Norvic Philatelics

New Machin definitive stamps - 5 April 2005

Postage rate changes which are effective from 7 April will require several new stamps. This seemingly straightforward situation was made complicated by the recent changes in the security printing industry which saw De La Rue take over Questa in 2004. Consolidating their production facilities in 2004 meant that definitive stamps were printed on a variety of different papers and with different phosphor bands during that year. Further consolidation meant an interruption to production in early 2005, so alternative printers were used for some values, as explained below.

new Great Britain Machin 46p definitive De La Rue stamp issued 5 April 05 new Great Britain Machin 35p definitive Enschede stamp issued 5 April 05 new Great Britain Machin 9p definitive De La Rue stamp issued 5 April 05

The inland 1st class rate increased from 28p to 30p - this continues to be served by the '1st class' gold stamp. The 2nd class rate will remain at 21p (2nd class blue stamp).

A new 9p stamp in orange printed by De La Rue replaced the 7p, representing the difference between the 1st & 2nd class basic rate. (This is NOT the colour last used for the 1st class stamp but is a completely new colour.) Images updated 4 April 2005 - the Machins shown are actual stamps.

At the same time, a new 35p stamp in lime green (similar to the colour previously used for the 6p stamp) was issued with one phosphor band for the 100gr 2nd class rate (printed by Enschede), and a new 46p stamp (in old gold & with two phosphor bands) will be issued for the 100gr 1st class rate (printed by DLR). In the publicity pictures this looks very similar to the current 10p stamp: in fact it is the same colour as the most recent 8p stamp.

new Great Britain Country definitive 42p stamps issued 5 April 05

The rate for 20gr European letters will increase from 40p to 42p and this means new 42p country stamps for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in the same designs and colours as the present 40p stamps, printed by Walsall SP in gravure or litho (N Ireland). The existing (2002) 42p Machin stamp will be used nationally.


Later changes and reprints - the latest information 3 June 2005

Royal Mail also announced that "most low value stamps will have one phosphor band in future", but they have now backtracked from this, and have now explained:

"As De La Rue were moving to new printing works at Dunstable, they were unable to print the initial supplies of the 35p green and 42p country stamps."
The DLR-printed stamps will have philatelic release dates of:

26 April - 35p Machin
10 May - 42p England, Scotland, Wales
26 July - 42p Northern Ireland

Although stamps are sometimes available in POs before their 'philatelic release date' this has not happened with these reprints as far as we know. The country stamps were printed by DLR on 18-20 April 2005.
We will produce FDCs for these reprints: no official FD postmarks will be available so for the 35p Machin and the England stamp we will use the Windsor Castle postmark shown below, and similar ones for Edinburgh and Cardiff for the Scotland and Wales stamps. To order, or for more details, please email us using the link below.

Reprints easily identified - should achieve separate catalogue status

All the reprints seen are easily identified as there are obvious differences - once you know what to look for they can be seen with the naked eye. There shouled be space for both printings in pre-printed albums, and even the basic catalogues should list both stamps.
Click here to see magnified images of key elements of the stamps for easy identification.


First Day Covers

Norvic Philatelics will service Post Office first day covers for these stamps on 5 April and all subsequent changes.

Prices:
Mint stamps: Set of 3 Machins - £1.40, country stamps 65p each.
Postage and packing is extra in all cases.

These special postmarks are available on the day of issue; more will be shown here as they are announced:

Scottish PO Arms English PO Arms Windsor Castle non-pictorial FDI postmark paintpot
Ref FD527 - Bureau 'Scottish Coat of Arms' postmark Ref FD528 - Windsor 'English Coat of Arms' postmark Ref E4680 - Windsor Castle, Royal Mail permanent handstamp Ref FD528p - Windsor plain FDI postmark Ref M9497 - Stoke-on-Trent Machin Definitives
sword thistle dragon's tail flax national emblems - dying
Ref FD529 - official FDI London postmark Ref FD530 - official FDI Edinburgh postmark Ref FD531 - official FDI Cardiff postmark Ref FD532 - official FDI Belfast postmark Ref S9499 - Country Definitives, Macduff
sword thistle dragon's tail flax Additionally, any postmarks available on this date may also be applied to FDCs - see Permanent postmarks 
Ref FD529 - official non-pictorial FDI London postmark Ref FD530 - official non-pictorial FDI Edinburgh postmark Ref FD531 - official non-pictorial FDI Cardiff postmark Ref FD532 - official non-pictorial FDI Belfast postmark

If you wish to order, please e-mail us.

This page updated 3 June 2005

2004
2005 stamp issues
Visit our online shop!
January
11
Farm Animals
February
8
British Journey - South West England
24 Jane Eyre & Brontes prestige book
March
15
Magic Circle Centenary
22 Wilding Castles Miniature Sheet
April
5
New definitives
8 Royal Wedding
21 World Heritage Sites
26 Definitive reprints provisional date
May
10
Definitive reprints
June
7
Trooping the Colour
21
Smilers sheet - Flag stamp, White Ensign
July
5
End of World War II
19 British Motorcycles 26Definitive reprint
August
5
London 2012 Olympics
23
Europa - Gastronomy
September
22
Independent Television 50th Anniversary
October
4
Small greetings definitives & Smilers
18 Battle of Trafalgar
November
1
Christmas
Christmas Robins Smilers Sheet
2006 programme

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