Machin Self Adhesive slit types. Why did I bother?

I had this bright idea of helping collectors avoid the eye strain I have been experiencing in trying to distinguish between the types of slit in Machin self adhesive stamps. I thought I would scan an example of each and that would be that. However, it isn't at all obvious but, as you'll discover at the end, it may not matter a great deal anyway, once you have tucked three items from 2009 away.

So, according to the lists I have from dealers, the 1st Large red issues are an ideal example as they come in each of types 1, 2 and 2a and have different security codes so my job is comparatively simple. There is only one source of type 3 that I have seen listed so that is even simpler - the 50p, 1st gold and 2nd blue stamps in the definitive pane in the George V book.

So, here we go:


Type 2 from the Walsall MA12 MFIL books of 4

 That's pretty clearly different from the others, obvious gaps top and bottom.



Type 1 from the Walsall MA12 MBIL Buisness sheets

This is where I have trouble - distinguishing between types 1 and 2a 



Type 2a from DLR MA12 MAIL Counter sheets

 I really struggle to see much difference between the two. The illustrations in dealers' lists do say 'less noticeable' slits but, my goodness, these are so much less noticeable to be almost non-existent.



Type 3 from the Walsall George V prestige book MA10 MPIL

No problems with type 3. The lack of gap at the top and decent gap at the bottom is clear.

I tried zooming in on the images, sharpening them and using greyscale to try and make the differences clearer but it is still one big struggle to tell 1 and 2a apart. I am beginning to wonder whether the list I am using has got it wrong.


Type 1



Type 2a



Tye 2



Type 3

There is definitely something I need to look into further. In the meantime, here are images of two examples of the 2nd Large where the difference is a bit clearer and that should help you a bit. Just watch your eyes with those 1st Large reds!

Type 2a DLR MA12 MAIL from Counter sheets

Type 1 Walsall MA12 MBIL from Business sheets

Again, you have the different printers here and codes too and, so far, there are only three instances where I can find types 1 and 2a listed for otherwise same stamps (codes, printer being the same).

These three are:

2nd blue DLR 2009 MBIL Business sheet

1st gold DLR 2009 MBIL Business sheet

1st Large gold 2009 MAIL Counter sheet

Let's cross our fingers and hope like mad that there are no more. then, quite frankly, it won't really matter whether it's 1 or 2a.

2011 issues

Here's what you need to know about 2011 in the GB Machin definitive world. Again, acknowledgements to Robin Harris for all these illustrations and dates.

The year started off with a bumper bundle of rather tedious stuff in the shape of strange codes now on 1st, 1st large and 2nd NVIs, marginally relieved by an interesting red and yellow affair for packets the postman actually manages to find someone in to sign for. The two items there too, though, look like yet more we'll need to purchase at least yearly where I am sure we would have bought one of each and that would have been it for a decade. Like Postage Dues. Whatever happened to Postage Dues?

Jan 2011

1st gold with security print
"M11L" + T security print
"M11L" + C security print
"M11L" + S security print
"M11L" + B security print
"M11L" security print
"M10L" + R security print





2nd blue with security print
"M11L" security print
"M11L" + B security print



1st Large gold with security print
"MA11" security print



1st Recorded with security print
"MA10" security print



1st Recorded Large gold with security print
"MA10" security print

8 March 2011

Low-value Machins in self-adhesive format with security slits

29 March 2011

New rate-change definitives in self-adhesive format with security slits and code

£1.65??! Heavens. This is in what used to be called the Low Value range.

Jan-Apr 2011

New security-type Machins:
Recorded Signed For '10'
Recorded Signed For Large '10'
2nd Large '11' from counter sheets
1st 'B+11'
2nd Large 'B+10'
1st Large 'B+11'

4 April 2011

Rate increase:
First class (up to 100g) rises 5p to 46p
Second class (up to 100g) rises 4p to 36p
Large letter, First class rises 9p to 75p
Large letter, Second class rises 7p to 58p

5 May 2011

"Morris & Co." Prestige Booklet with 5p, 10p, 50p self-adhesives. The 50p has a dated security code (P+11).

30 August 2011

£1 ruby with security code (11)

9 September 2011

"Centenary of UK Aerial Post" Prestige Booklet with 5p, 76p, 1st. The 76p and 1st have a dated security code (P+11).

9 Sep 2011

1st Machin birth centenary miniature sheet. Security code M+11. This I find very disappointing. Even the actual sheet, with its shine and more visible 'gold', just doesn't seem to do justice to the chap. There have been some superb issues that could have been raked out again for this occasion - notably the large format £1 affairs (but not the scratchy black one) or just the simple but so effective 1st in black which could have been resurrected from 1989.

Post and Go news

Quite a bit going on with the Post and Gos. In March 2011 a new type of dispensing machine, a HytechPV or something like that, appears to have been installed in some locations and looks like being rolled out elsewhere too in due course. This produced a different font for the main rate lettering as well as clearly different numbers and letters too. So that's at least one more set of 5 rates you'll need.

Then, in September 2011, they decided to add an overprint (well an extra line or two of print would be more precise) to labels (not the Birdy ones, just, apparently, the Machin head and Flag and maybe a Christmas picture one) so that's another set of 5, and probably, now I think of it, one set for each type of printing device.

You see, one of the problems (and part of the fun in a way) of Post and Gos is that you can never be too sure quite which location has which machine and whether its working or what someone has put in by way of rolls. I have read the Norvic blog and others and there are even forums now where people tell each other what's happening at each location! One guy even trotted around London to get labels from as as many machines as he could and did weird things like note how many each machine had sold since the previous visits. You have to admire that sort of dedication. You also have to wonder whether there isn't someone with a detailed record of all this at Royal Mail somewhere whose job it is to know what's happening where. I'd just call him up.

Lastly, in October 2011 someone decided that 20g wasn't enough for the Worldwide customers and tweaked some machines to produce 40g versions as well. Yes, depending upon when they actually tweak machines and whether they're old or new ones that means yet more sets, doesn't it. And more Machin 'over'prints too. Now I'm getting confused and clearly will have to lie down and sleep before redoing the lists I spend hours putting together.

2010 issues

Here's what you need to know about 2010. This is almost entirely straight from Robin Harris's excellent site which has a mass of additional technical detail and that's where most of the links in this post will take you. I will start my own commentary soon - just a couple more years to go!

Post and Go

You'll be relived to know that on the Post and Go front things were a bit quieter if you are just collecting the Machin types, with a font change introduced in each of the 5 denomination prints in September 2010.

7 Jan 2010

Two Machin panes from Classic Album Covers prestige booklet
20p/54p/62p in one pane
5p/10p/22p in one pane

The 5p and 54p values have new value types (different font):

30 Mar 2010

New values and colours, including two nice additions by way of an airmail strip on the 2005 type Europe and Worldwide rate NVIs which I thought had bitten the dust along with the E stamps:

Security prints with '10' year code
Security print issues (all self-adhesive):


1st gold with 'T' and '10' (Jan 26)
1st gold with 'C' and '10' (Jun 15)
1st gold with 'S' and '10' (Jun 26)
1st gold with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
2nd light blue with 'T' and '10' (Mar 31)
2nd light blue with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
2nd light blue with 'B' and '10' (Mar 5)
2nd light blue with '10' (Mar 10)
1st Large gold with 'F' and '10' (May 8)
2nd Large light blue with 'F' and '10' (May 8)
50p grey with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
1st gold with 'P' and '10' (May 8)
1st gold with 'B' and '10' (Mar 2)
1st gold with '10' (Mar 13)
2nd light blue with 'P' and '10' (May 8)

De La Rue security print coils of 500 and 1000:
1st gold with 'R' and '10' (May 13)
2nd light blue with 'R' and '10' (May 13)




It does now look as though we collectors will be splashing out every year for new year codes on all these issues. I guess, though, that many of us would have bought each new booklet or sheet change example anyway - but there would have been some that we might have hoped wouldn't change for a few years.

April 2010

Horizon Gold labels (illustrated at same scale as other Machins on this page). Robin included these in his round-up and I'm glad he did as I had been thinking that these ought to be included in my collection. They are the ultimate Machin in a way (although I am not so sure that shouldn't be the ultimate gaudy and huge Machin!) and if they do settle down and start being used a lot I will regret not starting.

I am happy to find as many of the different codes as I can from bundles of used items someone somewhere must have at a reasonable price, if not given away, but I would like to have some crisp examples if it's possible to get them at a Post Office. So I shall trot down to Towcester tomorrow and see what they say. I also gather from the little reading I have done so far, and it has been little, thanks to this massive catch-up exercise and the flaming Post and Gos, that there are a host of varieties which will add to the fun too.





Many types exist (different letters [service], language, typeface, perf vs die cut). The Deegam Report 90 notes the following Horizon service codes:

1L 1st letter, recorded signed for
1LG 1st large letter
1PK 1st packet
2L 2nd letter, recorded signed for
2LG 2nd large letter
2PK 2nd packet
 A Airmail
AAX Airsure
BF British Forces Post Office, international parcel
BL British Forces Post Office, letter SP Standard parcel
BLG British Forces Post Office, large letter
BPK British Forces Post Office, packet
FF Free Forces
FP Fully paid
MOR Mail Order Return
PE Global economy
PS Global valueRPR RSF fee paid on a Packetpost ™ return item
SD Special delivery
1st RSF fee paid on an article for the blind
SU Surface mail

6 May 2010

George V and Machin head


Do you consider this a Machin issue? asks Robin Harris. I think I do. Just!

8 May 2010

Souvenir sheet (all lithography by Cartor)

13 May 2010

Machin pane from Britain Alone Covers prestige booklet
5p/10p/60p in one pane

26 Oct 2010

New "Special Delivery" Machins



original prices would have been:
£5.05 (non-denominated) Special Delivery, up to 100g
£5.50 (non-denominated) Special Delivery, up to 500g

As reported first by Ian Billings of Norvic Philatelics.