Two New Booklets

Over the last few weeks we have reported to you news on The Design Classics booklets to be issued this year. If you have not yet seen them, feast your eyes on these pics (below). I must admit, although I'm not in a favour of self adhesives I do like these booklets. Thanks go to Colin Gee for the images.








There is something very British about the design of these, perhaps its the Union Flag that appeals to me. I hope that next year Royal Mail continue with this theme in booklet form. According to the 2010 program, " A set entitled Design Classic II will be issued in January".





Be sure to keep visiting Machin Mania for more news as it becomes available.

No Spitfire Stamp?

Updated on 29th June

No ones perfect, and for my sins neither am I. When I get Machin news I often jump in at the deep end, publish it and get things wrong.

I recently updated my post regarding the third Design Classics mixed booklet adding to the initial post that I thought it may contain (and shows on the image)1 x 1st class x Spitfire and 1 x 1st class Concorde stamps.

However, I am still receiving reports that there will be "No Spitfire stamp" within the booklet. Your thoughts please, or if you have any more news related to this issue please pass it on. An updated picture of the booklet pane would be very welcome.

The fourth Design Classics mixed retail booklet to be issued on 17 September 2009 is a bit of a surprise to everyone. Royal Mail tend to lay this information on us when we are least expecting it. I was informed last month SPLASH!! ( in at the deep end again ) I hope this info is right. "This booklet will include 2 x 1st class self-adhesive Mary Quant Mini-skirt special issue stamps" .

..... Roy

Thanks to Ian Billings for a quick reply: written below:

The Philatelic Bulletin received today describes and pictures a 2 x Concorde booklet.

If you and others are assuming that there will be a Spitfire purely on the basis of the booklet that I pictures on our website back in January, that was a mock-up as was the mini-car booklet. The mock-up was based on the firm information given by Royal Mail that there would be a Spitfire+Concorde booklet in September (later announced as postponed until January 2010).

Sadly even the trade (Key Account) part of Tallents House only finds out about these changes after they have been made and only confirms them when dealers ask!

Ians comment to this post Re: The Mary Quant booklets confirms my information is correct.

Deegam Report (83)

Deegam Report 83 will be uploaded to the Deegam website later today. The lead story is the Horizon Machin label. Exclusive official information is on page 3.

Douglas confirms that the Stamps to be issued within the two new Prestige booklets (Treasures of the Archives) and (Royal Navy) will be printed by Cartor. All Machins within the booklets will be new at level 1 and 2.

1p, 17p, 20p double head , 22p, 62p, 90p, and 1st class double head. Douglas has confirmed that the 20p and 1st class Anniversary Double Head machins will both have phosphor bars and ellipses.

More Machin News (June 2009)

( Updated) Some time ago Larry posted the Stanley Gibbons numbers for the new self adhesive Security Slit stamps on the Machin Forum. I have reproduced this post here just in case it is of interest to anyone.

"The Gibbons numbers are in! The Catalogue Supplement in the June issue lists the following numbers:"

Specialist Catalogues will no doubt break these down even further to incorporate the background security wording and oval cut variations.

Sheet Stamps De La Rue

U2911 - 2nd bright blue
U2912 - 1st gold
U2913 - 2nd large bright blue
U2914 - 1st large gold
U2915 - 50p grey
U2916 - £1 magenta
U2917 - £1.50 brown-red
U2918 - £2 deep blue-green
U2919 - £3 deep mauve
U2920 - £5 azure

Booklet Stamps
Walsall Security Printers

U2931 - 2nd bright blue
U2932 - 1st gold
U2933 - 2nd large bright blue
U2934 - 1st large gold


Concorde Booklets (Updated)

I now have assured conformation from a reliable source that informs me the third Design Classics themed retail booklet to be issued in August will contain 4 x 1st NVI gold and 2 x 1st NVI Concorde special issue stamps.

Sorry for any confusion, I was informed (as above) that these would contain 2 x Concorde special issues, however I think this was a typo, the image below clearly shows 1 x 1st class x Spitfire and 1 x 1st class Concorde stamps. I am assuming that this will be the norm.

Hidden Code Letters

Again for this booklet, the Machin 1st NVI stamps will exhibit a hidden Code Letter in the wavy line iridescent 'Royal Mail' text. The 'A' of the word 'MAIL' is replaced by 'C' in just one instance - above the central cross.

Thus the word will appear as 'MCIL'

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

The booklets will be produced by Walsall and printed in Gravure on self adhesive paper.

For more information which includes security slits and hidden codes go to our previous posting

Local web site honors Machin

Arnold Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent, an area known as "The Potteries." Their web site now has a page honoring him here.

Larry

Machin's Ancestors

I was trolling eBay for Machins when I came across a tea pot identified as "Joseph Machin."

A little Googling revealed

In the early 19th century Joseph Machin and Company were one of the principal manufacturers of china and earthenware rivalling makers such as Wedgwood, Spode and Minton. However, due to the bankruptcy of the Stoke-based factory in the late 1830s the
name disappeared from public knowledge.

This must be an ancestor of Arnold Machin, but a little further investigation didn't turn up a family history that would have proved it. Can anyone provide more information?

Here are a few links that might help:

Joseph Machin history

Joseph Machin cups

--Larry

A Letter from Norvic Philatelics

I thought you may be interested in this e-mail from Ian which refers to the new Machin label and sets some answers to my questions, he also offers some copies for sale.

Is it a stamp? Is it a label? You can't get mint copies and used ones shouldn't be postmarked!

An unannounced new Horizon Label, bearing the Machin Head and with die-cut 'perforations', was trialled only at the Branch Post Office at Camden High Street, in London, on Monday 8th June. The new labels were available only for the Special Delivery service.

The 'label' WILL be included in Douglas Myall's DEEGAM Machin Catalogue.

The story and better images are on our blog (see link below). We have a few FDCs (with cancelled stamps and additional Camden stamp) as shown on the blog. These went through the ordinary mail - there were no First Day Facilities for this new label, Royal Mail didn't regard it as a stamp.

We will also be getting some labels on plain envelopes serviced as the ordinary mail, ie not on First Day envelopes. These will not be FDCs, they will be posted between 15th & 17th June. They will be un postmarked because there is no operational need for Horizon labels to be postmarked.

For those who collect mint stamps, this is as close as you will get: they will be un postmarked. Given the low numbers overall both versions will be going to be sought after.

Some of our customers collect Machins unmounted mint and are not at all interested in FDCs. Those who have not had FDCs will get priority for the ordinary (week 2) usages. I will try to be as fair as I can with both versions.

We are again out of the office from 14-24 June but may be able to monitor emails in our absence. Regular customers for definitives will get priority but we may need to limit supplies to one per customer.
=======

Ian has also left a comment to the previous post.

Click here to visit Ian Billings blog

New Security Slits

Here is a drawing from Vince Patel who posts on the Machin Forum. It clearly shows the security slits used on the New Machin Horizon label.

Vince describes them as slits which resemble a series of finger nail marks. Is this Royal Mail taking security to far? After all said and done these are franked at the post office counter, so no way can they be reused.

We have already stated that this is a trial of which they were only available at (from) the Branch Post Office at Camden High Street, in London, the date of the trial started Monday 8th June.

I have no idea if the trial is still operational, but it is my guess that it will be trialed for a few weeks at the least, one day would not enable them to trial it at all .

Only time will if these new security slits will be the norm on all definitive stamps in future. What else can this trial be for?

I guess (again) we will have to wait and see for the answer to this question and a second question. How many values will be obtainable if these labels go nationwide at some stage?

If the trial is successful, will all future self adhesive definitive stamps eventually revert to and have these type of security slits? I await the results to these and other questions with baited breath.

On a finishing note , good luck to anyone who tries to soak these, and just in case there is a switch over, start saving up now!!

New, Trial Machin Label

I heard a whisper last week that a new Security trial Machin Horizon label was on the cards. The fact this was a gold label with a Machin head and a new type of security slit design intrigued me, but as I had no verification and needed more facts I dismissed it at the time.


This verification has now come our way via Ian of Norvic philatelics who writes on his blog and website with some up to date news and photos. Many thanks Ian, what would we do without you?.

From what I can see in a blow up of Ian's image (left), the security slits are more of double wavy lines (both sides) in the shape of a broken figure S which is reversed rather than the paperclip type security slits produced on regular self adhesive sheet and booklet stamps.

The trial label was obtainable only as one value. Ian informs us that it "was trialled at the Branch Post Office at Camden High Street, in London, on Monday 8th June. The new labels were printed by De La Rue, and were available only for the Special Delivery service, costing £4.95.

To date, I believe these labels are only available used, as are all Horizon Labels. Specimens were sent out to just a few people as first day covers. The wavy text in the background does not seem to have any security coding in the wording "ROYAL MAIL"

Keep tuned in, we will bring you more news if and when this label goes nationwide.

For a full account of Ian's post please go to his blog at norphil.blogspot.com

Machin News June 2009

I think I may have neglected to give you a May edition of Machin News, So I will entitle this post machin News June 2009.

Here are clearer images of the two panes to be issued in the Treasures of the Archives PB on 18th August. You will notice no indication of perforations or ellipses on these pictures, but of course you can expect them to be added on the real thing.



Pane 1: show the 4 x 1st class and four 20p double headed Definitives, bearing the image of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria from the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black stamps.

Notice the Penny Black portrait of Queen Victoria in the background.

Pane 4: shows 4 x 17p Machin Definitives, two 22p Machins and two 62p Machins set around around a GPO logo label. The images top (left) show 2 x reproductions of the proposed 1937 coronation issue for King Edward VIII. The background reproduces the design of this head.

What are your views on all these old designs being resurrected by Royal Mail?

Below is a picture of the pane from 16th Feb 1999 Special by Design PB, Issued on 15th February 2000, This was issued 10 years after we put this issue to bed last time round. For your information this pane was printed by Walsall Security in gravure OFNP(C)/PVAl paper.

A few months ago I showed you other printings of this design (see them here)

One issue we failed to mention

On 31st March, a presentation pack was issued containing the five Machin Post & Go stamps that first appeared in October 2008. However, these have the denominations preprinted in gravure by Walsall.

The pack which does not appear to have a pack number was priced at £2.75. Each Post & Go stamp carries the Office Identifier for the Galleries Post Office in Bristol which is 020511 - this being the first office to use the machines. These Post & Go stamps that are completely printed in gravure can be identified by having the fixed code 0205111 - 08445. These are to classed as new specialised Machins

More News

The third Design Classics themed retail booklet will be issued in August 2009. The booklet will contain 4x1st NVI gold and 2x1st NVI Concorde special issue stamps. And now a fourth Design Classics themed retail booklet will be issued in September2009. The booklet will contain 4x1st NVI gold and 2x1st NVI Mary Quant special issue stamps.

The most asked question in 2009

Please, can I have a raise? All my pocket money seems to go to Royal Mail these days.

Closed Chapters, Never Say Never !

Ian Billings has left us a link, to his website which shows all of the panes from the Royal Navy Uniforms Prestige booklet. Thanks Ian, much appreciated.

"This means that the Machin definitives and flags stamps are new (the flags stamps previously being printed by Questa, although the White Ensign was printed by Cartor in a Smilers Sheet, and by De La Rue for the 2008 James Bond prestige stamp book.)"

What I find more interesting is this fact, which he describes on his blog. In this post which refers to the Treasures of the (Postal) Archive PSB - 18th August we will see more new versions of old stamps.

Expect 2 panes of Machins

Of interest to Machinites he informs us that another closed Machin chapter will be re-opened. The 1990 double Headed stamps are to be re-issued after 20 years.


Ians post

"Pane 1 has four 1st and four 20p Definitives, both stamps bearing the double image of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria from the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black stamps, set around a Penny Post label first issued in 1990, with the Penny Black portrait of Queen Victoria in the background."

These double headed definitive stamps are to be printed by Walsall in Litho, if they have phosphor bands they will be new stamps.

How many new Machins is that this year? I count at least 50 !

More News on New Machins

Last Month I mentioned and showed the cover of A Prestige Booklet entitled Royal Navy Uniforms which is to be issued on 17Th September 2009. Since the above post we have had some more information regarding the proposed Machin pane and other pane contents.


Marin A informs us via the comments dept that The Navy Uniforms booklet has 3 new Machins 1p x2, 17p x4 and 90p x2.

I have been sent this picture (left), which could be a mock up, as the banner dissects through the perforations of the top left 17p stamp.

Martin continues. "With the 17p appearing in the Archives booklet and the 1p printed in Litho by Questa on 8th July 1996 the only new Machin in this booklet would be the 90p." Incorrect Martin the 1p is a new stamp at Deegam level 1,2 and posibly 3. Cartor are the printers.

The latest Philatelic Bulletin has the 'Treasures Of The BPMA' PSB as being printed by Cartor (not Walsall). Cartor are a French subsidiary of Walsall. It doesn't mention Litho but we were informed two years ago after the issue of the James bond booklet (DE La Rue) that all new (future) Prestige Booklets will be printed in Litho, plus this fact which Martin states "Cartor and Litho seem to go hand in hand."

More information on The T.O.T BPMA Machin pane. This will also consists of 3 new Machins 17p x4, 22p x2 and 62p x2. This would make it the first time these three stamps are printed in Litho.

Quiz Winner

First I will describe the prize (picture left). You will notice that this stamp has letters in all four corners(NL). These were an early anti forgery device. The letters differ from stamp to stamp. The upper pair if present in all four corners are the reverse of the lower pair.

Further classification depends on the water mark and plate number. This has a wmk type Orb and the plate number on both sides of stamp near the top. This plate number (20) is clearly seen in the top right.

Enter the value 2½d and colour (blue) to the equation and we can ascertain the catalogue number, which is SG142. The average used catalogue price for this in 2009 collect Gibbons Stamps is now in the region of £42. I think this stamp can be described as average.

Now for the winner, congratulations go to Dennis Wallick who had a grand total of 24. Runner up was Michael Dodd with a total of 19.

Well done Dennis, I hope you enjoy your prize. Please email me your postal address and I will forward it on to you.

Many thanks to everyone who took out the time to enter. Here are Dennis answers.

Colour
denomination
Value
Placement/Position
style (font)
size (small or wide)
phosphor Screen
regional symbol
symbol type
large" designation
head Type
paper Type
cancellation date
dimensions
Size (width) of bar(s)
color of bar(s)
type of phosphor (visible under LW or SW light)
placement of bars
printing method employed (photo, EME, litho, etc.)
vertical by Horizontal measurements
straight edges/cut edges
torn or cut perforations
perforations size, syncopated perfs ellipses
security slit type, security hidden Code

Total 24

Shredded Machin

A GBCC member sent me this scan of a package he recently received. Apparently the sender had difficulty removing the £3 Machin from its sheet. It looks like the security slit weakened it sufficiently that the stamp came apart as it was being removed.

The irony? The package was sent by Stanley Gibbons! If they are having trouble with the new stamps, what hope do mere mortals have of using these new stamps successfully?

I welcome any additional reports of events like these.

--Larry