Collectors and dealers alike agonised over what Royal Mail intended for non-datamatrix stamps three years ago.
What soon became apparent was that there was a grey area.
Some stamps were definitely invalid and should be swapped, some would definitely remain valid. And some would remain invalid but would also be accepted for the swap scheme.
Here and on various philatelic forums people were asking why Royal Mail didn't just produce a list of what would remain valid and what would not, and what would be swapped and what wouldn't. The grey area didn't matter so much because stamps could be on both lists.
Thanks to a reader and regular contributor we now know much more. The reader was given a tour of part of a Mail Centre and spotted a notice board with some very useful information, which I have reproduced below.
So what does this tells us?
At the time of printing ordinary old Machin and country definitives are invalid and the £1.10 surcharge applied.
The Machin Signed For and Special Delivery stamps should not be surcharged. Likewise the Machin airmail postcard, 20g and 40g stamps.
Definitive-sized Wildings and the 1d red (and black and 2d blue) stamps should not be surcharged.
Post and Go stamps should not be surcharged unless underpaid.
And as we know, Christmas stamps without barcodes remain valid.
Dates and timing
The £1.10 surcharge applied in 2023, so we don't know whether the poster has been updated, replaced, or whether RM HQ have simply assumed that all postal operatives now know what is what - which, given the high turnover of staff, would seem to be a foolish assumption.
But it's something. And something that I will try to explore with Royal Mail.
Could you make the pictures bigger please as I can only maximise so much
ReplyDeleteHave you tried clicking on the image to see the original size? Works with all images on Blogger-hosted sites as far as I know.
Delete1. You can click on them to probably see them larger, although if the image is full screen vertically, as these are close to, then you won't improve on that.
Delete2. You can download them by Right-click/Save image as../ and then use your computer's facilities to enlarge; I use a Mac so can't start to say how you would do that on a PC.
Thanks I did suggestion no 2
DeleteNow if only PO counters could have something like that. Last week, I had an, admittedly newish, member of counter staff insistently tell me that my 1st Class 2021 Queen, 1974 special issue was invalid. I pointed out that it was a special issue, but they were adamant it was non barcode and therefore unacceptable. Unfortunately, the PO typically only has one member of staff at a time, even though its a town centre and so I couldn't challenge more than my grumpiness already had. Instead I walked across town to another PO and posted without issue.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to 'regular contributor'. Jolly useful as well as interesting for us ordinary folk; as well as postmen; not least as I have too many Wilding commemoratives to use up which will be mostly on postcards as they are small enough to fit on them
DeleteI had similar when using a 10g worldwide post and go stamp last week on a 20g letter within Europe. The assistant told me he doubted it would get there as the letter weighed more than 10g. I pointed out that the minimum weight step for international post was now 100g and that the stamp was entirely valid. He told me it was up to me but he didn't think it would get there. I left the letter with him and took the certificate of posting he provided but only later thought I should have asked him how much it would cost to 'upgrade' my stamp to something he considered appropriate postage. I doubt he could have given me an answer.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good point about upgrading! On a similar topic I often use aerogrammes as address labels on parcels (inland as well as overseas) - but you can't use cut-outs. Aerogrammes are worth their face value, but the NVI ones are worth the current 100g rate, ie £3.20 at present. You can find them in dealers' 'cheap boxes' for as little as 25p.
DeleteIan - sometime ago I asked you about the validity (using them as postage) of aerogramme cutouts.
DeleteYou replied:
NO cut-outs are valid postage now, you have to use the whole article. If this is an envelope or postcard it can be fixed onto a larger envelope or parcel, or be used with additional postage added.
For aerogrammes I have used one or two low-value ones on parcels, seems like the only way to do it.
For NVIs - eg 1st class paid envelopes - these will be valid at the current rate. Registered is somewhat problematic as there is no registered rate; you may get somebody to accept them at Signed For or Special Delivery rate, but I doubt it.
I have been told that NVI aerogrammes cannot be used at all, as there is no aerogramme service now so no equivalent value. I asked at my Head Post Office what value would be allowed if I had put one on a parcel and the (very friendly and co-operative) counter clerk, said "none!".
I missed your point then, which you've explained more extensively today, that you can use aerogrammes as address labels. Do you use them on letters as well as parcels? And do you cut out just the front pane or fix the whole aerogramme to the front?
I have been told that NVI aerogrammes cannot be used at all, as there is no aerogramme service now so no equivalent value. I asked at my Head Post Office what value would be allowed if I had put one on a parcel and the (very friendly and co-operative) counter clerk, said "none!".
DeleteExactly the opposite to what I was told at Dereham, and I have posted many many with value and NVI with no problem. (They sometimes fail to cancel the aerogramme stamp.)
An advantage for the recipient is that if you use gummed stamps they can, if they wish, easily soak them off and collect them as VFU.
I use the whole aerogramme, folded as it would be when it was used as an Aerogramme. Folding the flaps in as well makes it easier to tape down.
Hello Ian
DeleteIn relation to the aerogramme comments, I have a few airletters which I think are the same thing. The plastic sleeve they came in says 'Post paid to anywhere in the world' and the individual air letters have the Queen's head next to a number 1 and Great Britan Postage Paid. I assume then, that it's a NVI and would be valid up to 100g. However, would I have to attach it to another envelope or could I put something inside the airletter (even though it says it can contain no enclosure)? Given the reluctance by the local post office counter (in a pharmacy) to accept the 10g international post & go stamp on a 20g European letter, I don't fancy my chances of it being accepted whatever I do but, if I do try it, I want to be sure I'm doing it right.
I haven't tried to use them with enclosures, Kate, because most of what I send anywhere needs to be in something a little sturdier. Those are certainly valid for £3.20 at present. I suppose if you wanted to write a long letter and include another sheet, or a photo, it might be OK. But I wouldn't send customer orders of stamps or postcards like that.
DeleteRoyal Mail also produced some prepaid postcards with Aerogramme and the same Postage Paid Indicator. Those would also be effective but then I would either post them to someone who might like a novelty, or fix them to a packet.
I do cut out postcard stamps and use them on letters and parcels that I will get a receipt for. This way, the counter assistant can ask about/object to the cutouts but they never have. Having accepted the cutouts and getting my receipt, I then know that the letter/parcel will get to the addressee.
DeleteI look after the postal mailing list for a voluntary group and three times a year, I post around 250 letters. I have been reluctant to use cutouts as part payment in case the letter is detained or surcharged by the Post Office as I have no way of knowing that this has happened. Unless one of the receipients complain about not getting the mailing which I don't want to happen.
You've been very lucky - see this blog post from when this ruling was made in 2012
Deletehttps://blog.norphil.co.uk/2012/05/postage-paid-stationery-cut-outs.html