Surprise new 1st class M13L coil found

Investor alert!  No this is not about investing in stamps but a call to those who invested in Royal Mail shares.  One of our correspondents reports receiving a communication from Equiniti about the share dividend, with an unexpected new stamp:

Yes, it's the 1st class MRIL coil with M13L code.  The previous red coil stamp distributed with the palette change issue (3 January 2013) was coded MA12.  This new stamp is numbered 2914R.3 in our system.  If we get mint stocks, we will let you know!

UPDATE 12 JUNE: I'm pleased to say that our letters arrived today (but the extra one is already reserved).

UPDATE 18 JUNE: The first of these (to my knowledge) has now appeared on eBay, closed 21 June at £51plus 53p postage - see here.

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NCR Summer Robins stamps appear in the Cornish Riviera's Post and Go machines

Contrary to received wisdom - 'those who ought to know' had told us that only Machin and Spring Blooms Faststamps were available for NCR Self-Service machines, the MA13 Christmas Robins have made a surprise appearance at Truro.

The NCR Post and Go machines were converted on 5 June 2014 so that the 97p stamp showed Euro 20g / World 10g, and the stamps available then are shown here.

Now, thanks to Peter, we are able to show that the MA13 Robins stamps are also available in Truro's machine 69:

Post and Go: York and Korea

Earlier posts have outlined the 2014 Post and Go Roadshow programme (see here)  We will not be going to York or Korea but I am trying to make arrangements to get a limited supply of material from both shows.

YORK STAMP FAIR 18-19 July
Kiosks A003 and A004, previously at Stampex, will be present dispensing Machin and Union Flag stamps.  As usual, we cannot tell beforehand whether these will be undated, MA13 or even MA14.  What is certain is that they will have the new 60g values, and the 97p stamp will have the dual inscription Euro 20g /World 10g

We will not be able to get stamps on the opening day, only Saturday, so will only supply mint, not FDC.

The Collectors Sets will be 1st - 1st Large - E20/W10 - E60 - W20 - W60

New compared with Salisbury and Stampex are the E20/W10,  E60 and W60 stamps, so those who want a simple collection of one of each will only want these three values to add to their earlier strips.

If you would like any of these please email as soon as possible so that orders can be consolidated and arrangements made.

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PHILAKOREA World Stamp Exhibition 7 - 12 August

Royal Mail A003 and A004 and Jersey J001 kiosks will be present with the 'Philakorea 2014/World Stamp Expo' caption being on Machin and Union Flag stamps from the Royal Mail machines and on Jersey Flag and Union Flag stamps from J001.  These will have KR in the datastring.

Stamps with GB in the datastring will be available from Royal Mail Tallents House and with JE from Jersey Post's Philatelic Bureau via mail order.

We have tentative arrangements to obtain stamps from the exhibition with KR code but can take no more orders.

If you would like mint stamps from Korea please email (see top right) immediately and we will get what we can.

Collectors wanting the GB- or JE-coded stamps are advised to apply to the respective bureaux direct.

Some pictures from Korea - thanks Michael:

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News Update 9 June

Both the Royal Mail Philatelic Bulletin and the July edition of Stamp Magazine have news that we haven't seen before through the normal channels from Royal Mail.  If this were April I would not be surprised at some of the stories and we await with interest whatever detail Royal Mail chooses to share with us.

According to the Philatelic Bulletin:

A new pack of Post and Go stamps will be issued through NCR Self-Service terminals in Post Office branches and from Royal Mail Tallents House from 7 July.  The pack will contain 5 stamps with a total value of £3.78 (1L, 2L, 1LG, 2LG and A) and will have machine code C002.

It seems unlikely that these will be dispensed through NCR terminals.

 According to Stamp Magazine:

1. Self-adhesive stamps are to be printed with a security inscription on the entire backing paper from next year to deter forgers.  This will include special stamps as well as definitives in counter sheets, booklets, business sheets and coils.

Given the quality of the most recent 1st class red forgery this may only be a minor inconvenience to the forgers. Very few special stamps have been forged (some Christmas stamps seem to have been targeted), so it remains to be seen how the move will affect them.

 2. Horizon labels are to be redesigned with the head of Queen Elizabeth reduced in size and positioned at the top right, so as to leave space for the overprinted service and payment details.  They will no longer be gold in colour.  No date has been set for the introduction

We understand that the colour of the label will remain aproximately the same but that there will be no gold printing.  As the gold printing currently repeats the 'ROYALMAIL' text across the labels, it is possible that this will be in white on what will be pale brown labels.

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Deja vu as the Estonian Post office unveils new international name

Remember Consignia, and how long that lasted?  News this week from Post and Parcel that Eesti Post has unveiled its new international name Omniva, which will be used for its logistics solutions and business operations in the Baltic domestic market. 

The name Eesti Post will be retained for post offices and the mail delivery service, and will be the legal name of the company in Estonia.

This summer Eesti Post will gradually introduce the Omniva trademark in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, illustrating the international character of the logistics company. Omniva will operate all of the company’s modern communication and logistics services.

The internationalisation of the company and enlargement of its domestic market from Estonia to Latvia and Lithuania have driven the need for the new trademark.

Chairman of the board Aavo Kärmas said, "The change is also needed because the brand name Eesti Post is strongly associated with postal services, which have been playing an ever-diminishing role in the company’s business over the last decade, and the name is not identified with the nature of contemporary communications and logistics solutions. Eesti Post has become an international logistics company in recent years, which is why a brand name connected only to the postal sector no longer fits with the company’s business strategy for the future."

The new name Omniva is derived from the Latin word omni, which means all-inclusive, all in one, everything. In this, the company is expressing its ability to offer customers all-in-one solutions. It is also very similar to the word omnivagus omniva word that means "wandering everywhere."

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In 2001 Royal Mail was renamed Consignia plc in 2001 and the new name was intended to show that the company did more than deliver mail, however, the change was very unpopular with both the public and employees. The Communication Workers Union boycotted the name, and the following year, it was announced that the company would be renamed Royal Mail Group plc.

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Visiting London - Vera Trinder shop closing 30 June 2014

Collectors who are planning to visit the Vera Trinder shop in Bedford Street, may not be aware that the shop will be closing on 30 June and the business relocating to the Prinz UK building in Hayle, Cornwall*.

The owners of the Bedford Street building are going to redevelop the site into offices - so no more trips to the Trinder Basement to browse through long-forgotten publications !

We wish the company well in their relocation, and good luck to the London staff who are not moving.

Vera Trinder Ltd, Unit 3a, Hayle Industrial Park, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 5JR
Tel: 01736 751910   E-mail: richardvtrinder@aol.com

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Euro 20g / World 10g Faststamp comes to NCR machines

Just over a month after Post Office announced that the 97p Faststamp would be changed to show both Europe 20g and Worldwide 10g services, it happened today with no prior announcement - thanks guys!

But many thanks to the several people who tweeted, phoned and emailed about this.  Thanks to Brian for this picture of part of a collectors strip, this one from Nottingham.  Pete confirmed that Cambridge was also updated, but sadly no Spring Blooms left as they only lasted about a week.  Maybe there will be some elsewhere so that somebody can produce some first day covers of this new stamp - which may get a sub-number in Stanley Gibbons Concise*.

Machins now in stock - no collectors strips yet.

Thanks to Chris for the picture of the Spring Blooms from a machine at Wealdstone.

* Who would be a catalogue editor?  The 2014 GB Concise has entries for the Europe and Worldwide 60g stamps, but only for the Machin, Spring Blooms, and Union Flag stamps.  That only leaves the Robin, Freshwater Life, Farm Animals, and Birds to add :-)

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New retail booklets and business sheets at the end of July

Royal Mail will issue a complete set of retail booklets and business sheets on 31 July due to a change in EU rules over telephone after-sales service!

According to the Britannic Technologies blog:

From 13 June 2014 it will be against EU law to profit from calls to post-sales lines.  Premium rate, revenue-generating numbers can be used for general pre-sales lines as normal. 

Where a telephone helpline is provided, the basic rate requirement means not charging more than a geographic or mobile rate. This telephone number provided should not provide the trader with a contribution to their costs.

Because of this Royal Mail have changed the telephone numbers for their enquiry helpline from 0845 740 740 to 0345 740 740§.

New products will be

1st class book of 6

1st and 2nd class books of 12

1st and 2nd Large books of 4 *

1st and 2nd x 100 business sheets *

1st Large and 2nd Large x 50 business sheets

* These will appear with 2014 year codes for the first time, producing 4 new stamps with a specific date of issue.  We will produce a limited number of first day covers, so if you would like one please contact us in good time.

§ These may look quite similar, depending on the font used, so extra care will be needed when searching for the new books.

The 1st class book of 6 has been printed with M14L code and the old contact details, but we don't know of any findings yet.  We don't know whether the expected Commonwealth Games mixed booklet will have new telephone numbers.

UPDATE 1 JULY:
The booklet of 6 x 1st with the old telephone number has appeared on eBay, and I have an example used from Sheffield on 20 June - any earlier dates would be useful to know!  No FDCs for this one.

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Remembrance Poppy Post and Go Faststamp at Autumn Stampex

As previously mentioned on an unofficial website (and then removed) we can confirm that a Poppy Faststamp will be available at Autumn Stampex from 17 September 2014.  

A poppy will be included in the Symbolic Flowers set of six designs to be issued on the same day, but we understand that the Poppy will also be produced on single-design rolls.  From what we have seen the design on the Faststamp is very similar to that being issued as one of this year's Great War 1st class stamps to be issued on 28 July.

It will be available for Remembrance Day - and at some places is likely to be used in parallel with the Winter Greenery set of 6 due for issue on 13 November.

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Royal Mail stands firm about impact of HS2 on operations

The Post and Parcel website reports that Royal Mail has raised objections to the route of the planned High Speed 2 rail route from London to Birmingham.

HS2, as the £43bn project is known, proposes a high-speed rail link between London’s Euston station and the city of Birmingham, with a second phase running up to Manchester and Leeds. Construction is planned to start in 2017, with the first phase open in 2026 and the second in 2032.

"The company said three major delivery offices covering a “very substantial” part of London would be subject of compulsory purchase orders, along with the Greenford Mail Centre in the London Borough of Ealing and the Castle Bromwich Delivery Office in Birmingham.

"The Greenford Parcel Sort Centre, a leased building, would also be affected by the rail project, and represents a key part of Royal Mail’s operations during the pre-Christmas peak parcel season, handling 15m parcels in November and December.

"Royal Mail said that without sufficient mitigation measures, it would not be able to carry out its statutory duty to deliver the mail if the HS2 project goes ahead in current form.

"The loss of the Camden Delivery Office to a compulsory purchase order would cause a particular headache, Royal Mail said, because similar sites 'are not generally available' in North London. Talks with the HS2 project managers are ongoing, Royal Mail said, but the mail company has failed to identify an alternative site, and said that it would not vacate its current delivery office unless an alternative site is found, even under a compulsory purchase order."

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