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GB Stamps 1840 to Date
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The Machin series
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Portrait photo of Arnold Machin,
O.B.E., R.A. (* 1911, † 1999), British sculptor, coin and stamp designer
ex MS #2743 or PSB #DX39
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First issued Machin
pre-decimal definitive stamp on 5 June 1967 |
Photography of the
plaster cast of the Queen's head
Pictorial label
ex PSB #DX39 |
First issued Machin
decimal definitive stamp on 15 February 1971 |
Non-Value Indicator (NVI) Machins
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On 23 March 2021 Royal Mail introduced the first NVI Machin definitive with a unique barcode added.
Each barcoded stamp will have a digital twin and the two will be connected by the Royal Mail
App.
The unique barcodes will facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for the Royal Mail's customers. The barcodes match the stamp colour and sit alongside the main body of the stamp, separated by a simulated perforation line. The new barcode is an integral part of the stamp and must remain intact for the stamp to be valid. The new barcoded stamps enable you to watch and share an exclusive
video via the »Data Matrix Code«
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Contents | ||||
Printers | Printing Methods | Paper Types | Phosphor Tagging | Security Features |
Perforation | Gum Types | Common Abbreviations | Useful References | Prestige Stamp Books |
Printers |
UK-based International Security Printers
(ISP)
Ltd,
![]() ISP
Walsall
Security Printers
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(WSP)
, and France-based
![]() Walsall ISP
Cartor
Security Printing have announced a
rebranding to
Cartor Security Printers (CSP),
effective from 23 August 2021. The move, which reflects the way the company has grown and expanded in recent years, consolidates their existing brands to form a single
![]() Cartor ISP
unified
identity. Printing of Royal Mail postage stamps continues.
![]() CSP |
International Security Printers (ISP) Ltd, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, founded in 2004.
All printing techniques (2004 to date)
In 2004 Walsall Security Printers (WSP) acquired the French Cartor Security Printing (CSP) and established ISP to head-up these both trading companies. The old brands
Walsall and Cartor were officially no longer in use. However in philatelic circles the old names are still used to distinguish the location where stamps were printed (Walsall/England or Cartor/France), eg. .... printed by ISP (Walsall) or ... printed by ISP (Cartor).
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De La Rue (DLR) Security Print, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, founded in 1813.
Photogravure (1997 to date) |
Walsall Security Printers (WSP) Ltd., Walsall, West Midlands, England, established in 1966 (original company founded 1894) and appointed as supplier to Royal Mail in 1987, started printing of 14p and 19p definitive stamps for booklets in 1989.
Lithography (1989 - 1997) Photogravure (1997 - 2004)
Since 2004 International Security Printers (ISP) Ltd
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Royal Joh. Enschedé en Zonen BV, Haarlem, Noord-Holland, Netherlands, founded 1703, started printing of 8p definitive stamps in 1979.
Photogravure (1979, 1991, 1993-1996, sporadically to date) Lithography (1997, [1st]) |
Cartor Security Printing (CSP), La Loupe, Eure-et-Loir, France, formed in 1974, first GB stamp printing in 2005,
Modern stamp printing by Cartor.
Since 2004 International Security Printers (ISP) Ltd
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Harrison & Sons Ltd., High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, founded in 1750, first British stamp printing contract in 1881, followed by a major contract in 1911 for definitives and from 1934 until the 1980s virtually every British stamp came from Harrison. In 1997 Harrison was purchased by
De La Rue, but continued Machin definitives printing until late 1998.
Photogravure (1952 - 1999) |
The House of Questa, London, England. Formed in 1966, first British stamp printing contract in 1980. In 1984 Waddington acquired Questa, but the stamp printing continued under the name of
Questa. In 1996 Questa was sold to MDC Canada followed by the acqisition and closure of Questa in 2002 by De La Rue.
Lithography (1980 - 1997) Photogravure (1998 - 2002) |
John Waddington Security Print Ltd., Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Established in 1922, first British stamp printing contract for 4p definitives in 1980, but own stamp production was ceased in 1986 upon acquisition by
Questa.
Lithography (1980 - 1986) |
More information ... |
Paper Types | |||
ACP |
Advanced Coated Paper
under short wave ultraviolet light it is very white in appearance and gives a strong afterglow.
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FCP |
Fluorescent Coated Paper
a chalk coated paper with an added optical brightening agent. Slightly whiter appearance than OCP.
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OCP |
Original Coated Paper
This is a chalk coated paper with little or no optical brightening agent. It is off-white or creamy and has a dull reaction to short-wave ultraviolet light. It was gradually replaced by FCP starting in 1971.
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OFNP |
OBA-Free Non-phosphorised Paper
OBA - Optical Brightening Agents |
OFPP |
OBA-Free Phosphorised Paper
OBA - Optical Brightening Agents |
PCP
PCP1 PCP2 |
Phosphor Coated Paper
This is a chalk coated paper incorporating a phosphor activator during manufacture. It has a dull appearance, giving a weak afterglow under short-wave ultraviolet light.
PCP1
PCP1 has a dull matt appearance and a strong afterglow.
PCP2
PCP2 has a very shiny appearance and a strong afterglow.
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Phosphor Tagging | |||||
blue phos |
blue phosphorescent
(slight violet afterglow when the UV light source is removed)
Phosphor 'A' was brought into use in the mid 1980s on the ACP paper issues (strong violet afterglow when the UV light source is removed) |
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colour fluor |
Fluoridated phosphor was brought into use in 1991 ['C'] and in 1994 ['D/D2']
'C' - this phosphor had an additive called cartax mixed with the phosphor ink yellow/green (variations) fluorescent 'D' - blue fluorescent without afterglow 'D2' - blue/violet fluorescent with a blue or violet afterglow under long wave UV light |
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phosphorescent
blue |
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fluorescent
yellow ['C'] |
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fluorescent
blue ['D'] |
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fluorescent
blue ['D2'] |
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fluorescent
violet ['D2'] |
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Position and width of the phosphor bands |
The width of the phosphor side bands (centered down the vertical perforation over two stamps) is 9.5 mm, which results in a 4.75 mm band on one or both vertical side(s) of a single stamp. The width of a single phosphor band applied down the centre of a single stamp is 4.5 mm. The purpose of the phosphor bands is to activate the Automatic Letter Facing Machins to sort the mail into first and second class.
2-band - 9.5mm
left or right band - 4.75 mm centre band - 4.5 mm |
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left band 4.75 mm
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centre band 4.5 mm
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right band 4.75 mm
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2-band 9.5 mm
(4.75 mm each side) |
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The source of the above depicted pre-decimal Machin definitives is the predecessor stamp booklet (SG# ZP1 »Stamps for Cooks«) of the PSB series. |
Perforation Measurement
(The gauge of a perforation is the number of holes in a length of 2 cm) |
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perf 15 | Standard perforation is 15 x 14 (actually 14¾ x 14¼) |
![]() 15 teeth along top edge |
perf 14 |
Perforation 14 x 14 (actually 13¾ x 14¼) by
Walsall,
or (actually 13½ x 14¼) by Questa and Waddington |
![]() 14 teeth along top edge |
The vast majority of Machins are perforated 15x14 but some of them also exist with both perforation varieties, mainly regionals. | ||
[perf 13] |
Perforation 12¾ x 13 was caused by the use of an
incorrect perforation comb by Walsall, on stamps NVI 1st bright orange-red, SG# 1516c ex booklet SG# HB3a, Okt 1990 |
![]() 13 teeth along top edge |
el perf 15
el perf 14 |
Brought into use on 6 April 1993 a three hole ellipse on each vertical edge of the stamp was added as a security feature to prevent re-use and deter forgery.
Elliptical perforation 15 x 14 (actually 14¾ x 14¼)
Elliptical perforation 14 x 14 (actually 13¾ x 14¼ or 13½ x 14¼)
Since then, two types of elliptical holes have been identified:
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Identifying these two types of elliptical perforations on single stamps is rather difficult, pairs or blocks make it easier.
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Elliptical perforation
at left: Type eR (»Rugby ball« shape) at right: Type eS (»Sausage« shape) ![]()
SG# U3012b (5p) // U3017 (50p)
19 Sep 2013 // ex PSB »Merchant Navy« SG# DY8 misplaced elliptical perforations at top of sides of stamp - printed by Enschedé |
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SG# W72 //23 July 1996 // 20p // bt green // Wales
Elliptical perforation - Type eS printed by House of Questa ![]()
SG# Y1722 // 27 March 2007 // 48p // Rhododendron
Elliptical perforation - Type eR printed by De La Rue |
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(el) dc |
(Elliptical) die-cut 14 x 15 or 14½ x 14, self-adhesive stamps,
in PSBs the first self-adhesive stamps appeared in #DX22 »Profile on Print« |
Gum Types | |||
wag | water activated gum | GA | Gum Arabic, white shiny, until the late 1960s |
PVA |
Polyvinyl Alcohol, matt shiny
since 1993 yellowish or bluish-green or white matt-shiny |
PVAD or Dex | Polyvinyl Alcohol + Dextrine additive
Dextrine Additive (bluish-green gum) |
SA | Self-Adhesive gum (Acrylic) | PVAI |
Polyvinyl Alcohol Layflat
(first tested on the 19p/25P values issued in 1995) |
Common Abbreviations | |||
SG# |
Stanley Gibbons catalogue numbers referring to
Great Britain Concise Stamp Catalogue 2021
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ZPn
DXn DYn |
SG »Prestige Stamp Book« numbers |
PSB | Prestige Stamp Book | NVI |
Non Value Indicators, first appearance of non-
denominated Machins in 1989 (1st, 2nd, E[urope, 1999], Worldwide, etc.) |
MD | Machin Definitives | MRD | Machin Regional Definitives |
CD | Country Definitives | SS | Special (commemorative) Stamps |
// Elmar R. Göller // All rights reserved // Contact // Publishing Information |
modified |