Miniature Sheets

Just for a change I thought we might move away from new issues, but what to write about (this is the question).

How about GB Miniature Sheets?

I have quite a number of miniature sheets in my collection, as I tended to buy a few of each on release. Why? I do not really have an answer for this one, I guess I just wanted to keep up with the Jones,s

Anyway, I was doing some research on miniature sheets this morning, whilst doing so I was very surprised to to see that the market prices for these are are not moving that much. Prety grim if you have these in an investment portfolio., but to be expected I guess for they are paraded by Royal Mail as often as 5 - 6 times a year.

There are three or four exceptions, which seem to holding their own, one or two of these are catalogued over the 10.00 mark. These which I have picked out from the bunch are:

11 August 1999 Eclipse £10.50
14 December 1999 millennium Timekeeper £10.50
22 May 2000 Matthews Pallette £12.50
19 December 2003 England Rugby Winners £9.00
13 January 2004 Classic Locomotives £9.00

Nothing else of any note (from the 60 or so issued to date) seems worth a mention except for maybe one or two that may be on the rise over the next year. These are: 13 March 2001 Weather sheet selling at £6.95 and perhaps the 13 April 2004 Ocean Liners issue which has remained static for twelve months at £5.50.

To buy them now a complete set of 60 will set you back in the region of £225.00

April 2009 Rate Rise

More news of stamps to be issued for the April 2009 rate rise. Two new country (pictorial ) definitives will be issued for each region, it is said these will be 56p and 90p, which will replace the existing 50p and 81p issued last April.

Of the new Machins, it is believed that only four new values are in the pipe line. In my initial report I forecast that there would be five. Of these original five it looks as though the 54p value will not be issued.

We are still waiting for pics of these, but the colours have been announced. The new Machin definitives will be :
17p olive-green
22p stone
62p red
90p ultramarine

If you have any more information to add to this post please leave your observations in the comments dept. (thanks)

Unusual £1 Date Block

Thanks Larry for the previous post. Very Nice! I will have to make one of these myself, after all said and done I have more buttons to make one than money to buy :-)

News from Ian Bilings : A collector reports the £1 violet with a printing date of 15-03-07, although the £1 ruby (issued 5 June 07), was printed in January 2007. Jump on a link to Ian's blog for a picture and the whole story.

Machin's portrait is chic in Chelsea

Thanks to my friend David for pointing out Machin's portrait as the centerpiece of a drawing room in Chelsea. It belongs to Belle Robinson, founder of the Jigsaw clothing empire.

Reported in the Daily Mail, a UK newspaper, the article notes, "The most eye-catching piece is above the mantelpiece - a giant collage of a Royal Mail stamp pieced together with mother of pearl buttons - one of three works in the flat by Ann Carrington."

Unfortunately, no credit to Arnold Machin in the article.

The image is on the left side of the Daily Mail's page. Click on the image on that page to see a larger version.

--Larry

Index to Posts 201 - 300

My time doesnt fly when you are having fun. In fact it flys so fast, so much so it is now time to update the index pages.

This (index) will now extend to give another 100 pages with a short title to each. Another direct link will be added to the left hand side of the blog giving you easier access to subjects on site.

The Bookmark in our links column for the old site has now been replaced with the revised URL Dave Atrthur Machin Forum has moved

Back to the Future
A rather smelly tramp walked into Stanley Gibbons in London. The shop assistant asked "can I help you sir"

How would you like to learn all about the Machins from an expert Master the Machins

A reply from Pete The Pop Art Man

You will notice if you scroll down to the bottom of the page we have added a Readers Poll

Some interesting facts on the History of De La Rue.

A recent e mail from Tony Carter who inquired about Pricing in Proportion Stamps. PiP Spot the Differences

There are no prizes for guessing who the man is in this portrait Guess Who?

One of my jobs for today was to go through the auctions just to see if anything interesting hit me. Up for Auction also see A Glut of Machin Signed Covers

Stamps are separated by a vertical gutter into two half sheets of 200 ATN Sheets and Marginal Markings also see ATN Sheets and Marginal Markings - Part 2

Today I have added a new link. This is a blog written by Adrian on philately in general.

We Machin collectors have our own defino-memoratives

Here's a once-in-a-lifetime (actually, a once-only) event. Own your own genuine plaster cast of QE II by Arnold Machin

I welcome today as a new link from Machin Mania. Robin Harris & Adminware

A comment from the trustees of the Machin Arts Foundation

After our previous posts about marginal markings, Roy asked me about perhaps the most well-known ones Traffic Light Gutter Pairs Also see Stopping At The Trafic lights

Another stamp that was printed in single sheets of 25 (5 x 5) by the House of Questa in offset lithography. £10 Britannia Stamp ( Another Machin?)

I am going to join Larry and wear a dunces cap for a week I Am Not Insane, Just Stupid

A new poster to MachinMania, Welcome to Adrian and his views on Hong Kong Machins

Peter London writes in the comments department. A Diamond Machin

Machin Pane from the Military Uniforms - RAF Prestige Book also see R A F Uniforms Machin Pane

Dave Price e-mailed me with a question. "What is Phosphor Under Ink (PUI)

An email from Rosie Blackburn informing me that the lists contents of the Machin home which are up for auction are now online.

Further information on large PiP stamps from the Anniversary of the Machin Booklet An E-mail From Tony Carter

If you are a main stream collector and have a regular order for everything, then to date it has been A long year and Deep Pockets

Postage Rate Rise 2008

Valentines retail booklet that was issued on 15th January 2008.

An Answer To My Poser & Results of The Poll

Experimental Machin Labels, known as "fast stamps"

Machin Market Mania What with the credit crunch and the financial markets in such a mess I thought I might have a look at the stamp market for Autumn 2008.

One only has to read my last post to see that fine used stamps today are a good bet for the future. More on fine used

Some information on Prestige Errors

I have often been asked asked "what are my hobbies"? Which led to this post Making The Most Out of Machins also see Ironbridge and Machins

Wincor-Nixdorf Propostal machines have now been sucessfully put into operation Machin News October 2008 also see More Machin News

Many of you will have heard the name Micheal Dodd of CDDStamps Wanted Used GB Commemoratives

Stamp booklets that gave rise to Postman Pat & Jess back in the year 2000.

Recapping on the above post The Old and the New

a photo from Dave Feeney which he insists is the Hedgecoe portrait also see Hedgecoe, Interesting Replies

Even though the post is not about the actual stamps themselves I am sure that some of you will be interested in the content. Garmelow Manor also see Garmelow Continued

Artrepublic poster version, HM Queen Elizabeth II is wearing a gas mask: A Machin That Caused A Right Stink

Last week we discussed professor John Hedgecoe, Lord Snowdon and Arnold Machins parts in the design of the Machin Definitive. Enter Jeffery Matthews

This is an interesting post from Larry Linn's Editorial on Slit Stamps

Machin News Nov 08 and More Machin News also More Data on New Security Stamps

It's been more than 10 years since the National Postal Museum in London closed Swindon, Here We Come also see More from the BMPA

Regional Machin Symbols - Part 1 and the follow up Regional Machin Symbols - Part 2 and Regional Machin Symbols - Part 2A

Multi Value Coils are normally collected in strips of 4 or 5 values

High Values To Go High Security also see Security Stamps Continued and Another Thought On Security Machins

If you go back to 29th March 2007 I wrote about A railway engine with the name of Arnold Machin. This is a follow up The Arnold Machin Loco

Stamps and VAT Reduction

Thanks to John from Stamps of GB I now have pictures of the two Prestige panes mentioned on a earlier post these are: Design And Darwin Prestige Panes

A Birthday Message to Mr Machin Man himself. Douglas Myall: Happy Birthday Douglas

The cost of posting first and second class letters is to increase from 36p (1st class) by 3p to 39p and from 27p (2nd class) to 30p from April 2009: More On The 2009 Rates

The above image of the upcoming security Machin was sent to me by my friend David Alderfer. Here is an extract from a quote from Royal Mail about the new Security Stamps due to be issued in February. From The Horses Mouth more on slit stamps can be read here Machin News January 2009 and here Pics of the new Security Stamps

The old saying "that a change is as good as a rest " is very true, so today with just that we revert to a change of pace from new issues:

Last time I checked these are still on sale but I wrote this just in case 2009 Valentines Booklet A Retraction

Fesh News has recently been posted on the net Design Classics PSB and Darwin PSB

2009 may be a very expensive time for the Machin collector. Machin Self Adhesive Cylinder Blocks

Now this is what we call Machin Mania: Are You A Machin Maniac?

Spanish Label With Slit and More on S/A Cylinder Blocks

Machin Pane from the Darwin Prestige Booklet and The cover of the Charles Darwin Prestige Booklet also more news on British Design Classics

More news on security (slit) stampsin A Letter from Douglas Myall

Interesting Post on the Lasergravure Machin Head and an observation on the Postal Rate Increase Is HUGE!

More info from the BPMA that over 3,000 searchable postal history records via its website from 2 March 2009

Last but not least more info on The Connoisseur Catalogue Update

Connoisseur Catalogue Update

Way back in November 2007 Larry Rosenblum announced the news that the Connoisseur Catalogue was going online in pdf form. Published by B.Alan (Stamps) Ltd. (2 Pinewood
Avenue, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 5AF, UK)


This is just a short post to inform you of its developments since that date. So far 11 chapters have been recorded online . Whilst the site is being developed these chapters are free to view, the latest being the updates from chapter 10B Country Emblem Definitive stamps and chapter 11 postage dues. It is not often we get something for free of this quality.

Fill your boots!!

i. Full Bleed Issues

ii. White Border Issues

10C
Non-standard Regional Issues with Security Features

11
Postage Due Stamps

More info from the BPMA

The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) is to make available over 3,000 searchable postal history records via its website from 2 March 2009.

Larry wrote a peice on the BPMA last year. To add to his account here is a little more recent information from Mike Bament, who is a volunteer at the BPMA, he has been working on the project, and has commented:

“This is a hugely exciting project, which will enable increased access to BPMA’s unique collections, and will be of great benefit to postal historians researching these subjects. The search engine is simple to use, with the listings directly referring to specialised catalogues which are widely used for the whole of the UK and Ireland”.

Steve Lawson, editor for Hellmail said:

"This will prove enormously popular both with historians and postal enthusiasts. With the BPMA also relocating to Swindon in the near future, it looks to be an exciting and challenging time ahead. I know the BPMA has been looking at new ways to engage visitors and provide better access to its collections and making full use of the internet is a part of that.

"Theres also an ongoing project where the BPMA have joined forces with the IGMT to build a replica victorian sub-post office at Ironbridge ( I did a little story on Ironbridge and Machins last October).

Steve continues "which I'm sure will be a great attraction and give visitors a real insight into the way in which post offices operated over 100 years ago. The BPMA has also published a list of 2009 open days for access to its post office transport collection in Essex. The partnership between Royal Mail and the BPMA has ensured that Britain's postal history is relatively well preserved and its certainly worth exploring."

Read the full report from Hellmail here.

Postal Rate Increase Is HUGE!

Roy previously mentioned the rate increase to come on April 6. I just posted my usual summary to my web site.

While writing the post, I ran some quick calculations on the increases. They are whoppers! Every basic rate increases by more than 10%, except the first-class letter rate which, going from 36p to 39p, is only 8.3%. The increase for the lowest weight large letters is more than double that!

Also, Douglas Myall reminded me that the 54p Machin issued in 2007 is still enjoying a relaxing vacation at Tallents House (where I suspect it is quite a bit less than 20 degrees). Its vacation will end in April when it is redistributed throughout the UK to handle worldwide surface mail duties. So there will not be a brand new Machin for that value, though there probably will be a new cylinder.

--Larry

Lasergravure Machin Head

Even when I have nothing to write about I can usually find something interesting to show you.

I had a lazy day yesterday (Thursday). With nothing in particular to do, it was to cold (below 20) to doss in the sun I decided to search the web for any dealers offers. On one site that I paid a short visit to (Mike Holt) I came upon some specialised Machin material for sale that I knew I had seen before. For the life of me (my memory is not what it was) I could not remember where I had seen it . This bugged me a little so I set out on a mission to find this " lost information". Step one, get my head down and do some reading.

This info did not take long to find, as usual my first port of call was Deegam, starting with some old Deegam Reports. After after 15 minutes I found the answer on page DGR73-14, August 2007.

As soon as I seen this report my memory came flooding back. Part of this report is a complete description of Lasergravure trials which turned out to be ( Deegam quote) "an attempt by Crosfield Electronics Ltd. to find a cheaper method of producing gravure cylinders without using acid etch methods or expensive copper coatings."

On page DGR73-15 Douglas pictures a copy of the Machin Head that I am referring to above. It turns out that there were several in different colours. The actual picture, left , (from the dealers list) originates from the estate of the late Aubrey Walker, who was the chief boffin for the Royal Mail research centre.

For the full description on Lasergravure you will have to do as I did and refer to the DGRs. If you do not have access to these reports, information on The Complete Deegam Machin Handbook, + the latest version on CD, what it contains including free DGRs and how to obtain your copy is available on the Deegam website.

I think this is a brilliant image of the Machin Head. So much so, I spent 30 minutes or more enlarging it and studying the results with windows picture and fax viewer.

Tip: This a great way of blowing up images to study detail, just scan your own stamps and use the windows pic -fax viewer to enlarge them.

Notice the text at the bottom which states that it is engraved by Lasergravure System 700 printed by Harrison & Sons for Crosfields Electroncs Ltd.

A Letter from Douglas Myall

More news on security (slit) stamps.

I recently had reason to contact Douglas Myall. In his reply to me (on a separate subject) he states that.


"Of the security stamps announced for 17 February, the coils have been cancelled and the Walsall products have been postponed for six weeks to 31 March."

I am assuming this cancellation and postponement are due to technical problems at the printers.

Douglas continues: "Images with the iridescent overprint going over the Queen's face are incorrect. I don't think HM would be too pleased if her image were to be sullied in this way! Like the Iriodin ink which it replaces it is confined to the background."


Thanks Douglas, all new information is gratefully received.

British Design Classics

I have just realised that we did not have a picture of the cover from the British Design Classics PB on site, so with out no more of a do, here it is.

I have stated elsewhere on site that I have drawn a line under my GB collecting activities and that these days I do not collect self adhesive stamps. However this is not quite true, I do occasionally make exceptions if I like the content.

I must admit I have always liked the Machin and Special Issue mixed retail booklets and have most of them in my collection (starting from the Submarine mixed self adhesive booklet issue) to the Ice Cream Booklet (present date).


This new issue (left) will also be one of those exceptions to my rule and I can say without doubt it will definitely end up in my album.

For your information this is the first in a series of three Design Classics themed retail booklets it will be issued on 10th March 2009 priced at £2.16. Rising in price after April 6th I dare say.

The booklet contains 4 x 1st NVI gold; 1 x 1st NVI Telephone Kiosk and 1 x 1st NVI Routemaster Bus special issue stamps. It is not evident from this photograph, so it is not known at this time if these will be of the new security (slit) type stamps.

Two more booklets with this same design theme are planned for release later this year. 21st April - 2 x mini car and 17th September - Spitfire + Concorde.

Well done Royal Mail, it looks nice, for a change a Classic Design.

Darwin PB & Machin Pane

The cover of the Charles Darwin Prestige Booklet

The se-tenant Machin Pane from the Darwin Prestige Booklet

More on S/A Cylinder Blocks

I am assuming that not everyone reads the comments left to posts on site, so I thought it best to bring this to your attention via a new post.

Ian has left a further comment on the post referring to "Machin Self Adhesive Cylinder Blocks": (again many thanks Ian) with this information which we all may have overlooked.

"A friend sent me the layout shown by Dave on the Machin Forum. One thing I think should be made clear at the outset - the fact that there are six different 'sheets' on a cylinder does not mean that there are 6 half-sheets and therefore 6 different cylinders for each value.

For a start the diagram shows 3 sheets of 50 (IE 6 half-sheets of 25, the same format as the Christmas stamps).Commemorative stamps and last year's Country Definitives (apart from England) were printed with more than one value on a cylinder. For example the Wales 50p & 81p were printed side-by-side both with the same cylinder number.

If you look at the margins of special stamps you will see a similar grid with one block shaded showing the position of the sheet from that cylinder.I expect the 1st & 2nd class stamps to be printed three sheets side-by-side, which may mean three cylinder numbers D1A D1B D1C ? But it seems more than likely that one cylinder will produce £5 £2 & £1.50 stamps in three sheets of 50, each with cylinder D1, each with two panes of 25.

The marginal markings will include the grid showing, for instance, that the £1.50 uses the two panes at the left, the £2 the two central panes, and the £5 the two panes at the right. This is just a guess, but it is very likely.

Smilers followers will be aware that the small 10-stamp Smilers For Kids sheets were also probably printed with two different designs 2-up, which is why the sheets of 20 were not simply uncut sheets of 2x10.

Economical printing means a long run with three different values, rather than three short runs which contain three sheets of same value per cylinder.

(I'll be happy for somebody else to post this opinion on the Machin Forum.) "

Ian, I will be only to happy to post this on .....Roy

Posted by Ian - Norvic to Machin Mania at 12-Jan-2009 03:27:00

Spanish Label With Slit

Somewhere in the discussion about the upcoming security stamps with slits, I read that Spain was already doing this. Just by fortunate coincidence, I have some Spanish computer-vended labels that my daughter used on a card she sent me from Spain.

Roy is rather closer to these than I am, but since he hasn't posted an image yet, I'm am doing so.

You can see the semi-circle slit on the left side of the label. It is barely visible with the naked eye. I would say it doesn't detract from the design very much, if at all.

--Larry

Are You A Machin Maniac?

On a less serious note today my post today reflects

Now this is what we call Machin Mania

With most aspects in life these days they are on a serious note . I think its nice to have or see a bit of humour so for a change here is :

I was surfing the web earlier today looking for a post on Machin Plates. I came upon this by accident

The Machin Plate : Cylinder 4 no doubt!!

This is another pic I found, it took my attention away from stamps for just a while and then I just had to have a bit of fun with it.

Machin Self Adhesive Cylinder Blocks

Well we were forewarned that with all the market activity due with all the new security SA issues / A postage rate rise in April, Prestige Booklets x 4 and design Classic retail booklets x 3 in the pipe line, 2009 may be a very expensive time for the Machin collector.

If you collect cylinder / date blocks this will drain your bank balance even more so. Dave Arthur has posted some information from Royal Mail on the choice formats of the cylinder markings that will be available to the collector.

If you have a bottomless pit of money, this will not be a problem for you, but for the average Mr and Mrs Joe Soap - Collector you may have to make some serious decisions on your future collecting habits.

I myself do not collect self adhesives so I have saved a fortune by drawing a line under these when I did. I expect in this year of 2009 that a lot of Machin collectors will follow in my footsteps.

I could have this wrong so I advise you to go to his post and decide for yourself. Confusingly, looking at his scans it seems that several different cylinder formats will be offered from several panes from the original primary sheet. Now that is what I would call EXPENSIVE !!!

Apparently they (the sheet markings )will be explained in the "February Preview" which Larry (and many others) are waiting for with great anticipation.

Design Classics PSB and Darwin PSB

Thanks once again to Ian Billings fresh News has recently been posted on the net. Some of this new information on Machins can be found on The Virtual Stamp Club website. This deals with the Machins from the Design Classics PSB se-tenant pane, and continues with more news of the se-tenant pane from the Darwin PSB.

Ian states that they ( 16p values and 50p values) "are distinctly different to the ones from ordinary counter sheets".

These new stamps, are the very first Machins which have been printed by Cartor of France and this fact seems to show in the actual colour shades of the printing.

Ian also posted images of the stamps that are in the 12 February Darwin PSB Machin pane - he goes on to say "the 5p is stunningly different !"

The other two Machins 10p values and 48p values in the Darwin booklet are of slightly lighter shade from counter sheet issues.

Ian has supplied these and informs us that they "are actual scans" and goes on to say " These are scans of the actual stamps: I don't think we've had a 5p - or indeed any Machin - quite this colour before! These Machins are printed by De La Rue, in litho (sheet stamps are in gravure)".

Ian has informed me that he has started his own blog dealing with GB New Issues, this has now been added to our links section. Catch up with all the latest on GB Special issues here at norphil.blogspot.com

If you wish to contact Ian direct here are his details.

Ian BillingsNorvic Philatelics APS#207617

P O Box 119, Dereham, NR20 3YN, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.norvic-philatelics.co.uk/

Online store: http://www.norphil.co.uk/catalog

2009 Valentines Booklet A Retraction

Ian Billings (Norvic) recently left a comment on site RE: The Valentines Booklet 2009 which I mentioned in my Machin News Post on 1st January.

"Where did you hear that this booklet is to be issued on 5 January (tomorrow!!)? I've heard nothing of the sort and there is nothing in the January Philatelic Bulletin. I've been asked by customers and told them that nothing is coming."

He continues:

There will be three 'Design Classics' booklets this year, same format as the Ice Cream booklet last year.

I wrote to Ian about the above and he has confirmed to me that the information I received was wrong, I am sorry to all if this misinformation caused any inconvenience to anyone.

Ian goes on to say " he has confirmed with Tallents House today that there was no new Valentines booklet and from that I assume that there is no redistribution of the 2008 version".

I informed him that If the information I picked up is (was) wrong I will make the announcement on Machin Mania Blog Spot. This is just that.

In my my email to Ian I also asked him if he had more information on the Design Classic booklets he mentioned in his comments.

(Many thanks again Ian for the information ) please note living in Spain although an hour ahead of the UK, I am a little behind with my incoming mail. I my self have not received my copy of the Philatelic Bulletin at this time.

Ian's Reply:

Per the Philatelic Bulletin January p 136 (but not yet told to the trade!)

10 march - Phone box + Bus
21 April - 2 x mini car
17 September - Spitfire + Concorde

All in Ice Cream booklet format with 4 1st class gold Machin (which type???)

Ian Billings
Norvic Philatelics APS#207617 P O Box 119, Dereham, NR20 3YN, United Kingdom
Website: http://www.norvic-philatelics.co.uk

A Change Of Subject

The old saying "that a change is as good as a rest " is very true, so today with just that we revert to a change of pace from new issues which have dominated these pages for a week or so.

Having a short think about it I feel we should go back to an earlier issue which is quite interesting in its own right. Larry wrote about Regionals recently, so I thought as we do not often mention them here we might continue on that theme.

The stamp I want to bring to your attention is the 1st class Flame NVI regional Welsh Machin issued in February 2000. This is the stamp that has both the English and Welsh language wording incorporated into the value.

Cat as Gibbons WW1 - OFNP/PVA, 9mm Novaglo blue fluor bands, perforation 13¾ X 14 Deegam WN1.1.1 - Stoneham WW1 - Concise W97 and MCC, W-WONP-stB.

The details of this stamp are that it is printed in EMI on OFNP / PVA and has 2 phosphor bars (blue novaglo) (as does its se-tenant companions) ( Scotland 1st class, and Northern Ireland 1st class.

Thanks to Denis Stevens for continued permission to use his images (above).

All of the Regional stamps from pane DP 304 (below) have a elliptical perforation three perfs from the bottom. The Welsh stamp is also known with a bar inset from the perforations. WW1a with full bar left and inset bar at right.

Issued on February 15th 2000 it comes from the Special by Design Prestige Booklet.

This booklet is the only source for these particular stamps which makes them quite unique. Considering this is the only source for them I think they are quite still cheap to obtain.

As mint singles they are catalogued at only £1.50 each. The stamps with Inset bands can be picked up for £10 - £12.50 each.

Pics of the new Security Stamps

So much happening on the Machin front these days, some have even stated that due to all the palaver of changes in the pipe line they are getting fed up of hearing about them and collecting them. I am sure that things will quiet down after April so for those who still crave for knowledge here is the latest from the net.

Thanks to Ian Billings of Norvic Stamps We now have some more pictures of the new security Machins.

However we still need more definite information on how many stamps will be produced in a post office sheet. Will they ( the sheets) contain printers information including cylinder numbers etc? Also no conformation has been given regarding the paper that will be used for stamp rolls.

Ian states

"Some announcements have stated that the rolls are conventionally gummed, some have not referred to this, with the implication that all the new stamps are self-adhesive." Ian also says: "Currently sheets of Machin stamps used at PO counters contain 200 stamps (Large Letters, sheets of 100). The new self-adhesive printings will be in sheets of 50.

If this is so, large definitives will surely be in sheets of 25? I am confused!!

This is not the first time Royal Mail have made a cock up on publicity material, (if they have made one).

I have already stated in a previous post that Royal Mail have announced on page 30 article 47 of the Prices for April 2009 document that all Machins will be in sheets of 100 and large stamps in sheets of 50. Take a look for your self here.

If you have any more information regarding these questions I'm sure our readers would love to hear from you, so do please leave your comments.

On a closing note for today.

Michael Dodd of CDD Stamps Australia has also penned a piece on Machins that you may be interested in reading.

Machin News January 2009

Firstly, let me wish all of our readers A Happy New Year, then I can come to terms with what we know will occur on the Machin Front in 2009.

Since the 27th June 08 when I added the mini index left, we have between us added another 97 posts to this blog, we also have quite a few comments to these and previous posts...thanks very much for your continued support. During 2009 we hope to bring to you many more postings of A Machin Nature.

Starting with this one. So far, for certain January and February are going to be expensive months for the Machin collector.

January

Design Classics will be the theme of the Prestige Book to be issued on 13th January 2009 and priced at £7.68. The book will be produced by Walsall with the Machin pane containing 4x16p and 4x50p and is printed in Litho

NEW : A Valentines retail booklet will be issued on 5th January 2009 priced at £2.16. Its believed the booklet is a reprint of that issued in 2008.

NEW: Not Machins, but I feel they deserve a mention as most GB collectors add these to their portfolios. A mini sheet commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns will be issued on 22nd January 2009 priced at £2.66. It will contain 2x1st NVI Special Issue stamps and 4 Scottish pictorial definitives.

February

The second Prestige Book of the year commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin will be issued on 12th February 2009 priced at £7.75. The book will be produced by De La Rue with the Machin pane containing 2x5p, 2x10p, 2x1st and 2x48p and is printed in Litho

The roll-out of revised Machin definitives will commence on 17th February 2009. These are the stamps which will feature new security devices and will be incorporated into self adhesive 2nd and 1st class NVI's. Booklets and Business sheets.

Also, all existing ( retained) and new value counter sheet values will be gradually replaced by self adhesive versions in new sheet sizes of 50. I have conflicting news of this, as the Royal Mail news sheet states these are to be printed (and gives prices for stamps) in sheets of 100. It also states that the large 1st and second class stamps are to be printed in sheets of 50.

A new gum or as some suggest "different self adhesive paper" will be used that does not include a water soluble layer used previously ( for your information this has been trialed and was first introduced on the Christmas 2008 stamps).

Additionally, a pearlescent ink will be used to print the recurring text 'Royal Mail' in background around the Queens head. This will be visible to the naked eye (similar to phosphor bands) if the stamp is held and viewed at a angle. It is said that "these features are intended to make it more difficult to photocopy and scan stamps and also to prevent reuse of stamps"

NEW: Again, these are not Machins.

The forth mini-sheet in the 'Celebrating' series focusing on Wales will be issued 26th February 2009 and priced at £2.34. It will contain 2 x 81p Special Issue stamps and 2x1st NVI Welsh pictorial definitives (one of these is a new dragon design while the other - which is the standard design, has the dragon in a red colour) and will be printed in litho by De La Rue.

Added to this post on 3rd January

April 07th

Postage Rate Rise

First Class NVI self-adhesive stamps will cost 39p Second Class self-adhesive stamps will rise to 30p

First Class Large Letter NVI self-adhesive stamps will rise to 61p (sheets of 50)

Second Class Large NVI Letter self-adhesive stamps will rise to 47p (sheets of 50)

1p value , 2p value , 5p value , 9p value , also 10p, 20p , 50p , 56p , £1.00 values will remain on sale.

17p value will be new stamps , 22p value new stamps , 54p value new stamps , 62p value new stamps and 90p value new stamps. We expect these to be of the new security types mentioned earlier.

High values will remain on sale. Again these will be of the new self adhesive security type. Values are £1.50 stamps , £2.00 stamps, £3.00 stamps, £5.00 stamps.

Stamp Rolls:
500 x First Class stamps : £195.00

500 x Second Class stamps: £150.00

1000 x First Class stamps: £390.00

1000 x Second Class stamps: £300.00

10000 x First Class stamps: £3,900.00,

10000 x Second Class stamps: £3,000.00

Now you can have yourself a wee rest from collecting until we get more information on Machin issues over the next four months when certain re printings of stamps retained during the price rise are expected. Mind you, I am sure something will be issued for those who crave for new issues. If Royal Mail hold true to form, perhaps another new booklet or two are in the pipe line.

August

Treasure of the Archive is the theme of the Prestige Book to be issued 18th August.

September

The forth Prestige Booklet in the forces uniforms series will be issued on 17th September. The theme will be 'Royal Naval Uniforms'

Enjoy your stamps: ...Roy