New Rates, New Machins

Ian Billings has information on this year’s postage rate changes and new stamps on his blog. The big news is that the basic rates of 60p for first-class mail and 50p for second-class mail are not changing. There are many other changes, though.

There will be three new standard Machins in new colors, 78p orchid mauve, 88p amber yellow and £1.88 sapphire blue. From Ian’s images, which I know are not exact, sapphire blue is a dark shade with a hint of gray, amber yellow looks very similar to the Matthews’ old gold, and orchid mauve looks like the current 5p ash pink, though a bit lighter.

Orchid mauve?

--Larry