Showing posts sorted by date for query PPI. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query PPI. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Tudor Crown is appearing in Royal Mail cruciform - but very slowly!

Over a year ago Royal Mail announced that they were adopting the Tudor Crown in their logo but that it would be done gradually - and we recently reported that some Downstream Access PPI, which is used by Direct Mailers, so they would use up old stationery first.

But Royal Mail are also moving slowly.  Today I received the latest batch of stamps from the Swapout scheme.  The letter has the new crown - but the Special Delivery postage label - which I'm sure is printed on demand for each item as it contains the name and address and barcode - still has the old.  The envelope that the label was stuck to (ENV 04) also has the old crown.

Special delivery label on the left, and letterhead on the right.

KC reports that he had a statement of account with old cruciform on the statement but in an envelope with the new cruciform (ENV 32)

 

Royal Mail envelope ENV 32

and Order advice note with new cruciform on the advice note but in an envelope with the old cruciform (ENV 10).

JG reports the new crown in use in recent digital stamps - the direct mail with preprinted stamps - both the  Christmas 2nd class and the King Charles III 2nd class, both from The Delivery Group.



 Any more reports?

 

 


Monday, 10 June 2024

News snippets June 2024

This post has a collection of short pieces not really warranting a whole blog post of their own.

Beyond the Definitives

Last year we discussed what products would need to change apart from postage stamps, with Horizon and Post & Go Labels being obvious examples.

Horizon Labels bearing the head of the King have appeared, but not Post and Go - although Royal Mail stopped using Post & Go machines at the end of the year, so no replacement was necessary there. The existing stamps continue in use at Post Office self-service kiosks, although there are trials of a new label which does bear the profile of King Charles.

A couple of readers have reminded me that although there is no postal stationery on sale now other than the prepaid plastic Special Delivery bags.  However the Houses of Parliament, and in particular members, are entitled to use prepaid postal stationery which currently still bears the Machin head. Both 1st (provided by RM) and 2nd class (from RW) are in use.

House of Commons prepaid 2nd class envelope used June 2024.

House of Commons prepaid 1st class envelope used May 2024.

Counterfeit Stamps

Thanks to BB for alerting me to more counterfeit non-definitive stamps being sold on eBay.  The current range now includes the Discworld, Cats, Christmas including miniature sheets, Paddington Bear and Children's TV Classics.  OK, they might be genuine, but it's clear from this photograph that there are no phosphor bands whereas there should be two.

2022 1st class 'Cats' stamps which should have two phosphor bands....

Catalogue Numbers

Thanks to CN who has alerted me to changes of numbers of the King Charles booklets in the Stanley Gibbons Concise Catalogue 2024, as follows:

TB2 - 4x 1st   now    CB1
TC2 - 8x 2nd   now    CC1
TD2 - 8x 1st   now   CD1
TE2 - 4x 2nd L now   CE1
TF2 - 4x 1st L  now    CF1

.............

M24L printings

CN also tells me about the new printing of the booklet of 8 x 2nd class stamps, now with M24L year code.  Here's his picture:

King Charles III 2nd class booklet stamp coded MEIL and M24L, 2024 printing.

JH has provided a good photograph of the whole booklet.

King Charles III 2nd class booklet with stamps coded MEIL and M24L, 2024 printing.


Philatelic Bureau mail

Back in 2014 we reported that Royal Mail was using real stamps (stuck over the PPI) on sendings of bulletins from Tallents House.  Sadly this practice didn't last long.

Set of 2014 Butterfly stamps used on mailings from Royal Mail Tallents House, Edinburgh.

Few philatelic bureaux do use stamps on their sendings (Isle of Man and Greenland do, I think), but Guernsey has made up for not using stamps by advertising them on their envelopes!  My thanks to RM for sending this and other interesting material.

Guernsey Post envelope used in 2024 for sending out stamp orders, illustrated with examples from previous stamp issues.

That's all for now, thanks for reading, and keep sending your news - thanks!



Monday, 20 May 2024

More shades of King Charles II PPIs and alternative postage.

A post last September showed a number of shades for the 2nd class pre-printed stamps used on postage paid impressions (PPIs), and that continues including these two using the same C9 licence 10017 and the same return address (so the same mailing house or the same client).

Pre-printed 2nd class mail-shots for C9 licence number 10017

My thanks to WU for the above and also for this example where a different account has been used and the imprinted stamp has been overlabelled with one showing a totally different account number.  The C9 license number is either 10031 or 10081, and the new label has Account Postage number AC05353770077.   This is used by Fisheye Opticians.

C9 preprinted stamp overlabelled with an 'Account Postage' label.

UPDATE 22 May 2024: My thanks to JMacL for another 2nd class example, this time with account HQ104259.

2nd class preprinted stamp PPI with used by account HQ104259.


Note: A number of people have asked for examples of these definitive stamp pre-printed envelopes. We actually get very few here: most of the images are just that - images sent by readers but not my scans of actual examples we hold.


I'll be pleased to add other examples - has anybody had a 1st class pre-printed stamp on  a mailshot yet?

 


Monday, 18 March 2024

More on pre-printed King Charles stamps on Direct Mail (PPI)

We in the UK hear a lot about 'non-doms' in the media and from politicians and tax campaigners.  If you are not aware of this don't worry, this is just a play on words, because here we have what is, as far as I can recall, the first 'non-denom'.  An NVI in the truest sense!

Apparently this is the latest mailshot 'To The Occupier' from the Salvation Army and the picture was sent to me today by DR, who says a number of his friends have received them.  

I don't think we have seen one like this before, nor from the previous reign (though your memory may be better than mine!).

Non-denominated 2nd class green PPI King Charles III definitive on Salvation Army mailshot.

UPDATE 23 April 2024

My thanks to Jon on Stampboards for showing this amazingly poor example of the 2nd class King Charles PPI - it should, of course, be green.


Mailshot from Leaders of Great Britain (LCGB) of London, events organisers, with very poorly printed 2nd class King Charles III imprinted stamp.




Thursday, 7 March 2024

March 2024 slogan postmarks and other interesting postal markings.

The March slogan programme can properly be said to have started on 29 February because that was the only date of use for the St David's Day slogan, to be delivered on 1 March, but applied to both 1st and 2nd class mail.

We have no intimation that it was translated into Welsh for delivery to Welsh addresses, although that would have been logical!

St David's
Day
Friday 1st March

Thanks to JE for one example for each layout shown here, from Preston (Lancashire and South Lakes) and Edinburgh Mail Centres.

St David's Day slogan Edinburgh Mail Centre 29-02-2024 unnecessarily on PPI mail

St David's Day slogan Lancashire and South Lakes (Preston Mail Centre) 29/02/2024

Thanks also to RS for this one from Medway showing use of one of January's Spice Girls stamps.

St David's Day slogan Medway Mail Centre 29-02-2024

We understand that there will be a similar slogan for St Patrick's Day delivered on 16 March (to be used on 15 March only) the day itself being a Sunday. St George's and  St Andrew's days will probably follow later in the year.


From 1st March we would expect the temporary British Heart Foundation RevivR slogan to be used, with the next 'special' being (as mentioned in February) the International Women's Day slogan which will be used in both formats on 5 & 6 March only, with the aim of 'doormat delivery' (for 1st class letters) on 6 & 7 March, 'the day' being on 8 March.  

Here's Royal Mail's publicity photograph for the #IWD slogan - the Mail Centre date of 8 March is wrong:

International Women's Day slogan paste-up.

 International Women's Day
8 March 2024
#IWD2024
#InspireInclusion

Here's the first one I've been sent, by RL, notable for three reasons.  1 - it is very clear; 2 - it was used the day before the dates I was given;  3 - the stamp is no longer valid but wasn't surcharged.  Used at Cumbria Dumfries & Galloway on 05/03/2024.   It will also be added to my Postal History blog.

International Women's Day slogan Cumbria Dumfries & Gallowy 05/03/2024
 

From 8 March the 'original' default British Heart Foundation slogan should be used.... and here is an exaample from Plymouth and Cornwall Mail Centre on 09/03/2024

Original British Heart Foundation slogan re-used Plymouth and Cornwall 09/03/2024


As we were advised, a slogan was used for St Patrick's Day on 15 March for delivery on 16th. Monday is a holiday in Ireland.  Two examples, from Medway Mail Centre 15-03-2024 and Lancashire and South Lakes (Preston Mail Centre) 15/03/2024.  Thanks to JE for these.  Expect the BHF slogan again after this.

St Patrick's
Day
Sunday 17th March

St Patrick's Day slogan Lancashire and South Lakes 15/03/2024
St Patrick's Day slogan Medway Mail Centre 15-03-2024

And it is appropriate that we have this one from Northern Ireland Mail Centre, Belfast: thanks to BW for this one.

St Patrick's Day slogan Northern Ireland Mail Centre 15/03/2024



UPDATE 9 April

The last slogan sent to us is the default British Heart Foundation slogan (original) applied in reverse on a square envelope.  Thanks to MM for this from Tyneside NE/SR Mail Centre 25/03/2024.

 

Default British Heart Foundation slogan in reversed format from Tyneside MC 25/03/2024



OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

Here's a Revenue Protection mark that I haven't seen before.  I believe it may have been applied in Carlisle mail centre as the letter travelled between Cumbria and Dorset.  This is early March 2024.

Revenue Protection 'tick'-mark possibly applied at Carlisle Mail Centre March 2024


An earlier cover to the same address last year was surcharged, incorrectly.  See section 3 on this blog post.


Here are two postmarks from across the Irish Sea.  The stamps were cancelled with An Post's self-inking datestamp at Port an Chalaidh, known in English as Ferrybank, and part of Waterford (Port Láirge).  At the Portlaoise Mails Centre their ink-jet slogan was applied.  Portlaoise is about 55 miles north of Wateford in a central area. Ireland has only three Mails Centres, the other two being in Athlone and Dublin.

Portlaoise Mails Centre slogan 29 2 24 'Send from the ♥︎'

Port an Chalaidh Port Láirge self-inking datestamp 29.2.24


 



If you have any other slogans used this month, or any other interesting postal markings from any period or place, please send them to the email address in the top right of this blog.  Thank you.


Remember, all postmarks appearing in March will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.  I'll try to add new ones as quickly as possible.


Monday, 5 February 2024

February 2024 slogan postmarks and other interesting postal markings.

As expected the current default slogan is for Royal Mail's staff-chosen charity, the British Heart Foundation.  

The slogan is a new variation; it has the BHF logo and web address but also a reference to Learning CPR although the exact wording and new web address await a clearer example.  I've asked Royal Mail for a clearer (publicity) image, but in the meantime I have found out that the new wording includes RevivR.

British Heart
Foundation

Learn lifesaving CPR with RevivR
Find out more at
bhf.org.uk/revivr


Our post included this one from Norwich Mail Centre 02-02-2024, thanks to my car-repairer for another bill!

British Heart Foundation slogan from Norwich Mail Centre 02-02-2024

UPDATE: Thanks to Trevor for a clearer example, and in the other layout, and the text on six lines, from (Bristol) BA, BS, GL, TA Mail Centre 01/02/2024

British Heart Foundation slogan from Bristol Mail Centre 01/02/2024


However, the same post brought the first new slogan of February, which started on Saturday 3rd to arrive today, 5th.

National Apprenticeship Week was last record in March 2018. This year's slogan includes the actual dates unlike the previous one.  This example is from Manchester Mail Centre 03/02/2024. (URL in postmark corrected, thanks NI)

Royal Mail supports
National
Apprenticeship
Week
5-11 February

www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

National Apprenticeship Week slogan Manchester Mail Centre 03/02/2024

UPDATE 26 November 2025(yes) - the other layout for from Glasgow Mail Centre 05-02-2024 the first day of the 'week'.

National Apprenticeship Week slogan Glasgow Mail Centre 05-02-2024

 


UPDATE 14 February: I should have posted these sooner, the Valentine's Day slogan which wasn't recorded last year, but which is the same as that from 2022.

Send a little love
this ♥︎
Valentine's Day
♥︎ ♥︎ February 14

Two people sent examples from Sheffield Mail Centre and I'm showing the clearer of these, dates 08/02/2024 (thanks to JH and LF).

Valentine's Day Slogan Sheffield Mail Centre 08/02/2024

Also the other format from a correspondent via Peterborough Mail Centre 10-02-2024.

Valentine's Day Slogan Peterborough Mail Centre 10-02-2024



UPDATE 20 February:  Thanks to JE for a slogan for the Cystic Fybrosis Trust which few will see as it was only used on 16 & 17 February, then replaced by the BHF CPR slogan.

This in turn should be replaced by the 'normal' BHF default slogan from 29 February, he says.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Since 1964.
We won't stop
until CF does.
cysticfibrosis.org.uk

Cystic Fibrosis Trust slogan, Birmingham Mail Centre 16/02/2024



UPDATE 7 March: The last slogan for February was used on 29th which was the only date of use for the St David's Day slogan, to be delivered on 1 March, but applied to both 1st and 2nd class mail.

We have no intimation that it was translated into Welsh for delivery to Welsh addresses, although that would have been logical!

St David's
Day
Friday 1st March

Thanks to JE for one example for each layout shown here, from Preston (Lancashire and South Lakes) and Edinburgh Mail Centres.

St David's Day slogan Edinburgh Mail Centre 29-02-2024 unnecessarily on PPI mail

St David's Day slogan Lancashire and South Lakes (Preston Mail Centre) 29/02/2024

 


UPDATE  29 February - advance notice for MARCH.

I have heard that an International Women's Day slogan will be used in both formats on 5 & 6 March only, with the aim of 'doormat delivery' (for 1st class letters) on 6 & 7 March, 'the day' being on 8 March.  

From 7 March the 'original' default British Heart Foundation slogan should be used, to appear on deliveries from 8 March.


OTHER POSTMARKS AND POSTAL MARKINGS

Time for another post office branch self-inking datestamp - but where is this from?

Wick News B self-inking datestamp 27.JA.24

You might think that there is only one obvious answer, that it is from the far north of Scotland. Where else is there with the town name of Wick?  

Google map showing location of Wick, Scotland.

Well at one time there were post offices in the villages of Wick in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, but it's neither of those.

No, this one is in the Wick district of Littlehampton, Sussex, in the Wick Newsagents.  At one time the courts relied on the postmark as proof of date/time and place of posting. Although Post Office Ltd would probably be able to tell the court where this packet to our Canadian correspondent was posted, how much easier it would be if the place was on the postmark - Wick, Littlehampton would be much better.

Google map & street view, Wick, Littlehampton.


Update: it has been put to me that this might be from the Gloucestershire Wick where there is also a post office in a retailer named Wick News.  Later update: The Gloucestershire Wick closed and reopened as a Drop & Go branch where there are no handstamps and stamps are not sol.


Thanks to JH for this nice clear datestamp from Holmbush. Once again it is necessary (unless you live nearby) to resort to Google to find that this is in the outskirts of St Austell in Cornwall.

Self-inking datestamp, Holmbush index J, 23.FE 24

Holmbush Post Office, Daniel's Lane (Cornwall) - Google street view.


If you have any other slogans used this month, or any other interesting postal markings, please send them to the email address in the top right of this blog.  Thank you.


Remember, all postmarks appearing in February will be added to this post, so check here before you spend time scanning and emailing.  I'll try to add new ones as quickly as possible.


Saturday, 30 September 2023

More King Charles III PPIs - in a variety of shades!

In March I wrote about postal products which would, eventually, need to be changed following the accession to the throne of King Charles III and then in August the first so-called 'digital-stamp' printed direct onto mailings by large companies, in their Postage Paid Impressions.

My thanks to the people who have sent further examples recently.

These examples are from Bluecrest (Contract 10017), Opus Energy (10002), Vision Express (10001) and Serious Readers (10017).  The last of these is very grey, and is almost the colour of the 2nd Large or £2.20 stamps.

UPDATE 16 January: Bluecrest have changed their mailer, they are now using C9 10079.  (No copy to show, it's damaged!)

King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Bluecrest 2023.

King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Opus Energy 2023.

King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Vision Express and Serious Readers 2023.
King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Pets at Home 2023.

It is obvious that the Datamatrix Barcode on these impressions is totally meaningless as they are all exactly the same.  In any event, these mailing would not go through that part of the mail centre where barcodes are scaanned and stamps cancelled.

UPDATE 30 October:

Today's post brought a letter from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust printed in a yellowish-green colour, which is reflected in the colour of the stamp.


King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Norfolk Wildlife Trust October 2023, C9 license 10017.


UPDATE 3 February 2024: Another user of The Delivery Group (C9 10017) is Oakhouse Foods, this received today:

King Charles III PPI (digital stamp) from Oakhouse Foods January 2024, C9 license 10017.

 

UPDATE 12 October:

Thanks to JF for sending this first example of the 2nd class Large, this one from Museum Selection of Paignton.  The colour is a good match to the actual stamp, and the barcode is the same as those shown above.

Example of the 2nd class Large King Charles 'digital stamp' used as a Printed Paid Impression.

UPDATE 23 April

My thanks to Jon on Stampboards for showing this amazingly poor example of the 2nd class King Charles PPI - it should, of course, be green.


Mailshot from Leaders of Great Britain (LCGB) of London, events organisers, with very poorly printed 2nd class King Charles III imprinted stamp.