List_of_Machin_stamps

List of Machin stamps

List of Machin stamps

List of all the major variations of the Machin series of postage stamps in the United Kingdom

This is a list of all the major variations of the Machin series of postage stamps in the United Kingdom. The complete list of all variations is vast and outside the scope of this encyclopedia.

Note: the colours and the colour descriptions are to be used to give an idea only, as each catalogue and website will name the colours differently.

Pre-decimal issues

The first Machins were issued in 1967 and were in use until the UK changed to a decimal currency in 1971. These Machins came in two sizes, with the four higher value stamps being the largest.

More information Value, Colour ...

Decimal issues

Machins continued being issued after Britain's change to decimalisation, and were produced until the end of the queen's reign. During the 1970s and 1980s, Royal Mail issued 12 Machins in a larger format. Other major variations include:

Elliptical perforation: In 1993 Royal Mail started issuing Machins with two large elliptical perforations, one on either side, as a security feature. Some Machins have both standard and elliptical perfs, but those issued after 1993 only have the ellipticals.
EME Images: In 1997 a new profile of the Queen was used on Machins. EME (or electro-mechanically engraved) images are created by computer and therefore offer better detail in the image.
Regional issues: These Machins were issued with a heraldic symbol in the top left-hand corner. These represent the Isle of Man with the Three Legs of Man symbol; Northern Ireland with the Red Hand of Ulster symbol; Scotland with the Lion of Scotland symbol and Wales with the Welsh Dragon symbol.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

Large size (30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in))

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

NVI (non-value indicator) issues

NVI (or non-value indicator) Machins first appeared in 1989 in an attempt to negate the need to keep issuing new stamps after each postal rate change. They are marked 1st and 2nd for the two classes of post in the United Kingdom. The E NVI stamp represented the standard letter rate to Europe.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

Horizontal issues

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

Large size (30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in))

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

Penny Black anniversary issues

In 1990, the Royal Mail issued five stamps to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black. They featured the Machin image of Queen Elizabeth II overlaying the image of Queen Victoria from the Penny Black. An NVI issue was released in 2000.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

More information Value and colour, Date 1st issue ...

Airmail issues

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

More information Value & Colour, Date 1st Issue ...

Self-adhesive stamps

Since about 2009, virtually all Machins have been issued only as self-adhesive stamps. The primary exceptions have been stamps issued as part of Prestige Stamp Booklets or in souvenir sheets.[citation needed]

Barcoded series (2021–present)

Machin stamps with Data Matrix barcodes were introduced in two stages, on 1 February 2022 (non-value indicators), and 4 April 2022 (other values). All barcoded stamps are self-adhesive.

Existing definitive stamps issued from 15 February 1971 to 31 January 2022 remain valid until 31 January 2023: since 31 March 2022, they can be indefinitely exchanged for the barcoded series.[18]

The 2022 issue was the last release in the Machin series prior to the death of Elizabeth II. On 8 February 2023, the design for the new definitive series, to be released on 4 April 2023 and featuring a portrait of Charles III by Martin Jennings, was revealed.[19]

2021 barcoded trial

More information Type, Value ...

2022 barcoded issues

More information Type, Value ...

Notes

  1. Royal Mail also refers to barcoded Low and High Value stamps as "Make up Value stamps".[25]

Footnotes

  1. [1]
    "Definitive [5 February 1968]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Decimalisation at 50". The Postal Museum. London: Postal Heritage Trust. 15 February 2021. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Definitive [8 August 1967]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Definitive [5 June 1967]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  5. [5]
    "Letter Rates 1968-2006". Great Britain Philatelic Society. London. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  6. [6]
    "Definitive [6 January 1967]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Definitive [1 July 1968]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Definitive [5 March 1969]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. [9]
    "High Value Definitives [5 March 1969]". Collect GB Stamps. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Know where your old stamps are?". Royal Mail. London: International Distributions Services. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  11. [11]
    An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 1 Jul 1997.
  12. [12]
    The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
  13. [13]
    An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 28 May 1997.
  14. [14]
    The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
  15. [15]
    An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 1 Jul 1997.
  16. [16]
    The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
  17. [17]
    An EME version for Wales, printed without the 'p' suffix, was also issued on 1 Jul 1997.
  18. [18]
    "Reinventing stamps for the next generations". Royal Mail. London: Royal Mail Group Limited. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  19. [19]
    Coughlan, Sean (8 February 2023). "King Charles unadorned new stamp design revealed". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  20. [20]
    "Machin Definitive 2nd Class Barcoded Stamp". Collect GB Stamps. 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  21. [21]
    "Barcoded NVI Definitives". Collect GB Stamps. 1 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  22. [22]
    "Low Value Definitive". Collect GB Stamps. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  23. [23]
    "High Value Definitive". Collect GB Stamps. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  24. [24]
    "International Tariff Definitive". Collect GB Stamps. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  25. [25]
    "Make up Values". Royal Mail. London: Royal Mail Group Limited. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article List_of_Machin_stamps, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.