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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
5 comments:
I thought for one terrible moment that Doug was doing an April Fool trick on us, but no, chekcing this morning's post I find one DLR (Counter Sheet) stamp, and one Walsall 1st class, the latter identified as coming from a book of 12, by the T in MTIL at the top right corner. Oh wonderful! (NOT)
Ian,
The first thing I did when I saw the Deegam report was to look to see if it was dated April 1. Really. FOYAL MAIL?
Then I, too, realized that Doug wasn't kidding.
--Larry
Thanks to eagle-eyed Douglas Myall for catching my errors in describing the two B codes. These are now fixed.
--Larry
Thanks to all the Machin experts for researching and reporting on this. While I have a Machin collection, I typically don't run out and just buy the new issues, but these changes are so interesting that I just ordered from RM the other day the full set of high value and each of the Security booklets. This will mean hours of fun peering into a 10x ...
Dennis
June's Philatelic Bulletin includes a new excuse for these from Royal Mail:
"Identifying a stamp's original format will help RM to correct any production issues which may arise, for example, problems reading the phosphor signal on the stamps."
Nice to know there's a genuine reason, then.
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