Five New Machin Priority Service Stamps - 28 February 1995

In February 2009 Royal Mail issued the first self-adhesive definitive NVIs and high values stamps with new security features.  This was the birth of the Machin Security Stamps which indirectly lead to the bulk of posts on this blog over the next decade.

Then in November two surprise additions to the series were added, the Recorded Signed For 1st class and 1st class Large to “satisfy an operational demand at Post Office counters”.

As we know these were self-adhesive, die cut, with security features, with slits through the stamp and with iridescent printing across the design.   The slits were said to be designed to inhibit the removal of these Stamps for fraudulent sale and re-use.

But although this was described as an innovation it wasn't actually new – the concept originated in 1994, as shown in an internal Royal Mail document found by one of our contributors MM.

This document shows that Royal Mail were considering special stamps for Priority Servics with what would seem to be the very same security features.

“The stamps will be self-adhesive and die-cut, 25 to a sheet, with additional security features because of he stamp's premium.”

Design: a centrally-placed embossed Machin head (29.5 mm), with the service indicator at the bottom of the stamp which would be of similar colour and branding to the specific services. Unfortunately there are no pictures (in any case it is a black and white potocopy) and we don't know what colours they were planning. I suspect predominently dark blue iwith different inscriptions, per this leaflet.

(More on the new labelling and system below.) 

The costs of the service, and therefore of the stamps, is shown as follows.

Recorded Delivery - 55p

Special Delivery - £2.70

Registered - £3.00

Registered Plus to £1500 - £3.30

Registered Plus to £2200 - £3.60

Note that these are supplementary stamps – in addiition to 1st class postage (or a choice of 2nd or 1st for Recorded Delivery) for the weight concerned.

The issue date was to be 28 February 1995 with stamp cards (PHQ cards), presentation packs, and “philatelic souvenir covers”, which is an odd way of saying First Day Covers. 

The alternative postmark was Windsor (with the primary one obviously being Philatelic Bureau Edinburgh).

No printer was identified at this stage.

Click on the image to see it enlarged

So what happened? Why did this apparently good idea, suggested with the new 1993 branding, fail to be implemented?

Was it problems with Post Office counters, with users, with separation of the different classes in the mail stream?

Maybe someone decided that using an extra stamp for the priority service would be a problem, although it could reduce the number of stamps required. (Stamp dealers of course would have plenty of other value postage to use!)

One thing I do know – if these had been introduced in 1994 as planned, I would not have been as involved in Machin Security Stamps as I came to be in 2009/10 etc. At that time I had not retired, and my interest in Machins was far reduced from its previous peak, and my focus switched to the stamps and postal history of the countries of the Former Soviet Union.

On the other hand, I would have been able to put more focus onto the aforementioned, and Great Britain modern postal history and usages, and I might not have as many boxes to go through now.

 

More on Priority Services.

When introduced in 1961 Recorded Delivery used yellow labels which over the years varied to several different shades of orange. Registered Mail, of course, had used numbered blue 'R” labels for over a century, and Special Delivery was identified by a white on green label for many decades.

The June 1993 leaflet 'Now Even Better” illustrated the labels for the new services (shown above), which used dark blue in all cases, which I thought could lead to confusion compared with the previous system. Although the labels stuck on envelopes and packets had different text, further confusion was possible for users as the Registered and Special Delivery (SD) forms were both headed Guaranteed Delivery. In fact it really made no difference to processing as both Guaranteed Delivery services provided the same service, the only difference being that SD paid up to £24 compensation, and Registered paid up to £500.

Recorded retained an orange aspect, Registered had a light blue background to the number labels, and SD had an orange background to the number labels.  Soon afterwards pre-paid postal stationery envelopes were introduced.

From the top, Registered Plus, indicated by the pale blue + at the foot, Registered, and Special Delivery which is lighter blue.

 Here's an example from March 1994.

It's impossible to know, apart from by the postage paid, which service is being used (and not necessarily then!).  In this case postage is £3.08 which is 38p first class postage for a 40-100 g first class letter plus £2.70 Special Delivery fee. 

For the delivery postman it is clear that this is a priority item, but for tracking at any stage from the post office counter to delivery the barcode on the reverse has to be scanned.  Did posties carry any barcode readers then?  

By 1995 a further rebranding introduced the Silver Service for inland Special Delivery and from from 12th October 1998 they were all combined into a single rebranded service under the Special Delivery banner.  (GB Philatelic Society)

This is an interesting and relatively short-lived period in British Postal History affecting more expensive mail than just ordinary letters.  Material is not easy to find, but stamp dealers were always big users of premium services and their covers are more likely to be kept.

I've got more like the one above, but not many.  This will be the subject of a post on the Modern Postal History blog some time.

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Norvic Machin Security Stamps Checklist version 2.6.9

When I launched Checklist version 267 in January of this year, I speculated that it might be the last. 

Only three situations could produce a new one:

1. New printings of existing Queen Elizabeth Machins in 2023 with a year code of M23L.  This is unlikely.

2. New values due to new tariff.  This seems even less likely.  One would imagine that preparations for the design of new definitives have been in place for decades even if the possible design has been changed over the years as King Charles has got older.  (The first KC3 stamps were issued in April.)

3. A new Prestige Stamp book containing new values.  The first issue of the new year, all 'blockbuster' issues, and Music Giants have included PSBs - until this latest one.  Whilst not conclusive evidence, this suggests to me that there are no plans to have PSBs - or maybe no plans to have Machins in them - until after the definitives for the King are issued.  

Well, that just goes to show that my optimism was unfounded and that Royal Mail produce their stamps well ahead of the proposed issue date (and yet sometimes still have delays in supply).

In the event there were two more Prestige Stamp Books, the X-men in February and Flying Scotsman in March, the first of which produced the 2nd class Machin with MPIL code. 

A fourth reason for a new list, which I should have anticipated given the caveat over Concise catalogue numbering shown in GSM supplements, was that Stanley Gibbons would do some re-numbering.  

And so for these two reasons I have today updated and uploaded version 269 of the Checklist, which really ought to be the last one, and you can download it here.

Remember, if you cannot find this post to download it again, the link is always on the right-hand navigation panel - just under our sales lists!

Addendum: thank you to the several people who have pointed that on page 19, the V4845 (10p barcoded) is from DY45 Tutankhamun, not DY44 Transformers.   In several places the Flying Scotsman PSB number is omitted - it's DY47.

On that subject, a timely reminder that I am selling ALL Machins including my Security Stamps reference collection which includes many stamps not listed on the e-commerce site, for many years.  Use the checklist as a list of what could be available.  Stocks are changing too rapidly for me to keep an active stock list (especially as for many stamps I have only one copy). 

Email to ask if the ones you want are available.  Act now, there are a lot of scarce PSB singles waiting for a customer to decide if he can afford all he wants.  If he can't, they will be available.  Staged payments are possible, just ask.

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Now available from Royal Mail - but not for long

As several people have mentioned in comments on different posts, Royal Mail have produced an updated Stock List for Spring 2022.

This is important because it is likely to be the last such listing the Machin and Country Definitive stamps without datamatrix codes. 

Notably the last day of sale for the old-style Machin sheet stamps is shown as 28 May 2022, ie about six weeks away!  I don't think this has been mentioned anywhere by Royal Mail, and they haven't told their registered dealers, unless I missed it.  Others are listed as 'while stocks last'.

Summary:

Machin counter sheets - 28 May 2022

Mixed Booklets* & PSBs - While Stocks Last except Harry Potter (both), 31 December 2022

Country definitives - While Stocks Last - only 2nd, 1st and £1.70 stamps are available now.

* Other retail booklets - these are not mentioned at all in the Spring 2022 list. 

It seems, though, that the blue and red 12 x 2nd, 12 x 1st, 6 x 1st, 4 x 2nd Large and 4 x 1st Large are no longer available - if you are missing any of these then it is time to find them at local post offices. Those still available from Royal Mail's website shop are shown here.  

My thanks to the people who have confirmed that non-mixed retail booklets were shown as 'While Stocks Last' in September 2021, which means that for some reason (!) stocks only lasted until new-style booklets were issued, and no opportunity was given to obtain any at the last minute.  (My thanks also to AJ for sending me the list I was missing.)

Year by Year

Many readers know that as part of our arrangement with Royal Mail, registered dealers are provided with details of new printings of counter sheet stamps.  While this is not fully comprehensive, it has enabled us in the past to provide new years' printings including date blocks (usually but not always) before you could find them in Post Offices.

On the basis that there is an opportunity to sell rather than burn existing stocks, Royal Mail have now produced a new list, the first since October 2021, and this is a summary:

Stamp	Printer	Year
1p	W	M20L M21L
2p	W	M21L
5p	D	M16L M17L
5p	W	M19L M21L
10p	W	M21L
20p	D	M17L
20p	W	M21L
50p	D	M12L
50p	W	M19L
£1	D1	M16L
£1	W1	M18L M20L
£1.50	D	2009 no code
£2	D	2009 no code
£2	W	M19L
£3	D	2009 no code
£3	W	M19L
2nd	D	2014/5/6/7
2nd	W	2018/9/20
2nd Large	D	2011/2/3/4/5/6/7
2nd Large	W	2018/9/20
1st class	D	2017
1st class	W	2018/9/20
1st Large	D	2015/6/7
1st Large	W	2018/9/20

For values shown up to £3 there is usually only one date (and for some of those no cylinder and/or date blocks are available).

For the NVIs there are in many cases several dates available for each year.  Details on request!

For airmail values between £1.42 to £4.20 there are usually only the one or two original printings.  Again, details available if anybody wants them.

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Stanley Gibbons Catalogue Numbers for Datamatrix Stamps

Several readers have asked if I can post the SG Catalogue numbers for the new stamps.  These have been listed in the latest Gibbons Stamp Monthly.

Not surprisingly, a number change is the first thing as the 2nd class blue business sheet stamp was given a U number - with all the new stamps it is logical to allocate a new series of stamps as they have with booklets.   The 2nd class blue business sheet changes from U4500 to V4500.

This is the full list so far, and these numbers will be included in our Checklist.

Changed numbers shown in blue

Counter Sheets - no source code
V4525    2nd  emerald MAIL
V4526    1st deep violet MAIL
V4527    2nd Large grey-green MAIL
V4528    1st Large greenish-blue MAIL

Booklet and Business Sheets - with source codes
V4500    2nd blue MBIL
V4501    2nd emerald MBIL
V4502    2nd emerald MEIL
V4505    1st dp violet MBIL
V4506    1st dp violet MEIL
V4507    1st dp violet MFIL
V4511    2nd Large grey-green MBIL
V4512    2nd Large grey-green MFIL
V4515    1st Large greenish-blue MBIL
V4516    1st Large greenish-blue MFIL

[Airmail] counter sheet stamps with solid background
V4600  £1.85 grey-brown
V4610  £2.55 blue
V4620  £3.25 purple
V4630  £4.20 bright green

Valued counter sheet stamps, ie with no source code
V4700  1p blue
V4702  2p deep green
V4705  5p dull violet-blue
V4710  10p turquoise-green
V4720  20p bright green
V4750  50p slate
V4780  £1 grey-brown
V4800  £2 new-blue
V4820  £3 purple
V4840  £5 emerald

UPDATE 6 November

Other valued stamps, with source codes  (note: the 50p and £1 from the World War Heroes PSB (DY43) had source 'code' A (MAIL) in error). 

V----   50p MPIL from Transformers PSB DY44
V----   £1 MPIL from Transformers PSB  DY44 - two versions, one with part of label design encroaching on the stamp at the foot.

Booklets

TB1    1st x 4
TC1    2nd x 8
TD1    1st x 8
TE1    2nd Large x 4
TF1    1st Large x 4

The latest, low value, high value, and new tariff stamps issued on 4 April are too new to have had numbers allocated.  I suspect they may be a new range, maybe 455- or 46--.  I'll update this when we know.

Update: now that we have the 4 April numbers it is good to see that the catalogue editors have been forward looking and have left gaps in the numbering for future values.  However, whilst this is most likely for the airmail stamps (4600 series), it seems quite unlikely for the others, especially the low values.

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New Airmail and Make up stamps 4 April, with stability in most Airmail rates, Europe splits in 3, & 1st class goes through the roof!

Royal Mail have announced new airmail stamps to be issued on 4 April 2022. suggesting that postage rates will increase on 11 April. In fact the rates will change on the same day.

New barcoded international airmail stamps will be issued with values of £1.85, £2.55, £3.25, and £4.20.  The three higher values are the existing rates, but the £1.85 represents an increase from £1.70 for European letters to 100g, and Worldwide letters and postcards to 20g.

There is no indication that new country definitive stamps will be issued at the £1.85 rates.

I could mock-up some barcoded versions of these as I did the £1 above (which is why there is no printed perforation) but I'll let you use your own imaginations until the actual images arrive.

UPDATE 4 March 2022.  It is as well that I did not do any mock-ups as you will see: everything has changed!

Airmail stamps.  As mentioned above, only the lowest of the four airmail rates for which there are single stamps will be changing.  But the colours of all the stamps will change with four new stamps being issued.

Four new Machin definitives for international postage rates, issued 4 April 2022

£1.85 DS1400A Wood Brown: 100g Letter Europe (zones 1,2,3) & 20g Letter World (zones 1,2,3)
£2.55 DS1400B Sapphire Blue: 100g Letter World (zones 1,2,3)
£3.25 DS1400C Purple: 100g Large Letter Europe (zones 1,2,3)
£4.20 DS1400D Light Green: 250g Large Letter Europe &, 100g Large Letter World (zones 1,2,3)

See details of new rates below.

Other stamps. As announced much earlier, the low and high-value stamps will also be re-issued with the datamatrix bar-codes.  But as with the three top values above, all the colours are changing, and the design has also been changed as well.

"The complete set of seven new barcoded ‘make up’ low value and three high value definitives available from 4th April 2022.  The iconic Machin design has been retained in the new design and the colour scheme has been reversed to depict the effigy in colour against a white background. The barcode is printed in a matching colour alongside, separated by a simulated perforation line.

Seven new low value Machin Definitives, issued 4 April 2022

Three new high-value Machin definitives, issued 4 April 2022 - note all these stamps are the same size.

Colours:   1p sapphire blue, 2p dark green, 5p purple heather, 10p aqua green, 20p light green, 50p slate grey, £1 wood brown, £2 bright blue, £3 purple, £5 spruce green.

Technical details.

The stamps are printed by Cartor Security Printers (the new company name) in gravure, in sheets of 25 on self-adhesive paper.  The size is 39mm x 30mm, and the perforations: 15 x 14½.

The total cost of the 14 stamps is £23.73.

The usual presentation packs and three first day covers will be produced by Royal Mail, and the stamps will be distributed to their standing order customers as usual. 

UPDATE: I omitted to say that there will be three first day covers and three presentation packs.

 

Postage rate changes

Press release: statement from Royal Mail

From 4th April 2022, the price of a 1st Class stamp will increase by 10p to 95p and the price of a 2nd Class stamp will increase by 2p to 68p.

Royal Mail has considered these pricing changes very carefully in light of the long term structural decline in letter usage and rising inflation. Letter volumes have declined by more than 60% since their peak in 2004/5, and around 20% since the start of the pandemic.  

Overall, these changes are broadly in line with inflation and are necessary to ensure the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service remains sustainable. The Universal Service Obligation (USO) requires Royal Mail to deliver letters to 31 million home and business addresses across the UK six days a week at the same price.

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail said: “We understand that many companies and households are finding it hard in the current economic environment, and we will always keep our prices as affordable as possible.

“Whilst the number of letters our postmen and women deliver has declined from around 20 billion a year to around 7 billion since 2004/5, the number of addresses they have to deliver to has grown by around 3.5 million in the same period. We need to carefully balance our pricing against declining letter volumes and increasing costs of delivering to a growing number of addresses six days a week.

“As customer needs change and we see a greater shift from letters to parcels, it is vital that the Universal Service adapts to stay relevant and sustainable. These prices changes are necessary to ensure we can continue to maintain and invest in the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service for future generations.”

Inland

The 1st class letter rate rises from 85p to 95p, an increase of over 11% so well above the rate of inflation. The 2nd class rate rises from 66p to 68p, a regulated increase of 3%.  Increases for Signed For letters are the same (ie the Signed For premium is unchanged).

The rates for 100g Large Letters rise from 96p to £1.05 2nd class and £1.29 to £1.45 1st class, rises of 9.3% and 12.4%.  Again the Signed For premium is unchanged for the basic weight. 

Standard 1pm Special Delivery rates are unchanged at £6.85 for 100g and £7.65 for 500g.

A standard PO Box annual fee increases by £16.50 from £283.50 to £300 - so don't think that stamp dealers and other online sellers are making big money if their costs are increasing by this sort of figure, it's a rise of nearly 6%.

International

The basic table of letters up to 100g has only one change, the increase from £1.70 to £1.85 for the Europe 100g and Worldwide 20g rate.  The Worldwide 100g rate remains £2.55.

The Large Letter prices are unchanged at all weight steps, the maximum weight being 750 g.

When it comes to anything heavier, that is a Small Parcel, and here things get really complex.  The rates for Worldwide Small Parcels are unchanged.  But Europe is now divided into three Zones, with only Denmark, France, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, and Monaco being in the cheapest.

The cost of a 100g small parcel rises by 5p (Zone 1), 15p (Zone 2) and 50p (Zone 3).  But this is only because the first weight step is now 250g.  For this weight Zone 2 is unchanged, Zone 1 is 10p cheaper, and Zone 3 is up 35p.

Beyond that, the Zone 2 rates are largely in line with existing prices up to 1kg, with Zone 1 rates lower* and Zone 3 rates higher.

After that ut gets more complicated, although the charge for each additional 250g over 2kg is £.140 across the board, which is unchanged.

For full details download the new rate leaflet here.

Comment

A rate change was always likely as no changes have been made to rates for non-business account users since January 2021, but the scale of this change to the basic 1st class rate will see many people planning better and using 2nd class - after they have used up all the 1st class stamps they have traded in on the swap scheme and those that they have bought from dealers and collectors who have a surplus!

I rather like the white background on the make-up values.  It is a refreshing change, and reminds me of this label from the 'Gracious Accession' PSB in 2002.

Definitive pane from Gracious Accession prestige stamp book 2002 with Edmund Dulac profile of King George VI on white background.

Just to detail the costs for typical Machin collectors:

Cylinder block of 6 - £142.38, block of 10 - £237.30.

I think it will be not only letter volumes which will be falling, but sales of Machin definitives to collectors.

 

DISCUSSION ON INVALIDATION OF EARLIER STAMPS HERE PLEASE.

 

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Updated version of the Norvic Security Machin Checklist is now available.

I am pleased to announce that the latest version of our long-running and ever-developing Checklist has now been made available for free download.

The main development this time is the inclusion of the new NVI stamps issued at the start of February which incorporate a datamatrix code, and are issued in new colours, the Royal Mail 'brand red' having now been abandoned on stamps.  As the issue of the make-up values (1p-£1, £2-£5) has been announced for early April, these have been incorporated on a provisional basis.

It is likely that a number of new airmail values will be issued at the same time, and news of these should be publicised in March while we are away.  Details will be added to the blog on our return and a new Checklist issued as soon as possible.

Download here, or always download the latest version by clicking on the Link (On desktop computers and tablets this is in the right-hand column; if you are using a smart phone you will probably have to click on 'View Web Version' at the foot of the page and proceed from there.)

As usual, if you spot any errors, do please let me know by email as soon as possible.  Many thanks.

ERRATA:

- New 2nd Class Large grey-green business sheet shows MNIL instead of MBI.

- Table on page 3, 2920E and 2921E should be 2921F and 2921F;  colour of 1st Large should read Turquoise-blue.

- page 10, 1st purple book of 4 should be code MFIL rather than MEIL.

- page 12, 2nd Large gre-green should be code MBIL not MNIL (finger slip).

- pp 13, 14,  colour of 1st Large should read Turquoise-blue.

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Machin cylinder blocks and date blocks - sideways confusion

With the new Datamatrix stamps being laid sideways on the sheet, there is no some confusion about the format for cylinder and date blocks (CBs and DBs).

The Modern British Philatelic Circle has decided to use the conventional format for CBs, with the cylinder/plate numbers in the left margin and so two columns of 3 (sideways) stamps.

However my supplies from Royal Mail philatelic for blocks of 6 and 10 produced two very different formats.  Whilst the cylinder block of 10 was simply a block of 4 included above the conventional 6 (so 2 x 5), the date blocks were supplied thus (in two different orders):

What you collect is a matter for personal preference.  

We may find that the make-up values to be issued in April will be in sheets of 25.  If so and the date is in the same margin as the cylinder number, a CB10 will serve both purposes in 10 stamps instead of 20 (or 12 or 14 depending on how you collected previously).  {edited}

How do you collect?

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More barcoded definitives on 4 April 2022 - probably.

Following the patchy release of the new NVI definitives with datamatrix codes on 1 February, it is expected that more will follow on or about 4 April.

The date is "provisional and subject to change" according to Royal Mail, but they plan to issue stamps for the low- and high-value make-up stamps with datamatrix codes to replace the existing ones. This means 

1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2, £3 and £5.

This will enable them to eliminate all definitives without barcodes from 2023.

There is also an implication that there will be new airmail rates, to replace the £1.70, £3.45 and £4.20 stamps issued for airmail rates on 23 December 2020. These are expected on the same day, with the rates to take effect on 11 April.

An announcement about new postage rates is expected around 3 March.

UPDATE 1 March.

Royal Mail have confirmed in the March Philatelic Bulletin that the above stamps will be issued on 4 April, along with international airmail stamps in values £1.85, £2.55, £3.25 and £4.20.  These are the existing rates, apart from the £1.85 which is an increase from £1.70.

I could mock-up some barcoded versions of these as I did the £1 above (which is why there is no printed perforation) but I'll let you use your own imaginations until the actual images arrive.

The usual presentation pack and first day cover will be produced by Royal Mail, and the stamps will be distributed to their standing order customers as usual.

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Platinum Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II set and PSB - 4 February 2022

As expected Royal Mail will issue a set of stamps and associated products to mark the platinum jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, an event described not only as unparalleled in British history but also "this will be the only platinum jubilee ever celebrated in this country".

Their write-up continues 

For 70 years The Queen has been the ultimate symbol of the United Kingdom, representing her subjects at home and abroad through times of great joy and sadness too. Her Jubilee is a moment to reflect on a record of duty and service admired and appreciated far beyond these shores. Her Majesty is also Queen of 15 other nations, Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving Head of State in the world today. 

Celebrations throughout 2022 will mark and celebrate this significant milestone in the life of our monarch and our country. The celebrations will span five months, from the anniversary of her accession on 6th February to the official, celebratory, long bank holiday weekend from 2nd to 5th June 2022.

The anniversary and the activity around the two key moments – in February and June – will help keep the anniversary in the public’s mind, with spikes of special interest and focus in February and again in early Summer.

Stamps

A set of 8 pictorial stamps - 4 x 1st class, 4 x £1.70 - show, predictably, Her Majesty in various situations and locations over the decades - 1957, 1966, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1999, 2005 and 2020.

1st Class:
Her Majesty The Queen during a visit to the headquarters of MI5, London, February 2020;
Her Majesty The Queen with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh during a tour of the United States, Washington, October 1957;
Her Majesty The Queen on a walkabout in Worcester, April 1980;
Her Majesty The Queen during Trooping the Colour, London, June 1978;
£1.70:
Her Majesty The Queen after touring the Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, May 2005;
Her Majesty The Queen during the Silver Jubilee celebrations, Camberwell, June 1977
Her Majesty The Queen during a tour of the West Indies, in Victoria Park, St Vincent, February 1966;
Her Majesty The Queen at the Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor, June 1999.

Set of 8 stamps issued 4 February 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee.

Technical and Credits

Design by Kate Stephens.  The 35mm square PVA-gummed stamps are printed by International Security Printers (Cartor) in litho, perf 14½ in two se-tenant strips of four.

Photo acknowledgements in order:
1st class: visit to MI5 HQ, London, 2020 © Victoria Jones/Pool/AFP/Getty Images; United States, Washington, October 1957 © Popperfoto/Getty Images;  Worcester, April 1980 © Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images;  Trooping the Colour, London, June 1978 © Anwar Hussein/Getty Images; 
£1.70: Edmonton, Canada, May 2005 © Jeff McIntosh/ The Canadian Press/PA/Alamy;  Camberwell, June 1977 © Graham Wiltshire/Getty Images;  Victoria Park, St Vincent, February 1966 © Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022;  Windsor, June 1999 © PA/ Alamy

Prestige Stamp Book

Although there is no miniature sheet for this issue, there will of course be a prestige stamp book (the second of the year) which incorporates some previously issued stamps. 

Pane 1: Machin definitives - two each 2p, 10p, 50p, £1.50. These have security codes MPIL M21L and so the £1.50 will be the only new stamp - an odd choice as it is rarely available from Post Office branches in sheet form.  (* see foot of post for another Machin.)

The 2p was included in the Music Giants V book (DY38), the 10p was included in the Music Giants V & VI and Industrial Revolutions books (DY38/39/41), and the 50p stamp was included in the Music Giants V & VI (DY38/41) books.  The £1.50 will be included in our catalogue as 4150P.

Pane 2:  two each 1st class and £1.70 stamps from this issue.

Pane 3:  two 1st class from the 90th Birthday issue (SG 3827/8), and two 1st class stamps from the Diamond Jubilee issue (SG 3319B/20B).  As these are almost certainly* printed by the same process and printer, with the same perforation and phosphor, they will probably not have separate catalogue numbers.  [* Details awaited from Royal Mail].

Pane 4:  two each 1st class and £1.70 stamps from this issue.

Cover of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee PSB - 4 February 2022

 

 

 

 

Panes 1* & 2 of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee PSB - 4 February 2022

 

 

 Panes 3 & 4 of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee PSB - 4 February 2022

 

Scan of actual definitive pane. The security code is M21L MPIL*.

I ordered only one PSB and - having checked the stamp panes - quickly sent it on to a Bulletin editor in France.  He sent me this picture today;  I didn't check the other panes or the cover!  He also confirms that there is no text pane between the first two stamp panes, which is unusual.

 

Platinum Jubilee prestige stamp book with duplicated cover.

 

 

Inside pages, pane 1 of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee PSB - 4 February 2022, and cover of limited edition (1952)

MACHIN definitives.  Following this week's announcement that all Machin definitives would be replaced by stamps with datamatrix codes this is the first PSB since that announcement - and maybe the last ever - to contain Machins. 

If this PSB is sold for a year or more it will cease to be sold on 3 February 2023, three days after the Machins it contains cease to be valid for postage!

Other products

First day covers (set and PSB definitive pane), presentation pack, stamp cards, limited edition PSB (quantity 1952), stamp cards.

Jointly with the Royal Mint £5 coin cover (edition of 15,000) - also available as Silver Proof, Gold Proof and (of course) Platinum priced at £92.50, £2725, and £5495 respectively in editions of 1200, 100 and 20.  

Also, the set of stamps mounted and framed (£29.99), and two platinum stamps (ie coated with 0.1g of the metal) in limited editions of 500 each at £125 each.

Whatever floats your boat, and your pocket can afford!

UPDATE 9 February.  Thanks to the Commonwealth Stamps Opinion blog, we can show Canada Post's Platinum Jubilee offering, which is another opportunity for Machin collectors.  This design is issued as a self-adhesive stamp issued in booklets of 10 and a sheetlet containing a single, identical gummed stamp.  The 'P' stamps (=permanent) pay the basic inland letter rate.

Stamp issued by Canada Post for HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

 

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New version of the Norvic Security Machin Checklist published - v 259

After I published the last, delayed, edition a number of people contacted me with adjustments or additions, for which I am very grateful.  As we are now definitely at the end of the year, I decided that it was time to publish a new version as I am sure that there will be new stamps quite early in 2022 to add to the list.

As we have had Christmas (definitive-sized) stamps with datamatrix codes it can't be long before the Machin counter sheets appear the same way, and if counter sheets are changing then booklets probably will also.  

For booklets this will undoubtedly mean a change in size or content - either the booklets will be larger, which seems unlikely, or the contents will be reduced.  Instead of 6 and 12, booklets of 4 and 8 seem likely based on the size of the Christmas counter sheets.

No news about 2022 can be published yet, but if anybody has a list of likely subjects with dates of issue and reasons, I'll be pleased to publish it for everybody's entertainment!

You can download the new Checklist at the usual link on the right hand column (desk-top view), or here. 

Security warning!

Some browsers will warn you that this download might be a security risk.  That's because our old website and server does not have a security certificate, that is it is still accessed as http://---- rather than https:// .  Because of time constraints we have kept all new information on the blog, and not updated the website.  Consequently not only does it sometimes have that warning, but it has also not been adapted for phones and other portable devices.  It renders correctly on laptops and tablets, but may be small on those.  I'm sorry, but there is nothing planned to change this situation, we are far too busy on other matters.

Checklist - if you do not want to visit the site to download, please email me and I will send a pdf copy. Be aware though that this is a 750k file and some people have mail software setting rejected attachments of this size.

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Security Machins on Cover - does anybody collect in a specialised way?

Like many collectors I put covers aside 'for later'.  One area that I thought would be good to make a collection of was the Machin definitives with the different security codes indicating source and year. 

As you probably know, some sources are encountered a lot more frequently than others.  The most common stamps found on social and business correspondence are from booklets of 12 and business sheets respectively.

From personal experience and a few reports, the least likely 2nd and 1st class stamps to be found on social correspondence are actually from counter sheets, with most people buying their stamps at supermarkets, newsagents and other outlets.

 

Inland special delivery solo use.

Displaying your collection

97p to Ukraine returned to sender.

In the case of airmail values and premium services as shown here, displaying the item in a collection is easy. The purpose is obvious and, maybe by the inclusion of a photograph, the year code can be demonstrated, this isn't as straightforward for 1st & 2nd class stamps.

 

Numbers of variants
At the time of writing there is a huge number of 2nd class blue: 13 counter sheet, 13 MTIL, 13 MBIL, at least 6 MRIL, and even more 1st class because of two types of books of 6.  And that's without any specialist variations.  Even the stamps look 'all the same; on a page in the stockbook.

To display these to members at the local club in any meaningful way would mean also including enlargements showing the iridescent printing of the year code and/or source code.  This would involve a lot of work (45 for the 2nd class) and, I think it's fair to say, while such a display might meet with surprise (as do similar displays of a year's special issue 1st class stamps) I don't think it will be very interesting.

So I have decided that, apart from my own specimens of 'one of each stamp' and any other covers showing usage, which will not be focussing on actually which of the 45 stamps it might be, I am going to abandon my accumulation.

Your chance!
Before I consign the many covers, sorted by year and source and unsorted, to kiloware I am giving readers who would like to fill gaps in their own collections the chance to do so from what I have.  I'm not going to list them - the Checklist can also be used to mark off which you have on cover if you are so inclined.  

So if anybody wants to fill a gap let me know what you need and as I work through several boxes I will set aside covers to fill those gaps.  All will be 'collectable', that is they will have dates as clear as I can get and be clean, though addresses may be handwritten.  The only charge for this will be for postage - anything else you wish to pay will be appreciated.  Any overseas collectors who have airmail-stamped GB covers - we may be able to arrange exchange and no money need change hands!

Please contact me by email.  I'll acknowledge each request and spreadsheet the requirements, which will be served in order of receipt.  It's very much a 'first come first served' opportunity.  

And it won't be a quick turn round: emptying boxes and packets will take time, probably well into the spring of 2022.  But I will do my best to provide gap-fillers if I have them.  

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New Machin business sheet - 2nd Large M21L

For the record I am now able to show the 2nd class Large Business Sheet for 2021.  This has the date and sheet number applied in a very 'italicised' way vertically on the reverse and show that it was printed on 5 January this year.

2nd class Large M21L Business Sheet, printed 5 January 2021.

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Two more Machin definitive reprints

News reached us last week of another two new printings for 2021, the £1.70 printed on 22/03/21 and the £4.20 printed on 23/03/21.  The £3.25 was also reprinted on 23/03/21.

 

I did not immediately remember that these are not additions to our reference collection or checklist because the original stamps printed in October last year had M21L coding.  And the backing paper has the same orientation as the originals, so nothing new for those who collect both types, unlike 2018 when almost every printing was different to the one before.

I have a sheet of each of the two shown, which I shall return to Tallents House unless anybody contacts me quickly for a date block, for example. 

UPDATE 19 July.  Thanks to MD for providing these pictures of the 1st class from books of 6, MSIL which has the small text above the large both upright.  Some people call this the inverted setting for some reason.

1st class MSIL with year code M21L

UPDATE 23 August.  John F reports that when he visited a local Post Office requesting the £2·55 value with the "21" date he was told that they had recently had a new supply of the value but that it was dated 2017.  Sure enough it was a De La Rue printing!

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More phosphor variations found on Queen's 95th birthday pane

When we first had sight of the non-standard pane produced by Royal Mail for its joint-venture with the Royal Mint every mint pane and all covers has the phosphor bands shifted upwards, as shown here.

Pane produced to mark the 95h Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II with upward shift of phosphor.

This produced two 1st class Machins with short bands at the foot, the England and Northern Ireland country definitives likewise, and the Scotland and Wales stamps with a shoulder at the foot where the wide band on the country stamps has narrow bands at the foot.  Similarly two more 1st class Machins have a shoulder at the foot where the phosphor is wider than it ought to be.

Now evidence has emerged that a far smaller number of the phosphor just about as it should be in register with the colours, and a similar number have the phosphor shifted downwards producing the reverse effect to that described above.  The images show two panes, one at each extreme.

Above: phosphor shifted upwards clear of the perforations;
Below: phosphor shifted downwards, not even reaching the edge of the stamp printing.

Panes Reversed:
Above: phosphor shifted downwards;
Below: phosphor shifted upwards, both showing the phosphor extending onto the selvedge.

 

We would be interested in any reports of the new variants appearing on the official covers.

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Most expensive Machin definitives being phased out?

I have been informed that all four* of the special purpose non-value indicator stamps are being phased out.

 

According to a reliable source, 

Post Office branches are no longer able to order using stock code, the Special Delivery100 gram has been out of stock for four weeks.  There will be no more printed according to the PO horizon system and both the Special Delivery and Royal Mail Signed For stamps; they will be withdrawn from general sale in POs from 31st October 2021.

* Two are illustrated because I find that pictures help to catch the readers' eyes, better than plain text.

 

Royal Mail have been approached for comment. 

UPDATE 23 July

No comment has been received but according to the Telegraph (in a paywalled story repeated in The Sun)

Simon Thompson, a former executive at Ocado and Apple, has launched a review of Royal Mail’s "whole product suite and offering", The Telegraph reports. 

The six-month review aimed at cost-cutting will examine if customers want expensive tracked, signed-for and special deliveries.

It comes after customers appear to be increasingly happy for parcels to be left in a safe place or with a neighbour.

Royal Mail chairman Keith Williams has already suggested Saturday deliveries could be axed amid a decline in letters.

A final decision is set to be made next year. 

These potential major reductions in services would require the Government to change the law requiring Royal Mail to provide a universal service.

 

As readers will recall there is already (Since 2016) a 'delivery scanned' facility in Horizon and SSK parcel labels which led to Royal Mail removing the need to have such items carry the orange Signed For label. 

Update 27 July: The story has appeared in several other news outlets, but twisting the story to lead with:

"Royal Mail is planning to scrap Saturday letter deliveries and signed-for parcels under a major shake-up of services.

Any decision to scrap Saturday letter deliveries and signed-for parcels would need changes to the law.

With letter volumes in decline, bosses argue this requirement is outdated and leaves Royal Mail at a disadvantage versus rivals such as DHL and Amazon.

Despite this, Royal Mail bosses are said to want to scrap signed-for parcels because they are expensive to deliver, with many customers happy for packages to be left in a safe place if they are not home, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Ofcom, the communications regulator, has already backed the proposal to scrap Saturday letter deliveries in principle."

 

UPDATE 7 October.  I have asked my Royal Mail contacts several times about the truth behind this, most recently when I was told by the Post Office Ltd social media team that the reason they intended to stop selling them was because Royal Mail were going to stop printing them!  I have approached the Royal Mail media centre (aka Press Office) over a week ago and have not had any reply.

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