Autumn Stampex Post and Go

We have some information about the Post and Go stamps available at Autumn Stampex, which is at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1, from 13-16 September 2017.


Royal Mail Bureau Machine B001

Now available to pre-order, the following stamps:

Mail by Air - available as 6 x 1st class, Collectors Strip of 6 values, or Collectors set of 36 (6 values of each design).

Machin Anniversary, with additional inscription Autumn Stampex 2017 - available only as 6 x 1st.

Remembrance Poppy with additonal inscription WWI Battle of Passchendaele - available as 6 x 1st class, or Collectors Strip of 6 values.


We also have unofficial information about the kiosks at Stampex. 
The Mail by Air stamps will be available from machines A012, A103 and A104.
The Machin stamps will be available from A012 and A013.
The Poppy stamps will be available from machine A014.

Unofficial information concerning other Post and Go stamps

September 13th will be the first day of issue of Jersey Post's new Post and Go design, Fruits and Berries, which will be dispensed from kiosk JE01. 
The machine will also dispense the Jersey Flag stamp with an additional inscription: HRH Prince Philip 65 Years of Service.

The Fruits stamps will also be available from Jersey's Broad Street JE01 machine, and both Fruits and Flag with Prince Philip inscription will be available from the Bureau B002 machine.

Available at Stampex from Guernsey Post's GG01 machine will be the Guernsey Flag stamp with a HRH Prince Philip 65 Years of Service inscription. 
Reel 2 will contain the Lighthouse stamps.  The stamps will be available after Stampex from the B machine at their Bureau by visiting www.guernseystamps.com or contacting philatelic customer services on +44 (0) 1481 716486.

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As usual we will obtain stamps to order.  Customers requiring the Royal Mail output from machine B001 must let us know by midday Wednesday 30 August.

A very limited number of 1st class stamps will be obtained for stock for those who only want single stamps.

Customers requiring Jersey and Guernsey from the Stampex kiosks stamps must let us know by 5 September.

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After Smartstamp, Royal Mail is ending Online Postage

Nearly two years ago, Royal Mail announced the end of the much-loved Smartstamp system, citing alternatives then available.

In the latest move to rationalise the methods by which non-stamp postage can be purchased, Royal Mail are now proposing the end of 'Online Postage' a system which ran in parallel with (and was very similar to) Smartstamp, from 23 March 2018.

An email sent to subscribers Royal Mail explain that Click and Drop will still be available, and their website announcement states:

After 10 years we’re replacing our platform with a new and improved service Click and Drop: our one-stop postage and labels solution ideal for consumers and small businesses.

(The preferred format for 'Click and Drop' is an ampersand rather than 'and' but this Google blogger platform will not display the ampersand.)

A disadvantage with Click and Drop was that - originally - the items had to be posted over a branch counter so that the account could be debited, whereas Smartstamp and Online Postage letters could be simply dropped into a postbox anywhere anytime.   However, the latest version allows for prepayment by PayPal and posting at a branch or postbox.  Of course people selling online should be getting a certificate of posting anyway, which requires the items to be presented at a Post Office counter.

Interestingly the help pages say that the Click and Drop label must be printed using Adobe Reader.  There is no mention of the Labels To Go facility mentioned here in Feburary of this year, although the Labels to Go pages say that it can be used for Click and Drop or Online Postage!

(For the benefit of the doubters, this is how the ampersand displays in all posts I have made when doing copy and paste of Post &amp ; Go from Royal Mail's press releases.)

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New style 'Account Postage' postage paid indicator

The latest batch of invoices received from Royal Mail has a new Postage Paid indicator at the top right corner.

Instead of the reversed out '1' and Royal Mail Postage Paid Edinburgh 170, this has a bar-code with Account Postage GB AC0453514002 - and an outlined '1'.  Alongside is the 'Delivered by Royal Mail' box.

Of course it would be good if they went back to using stamps but we can't expect that from the highly automated administrative system they have, but for those who are interested in these things, this marks another development in the way that payment of postage is indicated.

As each envelope only contains one invoice we have a lot of these so if anybody wants one, send a c5 stamped addressed envelope to us and we'll send you one.  With c5 it will have to be folded; if you want it unfolded then a larger envelope with a stiffener and large letter postage will be necessary.

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Machin news - 2nd Large booklet and SG catalogue numbers.

The latest new Machin definitive to appear is the 2nd Large booklet printed by ISP/Walsall, for which we hope to have stocks soon.   This is Norvic 2933.7, from booklet RA4.7.  

Thanks to RP for the images. 

1st class M17L business sheet printed 22/02/17 (Norvic 2914B.7)

Stanley Gibbons catalogue numbers

The latest issue of Gibbons Stamp Monthly includes basic catalogue listing for the Machin Anniversary definitives, excluding those in the miniature sheet.  The only stamps to get a new listing are:

SG 2133 - 20p double-head from PSB (the original 2133 was for the 1st class which becomes 2133a)
SG U3003 - 1st bright scarlet MPIL M17L (gravure) *
SG U3007 - £1 magenta MPIL M17L (gravure)

SG U3966 - £1 gold embossed from PSB (which SG records as having clearer embossing than the same stamp on the MS).

The stamps from panes 1 and 2 of the PSB (the 'Design Icon MS' stamps) are numbered 3958-63.

* Although listed as 'bright scarlet' this stamp is actually the original vermillion (red) colour.  When this is corrected the number should remain unchanged. 
The bright scarlet stamp but in litho was in the Windsor Castle PSB and is numbered SG U3016b.

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What purpose do country definitives serve?

Country definitives were introduced as Regional Definitives in 1958 to appease the Welsh, Irish

and especially the Scots, who thought they should have their own stamps rather than national symbols on UK definitives and the occasional 'special stamp' issue with one stamp for each country.  This is quite well written up on Wikipedia where there are also many external references, for example to the BPMA or Postal Museum.  Their 50th anniversary was marked with the miniature sheet and a prestige stamp book in 2008.

From 1999-2001 the old-style regionals were replaced by a set of four 'Country Definitives', for 2nd class, 1st class, and the European and basic worldwide letter rates.

Initially issued with all-over colour, they were re-issued with white borders in October 2003. The designs have remained basically the same since then, although the values of the two airmail rate stamps have increased alongside the Machin definitives.  Various values have also appeared in miniature sheets and prestige stamp books, presenting an interesting collecting area.

But are they used - or even available - now?  The answer, it seems, is not very much.  Mike writes about his experience in Scotland.

In a post office in Deeside I was told they had NONE.   In another branch near Dundee didn’t know what I was talking about. Even when I mentioned the thistle and the tartan they were mystified, until they opened their stockbook and I showed them the £1.17 and the £1.40. They had no 1st or 2nd.

Last week the Western Mail carried a letter of which this is an extract:

I am writing to express profound dissatisfaction with the inability to buy or use the main Welsh definitive stamps, 1st and 2nd class, the green 1st class one with the dragon and the 2nd class brown one showing a wilting leek.

For some time now I have been unable to buy regularly these stamps, even at my local crown post office in Bridgend.

When my recent stock had run out, I visited the post office a couple of weeks ago only to be told they had none (and the assistant checked all the counter books) but that they were “on order.” Earlier this week, I went in - still not delivered, should be in a week on Friday (August 4). This is not only not good enough but at best seems a sign of inefficiency or, at worst, an attempt to rob Wales of its distinctive stamps on the grounds of “lack of use”.

Earlier this year, I was told by a post office assistant that the reason they had none was the customers preferred the peel-off UK ones. Even if this is true, the question arises: why are the Welsh stamps not available as peel-off stamps?

A follow-up letter reported on a reply from Royal Mail

I am told that for “cost and efficiency reasons”, the definitive stamps of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are still gummed stamps rather than self-adhesive. The quoted phrase is not in itself convincing, of course – merely an unsupported assertion.

The spokesman also said that all Welsh post offices, big and small, are at liberty to order the Welsh 1st- and 2nd-class stamps as they wish.

I have replied to Royal Mail that I am still dissatisfied, not least because someone somewhere in England might eventually assert, “Oh, there is so little demand for the Welsh definitive stamps, we’ll discontinue them”. The reality is that the Welsh stamps are perhaps less popular by virtue of being still gummed rather than the self-adhesive.  And the Welsh versions are so damned difficult to buy, most people are probably unaware they exist.

The writer has been on this campaign for at least a couple of years, but it does seem that this is not uncommon.  When I asked a Northern Ireland customer to send his cheque using a (maybe not as inspiring as the others) NI country definitive a few years ago he had to visit several branches to find one.  And with the vast number of 1st and 2nd class stamps sold in booklets (or 10 x 1st special issues) it's little wonder that many branches in England don't have the England lion definitives either.

I'll be happy to report some positive news - that you are regularly able to buy the country definitives (of any value) at your local Post Office branch.  Do let us know what you find and where.  We'll keep the reporter and branch anonymous!

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Late Start to August for Slogan Postmarks: Paradise Lost

After the Mental Health Awareness slogan at the end of July there was nothing reported before our holiday break, and we came back to an unannounced commemoration of John Milton's Paradise Lost.  Unannounced because there have been no Royal Mail press releases added to their media website since 3 August!

I've been sent one image from Edinburgh Mail Centre with an illegible date, but fortunately both types have arrived here.  We have Warrington Mail Centre dated 14-08-2017 and South East Anglia Mail Centre dated 16.08.17 (note the word 'of' is on line 2 at Warrington and line 3 at SE Anglia).  Peterborough dated 15-08-2017 is also reported and I suppose this slogan was in use for mail delivered last week (ie posted 11-17 August) - I'll try to get confirmation.

350 years since

the publication of

John Milton's

Paradise Lost

John Milton was featured on this miniature sheet issued for the House of Stuart in 2010, recording the publication of Paradise Lost in 1667:

Edinburgh Festival
This really ought to precede the Milton slogan but that would mean rewriting everything!  Thanks to Trevor for sending this example from the Brisol Mail Centre, which reads:

August 2017:

70th anniversary

of Edinburgh's

#FestivalCity

An additional interest for this example is that the date is not shown in the familiar forms which is either 14-08-2017 or 14.08.17.  This has oblique strokes between the elements of the date 08/08/17: if this format has been used before I can't remember it.

It would be good to see other examples of this slogan, and any other postmark with the new-style date.



This blogpost will be used to record any other slogans used in August.

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Post and Go News: Postal Museum, Guernsey, Jersey, and others

Press Release:

Change of Overprint and New Post and Go Stamps at The Postal Museum

LONDON, 16 August 2017 – The Postal Museum has announced today that its ‘Official Opening’ inscription will end on all designs on Tuesday 12 September. It will be replaced with the words ‘The Postal Museum’ (without the organisation’s envelope logo) across all designs the following day, Wednesday 13 September.

Coinciding with the first day of Stampex, there will also be changes to the designs available from The Postal Museum’s A0001 machine. Royal Mail Heritage: Mail by Air (six designs – first class only) will replace the Union Flag (all values), which will no longer be available.

The following stamps will be on sale from Wednesday 13 September:

• Royal Mail Heritage: Mail by Air (six designs – first class only)
• Machin 50 Commemoratives (six designs - 1^st class only)
• Machin (2^nd Class only)
• Underground Railway (all values)
• Mail Coach (all values)

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Inscription Errors for Guernsey Visiting Liners

GM from Jersey writes:

The uptake on the current visiting cruise ship issues from Guernsey has not been great. My agent over there has picked up errors in the spelling of the ships names, most recently Sliver Spirit  instead of Silver Spirit, which was spotted and corrected on the day.  [See below §]


He also writes about various errors on Jersey Post and Go stamps, including

combinations of blank and correct printings

Battle of Hastings underprint with sword but no descriptive lettering.

half printed underprint lettering due to slipping within the roll of  stamps

error, underprint RAFA on endangered species issues.

Is Post and Go worthwhile for Jersey?  Apparently only if collectors buy the stamps, as GM also reports:

JE02  is very little used except by me. For example I have experienced the session numbers increase by only 1 or 2 over a period of 10 days!

For more on the dubious output of Jersey's Philatelic Bureau and that of the Isle of Man, take a look at the Commonwealth Stamps Opinion Blog.

§ I've had a response from the Head of Philatelic at Guernsey Post in response to the comments.

a. The error of Sliver for Silver is the only error that has been reported and was corrected on the same day.

b. "the uptake among the audience for which the products were primarily intended - cruise ship passengers -  were healthy and we are delighted to have supported the Visit Guernsey initiative by offering Post & Go products to passengers"

I'm happy to publish this response from Guernsey.
 

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The National Museum of the Royal Navy

Kiosk A002 in Portsmouth will have the following inscriptions starting Saturday 19 August and ending 18 September to celebrate the arrival of the HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth.

Union Flag

Royal Navy

QEII Carrier 2017

Machin

Royal Navy

Queen Elizabeth II Carrier 2017

These stamps can only be obtained from the Museum.

UPDATE:  Thanks to Chris for sending these images:

UPDATE:
As noted by the anonymous contributor, the inscription on these is incorrect as the carrier is actually HMS Queen Elizabeth - don't be surprised if there are changes here!

UPDATE 25 August
We have now been told that the inscriptions have changed to correct this error: I'm trying to find out when it changed.  But it was not changed until 1020 on 29 August!

Thanks to Chris H we can now show the stamps with the corrected inscription and receipt:

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As before, we will not be stocking these Post and Go stamps.  An announcement about Autumn Stampex will be made shortly.

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Before we go, one more Machin business sheet

Before we venture west to the highlands (well, the Welsh Marches) we had the local club's Summer Fair.  Nowadays I don't look for many stamps, but I do look for modern British postal history, which I write up on the other blog here.

This is the best find for many years, an insured parcel to South Africa franked at £3.35.  Read the postal history blog to find out whether this was right, and why.

I was also told of another find in a local post office, the 1st class business sheet with M17L coding.  Printed on 22/02/2017 this is on SBP2 of course, and will be added to our webshop for purchase on our return.

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Summer Break

Now that the school holidays are here we are taking a summer break, and our office will be closed from 4 August for approximately 3 weeks, reopening 24/29 August (Public holiday 28th). 

As most of the Machin definitives for this year have now appeared and been offered on our shop, the shop will also be closed for this period.  In the past (apart from last year's long break) we have allowed orders to be placed which results in a big backlog on our return.  After the June break a customer in the USA responded to the despatch email with a comment that he was about to cancel the order as he had not heard from us - which goes to show that not everybody reads the order akcnowledgement email (in which we clearly said that we were away for 2 weeks)!

We will be out of wifi and telephone contact for much of the time - one of the pleasures of being in a rural valley in the sparsely-populated Welsh borderlands. 

Emails and blog comments which have not been processed by 2G-mobile or dodgy internet-café connection will be dealt with on our return.

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Norfolk and Norwich PS Summer Fair 5 August 2017

If you are visiting Norfolk this weekend you will be welcome at the Norfolk and Norwich Philatelic Society Summer Stamp Fair.

Click here for map

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