Post & Go

Machin Watch

BRITISH STAMPS Machin Watch

By John M Deering

Since their introduction in 2008, Post & Go stamps have
undergone several evolutions. This month, John Deering provides
a comprehensive guide to the different types and subtypes created
to date. However, to begin, John reveals several new Machin stamps
issued to meet Royal Mail’s new postal tariffs.

Hello and welcome to the May 2015 ‘Machin value, they are for a specific letter rate and The £2.45 and £3.30
Watch’. Around the end of March is the usual so tend not to be classified by philatelists (or new Europe, World
time of year for any postal tariff increases to Royal Mail) as true high values. Anyway, the Zone 1 and World
be implemented, and 2015 is no exception! bottom line is that for the newly introduced Zone 2 ‘Large Letter’
In readiness for the changes, several new Europe, World Zone 1 and World tariff Machin values
definitive stamps were issued on 24 March, Zone 2 ‘Large Letter’ tariffs there (Reduced)
with the postal tariffs coming into force on are three new Machin stamps: a
Monday 30 March. £2.45, a £3.15 and a £3.30! to machines on 31 March 2014, will, by the
time you are reading this, have gone—for
2nd and 1st stamps, of course, negate the You often hear it said, ‘be good. Therefore, the range of six Post & Go
need for new denominations dealing with any careful what you wish for’, and stamps from machines should now go like
new basic letter rates, which with such low perhaps as philatelists we have this: 1st Class, 1st Large, Euro 20g World
inflation I had not really expected to rise, or been ‘hoist with our own petard’. 10g, Europe up to 100g, Worldwide up to
to only rise a small amount. There has been a There has been much complaint 20g, and Worldwide up to 100g. All good fun
rise, but by the smallest amount possible as it about the gold Horizon labels isn’t it! See you next month after my frontal
is just a 1p on both the basic 2nd and 1st class that are used by the Post Office lobotomy (I may need one).
letter rates, which have risen to 54p and 63p (and consequent lack of stamps
respectively. The 2nd class ‘Large Letter’ has on mail), and it seems that
risen by 1p too, so is now 74p. Of the basic Royal Mail have taken note.
rates, the first class ‘Large letter’ has seen the Apparently, they have been
biggest increase: 2p, taking it to 95p (a rise of working together with the
just over 2 per cent!). Post Office to provide these
stamps as an alternative to the
It’s the rates for Europe and beyond where Horizon labels!
things have gotten interesting and have a
philatelic implication. The concept of ‘Large There are actually six new
Letter’ has, some years after it was introduced Machins, the three already
to domestic mail, finally been adopted for mentioned and three others
Europe and the rest of the world. The sizing to replace the previous £1.28, £1.47 and
and weight limits are the same as for domestic £2.15, which are now £1.33, £1.52 and £2.25.
mail so it is a sensible simplification; anything What is most interesting is that the £1.47
more than 5mm thick (wherever it is going), and £2.15 stamps were for ‘Europe up to
or if it is more than a 100g, is a ‘Large Letter’ 60g’ and ‘Worldwide up to 60g’, which, from
and so on. I will come back to all this in due 30 March, are now obsolete specific tariffs.
course, but what it does mean is that there are This is because the weight bands have been
some new higher rate stamps! I chose my words increased so that anything weighing over 20g
carefully there in that I said higher rate and not now falls into an up to 100g tariff. This has
high value. Whilst some of the new stamps serious implications for Post & Go because
have a value greater than a so-called high the ‘up to 60g’ values, which were introduced

Post & Go stamp types differences in the thermally-printed service indicators and code lines.
These are either due to deliberate changes in the output of existing
Some six years into the existence of Post & Go stamps, their machines; through the introduction of alternative or new machines
availability, in one form or another, and the number of locations with changed formats of code line; or where the make of machine
where they can be obtained (either operationally or with a philatelic has a thermal output which produces a subtly different typeface of
flavour), seems to have grown exponentially. Love them or not, they sufficient importance to be philatelically relevant. Such differences are
are here to stay, and the journey is far from over as this self-service known as types, and different types are distinguished (and catalogued)
product becomes available in more and more locations. One thing is by taking account of the size and style of the typeface used, and the
clear, as the product has evolved, the ‘look’ of the thermally-produced relationship to each other of the various elements of the service
letters and numbers has evolved too. At first, all the differences can indicator lines and code line. Some differences are so significant
seem a little complicated, but things are simpler than they first appear. as to warrant a brand new type needing full catalogue status, whilst
As my reports dealing with the changes span several years’ worth of others are variations within a theme and are a very worthwhile subtype
articles and are frequently only specific to a particular stamp issue, meriting observation and appreciation but which may fall just beyond
I thought that a detailed review putting things firmly into context the need for a completely new (catalogued) type.
(along with some background, of course) might be really useful.
As with anything new which subsequently changes, the first
Post & Go stamps first arrived on the scene in 2008, when, on 8 combination of size, style, and arrangement of service indicators and
September, the very first (Wincor Nixdorf) Post & Go machine went code line became known as ‘Type I’. With the desire to introduce
live at The Galleries post office in Bristol. The Bristol machine (and pictorial issues the overall size had to be shrunk down to fit in the
those which soon followed in other locations) dispensed Machin available space next to the pictorial element and thus (the smaller)
stamps only, and that remained the case for almost two years until ‘Type II’ was born. Thinking of the future and an expansion of the
the first pictorial issue, Birds of Britain 1, became available on 17 way Post & Go might be offered, Royal Mail started to look at, and
September 2010. subsequently develop, alternative sorts of machines; the Stampex
exhibitions were used as a testing ground for them. Initially, the
Since then we have had other themes, but more important are the
G.S.M. May 2015
52

Machin Watch

thermal output of the trial (Hytech) some suffixes to the already existing SG Concise Type II, IIA and III, and it is incumbent on BRITISH STAMPS
machines was, in essence, Type II (albeit a me to remind readers that the suffixes are ‘Machin Watch–isms’ and are not official SG types.
subtype), but from Autumn Stampex 2012 the Consequently, you won’t find them catalogued as such. In ‘Machin Watch’ I have mentioned
stamps generated by the machines (which by some of them before.
then had become a prototype) had a changed Distinguishing the main types and subtypes from each other
feature: instead of the code line being all With anything so involved it is quite useful to simplify things as much as possible, but over-
numerals (as with Type I and II) it combined simplification can also result in some interesting features being completely overlooked,
letters and numerals. Things quickly moved which may then bring about doubt and confusion. I shall therefore discuss several of the
on, and, as part of a pop-up post office in distinguishing features and, where I have the space, note them in the table too.
Camden, London, on 17 November 2012, Type I, II and IIA
the machines which generated a code line of Type I is relatively straightforward because it has a large and bold service indicator, and a
letters and numerals were installed. Now that tall, but weak-looking, code line consisting of numerals only. By today’s standards it looks
they were being used in a truly operational very unrefined indeed. In contrast, Type II has a smaller service indicator (with lines 4mm
environment a new SG Concise cataloguable apart). Its code line is also made up entirely of numerals, but is small and compact. On Type
type came into being: ‘Type III’. II everything is just smaller and shorter in length so that it fits to the left of the pictorial
design. Not really considered particularly relevant, that is until Type IIA came along, was the
Until February 2014 things stayed the relationship of the various elements of the Type II service indicator lines and code line to
same: in post offices the (then Wincor) each other, and how they varied across the different sorts of stamps within the range. On the
machines were still generating Type II stamps, two UK tariff stamps and the Europe up to 20g (and its 2014 replacement, the ‘dual-service’
and at exhibitions (and in November 2013 Euro 20g World 10g), the two service indicator lines are in line with each other, but out of
from a travelling pop-up post office) the line with the code line, which is much further over to the left. The other stamps in the then
(Hytech) machines were producing Type III range, Worldwide up to 10g (later changed to Europe up to 60g), Worldwide up to 20g, and
stamps. However, in February 2014 it was all the Worldwide up to 40g (later changed to Worldwide up to 60g) all have the upper service
change again. The now old machines in post indicator line and code line ranged left, whilst the second service indicator line is inset at the
offices were being replaced by a new sort of left. Therefore, none of them have all three elements ranged left.
machine, an NCR, and whilst the stamps from
it are similar to Type II they are sufficiently Type IIA is similar to Type II in that it has the smaller service indicator and the code line is
different to need a separate classification, of numerals only. There are small differences in the typeface and in the spacing of the service
and are referred to in the Concise as Type indicator lines (now 3.3mm). The code line also looks quite small and weak. However, what
IIA. From Spring Stampex 2014 the Hytechs makes for a brand new catalogued type is that both service indicator lines and the code line are
were replaced by something altogether newer all are ranged left, which on stamps with code lines of only numerals had not happened before.
and cleverer, branded Royal Mail Series Type II and IIA subtypes
II machines. Like their Hytech relations, There is a subtype for each of Type II and Type IIA, and for both I have used a bracketed ‘1’ as
the stamps they generate have code lines a suffix, thus: Type II(1) and Type IIA(1). Type II(1) comes from the trial Hytech machine at
combining letters and numerals (Type III), Spring Stampex 2011; the spacing of the two service indicator lines is 3mm (Type II is 4mm),
but because the typeface is smaller it is really and further differentiating them is that all five values (i.e. even the 1st, 1st large, and Europe
a subtype of Type III. Following some software up to 20g) have the upper service indicator line ranged left with the code line. Type IIA(1) is a
changes from Autumn Stampex 2014, the very new subtype, and one that until now I have not discussed in ‘Machin Watch’; it is unique to
typeface generated out of the Royal Mail a recent reprint of the Union Flag Special Pack stamp (only 1st Class) and therefore does not
Series II machines was revised so that it was affect any other issue. It combines the following features: a code line of numerals only, service
further reduced in size, which brought about indicators spaced 3mm apart (TIIA is 3.3mm), both service indicator lines and code line all
another subtype, which I like to call Type ranged left, and the smaller (revised) typeface resulting in a shorter line length.
IIIA. In December 2014 the machines with Type III
the further reduced typeface were installed Having a code line of letters and numerals, Type III is very straightforward when compared
for public access at two Royal Mail Enquiry to the other types, and so can be considered quite independently and without reference to
offices, and thus the reduced-size Type III them at all. I take the view that in addition to the original Type III, there are four subtypes (so
subtype is further legitimised through being five versions in all) which I am defining through the use of either a bracketed ‘a’, the use of a
generated in an official location of which capital ‘A’, a bracketed ‘1’ or a combination: thus, Type III(a), Type III(1), Type IIIA, and Type
more will follow. IIIA(1).

Subtypes The original Type III, together with my Type III(1), Type IIIA and Type IIIA(1) all have both
There are actually several subtypes, with some service indicator lines and the code line ranged left. In Type III terms though, Type III(a) is
resulting only from the production for the unique because the second service indicator line is inset instead of being ranged left! This type
Special Packs that Royal Mail produce. Others only exists on the Special Pack stamps (only 1st Class) from Cattle through to and including
are the result of changes to machines used Spring Blooms.
mostly at exhibitions. Whilst the subtypes are
not separately classified in Concise Catalogue Type III, Type III(1), Type IIIA and Type IIIA(1) can all be differentiated through the
terms, they need taking serious note of and spacing of the two service indicator lines: Type III (Hytech) 2.6mm apart; Type III(1) (Royal
are really very interesting. Shown with a Mail Series II) 2.4mm apart; Type IIIA (Royal Mail Series II, revised) 2.7mm and lastly TIIIA(1)
timeline they start to show just how things (Royal Mail Series II revised) 3.2mm apart. However, there are other defining differences, all to
have changed, and how the changes came do with the upper service indicator line lengths, but making things somewhat awkward is that
about. Put all the types into a table, as I have not all denominations within a particular subtype have differing line lengths. Type III and Type
done here, and the mist starts to clear. III(1) are quite similar with only a small difference in the line spacing, but the ‘1st Class’ and
What is really important to grasp is that whilst ‘1st Large’ line lengths are shorter, at about 17mm, on Type III(1). Type III are about 20mm.
there are a few subtypes, more often than
not they are specific to a particular issue, Things are much easier with TIIIA because it is more of a major difference (hence the ‘A’).
production or availability at an exhibition, As I already mentioned, the typeface is further reduced in size and this means that the upper
and so don’t in themselves create anything service indicator lines are all shorter in length, with the word ‘Worldwide’ having the biggest
that isn’t already acknowledged as new: i.e. contrast (19mm instead of 22mm). Also, on TIIIA things are just not as bold. Type IIIA(1),
there may be subtype of Type III, but they brought about owing to the 3.2mm line spacing, is just a variation to the Type IIIA theme and
are still Type III (with letters and numerals). seems to be unique to one pack issue (so affecting 1st Class only): Symbolic Flowers.
The Machins are the real exception though;
because they are a permanent issue they have Including the main types, if we count all the versions there are ten in all: one Type I, four
straddled all the changes, but (conveniently) TIIs and five TIIIs. All are detailed in the accompanying table, and the far right column notes
they have skipped some subtypes which only where/when and on which issue(s) the particular ‘Type’ first appeared. This is meant to assist
exist from a Special Pack production of a with the timeline and the notes are not meant to be exhaustive. I am including an array of
particular pictorial. pictures, and where a particular version is known on Machins it is the Machin design I am
picturing even if the type first manifested itself on a pictorial design. If a type is only known on
To enable the adequate recording of a pictorial design then that particular design is shown.
all the subtypes I have had to introduce
G.S.M. May 2015 53

Machin Watch

BRITISH STAMPS POST & GO STAMP ‘TYPES’ (thermal unless noted)

Machine type Typeface Code line Spacing Service indicator lines & Other Where/when,
Numerals of code line all ranged left information & on which
Type (or other (size/ only service issues(s),
Yes indicator No Yes the Type first
source) style) Letters & lines appeared
Yes numerals
PO machine at
‘Type’ I Wincor Large and No ‘The Galleries’,
bold Bristol (8/10/08
(Walsall No on Machins)
‘Type’ I gravure in Large and
bold Special Pack:
packs) Machins only
(31/3/09)

‘Type’ II Wincor Small Yes 4mm No 1st, 1st PO machines
large and (8/9/10 on
Europe up Machins)
to 20g have
both service
indicator lines
inset at left.

(Walsall Small Yes No 1st only Special Packs:
‘Type’ II gravure in Birds 1 - 4
sheetlets only
packs) (17/9/10)

‘Type’ Hytech Small Yes 3mm No On all values Spring Stampex
II(1) version 1 the upper 2011 (23/2/11
service on Machins)
indicator line
is ranged left
with code line.

‘Type’ NCR Small Yes 3.3mm PO machines
IIA 3mm Yes (2/14 on

Machins)

‘Type’ Royal Mail Smaller Yes Yes 1st only; line Special Packs
IIA(1) Series II (revised) length shorter. (12/14 on Union
Flag reprint only)

Autumn Stampex

2012 (26/9/12

on Union

Flag & Pigs, &

‘Type’ Hytech Small Yes 2.6mm Yes subsequently
III version 2 from PO pop-

up machine,

17/11/12,

on Machins &

Robins)

‘Type’ Hytech Small Yes 3mm No 1st only Special Packs
III(a) version 2 Small (28/9/12 on
Cattle)
‘Type’ Royal Mail
III(1) Series II Spring Stampex

Yes 2.4mm Yes 2014 (19/2/14
on Union Flag &

Spring Blooms)

Autumn Stampex

2014 (17/9/14

on Machin, Union

‘Type’ Royal Mail Smaller Yes 2.7mm Yes Typeface Flag & Symbolic
IIIA Series II (revised) smaller with Flowers), &
shorter line subsequently
lengths. from machines
in Royal Mail

Enquiry offices,

3/12/14, on

Winter Greenery)

‘Type’ Royal Mail Smaller Yes 3.2mm Yes 1st only Special Packs
IIIA(1) Series II (revised) (17/9/14 on
Symbolic Flowers
only)

54 G.S.M. May 2015

Machin Watch

N.B. Hytech version 1 (initially Hytech Postal Vision) was a trial machine introduced at Spring Stampex 2011. From Autumn Stampex 2012 modified BRITISH STAMPS
machines were instead brought into use, sometimes referred to as Hytech version 2 (or Hytech version 2 ‘next generation’), and also Royal Mail
Series I. At Spring Stampex 2014 a new machine was brought into use and it is classified as a Royal Mail ‘Series II’ (although it is sometimes
referred to as Royal Mail Series B).
The Type I, Type II, IIA and Type III classifications are used by Stanley Gibbons in their Concise Catalogue and were applied when stamps with the

types were dispensed from Post & Go machines in operational locations such as static, pop-up and travelling post offices, or operational Royal Mail
locations serving the public. Type II(1), IIA(1), Type III(a), III(1), IIIA and IIIA(1) are used here by the author to distinguish additional types.

4mm Type II: (Left) (code line numerals only) in

(Wincor) se-tenant strip of five. Small service
indicator (with 4mm spacing), code line is
small and compact. Also shown is single
stamp of ‘Worldwide up to 40g’. Two service
indicator lines in line with each other but code
line much further over to the left on 1st Class,
1st large, and Europe up to 20g. Upper service
indicator line and code line ranged left, whilst
the second service indicator line is inset on
Worldwide up to 10g, 20g, and 40g.

Type I: (code line numerals only) 3mm 3.3mm

in (Wincor) se-tenant strip of five. Type II(1): (Above) Type IIA: (Above) (NCR) collectors’ strip of
Large and bold service indicator; tall
but weak-looking code line. (Type (code line numerals only) in six. Similar to Type II in that it has the smaller
I in gravure also exists, but from (Hytech) se-tenant strip of five service indicator (with 3.3mm spacing) and the
packs only.) (N.B. ‘Worldwide up to 40g’ code line is of numerals only. Code line looks
does not exist in this subtype). quite small and weak. Main defining feature is
3mm Small service indicator (with that both service indicator lines and the code
3mm spacing), code line is line are all are ranged left.
Type IIA(1): (Above) combines the small and compact. On all
five values the upper service 55
following features: a code line of numerals indicator line and code line are
only, service indicators spaced 3mm apart, ranged left, whilst the second
both service indicator lines and code line all service indicator line is inset.
ranged left, and at the same time the smaller
(revised) typeface resulting in a shorter line
length. Unique to a reprint of the Union Flag
Special Pack stamp (only 1st Class). From
Royal Mail Series II machine.
G.S.M. May 2015

BRITISH STAMPSMachin Watch Type III: (Left) (code line of letters and

20mm numerals) in (Hytech) collectors’ strip of
six to ‘Worldwide up to 40g’, with 2.6mm
2.6mm spacing. ‘1st Class’ and ‘1st Large’ lines are 3mm
17mm approximately 20mm in length. This strip 3.2mm
is from the Camden pop-up post office in
November 2012. All lines are ranged left.

2.4mm Type III(a): (Right)

(code line of letters and
numerals) in (Hytech)
strip of six 1st Class
pictorial stamps, with
3mm spacing. This Type
III subtype is unique
because the second
service indicator line is
inset instead of being
ranged left. Only from
Special Pack stamps.

2.7mm

Type III(1) (Above right) (code 19mm

line of letters and numerals) in (Royal Type IIIA(1): (Right) (code line of letters and numerals) in (Royal Mail Series II)
Mail Series II) collectors’ strip of six
to ‘Worldwide up to 40g’, with 2.4mm strip of six 1st Class pictorial stamps, with 3.2mm spacing and revised (smaller)
spacing. ‘1st Class’ and ‘1st Large’ lines typeface. Only from Special Pack Symbolic Flowers stamps. All lines are ranged left.
are approximately 17mm in length.
Machins in this subtype originated from G.S.M. May 2015
the Salisbury Stamp Fair in March 2014.
All lines are ranged left.

Type IIIA: (Right) (code line of letters and

numerals) in (Royal Mail Series II) collectors’
strip of six to ‘Worldwide up to 60g’, with
2.7mm spacing and revised (smaller)
typeface. All upper service indicator lines
are slightly shorter in height, and much
shorter in length, with the word ‘Worldwide’
most noticeable at around 19mm instead of
22mm. From machines at Autumn Stampex
2014. All lines are ranged left.

56

Machin WatchBRITISH STAMPS

Tailpiece

As I end this month’s article I just want to tell you about a
couple of other things to keep you on your toes. Machin
counter sheet printings are now starting to appear with
M15L date codes, and so far I have seen 1p, 2nd, £1.00,
and both of Royal Mail Signed For (i.e. including the Large
Letter version). No doubt other counter sheet stamps will
soon follow, along with business sheets and booklets.

In the March Tailpiece I included a picture of a 12×1st
retail booklet which was actually a forgery; it had all the
correct iridescent overprint (MTIL/M13L) and so on and,
as many have commented from the picture, is a very real-
looking production. I have now been shown something
else in the same theme, but it is less convincing (although probably to a non-philatelist would not raise any issues at all). Again it is a
red 12×1st booklet (and even has a cylinder number, which presumably suggests that the criminals simply copied a cylinder booklet so
they may all be the same), but this time has no discernible iridescent overprint. There are the usual false bands, and between them a
highly-glazed surface, which seems to be the result of some serious varnishing. The item is in litho (as they all seem to be) and whilst the
perforations are very realistic they are not the real thing, and even have a quirky looking perf. on the upper horizontal. Keep your eyes
peeled; after all you never know what you might find (real or not). Until next time.

Great Britain illustrated Price List 1840 – 2008

Phone or write for your free copy of our latest 56 page list or visit 57

www.britishstamps.com

Swan Stamps PO Box 501 Torquay Devon TQ1 9FE
Telephone 01803 290619 email [email protected]

G.S.M. May 2015