymouth Crown Office has now got 'Robins MA12 in all Kiosks

      Delete
  8. Malcolm6 November 2013 at 20:53

    Tried 3 offices yesterday Trafalgar Square (as above), Baker Street and Paddington.
    At Baker Street the lady said yes they were in describing them as Christmas holly so put my 60p in to check and both were Christmas Rivers !!!!! very festive.
    At Paddington had a chat with the very friendly manager there who knew nothing about them and attempted to contact Swindon with no success but said he would attempt to get supplies in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian Morris12 November 2013 at 15:30

      Farringdon Road Post Office today (12/11/2013) had Freshwater Life - Ponds in their machine. I got one first class stamp which was a Christmas Newt.

      Delete
    2. machinmaniac14 November 2013 at 08:21

      Given the nature of most Christmas celebrations, a Christmas Newt seems entirely appropriate!

      Delete
    3. Brian Morris15 November 2013 at 14:35

      Exactly what I thought
      Looking at the list of reports makes interesting reading. There appears to be no system at all for what goes into each machine. Better look out for early Birds sets. You never know what will turn up.

      Delete
  9. Trevor11 November 2013 at 08:14

    Exeter had MA12 on Friday so the lady looking after the machines told me. Not sure if it was in all three machines but she said she didnt know if they would get any MA13 stock. Based on the comments above I wish I'd bought one to check!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous11 November 2013 at 22:32

    Ma12 Robins now widespread across Devon and Cornwall

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous11 November 2013 at 22:34

    It appears by a few offices' lack of knowledge - that stock just arrives without warning.....

    ReplyDelete
  12. Trevor12 November 2013 at 16:05

    Exmouth had Birds 4 today! Got myself a nice Xmas Ringed Plover!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous13 November 2013 at 13:46

    Many would expect a civil response to the question regarding your continually calling Post & Go stamps "Faststamps" but perhaps that is too much to expect bearing your reluctance to accept any responsibility for the mistakes you make

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic13 November 2013 at 14:41

      My apologies. By your question "Why are they *still* being called "Fastamps"?" I thought you were asking why they were referred to as 'Faststamps' when the MA13 Robins (or in some cases any Robins) were so slow in appearing this year. Now that I understand the question as being serious (or "why were they ever called Faststamps?") I'll give you the serious answer that you deserve.

      The term 'Faststamps' was coined by users, collectors and dealers, when the words appeared on the Wincor-Nixdorf terminal screen during set-up at Bristol in October 2008. At this time they were not available from Royal Mail Stamps and Collectibles service at Edinburgh, as the 'presentation' pack was only issued the following March.

      At Royal Mail's Philatelic Trade Briefing at Stampex in February 2009 the presentation referred to the two types of Post and Go product as 'Post and Go Labels' (the ones for instant use) and 'Post and Go Stamps' the Machin head ones for use at any time. We questioned RM's use of the term P&G Stamps - one that wasn't in use anywhere else - but they stuck to their terminology, which made sense as they had already produced the packs with that description and all the associated sale documentation.

      Stanley Gibbons used the term Faststamps in their GB Concise catalogue though they have now changed to Post and Go Stamps - but the numbering is still in the 'FS' series. Faststamps was used in the 2011 edition of Collect British Stamps.


      Given that a large number of collectors and dealers continue to use the original term, I see no reason to change it. A search on google for faststamps (with -norvic and -norphil as exclusions to avoid finding the many occasions when I have used it) shows that it is used by Stamp Magazine, postagelabelsuk.com, the machinmania blog, the Modern British Philatelic Circle, Douglas Myall in his Deegam catalogue, the Machin Forum, and of course many sellers on eBay and Delcampe (but who could blame them for using a term that their bidders will search for?).

      So again I apologise for misunderstanding your original question, and hope that this explains continued and widespread use of the term.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14 November 2013 at 10:10

      Thank you

      Delete
  14. Anonymous14 November 2013 at 00:20

    Reading Post Office on the 13 Nov had Rivers in both machines as I ended up with a pair of trout.
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous15 November 2013 at 17:17

    Went to Harrogate today - had Machin Heads (no date code!) in kiosk 1 and Rivers in kiosk 2
    Stuart

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous16 November 2013 at 12:13

    Visited Macclesfield today - Still have Ponds, as it was on 5th Nov
    Stuart

    ReplyDelete
  17. Robert16 November 2013 at 13:32

    PAIGNTON: Saturday 16th Novermber, Got a nice Christmas 'White Clawed Crayfish'

    ReplyDelete
  18. Trevor16 November 2013 at 20:55

    Exeter had Robins in all three machines today MA12 in Kiosks 1 and 2 and MA13 in Kiosk 3 (nearest lift)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Trevor17 November 2013 at 20:29

    Message from Father in Law - Pigs in Tonbridge, last week, not sure which day he went in

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous18 November 2013 at 18:50

    No Robins in Balham who have lakes or Clapham High Street who have all three machine loaded with rivers.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Trevor18 November 2013 at 18:55

    he went on the 12th November

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous19 November 2013 at 14:17

    Lavender Hill (Clapham Junction) has Cattle, New Malden (1) Rivers (2) Robins MA12, but Croydon has Robins MA13 in all machines.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Brian Sinnott21 November 2013 at 08:43

    If you looking for MA13 Wincor versions of Xmas Robins, Union Flag or Machin then try Ludgate CIrcus - whilst they last ! http://postagelabelsuk.com/2013/11/roll-roll-welcome-ludgate-circus-wincor-ma13-flags-machins-robins-one-place/

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous21 November 2013 at 13:46

    Both Aldwych machines have Robin (MA13)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Robert22 November 2013 at 09:26

    Paignton:Wednesday 20th November 'Robins' have landed (MA12)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Trevor23 November 2013 at 12:17

    22/11/13

    The Galleries, Bristol MA12 Robins in all five kiosks.

    Aberystwyth has Cattle!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Robert23 November 2013 at 15:40

    EXETER:Update 23rd November Robins are still Kiosks 1 & 2 (MA12) Kiosk 3 (MA13)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous25 November 2013 at 14:49

    Blackfriars Road lakes
    Great Portland Street Machin Head (original)
    Baker Street Rivers in both
    Paddington Union Flag (original) in both

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous26 November 2013 at 14:05

    What are the 'Christmas Pigs' in York (Lendal) and 'Christmas Newt' at London Farringdon Road please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic26 November 2013 at 14:09

      These are humorous references to what is actually in the machines instead of the Robins that we were told would be.

      The Pigs stamps were originally issued 24 April 2012, and the Newts part of the Pond Life issue of 22 February 2013.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous28 November 2013 at 08:52

    Ma13 Robins now in Plymouth.

    ReplyDelete
  31. BartyBoy30 November 2013 at 00:04

    I went to the Tudor Street Post Office today, I tried all three machines there, none of them had Robin MA13 stamps - machine one had Machin, machine two had Flag and machine three had Lake. I also went to the Farrington Road Post Office, unfortunately it only had Cattle stamps. Finally I was trying my luck at the Trafalgar Square Post Office, but I was told the Robin MA13 were completely sold out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic30 November 2013 at 09:35

      Well at least you should have MA13 flags.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous30 November 2013 at 16:47

      Machin MA12 or 13
      Flag MA12 or 13 ?
      Regards, Thomas

      Delete
    3. Ian - Norvic30 November 2013 at 20:08

      See http://blog.norphil.co.uk/2013/11/post-and-go-flag-stamps-ma13-appear-at.html
      Unless the older stamps have been used on replenishment it should be MA13 in both cases.

      Delete
    4. BartyBoy2 December 2013 at 13:23

      They were the MA13 Flags and Machin I got out of Machine 1 & 2.

      Delete
  32. martin4 December 2013 at 17:13

    Trafalgar Square had MA13 robins in the right-hand machine only yesterday. (Before I thought to ask a helpful member of staff, I did a test purchase from one of the other machines and got an Arctic Char who was pretty fed up with this Christmas malarkey already.)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Trevor5 December 2013 at 19:24

    5/12/13 Exeter had MA13 Robins in Kiosk 1, MA12 in Kiosk 2 and Kiosk 3 didnt give the option to purchase stamps!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Trevor9 December 2013 at 18:34

    07/12/13 Cardiff - MA13 Robins in both kiosks
    09/12/13 Carmarthen - Rivers

    07/12/13 Cardiff Pop Up PO had MA13 Robins in both machines on Reel A as expected

    ReplyDelete
  35. Robert18 December 2013 at 16:32

    YEOVIL:As of the 15th December Kiosk 01 Had Freshwater Life 3 & Kiosk 02 had some nice CHRISTMAS BEEF (Cattle Issue)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Robert10 January 2014 at 11:00

    YEOVIL- December 2013: Just before the New Year but after Christmas 'MA13' ROBIN'S have been put into both Kiosks 01 & 02.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ian - Norvic24 March 2014 at 09:05

    I hope the army of readers who contributed to the hunt for Red Robin MA13 will also be looking for 'old' stamps on the change of tariff 31 March 2014 !! Please see http://blog.norphil.co.uk/2014/03/contents-of-post-and-go-machines-on.html - I will be interested in obtaining supplies of old stamps with the new values. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous20 October 2014 at 13:59

    Will the Christmas Robins Post & Go stamps re-appear in this Christmas please? Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ian - Norvic20 October 2014 at 14:02

      There is no indication from Royal Mail that they will. Some may appear at some post office branches - they were still available when the rates changed at the end of March

      Delete

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