It's almost as if the relaxation - and coming further relaxation - of Covid-19 restrictions has lifted the doors on either ISP/Walsall or Royal Mail's warehouse and stamps are flooding out.
I've got much to catch up on with news which you sent while I was away at (inter alia) Midpex (and more about event that in a separate post), and much more to report, but in the meantime I can report that new M21L printings of the £1 and £2.55 sheet definitives are now available, printed on 22 March and 23 March respectively. Get these from your usual dealer who should have them soon rather than pay 'here, this is new!' prices on auction sites.
More details & pictures later, and a new list of this year's definitives as soon as I have compiled a new list.
Click on any image to see them enlarged.
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| 1p, 5p, 10p, 20p counter sheet printings M21L |
The backing paper on the 5p is the other way up compared to the other three values, whatever designation you use to describe it. The 5p has the upright small letters below the upright large letters, the other three have the upright small letters above the upright large letters.
Date blocks, 15/03 (1p), 16/03 (the rest):
UPDATE 13 July
Date blocks and singles of £1 and £2.55 M21L reprints. The backing paper on these is the same as all except the 5p above.
UPDATE 26 July: Trelantis has mentioned this in the comments, but earlier I had an email from IM which ended up in the spam folder, and included this picture of a sheet bought on the island of Skye.
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| 2p counter sheet printed 15/03/21 M21L (click on image to enlarge.) |
UPDATE 9 August 2021: A correspondent (RB) has pointed out the addition to the low value sheets, which now have the barcode alongside the last row as well as the top row on the sheet.
Edit: By 'low value' I meant up to £1, but JH has pointed out that the same applies to the £2.55 reprint. (Thank you JH!)
Watch this space!
Thanks for the info Ian, very helpful.
ReplyDeleteU3028 1st MSIL M21L now for sale online at #313600829247
ReplyDeleteAm I right in thinking that just the 2p, 50p, 1st (sheet) and 2nd Large (MBIL) M21Ls are awaited? Can anyone confirm, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. There is a query about the 2nd Large MFIL (see the next comment).
DeleteJohn
I think we’re still waiting for 2nd large MFIL
ReplyDeleteThanks, although I did see this "MBPC reports that the 4x2nd Large booklet with M21L (MFIL of course) has now appeared" in Ian's blog page of 27th June under comment by John H on 2nd July.
DeleteAccording to MBPC, the 2nd Large MFIL was spotted at the end of June. I have yet to see a copy advertised for sale though.
DeleteJohn
I haven't either, and I don't usually miss these! Perhaps if MBPC read this blog they may be able to confirm.
DeleteThe 2nd Large MBIL M21L has appeared very recently on eBay - item number 234099784600. Still no sign of the 2nd Large MFIL M21L being offered (I've been checking on a number of dealer sites as well as eBay).
ReplyDeleteJohn
U2921 2p M21L now available at online auction reference #324724890890
ReplyDeleteLooking at my spam folder I find I had an email from a correspondent in SKYE, who found these at the local post office. Image now added to this post.
Delete2nd Large MFIL M21L has now appeared on eBay (item number 234102633734}
ReplyDeleteU2921 2p from counter sheet M21L now for sale in singles & other variations on e bay Ref:- 324729717677
ReplyDeleteSo now we just wait for the 1p & 50p counter sheet stamps M21L, if & when they appear. Doubts on the 50p though.
ReplyDeleteI think you mean 1st & 50p.
DeleteApologies Trelantis yes I do mean 1st
DeleteI suppose that the other possible value might be £2. Not very likely, I know, but with today's high overseas postal rates this may sometimes be useful as a make-up value. And this value did surprise two years ago with not just one but two printings.
ReplyDelete(MachinManiac, please email me.)
According to reports on the MBPC website, higher value sheets printed this year also have the second barcode. It appears to be a new feature introduced across all counter sheets.
ReplyDeleteJohn
I am beginning to wonder if we will see a 1st class counter sheet printing this year, it will be rare if no printing is made
ReplyDeleteYes, getting close to Christmas now and those office which do sell special issue 1st class have had plenty to choose from (and will have more).
DeleteWith that, booklets and business sheets, maybe this will be a novel year.
The 1st counter sheet stamp has appeared overnight on eBay: item number 234192750538
DeleteJohn