Enschede Printings

During the period of 1979, the 8p Machin stamps which were used for 2nd class inland mail up to 20 gr were needed in vast quantities. These were being used up quite quickly so in order to maintain supplies Royal Mail contracted Enschede of Holland to print new emergency stamps.

It was 12 years before Enschede were awarded another contract (1991) when they produced the 18p value. Then in 1993 all numerical Machin definitves in sheets were transfered and printed in Holland.

With this change over the Enschede imprint replaced that of Harrison & Sons in the margins of the sheets, this can be found apposite row 20. No phosphor cylinder numbers were used but the ink cylinder was, this can be seen in row 18. As with Harrison printings the sheets of 400 were printed and seperated into two, so both dot and no dot sheets exist.

Several transitions followed throughout a two year period, the contract ending in 1995. These transitions were enough to change the design and produce new collectable varieties.

Over the months to follow, different coloured phosphors and varnishes were applied to eradicate problems. Yellow phosphor (in different stages of thickness and colour) 4mm varnish under the phosphor ink, followed by a 2mm varnish, a change to from yellow to blue phosphor and the use of different coloured gums was also to follow. Blue tinted , white and cream gums are known. This gave the specialist collector an array of individual different stamps to aquire and catalogue.

Another difference was also noted, from 2 extension holes in the margins, which reverted to just one.

When collecting mint copies I always recommend collecting these in Cylinder block form, but it is not often one sees them for sale.

Well If you are interested I have news for you, as I recently acquired a small collection in cylinder block form which are surpus to requirements. Rather than sell these through my website I have listed some of them on eBay ( more to follow). Take a look you may be pleasantly surprised at the starting prices. I am also offereing discount postage (25p UK, Europe and(worldwide) . Winners will only pay an extra 25p for each multiple win.

If you fancey a dabble here is the URL.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZgbmachins

Royal Mail Are Driving Us Potty

John who is moderator and group owner of the Stamps of Great Britain web site brings us news of a new miniature sheet ( and a set of stamps) added to Royal Mails program at the last minute.

The miniature sheet will consist of of 5 x 1st class definitive stamps showing the Hogwarts crest and the crest of the 4 school houses - Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The issue date for these new stamps is 17th July 2007.

Are Machins on the way out and being gradually replaced with these trivia type definitives? God knows what they have planned for next year.

Take a look for your self and you decide. Do we really want these? My tongue in cheek comment on these new issues is reproduced below.

Wow!

We still have a gap in the program for 2007.

Im sure if Royal Mail thought deeply enough they could give us a couple of more new issues for August as well. Fanny Cradocks pudding recipes, or the anniversary the nine o clock news come to mind.

My am I so pleased ( and richer) now I no longer have an account for new issues.

These people at Royal Mail are now clearly taking the micky, and stamp collectors for a ride ( not on Harrys magic broomstick ), how on earth do collectors let them get away it?

What do you think? Are to many GB stamps issued each year?

If you are interested and wish to take a look, a link has been placed below to an image of the Harry Potter commemorative stamps. This is a to good an opportunity to miss, to glean more revenue so expect a smilers sheet too.

http://groups.msn.com/StampsofGreatBritain/newstampstobeissuedin2007.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=710

Dagger Perforations on Self Adhesives

Did you receive single self adhesive stamps from the philatelic bureau in 1998?

If the answer to this question is yes and they are still in your collection take a few minutes to check the perforations.

Look out for unusual pointed like corner perforations as are classed as an error.



This pointed like perf error is now in demand and is retailing at £200 + per pair.

The error went unnoticed for four years, until they took the interest of a keen eyed collector who bought them to the attention of others.

These 2 key stamps SG2039a and SG2040a were only issued to account holders by the Philatelic Bureau in single form , they were not available from any other source. The stamps were guillotined from sheets into singles at the printers, presumingly to make it easier for Bureau staff to distribute them to account holders who had singles on order.

For this reason complete sheets, multiples and top panes do not exist.

Now known to specialist collectors as "Dagger Perfs"
they were printed in gravure by Walsall Security Printers and issued on 06/4/98. It is estimated that only about 400 pairs have survived so the catalogue value rests at this time at £300 a pair.

I had 20 pairs of these singles in my collection, but sad to say none of my copies had the error perf, just my luck ! However yours may, so take my advice and do take a look.

Government Overprints

In all my years collecting Machins I do not see many overprints for sale , but whilst surfing eBay yesterday I came across this item.

Its not rare or unusual, in fact its the opposite, quite a common stamp, but I thought I would show it here as an example of what can be found to compliment a collection.

Prior to the beginning of 1971 certain pre-decimal 2d stamps are found with overprinted names.

Government offices and certain power suppliers used these on receipts or bills. The overprints were usually in the form of names or initials of the office concerned.

Fiscally used stamps normally have a hand written signature added or are date stamped, some stamps with just the overprint similar to the one left can also be found where they have been postaly used.

Overprinted Specimen

These are more sought after and are rare to an extent, the prices they command reflect this, good mint examples can raise prices into hundreds of pounds..

The £1 pre decimal stapled stamps cooks booklet is known to have contained panes overprinted "SPECIMEN".

Five values are listed these are: 1d 2 band, 5d 2 band, 4d left band and 4d right band.

The stitched version of this booklet were also issued with a philatelic bureau CTO overprint. It has been suggested that these booklets with the CTO overprint were sent out to certain firms to attract future advertising.

Also a £1 stapled decimal Wedgwood booklet was issued with panes overprinted "SPECIMEN". Stamps listed are the half pence 2 band , half pence left band, two and half pence side band ( left or right) a two and a half pence centre band and a three pence two band.

School stamps overprinted specimen were also used by the post office to train employees, these were not technically available to the general public, but they do exist in peoples collections.