Cylinder Numbers / Dates DLR Security Issues

De La Rue (Dunstable) ATN security self adhesive definitive sheet printings.

Revised Machin definitives counter sheets were issued on 17th February 2009 featuring new security devices. These new sheets use self adhesive paper and come in new sheet sizes.

The stamps will include new security features namely:- Each stamp will carry four 'U' shaped die cuts within the design - one set of two over the value tablet and the other set behind the Queens back. A different self adhesive paper will be used that does not include the water soluble layer.

Additionally, an iridescent ink will be used to print a repeating wavy line text pattern of 'Royal Mail' in background around the Queens head; the head is overprinted also, but with a different pattern.

2nd class Light Blue D1 D1/D1

04/12/08 - 09/03/09

2nd Class Large Light Blue ( 2 bands) D1 D1/D1

10/12/08 - 25/02/09

1st class Gold D1 D1/D1

03/12/08 - 24/03/09 - 10/03/10

1st class Large Gold D1 D1/D1

09/12/08 - 24/03/09

1st Recorded Yellow/Red D1D1/D1

16/10/09 - 19/10/09

1st Recorded Large Yellow/Red D1D1/D1

21/10/09

50p Light Grey D1 D1/D1

08/12/08

£1.00 Ruby D1 D1/D1

08/12/08 - 09/12/08

£1.50 Terracotta D1 D1/D1

20/01/09 - 13/02/09

£2.00 Slate Blue D1 D1/D1

20/01/09

£3.00 Purple D1 D1/D1

20/01/09 - 23/02/09

£5.00 Grey Blue D1 D1/D1

20/01/09

Dunstable Dates And Cylinder numbers

Machins and information on the move to Dunstable.

By March 2005 after a long delay due to several problems, De La Rue had moved all plant from Byfleet and operations began on the ATN press at the new Dunstable plant. It has been said that "the first printings were the same ( indistinguishable) as those printed at the Byfleet plant" so early printings, unless you collect date blocks will have been catalogued under Byfleet listings.

Later printings, however are different in the fact that a duller flour incorporated into the paper, and they have a glossier appearance, it has also been reported that the last printing known on the brighter papers was 18/04/05. This being the £1.50 value.RMS Paper known as (Royal Mail Standard ) or (Specification). This is the paper currently used at Dunstable for all printings , this is also known in certain circles as ATN (c) Paper.This has a cream PVA gum (previous gum had a blue tint) and is dull in appearance, it is said that it was developed and designed by order of The Royal Mail to get near to that of HS2 used previously by Harrison's at the High Wycome plant.

The fist value on the new specification paper came to light ( 2p ) from a printing dated 22nd April 05. It is intended that all printings will be on this type of paper in the future.
Below is a basic list of Dunstable printings know to date. Some dates my be missing or overlooked. If you have any information or updates please email to my self or Larry (thanks in advance).

These are in order of value / colour of stamp, Cyl and Phos numbers and the date printed. All have a cream gum printed on RMS paper with no fluorescence in the surface coating.

1p Crimson D1 D1
20/05/05 - 22/07/05 - 23/07/05 - 09/01/06 - 10/01/06 - 20/01/07 - 21/01/07 - 21/03/07- 23/05/07

D2 D1 - 17/03/06 - 18/03/06 - 04/10/06 - 05/10/06 - 20/01/07 - 21 /01/07 - 21/03/07 - 23/05/07 - 27/02/08 - 28/02/08

2p Deep Green D1 D1
22/04/05 - 29/09/05 - 10/11/05 - 11/11/05 - 10/01/06
D2 D1 - 16/03/06 - 06/07/06 - 02/11/06 - 20/01/07 - 29/03/07 - 30/03/07 - 03/08/08

D2 D2 06 - 16/03/09

5p Claret D1 D1
23/05/05 - 23/07/05 - 09/11/05 - 12/01/06 - 17/03/06 -
D2 D1 - 23/08/06 - 24/08/06 - 03/011/06 - 16/03/07 - 19/03/07
D2 D2 - 17/04/07 - 04/03/08

9p Orange D1 D1
20/07/05 - 10/01/08 - 11/01/08 - 19/03/08

10p Deep Orange D1 D1
31/05/05 - 01/06/05 - 09/11/05
D2 D1 - 23/03/06 - 24/03/06 - 03/11/06 - 04/11/06 - 16/01/07 - 17/01/07 - 14/03/07 - 02/04/07 - 04/03/08 - 05/03/08 - 06/11/08

12p Turquoise D1 D1
27/04/07

14p Salmon Pink D1 D1
26/04/06 - 27/04/06 - 06/11/06 - 26/03/07

15p Shocking Pink D1 D1
08/01/08 - 19/03/08

16p Bright Pink D1 D1
05/01/07 - 02/04/07

17p Olive Green D1D1
23/01/09 - 24/01/09

20p Bright Green D1 D1
11/03/08

D3 D3
01/06/05

D4 D1
24/03/06 - 03/10/06 - 04/10/06 - 04/04/07 - 06/09/07 - 07/09/07 - 29/01/08 - 07/03/08 - 11/03/08

22p Stone D1 D1
22/01/09 - 23/01/09

35p Lime Green (centre band) D1 D1
24/07/05

37p Olive Green D2 D1
30/01/06 - 31/01/06 -30/03/06 - 31/03/06

42p Sage Green D1 D1
20/07/05

44p Ultramarine D1 D1
31/01/06 - 30/03/06 - 31/03/06 - 06/11/06 - 07/11/06

46p Old Gold D1 D1
06 06/05 - 04/01/07 - 12/09/07

47p Sea Green D1 D1
24/07/05 - 11/11/05 - 12/01/06

48p Rhododendron D1 D1
11/01/07 - 12/01/07

D1 D2 - 08/05/07

49p Rust D1 D1
01/02/06 - 0-3/04/06

50p Sand D1 D1
25/05/05 - 20/07/05 - 07/11/05 - 08/11/05 - 10/01/06 - 11/01/06

D2 D1 - 15/03 /06 - 07/07/06 - 05/10/06

50p Light Grey D2 D1
09/01/07 - 03/04/07 - 04/04/07 - 23/05/07 - 24/05/07 - 05/03/08 - 06/03/08

54p Rust D1 D1
08/01/07 - 09/01/07 - 03/04/07 - 04/04/07 - 13/09/07 - 22/01/09 - 2201/09 - 29/01/09

56p Lime Green D1 D1
18/03/08 - 20/11/09

60p Emerald 1D1D
21/01/10 - 22/0 1/10

62p Red D1 D1
24/01/09

67p Rhododendron D1D1
22/01/10 - 23/01 10

72p Red D1 D1
02/02/06

78p Emerald D1 D1
10/01/07 - 14/09/07

81p Sea Green D1 D1
09/01/08 - 10/01/08 - 18/03/08

88p Shocking Pink D1D1
23/01/10 - 25/01/10

90p Ultramarine D1 D1
25/01/09 - 25/01/10

£1.00 Bluish Violet D1 D1 D1

01/07/05 - 08/11/05/- 11/01/06 -

D2 D2 D1 22/03/ 06 - 23/03/06 - 10 /07 06 - 07 /11/06 - 08 /11/06 - 22/01/07 - 23/01/07 - 15 /03/07

£1.00 Ruby D1 D1
30/01/07 - 31/01/07 - 21/03/07 - 14/05/07 - 22/03/07 - 17/09/07 - 14/09/07 - 18/03/08

£1.46 Dark Turquoise D1D1

26/01/10

2nd Class Blue D3 D1
27/03/07 - 28/03/07

2nd class PiP Blue D1 D1
28/04/06 - 15/09/06 - 15/01/07 - 16/01/07

2nd class Large Blue ( 2 bands) D1 D1
15/05/06 - 16/05/06 - 06/09/06 - 07/09/06 - 12/09/06 - 11/11/06 - 05/12/06 - 13/03/07 - 27/02/08

1st Class Gold D1 D1 *
20/04/04 - 10/11/05 - 18/08/05 - 10/11/05 - 21/03/06 - 23/03/06

* Also known on this paper from previous printings at Byfleet - 02/04/03 - 20/05/03 - 18/09/03 - 25/03/04 - 20/04/04

D2 D1
29/03/07

1st class PiP Gold D1 D1
02/05/06 - 15/09/06 - 16/09/06 - 21 01/07 - 22/01/07

1st PiP Gold Large D1 D1
11/05/06 - 12/05/06 - 07/09/06 - 08/09/06 - 12/09/06 - 31/10/06 - 01/11/06 - 04/12/06 - 05/12/06 - 08/03/07 - 09/03/07 - 12/03/07 - 16/04/07 - 20/09/07 - 21/09/07 - 12/11/07 - 25/02/08 - 26 /02/08 -

Notes* Conventional Sheets PiP Printed by De La Rue issue date 01/08/06 Large 2nd class PVA cyl DI pD1. Unusually this has two bands, it is said " It is an aid so it can be used as first class if used on a standard letter or to make up with conventional values to the value for a 1st class large letter."

Next: De La Rue Self Adhesive Security Issues

Byfleet De La Rue Cylinders And Date Blocks

RMS Paper known as (Royal Mail Standard ) or (Specification) This is the paper currently used at Dunstable for all current printings , Known in certain circles as ATN (c) This has a cream PVA gum and is dull in appearance, developed and designed by order of The Royal Mail to get near to that of HS2 used previously by Harrison's at the High Wycome plant.

TR3: This is the main term for paper used by Royal Mail for the Byfleet printings, there are 3 types found to date with variations of OBA (Optical Brightening Agent) in the coating. These are listed and known to specialist collectors as Dull, Intermediate and Bright papers listings are given secondary codes by collectors as - d, - i, and - b.

TR3-d = DULL
TR3i = INTERMEDIATE
TR3-b = BRIGHT

(It is believed by some that this paper was also used for a very short period at dunstable, but others disagree) These above can be sub categorised into (with) different 2 gums ATN (1) - Layflat gum ATN (t) - Tinted Gum

HSC is another paper used at Byfleet, a single paned dull paper with Layflat gum (imported from Jon Enschede of Holland). Due to the fact only single panes could be used on the ATN press, only no dot cylinder blocks were available from this printing.

These are all of the dates recorded on site to date, it is quite possible that some dates exist and have not been recorded. The dates appear in order of Value / colour of stamp, Cyl and Phos numbers, Paper and gum. All are cylinder D1 D1 unless stated.

No Dot and Dot cylinder blocks were available on most printings (x) denotes that the dot block does not exist.

Previous on site listings of this same information will eventually be deleted so that we can now have this information to hand and update it on one single page. A permanent link will be added to this post at the top left of the blog.

Please note Dunstable printings RMS paper (from 22.04/05) and Self adhesive security (slit) stamps will be recorded on separate pages. A link to the pages will be added here in due course. I will not be recording Country Pictorial definitive dates at this time, but may do in the near future.

Thanks go to the MCC catalogue, the Bookmark Journal, Ian Billings and Richard Parsons for their listings and also their help and advice.

1p Crimson: D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 19/-03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 16/05/03 - 19/05/03 - 18/09/03 - 02/ 03/04 - 08/03/04 - 08/04/04 - 13/04/04 - 19/04/04 - 03/09/04

2p Deep green D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 25/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 01/05/03 - 08/04/04 - 15/05/03 - 05/11/03 - 15/03/04 - 19/04/04 - 24/08/04 -

4p New blue D1 D1
Dull paper - tinted gum 01/04/03
Bright paper - tinted gum 01/04/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 18/09/03

5p Claret D1 D1
Dull paper - tinted gum 02/04/03
Bright paper - tinted gum 03/04/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 29/04/03 - 16/05/03 - 17/09/03 - 03/11/03 - 04/11/03 - 22/03/04 - 16/04/04 - 18/04/04 - 23/08/04

7p Magenta D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 10/02/04 - 01/03/04 - 22/03/04 - 02/09/04 - 03/09/04

8p Deep yellow D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 31/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 04/11/03

9p Bright Orange D1 D1
Intermediate Paper tinted gum 12/11/04 - 15/11/04 - 31/03/05 - 01/04/05 DLR logo -

10p Deep orange D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 20/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 30/04/03 - 18/09/03 - 03/11/03 - 24/03/04 - 13/04/04 - 19/04/04 - 25/08/04
Intermediate paper - tinted gum (dark shade) -16/05/03
Dull paper -08/04/05

20p Bright green D1 D1
Dull paper - PVA layflat gum - 04/03/03
Bright paper - tinted gum ( pale shade) 25/03/03
Bright paper - tinted gum (dark shade) 04/03/03
layflat gum (dark shade) 04/03/03
(layflat gum (phosphor wash) 04/03/03
D3 D3 Bright paper- tinted gum (dark shade) 15/04/04
D2 D1 Dull paper - PVA layflat gum (normal shade) (no dot only)
12/02/04
D3 D1 Dull paper -11/04/05 - 12/04/05 - 15/04/05
D3 D3 Intermediate paper - tinted gum 02/03/04 - 15/03/04
D3 D3 Dull paper 26/08/04

33p Slate grey D1 D1
Dull paper - PVA layflat gum 04/03/03
Bright paper - tinted gum 25/03/03

34p Lime green D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 04/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 28/04/03 - 17/09/03
Dull paper - tinted gum 28/03/03

35p Sepia-brown D1 D1
Dull paper - tinted gum ( no dot only) 11/02/04
D2 D2 Intermediate paper - tinted gum 03/03/04 - 04/03/04 - 12/03/04 - 07/04/04 - 23/08/04

This next issue was a stop gap short order (emergency printing) ordered by The Royal Mail from Jon Enschede of Holland. What was also interesting with this particular stamp is, it was printed with just one centre phosphor band. The Enschede 35p value only remained on sale for a short time until the De La Rue factory was operational, then a further reprint was issued (again with one CB) with the De La Rue logo.

Enschede 35p CB Lime Green E1 (centre band) 21 /12/04

35p Lime Green D2 D1(Centre band)
Intermediate paper tinted gum 05/04/05 - 06/04/05

37p Grey-black D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 04/06/03

39p Light greyD1 D1
Dull paper - layflat gum (no dot only) 12/02/04
D2 D2 Intermediate paper - tinted gum 04/03/04 - 23/08/04

40p Greenish-blue D1 D1
Dull paper - layflat gum 6.00 (no dot only) 12/02/04

D2 D2 Intermediate paper - tinted gum 03/03/04 - 31/08 /04 - 04/04/05 - 05/04/05

41p Red D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum -04/03/03 -25/03/03

42p Sage green D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 24/03/03 - 25/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 01/05/03 - 13/05/03 - 15/05/03 - 17/09/03 - 13/05/04 - 31/08/04 - 01/09/04 - 02/09/04 - 14/04/05

43p Pale Emerald D1 D1
Dull paper - layflat gum (no dot only) 11/02/04
D2 D2 Intermediate paper - tinted gum - 02/03/04 - 14/03/04 - 08/04/04

46p Old Gold D1 D1
Intermediate paper- tinted gum 15/11/04 - 16/11/04 - 01/04/05 - 04/04/05

47p sea-green D1 D1
Dull paper - tinted gum 29/03/03
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 15/05/03 - 24/08/04 - 12/04/05

50p Sand D1 D1
Bright paper - tinted gum 31/01/03 - 24/08/04
Intermediate paper - tinted -30/04/03 - 16/09/03 - 04/11/03 - 15/04/04

68p Stone D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 03/06/03

£1 Bluish-Violet D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 26/03/03 - 19/04/04 - 26/08/04 - 29/04/03 - 19/05/03 - 20/05/03 - 16/09/03 - 05/11/03 - 06/11/03 - 23/03/04 - 26/08/04 - 07/04/05

£1.50 Rust-Red D1 D1 D1
Intermediate paper - layflat gum 11/04/03 - 13/04/05

£2.00 Indigo D1 D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum (missing £ sign) 27/03/03
Bright paper - tinted gum 27/03/03

D2 D1 D1 Bright paper - tinted gum 13/04/05
Intermediate Paper 13/04/05

£3 Purple D1 D1
Bright Paper 28/03/03 - 14/04/05
Intermediate 28/03/03

£5 Sepia D1 D1
Intermediate paper - tinted gum 30/04/03 - 15/05/05
Dull paper -tinted gum 15/04/05

Continue to Dunstable printings on dull RMS paper

Alcohol Does The Job

From Ian @ norvic.

I was using alcohol-based after-shave to clean something and thought that it might also dissolve the gum on these new stamps. The result was spectacular: This wasn't just any after-shave, it was M&S After-Shave!
See norphil. blogspot.com/2009/03/security-machins-how-to-remove-from.html

From me:

I tried using harpic on these stamps and got the same results, a spectacular error with half the print missing. The stamp came away from the backing paper in a Giffy. You can also remove the print with a pencil erasure so watch out for spectacular errors on e-Bay..

Alcohol works, but is it worth the effort?

I have come to thinking WHATS THE BIG DEAL why remove these stamps from the backing paper at all? The mint stamps are collected on backing paper so why not used stamps too? This solution solves all our problems.

CUT & PASTE :-)

Security Stamps (part sheets)

Yes its me again. Just can not keep a good man down :-)

I have just received these pictures of parts of the primary sheets for the new security Machins issued on 17th March. For the reason I state on my previous post I have decided to share them with you today, rather than later.

The first below shows just a third (100) of the original sheet of 300. (notice the gutter between the two part sheets.

This second image (below) shows a quarter sheet of the Large stamps (50) of the primary sheet which was originally 200.

I'm not sure if I can post again before April, but please do pop back every now and again, cos you never know! Besides that Larry may have something for us whilst I'm away.

New Machins Printing Dates / Deegam Free Bee

I now have the printing dates for these Machin values. All are Cylinder D1/D1.

17p 24/01/09
22p 22/01/09
62p 24/01/09
90p 25/01/09

To recap the security Machins (sheets) were printed on these dates

1st 03/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1
2nd 04/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1 ( one centre phosphor bar)
1st-L 09/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1
2nd-L 10/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1( two side phosphor bars)
50p 08/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1
£1.00 08/12/08 - & - 09/12/08 D1 D1 / pD1

These high values were printed only a few days before the latest issue.

£1.50 20/01/09 D1 D1 / pD1
£2.00 20/01/09 D1 D1 / pD1
£3.00 20/01/09 D1 D1 / pD1
£5.00 20/01/09 D1 D1 / pD1

Just out of interest does anyone have the printing dates for the new Country Pictorial definitives? I have sneaky feeling this is the last time we will see these stamps printed on RMS paper with PVA gum.

...Roy

I was going to leave this until tomorrow, but as I am returning to the UK on Thursday for a few days I will be very busy over the next couple of days before I leave and may not have the chance to post it.

EVERYONE LIKES A FREE BEE

Did you know that the Deegam Priced Catalogue of Elizabethan Coil Leaders 1954-94. Can be downloaded free of charge?

"This major work is now out of print but is included in the CD version of the Deegam Handbook, where all Machin leaders issued to date are dealt with in Appendix 1. This 1994 edition lists all the Elizabethan coils from the start of Queen Elizabeth's reign to 1994."

If you do not yet own a copy of the Deegam Handbook on CD, this free PDF file can be downloaded from Douglas,s website . You do not need a password to do so, just click on the green download button on site.

The pdf file is 2.5 Mb. The contents include:

Illustrations of all text layouts on leaders

All Wilding leaders issued during the experimental graphite and early phosphor periods are listed.

Graphite and phosphor overprints illustrated

Original research on the alphabets used on Wilding leaders

How the Post Office stock code letters were allocated

Unique catalogue system based on stock code letters

Leader attributes include type and colour of paper and whether it is watermarked or gummed Separate sections for single value and multi-value rolls

Commemorative leaders included

An account of roll production on the Chambon press

Coil join pairs explained and listed

Coil vending machine test labels and their leaders

How to fold and arrange leaders for display

Packaging labels illustrated

Well what are you waiting for? There is no time like the present, nip over to the Deegam website and fill your boots. Oh by the way, Don't thank me, thank Douglas!

Stock Cards From Walsall?

Have you heard something new is happening in the world of stamps?

Whilst I was looking at Glenn Morgans website yesterday I decided to have a short browse around the Walsall Security Stamp Printers (flash site) (none flash site) .One of the links took me a new website of theirs called stampstore which I found rather interesting. Now I do not usually advertise commercial websites but I have made an exception in this case for two reasons.

This site caters for collectors and supplies several types of stamp carriers and stock cards, which are very reasonably priced. Roughly 20p each, this to me is very cheap for a quality product. The stock cards are available in many shapes and sizes and can cater for singles, pairs, small, large blocks or sheets.

They state that the materials used are all carefully selected for safe, long-term archiving, from the special acid-free, tough black backing-board and the permanently bonded crystal clear transparent mylar cover sheet to the low rated pH adhesive bonding. This is a professional customised range of storage solutions which will help to keep any one's collection in pristine condition.

The second reason for mentioning this site is the image produced above. What I would give for a set of these printers labels. Unfortunately they are not supplied with the products.

To order direct from the site simply click on the carrier solution that best suits your requirements from the range shown for more information. Then follow the clear instructions to order on-line.

Visit stampstore direct

Stamp Printers By Glenn H Morgan

If I remember correctly, Larry wrote about this website some time back. What we failed to do at the time was to add a permanent hyperlink to our selected list of sites to visit ( bottom left ) which is what I will do today.

To recap on the web site. It is one of the many free online philatelic resource on the net. This particular site managed by Glenn Morgan is about postage stamp printers and the processes that are used to produce them, amongst other topics. It has a lots of information about stamp printers including British institutions such as Walsall Security Printers, Printing at Enschede and the House of Questa.

As well as other printing-related topics, there are several interesting articles for Machin collectors, including one describing Jeffery Matthews MBE lecture where he spoke about his work to an audience of enthusiasts.

Another entitled The Genesis of the Machin Design is a must to visit, explore this page and read. Once you have visited this site I feel you will like myself be captivated and will want to explore the pages more and visit again and again.

www.stampprinters.info

Adrian Adds To The Debate

These are actual images of the new value Machins issued for the April 09 rate rise. Sorry I do not yet have a cylinder block to show you. Thanks for your comments (please keep them coming)

Adrian has now blogged about this RM misinformation sent to customers with standing orders and he has produced a blow up of one of their images (nicked from Ade and posted here below).

You will notice this a very convincing image of a self adhesive block, so it is understandable how Dave jumped to conclusions before seeing the actual stamps sent to key account customers. The image is even the same as the previous De La Rue (slit) issues, minus the slits, the format is even the same right down to the gutters between the stamps.

I may be talking rubbish and perhaps I should not speculate but I can not see Royal Mail producing this information for the sake of it, so my theory is that this SHOULD have been the format for this issue, they may have had problems at the printers with the new technology, remember this is just a theory, but if we think about it in a logical way it seems to pan out.

If it is correct, then we can expect future printings, Machins and Country definitives to be of the self adhesive type with this format, it is also possible that security slits and security markings (as previous De La Rue and Walsall Design Classic booklets ) will be incorporated on the future sheets.

They will have kiss & die perforations too. Great fun eh?

Remember we still have the De La Rue business sheets to come and several more Walsall booklets at the end of the month. Look for oddities and errors of all sorts. This is when we tend to find them ( on the change over).

Over to you again for your thoughts. You can see Adrian's post here.

Ian - Norvic said...
Images of two cylinder blocks now on my blog at http://norphil.blogspot.com/2009/03/31-march-cylinder-blocks-of-6-and-not.html

Thanks Ian.

New Values

More details have emerged on the new values to be released 31th March in line for the postage rate rise on April 6th. Are you ready to be confused?

According to Dave Arthur, who has posted a picture of the new values in sheet form, he informs us that these will be of the self adhesive type without security slits. I have reproduced his picture here ( see below). I will add a link to Dave's original post shortly, as his image is much clearer that the one below.

It states : The stamp sheets for these new Machin and country definitives will use an adaption of the cylinder position grid system.

Above left is a scan of the actual 17p stamp sent to me from a close friend. You will notice it has conventional perforations. So it is not self adhesive.

To coninue with Daves post.

Overview:

Each sheet of stamps features a two box grid with a marker dot in one of the boxes identifying the position of the sheet on the printing plate. Unlike the Machins with security features (stamps which have four or six identifiable printing positions) these stamps have only two possible positions (left and right). The stamps are printed in sheets of 200. The box grid always shown on the left hand position of the sheets for both left and right hand markers.

You will notice that the all the Country Regional 56p values for each country are shown. Are these printed from the same master sheet?

This is where I become even more confused, as I have already seen pictures of the actual stamps to be issued and they definitely do not have kiss and die cut perforations of the self adhesive type.

Dave states "All are self-adhesive but NOT ALL will incorporate the slits including the low-value 17p. Again no Printer name included but will be Cylinder D1 and the colour bar is retained."

Ian Billings has shown us these actual stamps on his website and I also have a scan received from a close friend of the actual 22p value (stone). Before I send you over to Ian's site to view these I will add a link to the image I posted earlier. Use your back button to return to this page.

Make up your own mind : Are these of the self adhesive type or not? It looks like to me as though they are not. Perhaps future printings will be? Check out the two reports I mention and use your back button to return here. Then please add your comments they will be greatly appreciated.

(Thanks in advance.....Roy)

Go to Ians post

Go to Daves post

Security Machins overprint

I finally had a few minutes today to play with the security Machins. After scanning one and a few minutes of playing around in Photoshop, I got this image that clearly shows the overprint and the slits. (Click on the image for a slightly larger version.)

Notice how the overprint follows the portrait's contour. This is most noticeable on the Queen's shoulder and on her hair at lower right. The "Y" on the hair is distorted to look almost like a large "V". I wonder if this is responsible for the overprint being nearly invisible in ordinary light.

--Larry

PS For anyone who would like to duplicate this in Photoshop or other image manipulation program, all I did was lower the brightness and increase the contrast. In Photoshop, I set the brightness to -60 and the contrast to +60.

Machin Labels

Hi, sorry I have not been around for the last few days, what with one thing or another I just have not had time to put pen to paper just lately.

Today I spent a pleasant couple of hours at a local stamp club in Torrevieja, where I met a few nice guys (and gals) from the local stamp scene here on the Orihuela Costa . One chap who I got talking to mentioned that he visits our blog circuit and a couple of the online forums quite regularly. He passes his thanks all concerned for the information that we pass on.

During our conversation he asked me about a curious Machin stamp that he picked up in a dealers box with a different head to the norm it had no value tablet. I was confused and intrigued, perhaps he had a great rarity! I asked him if he had it with him which he said he had. It turned out that the stamp in question was actually a label from the Machin 40th anniversary Prestige booklet pane (left). Shame really he thought that he had something very very special.


It got me to thinking that the label was actually a nice addition to a Machin singles collection it did not look out of place on the page he displayed it on, so when I got home this evening I dug out the Prestige booklet to have another look at it.

The following page in the booklet also has a label which could be added to the first to compliment it. Before you write and tell me, I know the pic is upside down , but this is the way the label is portrayed on the page. It represents a picture of the plaster cast through the lens of Arnold Machins camera.

To finish off for today a bit of trivia for you. The first Prestige booklet to contain a label on the se-tenant pane was the Scots Connection printed by Questa in litho, issued 21st March 1989. It (the label) shows the Lion of Scotland.

Thinking about it some more, the whole set of these Prestige booklet pane labels would make a nice little collection on their own :-)

If you have not yet had enough of Machin news, Sebphilately has just published a nice article on the Guernsey Machin read it here.

Walsall Booklets (Part III)

There have been one or two interesting developments. The first was bought to my attention by e-mails, regarding the new Walsall booklets.

T.C reports that "the cover for the 1 x 1st-class special issue Telephone Kiosk, 1 x 1st-class special issue Routemaster Bus, 4 x 1st-class gold (security) does not give any indication that it contains Special issues." He is quite correct ( see below).

I am no expert on self adhesive booklets, but if I remember the Ice cream booklet cover was the same, with a different bar-code number for the ice Cream booklet which ( on checking) is 112268. The Routemaster Bus & Telephone Kiosk booklet is bar-coded 124674.

Now comparing these two with the new security booklet of 6 x 1st class Machins due for release end of March I can see why there was no indication of them having special issues. The Machin x 6 first class has a gold cover compared to the Special issue booklets ( Ice Cream and Design Classics) which have a red cover. This red cover alone must indicate they contain special issues.

The bar code on the new 6 x 1st class Machin booklet ( below) is the same as the Ice Cream booklet. IE: 112268.

Something else, Ian reports on his blog : "It is now apparent that the 1st class books x 6 Machins were available in some retail outlets as early as 9 March, as we have had two reports. There are no reports of the 2nd class or either Large stamp being available in booklets yet."

He also mentions that cylinder booklets could be available on routemaster / telephone booklets .

I think he could be right as I noticed this on the flowers booklet mock up , ( see pic left) printed below the Tulip stamp you can just make out a cylinder number. W1............

(update) I have just had confirmation the Design Classic booklets have cylinders W1W1W1W1W1W1W1 / pW1

To see Ian's report click here

Flowers Commemorative Booklet

On the 28th February ( Machin News) we gave you an indication of an extra booklet that is to be issued as part of the 2009 program. It was described in the Philatelic Bulletin as 4 x definitives and 2 x flower greeting stamps (Iris Latifolia & Tulipia). They are to be issued on 21st May

We speculated at the time that these flower stamps could be the same designs as the 1997 greetings stamps (originals shown left), but as retail booklet stamps these new issues would be of the self adhesive variety.

I now have conformation and a mock up picture to show that they will be the same designs. The sale price will be £2.34.

Mock up of the Flowers Anniversary Booklet

The booklet is to commemorate The 50th anniversary of NAFAS which is the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. It is written that these will contain the security (slit) Machin stamps and will be printed by Walsall Security Printers.

A reply From Ian

Ian has replied to the last post informing us of other errors to recent Prestige booklets which he has recorded on his website.

Reproduced below

"On our site we also have similar errors in the Darwin and Machin Anniversary booklets. Strangely, despite the apparently huge number around, nobody ever contact me to say that they had found similar errors in the RAF Uniforms booklet, so if anybody reading this has any, I'd be pleased to report them "- contact at ian@norphil.co.uk

We are always interested in your reports of any errors you may find on new issues, or older issues for that matter, be they inset bars or short bars, miscuts, duplicate panes etc. If you are one of the lucky ones, please do get in touch and share the find with other collectors.

For ease and future reference I have now added a direct link to my own and larry's e-mail addresses in the header of this blog. You may still leave your comments on site, but if you prefer to contact us direct for any reason, this is the way to go.

Ian's latest blog post is very interesting, If you are into Regional and or Special issues I suggest to read it. He describes in great detail the phosphor positioning on copies of the Robert Burns 250th Anniversary miniature sheet. Read it here

Posting your replies

I get several replies to this blog every day by e-mail, some are downright spam ( mothers reunion etc), these I delete , others I think deserve a reply.

One such e-mail, as I have ventured to the subject of Wildings (sorry none Machin related) from Neil kennedy asked me to show you a Prestige booklet error that he received from the St. John Street Post Office in Chester. On receipt of the booklet he found that pane one was duplicated. Neils words "I thought you might be interested to see the attached photograph of it."

I wrote back and and informed him I had seen this before somewhere and he informed me I was correct, It was shown on Ian's website on the day of issue. I think I actually placed a link to it from this site at the time. However , here we are admitingly a few months late posting this news direct. Neil has given me permission to show the error picture on this blog. ( see below)


Enjoy! It just goes to show, what I always say "keepin em peeled pays." you never know when you will come across something special.

Thanks Neil.

Postal Heritage And Stamps

Alison Bean of the British Postal Museum & Archive has written to me asking if I would mention and place a link to a new blog covering postal heritage and stamps.



At the start of each year at the BPMA they go through the process of making a selected batch of Royal Mail Archive material available to the public for the first time. Broadly speaking these are files that reached the thirtieth anniversary of their closure the previous year, so for last year files which contain material dating up to and including 1978 are opened.



This year they have opened about 150 files, with various topics. If you are interested in postal history pay them a visit and add the link to your list of favourites.


The current topic of conversation on the blog is is the exhibition of Lions, Leopards, Unicorns & Dragons: The first “Regional” stamps. This closes on 4th April. The exhibition follows the creation and development - from original artwork and unadopted designs, through to the final issues - of Britain’s first regional stamps.

If you have a website and would like me to exchange links, please send me your URL to my email address. I will be only to pleased to check it out.

Walsall x 6 (A Blow Up)

This is the blow up of the stamps from the booklet mentioned previously.

Are the security slits split? I have emailed Dave to ask but he has left on business in the USA , (he will not return until April) so he has not answered me directly.

What do you think? here is your chance to voice an opinion. Having studied it for a second time, I think not.

....Roy

Walsall Booklets (Part II)

What with all these new Machins arriving on the scene, It has not been to hard to find words to write. However I would still like to thank everyone who sends me e-mails on the subject.

I had an e-mail today from D.F with a scan and a little information on the Walsall retail security booklets x 6 1st class Gold Machins. Issue date end of March 2009.

"The stamps have 2 phosphor bars and are perforated kiss & die 14¾ x 14. The matrix has been removed." He also informs me "that cylinder booklets will be available W5 / W2 W1."

I have tried too blow up the scan ( top) using windows picture / fax viewer to determine if the security slits are broken as were the stamps in Ian's initial supplies of the Walsall printing of the Design Classic themed retail booklets.

They do seem to look to be broken, but as the scan is so small I can not say with all certainty that they are.

Another scan that may be of interest is: The 22p Machin in its actual colour (stone), to be issued at the end of March from De La Rue on conventional gummed paper. If you remember the pre publicity picture showed it as dark brown.

Dave also sent me a scan of a gutter pair of 2nd class large

security (slit) stamps from the De La Rue issues . As we have already wrote about these gutter pairs I have not shown it here.

I now await the picture (and info) on the new De La Rue business sheets. As soon as it is available I will post it.

I hope you are all enjoying your stamps.

A Sneaky Peek

Today's feast is just a short post. I can show you a sneaky peek at one of Tony Buckingham's forthcoming first day cover designs. This is for the new Machin values due to released on 30th March.

Very nice Tony.

In conjuntion with the Buckingham website they are launching what is said to be "we believe, the world's first ever course in covers. It's called the Cover Masterclass and it is sponsored by Stamp Magazine. The lessons are being written by Tony Buckingham and Brian Austin, 2 world (and our resident!) experts."

The 10 week online course starting in April 2009 is FREE to get the lessons emailed to you if you just want to read them. If you'd like to take a short, marked assignment each time it costs just £10 and you will get a Certificate of Completion from Stamp Magazine and Buckingham Covers.

This is your chance to learn everything about covers you ever wanted to know but were to afraid to ask. Alternatively you can do it just for fun! To find out all about the Masterclass or to register go to www.gbfirstdaycovers.co.uk/masterclass/

The First Walsall Security Booklets

As a key account customer Ian Billings has received his first supply of the first in a series of the Design Classics themed retail booklets, official issue date 10th March 2009 priced at £2.16. The booklet contains 4 x 1st NVI gold; 1 x 1st NVI Telephone Kiosk and 1 x 1st NVI Routemaster Bus special issue stamps. Printed by Walsall Security Printers.

What Ian writes in his blog about this issue is very interesting, as his scans show that the security slits are quite different from the De La Rue issues. To be brief, the Walsall slits are not joined in the centre of the arcs. Ian also states that the stamp printing is also quite different.

It will be interesting to see if ALL of these Walsall printings will be of the same when they are issued to collectors and the general public on the 10th. If not Ian will have very nice variations to be proud of. Read Ian's full report here.

More Machin Links

With the cat (wife) away, the mice will play, it is a true saying. Yesterday I spent a few hours on the computer whiling away until the early hours of this morning. After completing my work I surfed the net for a short period and came up with a couple of sites which mention Machins. I found both interesting and have now added them to the blog links table, bottom left.

The first is written by Mac Strathdee (phos 45) who is based in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. The site is called The Machin Blog and it is worth a visit. It is written that is dedicated to definitive Machins of Great Britain .News about postal matters, and collecting interests, many topics offered, with links to the best of philatelic writers online.

A second site I visited actually refers about the stamp collecting interests of Sebphilately, who is based in Montpellier, France. Seb lists many countries in his musings , but has labels directing visitors to both Machin and Great Britain Postings.

A really cool site, not Machin related but one which I feel you will find interesting is Smilers News. The definitive guide for all British Customised Stamp Sheets or Smilers sheets. I spent an hour or so reading about this collecting phenomenon. The news archives were very interesting and the lists have information on more or less every Smilers sheet issued from day one to date.

The webmaster also mentions onsite that there are four more Smilers for Kids Packs due out in April '09 plus four 20 x 1st class Smilers for Kids sheets. Do kids actually buy these these ? Can they afford it?

My last post of call was the IPDA chat room where I spent a hour chatting to old friends. Allan the administrator has asked me to give an open invitation to anyone who wishes to visit. Here you can talk about stamps, anything else including Machins or the the size of your perforations for that matter. Someone is normally in the room between 12 - midnight and 2am GMT.

Tales Of Beatrix Potter

Hi Everyone, a lazy day today. I am going to send you on a journey to Adrian's Blog where he muses over the Beatrix Potter Prestige stamp book. Adrian has written in the past for this blog, giving us his insight into Hong Kong Machins.

You may also want to visit Norphil Blogspot where Ian gives us his account of removing self adhesive stamps from paper with what is known as 'Sticky Stuff Remover' from Betterware.

We still want to hear from you with your ideas and experiments regarding removing these stamps, if you have any information or comments on what has been written so far please do get in touch.

...Roy

Sticky Stuff Remover

Sticky Stuff Remover available from Betterware was mentioned in Ian Billings reply to my post " Removing Self Adhesives from Paper"

I tried soaking another 1st class Large today in saucer of cold water, with this I put it in the microwave on high for a few seconds. The stamp came away from the backing paper (fine) using a pair of tweezers, but again it left a gum residue. This I removed with neat alcohol and a cotton bud. This like Ians experiment left traces of gum around the security slits. To mess with it any longer would have destroyed the stamp.

I can see these security slits will prove to be a pain. Royal Mail has certainly done its homework. It is a pity they did not do it earlier regarding the cancelling of stamps used in the mail. Over the last six months or so I have the total £8.47 in used stamps, over 75 stamps of variious denominations which have arrived on incoming mail without a cancel. They are still arriving as with the letter from The Modern British Philatelic Circle (over £1 in stamps uncancelled) which arrived this morning.

By the way if you are reading this many thanks go to Keith Woodward and Tony Wilkins for your quick replies.

Any comments or more bright ideas for removing these issues? We still need to hear from you on this subject.

Security Machins - Colour Singles

I was very fortunate to get this set of colour singles of the new security Machins. They look so nice....I thought I would share them with everyone.

--Larry

Removing New (slit) Self Adhesives From Paper

From all the discussions on how to remove the new security stamps from paper, it seems we now have a common answer to this poser.

90% of emails and replies to online groups suggest using Ronson lighter (spirit) fuel in conjunction with cotton buds. If this catches on we could see a new selling and buying trend, people selling these products in the philately listings on eBay.



I am still testing alternative methods, dipping (soaking) in alcohol, and conventional soaking with water in a microwave have proved to be partly successful. I do not have at this time enough of the new security stamps to test other methods or to give a conclusive verdict on these methods tried. Watch this space.

The most accepted method using the Ronson and bud products , may turn out to be a little tedious as only one stamp at a time can be handled or worked on in all safety. I will get back to safety aspect of using these products in a short while.

I have not as yet tried this method myself. First we must soak the stamp, It is suggested to use a cotton ball dipped in lighter fuel and apply to the rear of the stamp on paper, after a few seconds it is said that is is easy to remove the stamp from the backing paper. Once removed from the envelope use a fresh cotton bud dipped in lighter fluid to remove any excess gum. Dry flat.


Health and safety warnings


I thought I had better check out the safety aspects of using these products. The cotton buds should not pose any serious problem provided you do not poke them in your ears.

The Ronson fuel however is a different kettle of fish. The list is endless.

Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Flammable mixture. Do not use near fire or flame. Keep out of reach of children. May be harmful by skin contact. First Aid: If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Call physician immediately. Acute Health Effects: From MSDSInhalation: Vapors may be irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract. High vapor concentrations may produce central nervous system (CNS) depression. Early to moderate CNS depression may be evidenced by giddiness, headache, dizziness and nausea. In extreme cases, unconsciousness and death may occur. Aspiration pneumonitis may be evidenced by coughing, labored breathing and cyanosis (bluish skin). In severe cases death may occur.Eye Contact: Liquid is mildly irritating to the eyes. High vapor concentrations may be irritating.Skin Contact: Liquid is mildly irritating to the skin. Prolonged or repeated liquid contact can result in defatting and drying of the skin which may result in skin irritation and dermatitis.Ingestion: Ingestion of product may result in vomiting: aspiration (breathing) of vomitus into the lungs must be avoided as even small quantities may result in aspiration pneumonitis.Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure: Preexisting eye, skin, and respiratory disorders may be aggravated by exposure to this product.Chronic Health Effects: From MSDS Skin effects. Male rats exposed by prolonged and repeated inhalation to high vapor concentrations of solvents similar to components in this product showed evidence of kidney damage. The relevance of this information to man is unknown. In one study on a solvent similar to light naphtha, a low grade anemia was also observed.

I think after reading all this I will be giving it a miss.

Great Britain 2010 issues

I know, we are still only a quarter way through 2009 and Royal Mail are still adding new issues to the preliminary list published last year. When will it end? In order not to keep us in suspense and perhaps open a savings account, (it is only March 2009) and they (RM) have now released their preliminary programme for 2010. I hope some of you still have those deep pockets.

One issue they have not listed, is the 1d black which was a surprise to me, but I guess this was commemorated in 1990 and 2000. The 170th anniversary of the introduction of the world's first postage stamp falls on on May 6, 2010. As this issue has not been taken advantage of I guess they have milked it already and they do not feel the need.


Instead in May, to correspond with the Stamp Exhibition, 8th - 15th May 2010, to be held at The Business Design Centre, Islington, London, they have informed us that they will be issuing stamps commemorating "King George V" .

This is a year long programme of exhibitions, events and activities to mark the centenary of the accession of George V, who we consider as "the philatelist king." The British Postal Museum & Archive is co-ordinating wider festival events and activities at venues across London. This should please you Michael (CDD), and you thought like the Wildings issues this was a closed chapter :-) !!


Preliminary stamp programme for 2010:
Also expect Prestige booklets x at least 3, retail booklets, and smilers sheets to be added later.

January: British Design Classics II (The retail booklet III we mentioned in the last post) Expect a 2nd prestige booklet, and sheet stamps.

February: Centenary of the Girl Guides
350th Anniversary of the Royal Society.

March: Castles of Wales Smilers Sheet
150th Anniversary of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home
Monarchs, House of Stewart (Scottish Kings)

April: Action for Species: Mammals
New definitives for A rate rise , or perhaps A reduction (ha ha)

May: 2010 London Festival of Stamps exhibition. Centenary of Stamps of King George V. Expect tons of stuff to follow, and expect some in the run up to this!!
Great British Railways
June: Children's Books, and I expect smilers for kids?

July: Nothing reported but expect something!

August: British Stage Musicals

September: Britain Alone

October: Monarchs: House of Stuart

November: Christmas, sheets, booklets, miniature sheets and smilers.

December: Again its a case of wait and see!!