Miniature Machins

This is not exactly news, but a recap of information regarding two stamps which were issued in February 2000. These stamps which I describe were only available from one source ( pane of 6) 2 x 38p 2 Bars and 4 x 19p side bar, joined se-tenant vertically.

The 4 x 19p right Bar stamps are inset right from the perforations. DG 190.14.1 (I2)

Available from the Special By Design Prestige booklet these stamps are also different from the norm in the fact that the printed part of the stamps are of a smaller scale. The inter stamp gutters are 3 mm which is 0.5mm bigger than the similar booklet stamps (2.5 mm borders) with x 4 stamps of the same values. 02.5 mm is the usual sized border for machins.

The booklets x 4 19p and 38p values were issued on 26th April 1999.


You can notice these larger borders on the images left. Compare them to a normal stamp.

Just for those of you that use Deegam Handbooks notations there are two different profiles for this 38p value DG380.5.2 (S10) short bar top left and DG380.5.2A (S10) (I1) which is short top left and inset left. I should also mention that these stamps from the Prestige Booklet also have a different perforation to the norm: IE 13.75 x 14

All 3 booklets described above were printed by Walsall Security Printers in gravure.

Please note : Counter sheet stamps also exist which are printed by De La Rue.

I am most grateful to Douglas G. A Myall (Deegam publications) for his help and agreement for the use of his Deegam 1982 copyright SIN System

Top 50 Stamp Sites

I have been asked why this blog is not in the top 50 stamp sites, just one reason, we have not as yet registered the details. So today just for fun I have registered Machin Mania blog spot with top 50 stamp sites.

It may take 24 hours for the site to be listed in name. Please every time you visit us click on the link above and vote for us.

Many Thanks in advance.

Machin Mystery: Czeslaw Slania and the Unknown Competitor

After noted engraver Czeslaw Slania passed away in 2005, several books were published chronicling his life and works. Sadly, these were all published outside the U.S. and are difficult to get. I was looking through one of these books at the Western Philatelic Library and came across a story relating to Machins.

Slania engraved several Great Britain stamps. We Machin Maniacs are most interested, of course, in his Machins. Slania engraved two Machin portraits, one large and one small.

The large portrait was used only for a pane of four first-class Machins in the Profile on Print prestige booklet issued in 1999. Many collectors consider this to be the most beautiful Machin stamp of all time.

The small portrait was used for the set of four high values, also issued in 1999. Slania only engraved one die for these. He left a blank rectangular space where the denomination is. Each printer (there were two, Enschedé first, then De La Rue) added the four denominations in a later step of the production process.

With that lengthy introduction, here's the story.

Slania prepared the two dies in 1998 or early 1999. When he completed them, he printed proofs for his records. Sometime later, the printer (presumably Enschedé) found that some parts of the design of the small die were too fine to reproduce well, and they asked Slania to alter it. Although satisfied with the final design after alteration, Slania lost interest in the stamps and did not print another proof.

After the stamps were issued (probably at least several months later), a friend sent a set to Slania. Slania compared them to his proof and realized that the two didn't match. He decided someone else had designed the actual stamps, presumably because the printer didn't like the die he had produced. He then spent some time trying to decide who could produce such a good job, better than his own. Who could be a better engraver?

Then, suddenly, he remembered that he had made the changes himself! (He was almost 80 years old at that time, so we should forgive his memory lapse.) There was no better engraver, Slania was still the best.

--Larry

(PS Slania's name is pronounced Ches'-wav Swa'-nia. That's because the letter usually printed as an "L" in English is actually the Polish letter "L with stroke" or Ł, pronounced as a W. However, most times, if you start talking to someone about "Swa-nia", they won't understand, and you'll have to mispronounce it as "Sla-nia.")

Brilliant post Larry. Adding to Larrys post, here is a link to a Slania page written on this blog I am sure you will also find this interesting.

--Roy

Cross Referencing DP and Gibbons Numbers

A recent email from Lee asked "Do I know of a site that cross referenced DP and Gibbons booklet pane numbers."

As most collectors know DP and DB numbers are copyright of the MBPC and they can not be used in catalogues or online without express permission from the circles committee.

One website I have found that has permission to list this information is Machin Dealer Denis Stevens. I do not normally advertise dealers websites, but in this instance as the information is very helpful to collectors and Dennis allows me to uses certain images from his site I will pass this on to you.

All stitched booklet panes are listed along with images, these not only show the phosphor configuration and perforation codes of the MBPC but also give a cross reference to Gibbons booklet pane numbers and Scott.

Shown left is a pane I downloaded from Denis site. This gives you a idea of the detail and information that the website lists. Well worthy of the link I added sometime ago in the left hand column.

2p x 2, ½p x 2 se-tenant horizontal

OC9ar - 2p x 2, 1/2p x 2 se-tenant horizontal, OCP/PVA, sideways print right, perforation type P (DP11) (S.G. USB2) (Stoneham MP5)

Also available in OCP sideways print left.

OC9al - 2p X 2, 1/2p X 2 se-tenant horizontal, OCP/PVA, sideways print left, perforation type P (DP11) (S.G. USB2) (Stoneham MP5)

Jump on to a link and visit Denis Stevens here.

Self Adhesive Bookets

As promised, today we are returning to Machins, and we are going back to the new self adhesive security (slit) Booklet stamps.

Although much has been discovered and written to date this seems to be all over the place, bits and pieces are written on different blogs, group discussions and websites. For these reasons some people are still finding it confusing. I will add a couple of images here and try to put the information learned to date in one place.

We can start with the latest booklet printed by Walsall security Printers in gravure. This is the 2nd in the series of the Design Classic self adhesive booklets. Issue date 21st April 2009.

This booklet contains 2 x 1st-class special issue Mini stamps and 4 x 1st-class gold 2B. Looking at the security slits this has the Type II slits which have a separation cut (approx 1mm long) in the center of the arc both top and bottom.

Using Douglas Myalls information, the hidden code in the background text is C = ROYAL MCIL According to Myall the C stands for Custom.

If you look closely at the scan you can make out the cylinder numbers W1 repeated in the lower right corner. The Previous booklet in this series contained the Routmaster bus and Phone box stamps. A further booklet, number 3 in the series (Concorde) is planned for early next year.

Now that we have that out of the way I will return to the security retail booklets that were issued earlier. Philatelic issue date 31st March 2009. First is the 12 x 1st-class gold 2B security booklet. To date cylinders W5 W1 / W1 have been identified.

The security slits has the Type IIA slits which have a separation cut (approx 2mm long) in the center of the arc both top and bottom. thanks to Ian for the image (below left)

Using Douglas Myalls codes, the hidden code in the background text is code T.= ROYL MTIL.

Code T. This means that the stamp came from a book of twelve. There are two of these booklets x twelve with type 11A slits, the second is again printed by Walsall. 12 x 2nd-class blue CB security stamps. cylinder booklets W4 W1 / W2 have been identified.

I will now turn our attention to the 6 x 1st-class gold 2B security booklets. There is only one book to describe which denoted Deegam Code S. = ROYAL MSIL. This indicates that the stamp came from a book of six definitives. Again printed by Walsall with type 2 (narrow) security cuts.

Next on the agenda are the 4 x 1st-class Large gold 2B security booklets, both first and second class booklets were issued they contain Code F. = FOYAL MAIL. Click here and Click here for details written by Larry of the hidden text

This indicates that the source is a book of four stamps. Cylinder booklets on both 1st and 2nd class booklets known to date are W1 W1 / W1. Looking at the security slits this has the Type II slits which have a separation cut in the arcs (approx 1mm long). Again thanks go to Ian for this image (left)

The business sheets mentioned on an earlier Post have Type I slits which have no separation cut in the center of the arcs. Using Douglas Myalls codes, the hidden code in the background text is type Code B.

This B indicates that the source is a business sheet, printed by De La Rue with type 1 security cuts, ( no gap in the arc) again first issued on 31 March 2009. The position of the B depends on whether the stamp is standard or large.

Douglas Myall describes these as:

B replacing A of Mail, sheets of 100, 1st class standard and 2nd class standard
B replacing A of Royal, sheets of 50, 1st class large and 2nd class large.

With this post I have tried to make this information idiot proof, which is difficult considering the amount of text to take in. I have also given links to previous posts, sorry if this is confusing but I have only done this so I do not write the same info twice. Any mistakes please let me know.

30th April Smilers for Kids

Ian - Norvic wrote:

"This isn't a new Royal Mail issue, it's simply Earl Shilton scouts climbing on the Smilers bandwagon to raise funds for their very worthwhile cause. I sold bankrupt goods to help our troop, somebody has come up with a different idea. If stamp collectors wish to buy what are actually personalised Smilers sheets that is up to them."

OK Ian I see your point and will digress a little. But, and this is a big but! I get so angry at Royal Mail for allowing these issues in the first instance. At the end of the day this is all about R.M profit and in my humble opinion is helping to ruin this great hobby (once called philately) now jokingly called confetti collecting.

I have to say something even if its just on this blog . I know I am not alone in my opinions. I also know that any letter to powers that be would fall on deaf ears. So I will not waste my time writing to them direct.

So even if we let private smiler sheets off the hook, what about these?


30 April 2009 Smilers for Kids - 4 x generic sheets . Big Ears, Wild Cherry Flower Fairies, Jeremy Fisher , Little Miss Sunshine.


All these sheets contain 20 x 1st class stamps and labels. Why on earth call these smilers for kids? Royal Mails claim "They are trying to encourage more youngsters to collect British stamps."

If this was the case they could format these to a set of 4 on a miniature sheet which at face would cost less than £2.00 How much pay does a child get these days from running a paper round? These sheets retail at £8.50 each, times this by four equates to a whacking £34.00.


I don't know about you and your kids, but how on earth can parents or children afford to collect these. This is a hell of a lot of pocket money for a kid to spend on a few bits of sticky paper on one day.

My last word on the subject!

Wise up Royal Mail make these issues more affordable to children or risk losing the collectors you have managed to convert already! The word "Con" should be highlighted !

NEXT POST: We get Back to Machins.

De La Rue Business Sheets

Phil Jennings has sent me some scans so I can now show you the top panels of the new De La Rue security (slit) business sheets.

Although not visible to the naked eye on the scans these stamps have the type I security slit ( complete arcs) the same as other De La Rue self adhesive sheet printings. See image left.

Below 100 x 1st class

Below 50 x 1st class Large

Below 100 x 2nd class

Below 50 x 2nd class Large

Nice eh? I no longer collect these panels, but I have to admit they do form a nice presentation when mouned in this format.

Noting the changes

We are only three and a half months into 2009 and these new Machins are driving a lot of collectors (including myself) potty. With all the new stamps and changes to date there is so much to comprehend. Take your mind of the subject for five minutes and another new fact comes to light. I am now talking about the latest revelation discovered by Douglas Myall regarding the different alphabetical background text.

Larry has now observed more details with large and small wavy text. Add to this the fact that Ian has reported different sized gaps in the security slits giving us three different types of slits to date, by the way Ian suggests this (the wider gap) should be catalogued type 2a.

I do not know about your self, but I am still trying to get to grips with other formalities. Another of which is the new rate values from sheet printings with (conventional gum).



OK so we have now done away with the dot and no dot cylinder blocks, but still have a left and right pane. The left pane resembling the old style no dot pane which still retains a coloured vertical line from top to bottom and the right pane (replacement dot pane) which still retains a narrower margin without the vertical line. Both now have have the new type box grid which indicates either left or right. The D1 cylinder number despite Royal Mails publicity material showing otherwise is still adjacent to row 18. (See pics above). It is possible that this will (could)change to being opposite row 19 on future printings.

I have still not seen the cylinder block from the reprint of the 54p value (Rust) D1 D1, printing date 22/01/09. I have been told "It is just that, a reprint in the old style format. One difference is the sheet now has a bar code printed in ink-jet."

Can anyone tell me do the cylinder block numbers still portray the dot in the right pane?


....Roy

Images of hidden codes on Security Machins

My copies of the Machin booklets have arrived. Here are two images of the hidden codes. Above is "FOYAL" with the "F" circled. This is the large second-class stamp from a booklet of four. Below is "MTIL" with the "T" circled. This is the standard second-class stamp from a booklet of 12.


The gold color of the first-class stamps is harder to scan, but I'll give it a try and post them if I can get good results.

When doing these scans, I noticed for the first time that the letters of the overprint are smaller on the large-size stamp than they are on the standard-size stamp. You can see that in these images. I wonder why that is.

--Larry

Keep Smiling

Nothing what so ever to do with Machins, sorry about this, but I feel I have to have another dig at Royal Mail for flooding the market (once again) with stamps that will never see the light of day on a genuine letter used for postage.

I suspect that the majority of collectors are far from smiling these days, not when they learn that another private sheet of themed Smilers Sheets were released in April . How many is this to date? Just for April alone I know of at least three. When will it ever end?

This time in conjunction with Royal Mail it is Rushstamps who are the culprits, they have released yet another new themed smilers sheet entitled Earl Shilton Rocks!

The new Earl Shilton Scout Group Sheet features 20 x 1st Class Harry Potter stamps and commemorates the Centenary Year (1909-2009) of the Hinckley District Scout Council.

If you actually have piles of spare cash and really want these. They are only available from the one source.

Personally (like the miniature sheet) I think they are hideous.

Obviously this is not a recommendation to buy, just an observation.

Hidden Codes on Security Machins

Douglas Myall published the news yesterday that the non-denominated security Machins have a hidden code that identifies the format in which the stamp was issued. In other words, just by looking at a single stamp, you can tell if it came from a counter sheet, business sheet, booklet of four, booklet of six, booklet of twelve, or mixed definitive/commemorative booklet.


The code is a change of one letter in the curvy ROYAL MAIL pattern, located above the diadem.

The codes are as follows:

B replacing A in Royal - ROYBL MAIL - in business sheets of 50 (large 1st and 2nd Machins) [corrected April 19]

B replacing A in Mail - ROYAL MBIL - in business sheets of 100 (standard 1st and 2nd Machins) [corrected April 19]

C replaing A in Mail - ROYAL MCIL - in mixed booklets with four 1st Machins and two commemoratives ("C" is for custom)

F replacing R in Royal - FOYAL MAIL - in booklets of four stamps (large 1st and 2nd Machins)

S replacing A in Mail - ROYAL MSIL - in booklets of six (standard 1st Machins)

T replacing A in Mail - ROYAL MTIL - in booklets of twelve (standard 1st and 2nd Machins)

There are no hidden codes in counter sheets, which means that no denominated Machin has a code.

Royal Mail says that these codes let them know the source of a stamp when a problem is discovered, for example, a sub-standard application of the phosphor bands.

Myall is giving each of these stamps a separate number at level 3 in his Deegam Handbook. Users of the Handbook who have signed up for electronic download of his Deegam Reports can download the latest, DGR 82, at his web site, http://www.deegam.com/. This issue shows the various codes and includes his catalogue listing and profiles.

UPDATE: Some images are here.

If you need a refresher on these new Machins, click here and here. Also this lengthy discussion on the Machin forum.

--Larry

Sorry that I have not been posting so often lately, but I have had some computer problems. I did manage to get a couple of days surfing in, and managed to check and answered a backlogs of emails, then woe and behold it packed up again. I am connected again now, thank god, hopefully with no more problems.

I was going through the British Postal Museum & Archive site over Easter and spotted this picture which I thought was worth sharing.

"This witty poster advertisement in our archive sums up what is required very neatly, albeit with a chicken egg." http://postalheritage.wordpress.com/

It also fits the bill in respect to our previous posts.

Is this the egg that broke the chickens (Royal Mails) back?

To Buy Or Not To Buy

If you read the comments left for the last post, you will see that collectors are starting to get wise to the Royal Mails new issues marketing strategy. If you ask me it is not before time, wising up can save them a lot of money in the long run.

Collectors of blocks / strips are their own worst enemies. It is they themselves who decide to collect these formats in the first instance. I can own up as to being one of the guilty parties. But no more, my new issue collecting days are over except for a few carefully chosen items.

Do you remember the gutter pair fiasco? These (pairs) were paraded as gold dust by dealers and many collectors went out of their way to acquire them. In later years when they wished to part with them they find that dealers are not interested in them at all and are offering less than face value to take them off our hands. The same can be said for early commemorative cylinder blocks / traffic light blocks etc.

The longer you are in this game of cat and mouse the more you learn. Basic values, no matter what the format are worth basically what you pay for them.

Clever marketing by certain dealers advertise WANTED presentation packs blah blah. A ploy? Do these dealers have stocks of these piled so high that they want to make us think they are rarer than they are? Just reply to one of these advertisements and say that you have 20 or so to dispose of. See the results!

Above are just a couple of questions to ponder over. So before you go out and spend a fortune that you can not afford on new issues, have a think. By all means do continue to buy mint stamps, if this is your wish, but like Larry and Robert say, choose what you are buying because you want them, not because its what the dealers and Royal Mail are telling you you need.

Replies are welcome.

....Roy

De La Rue Security Cylinder Blocks (update)

If you collect cylinder blocks and like completeness be warned that it may get a bit expensive with these new self adhesive security printings.

Catalogue compilers intend to list all of the values in all available cylinder block formats from the primary sheets.

For the standard sized cylinder panes the identification box,s give 6 different combinations of cylinder blocks.

These are to be known as

Upper left
Upper centre
Upper right
Lower left
Lower centre
Lower right

Large 1st class and large 2nd class NVI cylinder panes giving 4 x identification box combinations

These are to known as

Upper left

Upper right

Lower left

Lower Right

That is a lot of cylinder blocks folks. The question now is how many will continue to collect them?

As I like to eat every now again and keep a roof over my head I have already opted out!

Bridge That Gap

Whist I was in the UK I managed to have a look at some of the new security booklets printed by Walsall, Philatelic issue date 31st March. I did not get the chance to see the De La Rue business sheets.

Rather than write about the new booklets I will quote, then send you over to Ian's Blog who has them covered already. Ian has checked his supply and informs us that some interesting facts have emerged.

" As previously mentioned on the Walsall printings the security cut is actually 4 cuts, compared with De La Rue's two cuts. On the latest (31 March) booklets the gap at the apex of the curve is wider than on the Design Classics (10 March) booklets.

The current (31 March) booklets have a wide gap on the 1st & 2nd books of 12, and a narrow gap on the 1st book of 6 and the Large Letter books."

Read Ian's complete report here