List of Machin stamps

This is a list of all the major variations of the Machin series of postage stamps in the United Kingdom. The complete list of all variations is vast and outside the scope of this encyclopedia.

Note: the colours and the colour descriptions are to be used to give an idea only, as each catalogue and website will name the colours differently.

Pre-decimal issues

The first Machins were issued in 1967 and were in use until the UK changed to a decimal currency in 1971. These Machins came in two sizes, with the four higher value stamps being the largest.

Small Size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value & ColourDate first issued
12d orange brownFeb 5 1968
1d yellow & ochreFeb 5 1968
2d lake brownFeb 5 1968
3d spectrum violetAug 8 1967
4d olive sepiaJun 5 1967
4d vermilionJan 6 1969
5d stewart blueJul 1 1968
6d purpleFeb 5 1968
7d light greenJul 1 1968
8d scarletJul 1 1968
8d duck egg blueJan 6 1969
9d winchester greenAug 8 1967
10d light olive brownJul 1 1968
1/- aconite violetJun 5 1967
1/6 turquoise & garter blueAug 8 1967
1/9 orange & olive brownJun 5 1967

Large Size

Value & ColourDate first issued
2/6 peat brownMar 5 1969
5/- raspberry redMar 5 1969
10/- deep ultramarineMar 5 1969
£1 bluish blackMar 5 1969

Decimal issues

The decimal Machins have been issued throughout Britain's period of decimalisation, and continue to be produced today. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Royal Mail issued 12 Machins in a larger format. Other major variations include:

Elliptical Perforation: In 1993 the Royal Mail started issuing Machins with two large elliptical perforations, one on either side, as a security feature. Some Machins have both standard and elliptical perfs, but those issued after 1993 only have the ellipticals.
EME Images: In 1997 a new profile of the Queen was used on Machins. EME (or Electro-Mechanically Engraved) images are created by computer and therefore offer better detail in the image.
Regional Issues: These Machins were issued with a heraldic symbol in the top left hand corner. These represent the Isle of Man with the Three Legs of Man symbol; Northern Ireland with the Red Hand of Ulster symbol; Scotland with the Lion of Scotland symbol and Wales with the Welsh Dragon symbol.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st IssueElliptical Perf.EME ImageRegional Issue
12p turquoiseFeb 15 1971   
1p crimsonFeb 15 1971Jun 8 1993Apr 1 1997 
1 12p charcoal greyFeb 15 1971   
2p deep grey-greenFeb 15 1971Apr 11 1995May 27 1997 
2 12p pale magentaFeb 15 1971  Jul 7 1971
2 12p rose madderJan 14 1981   
3p ultramarineFeb 15 1971  Jul 7 1971
3p rose redOct 22 1980   
3p shocking pinkOct 10 1989   
3 12p grey greenFeb 15 1971  Jan 23 1974
3 12p purple-brownMar 30 1983   
4p rust brownFeb 15 1971   
4p turquoiseJan 30 1980   
4p cobalt blueJan 26 1988Dec 14 1993May 27 1997 
4 12p blue-greyOct 24 1973   
4 12p steel blueNov 6 1974  Nov 6 1974
5p grey-violetFeb 15 1971  Jul 7 1971
5p greyish roseJan 27 1982   
5p ash pink (red-brown)Jul 26 1988Jun 8 1993May 27 1997 
5 12p deep violetOct 24 1973  Jan 23 1974
6p pastel greenFeb 15 1971   
6p lime greenSep 10 1991Apr 27 1993Apr 1 1997 
6 12p cerulean blueSep 4 1974  Jan 14 1976
7p reddish brownDec 1974  Jan 18 1978
7p brick redOct 29 1985   
7p light grey Apr 20 1999  
7p shocking pink Apr 1 2004  
7 12p pale chestnutFeb 15 1971  Jul 7 1971
8p blood redOct 24 1973  Jan 23 1974
8p old gold Apr 25 2000  
8 12p apple greenSep 24 1975  Jan 14 1976
9p orange & blackFeb 15 1971   
9p bluish violetFeb 25 1976  Jan 18 1978
9p orange Apr 5 2005Apr 1 2008 
9 12p deep lilacFeb 16 1976   
10p terracotta & orange-brownAug 11 1971   
10p grey-orangeFeb 25 1976  Oct 20 1976
10p light tanSep 4 1990Jun 8 1993May 27 1997 
10 12p light yellowFeb 25 1976   
10 12p greyish blueApr 26 1978  Jan 18 1978
11p pastel redFeb 25 1976  Oct 20 1976
11 12p rust brownAug 15 1979   
11 12p mushroomJan 14 1981  Apr 8 1981
12p yellow-greenJan 30 1980  Jul 23 1980
12p emerald greenOct 29 1985  Jan 7 1986
12p dark turquoise Aug 1 2006  
12 12p pastel greenJan 27 1982  Feb 24 1982
13p grey greenAug 15 1979   
13p light brownAug 28 1984  Oct 23 1984
13 12p red brownJan 30 1980  Jul 23 1980
14p greyish blueJan 14 1981  Apr 8 1981
14p dark blueAug 23 1988  Nov 8 1988
14p salmon pink Aug 1 2006  
15p ultramarineAug 15 1979  Jul 23 1980
15p light blueSep 26 1989  Nov 28 1989
15p shocking pink Apr 1 2008Apr 1 2008 
15 12p light violetJan 14 1981  Feb 24 1982
16p light mushroomMar 30 1983  Apr 27 1983
16p pink Mar 27 2007  
16 12p light brownJan 27 1982   
17p pastel greenJan 30 1980   
17p greyish blueMar 30 1983  Oct 23 1984
17p dark blueSep 4 1990  Dec 4 1990
17p olive green Mar 31 2009  
17 12p chestnut brownJan 30 1980   
18p bluish violetJan 14 1981  Apr 8 1981
18p grey greenAug 28 1984  Jan 6 1987
18p light greenSep 10 1991  Dec 3 1991
19p flameAug 23 1988  Nov 8 1988
19p olive green Oct 26 1993Apr 20 1999Dec 7 1993
19 12p pale olive greyJan 27 1982  Feb 24 1982
20p purple-greyFeb 25 1976   
20p sea greenAug 23 1988Dec 7 1993  
20p blackSep 26 1989  Nov 28 1989
20p light green Jun 25 1996Apr 29 1997Jul 23 1996 [1][2]
20 12p ultramarineMar 30 1983  Apr 27 1983
22p deep blueOct 22 1980  Apr 8 1981
22p moss greenAug 28 1984  Oct 23 1984
22p flameSep 4 1990  Dec 4 1990
22p stone Mar 31 2009  
23p pastel redMar 30 1983   
23p light greenAug 23 1988  Nov 8 1988
24p violetAug 28 1984   
24p terracottaSep 26 1989  Nov 28 1989
24p rustSep 10 1991  Dec 3 1991
25p lilacJan 14 1981   
25p salmon pink Oct 26 1993 Dec 7 1993
26p post office redJan 27 1982  Feb 24 1982
26p stoneSep 4 1990  Dec 4 1990
26p rust Jun 25 1996Sep 23 1997Jul 23 1996 [3][4]
26p gold Apr 21 1997Apr 21 1997 
27p rustAug 23 1988   
27p mauveSep 4 1990   
28p bluish violetMar 30 1983  Apr 27 1983
28p sandAug 23 1988   
28p slate blueSep 10 1991  Dec 3 1991
29p yellow-brownJan 27 1982   
29p purpleSep 26 1989   
29p light grey Oct 26 1993  
30p sage greenSep 26 1989Jul 27 19931997Dec 7 1993
31p deep lilacMar 30 1983  Oct 23 1984
31p ultramarineSep 4 1990   
31p purple Jun 25 1996Aug 26 1997 
32p dark turquoiseAug 23 1988  Nov 8 1988
33p emerald greenSep 4 1990   
33p slate blue Apr 25 2000  
34p yellow brownAug 28 1984   
34p slate blueSep 26 1989  Nov 28 1989
34p purpleSep 10 1991   
34p lime green May 6 2003May 6 2003 
35p dark brownAug 23 1988Aug 1 2004  
35p old goldSep 10 1991Aug 17 1993  
35p lime green Apr 5 2005Apr 5 2005 
36p ultramarine Oct 26 1993  
37p redSep 26 1989  Dec 4 1990
37p amethyst Jun 25 1996Aug 26 1997Jul 23 1996 [5][6]
37p charcoal black Jul 4 2002Jul 4 2002 
37p olive green Mar 28 2006Mar 28 2006 
38p red Oct 26 1993  
38p ultramarine Apr 20 1999Apr 20 1999Jun 8 1999
39p amethystSep 10 1991  Dec 3 1991
39p shocking pink Jun 25 19961997 
39p light grey Apr 1 2004  
40p grey blue Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000
40p dark turquoise Apr 1 2004Apr 1 2004 
41p stone Oct 26 1993 Dec 7 1993
41p red Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000 
42p sage green Jul 4 2002Jul 4 2002 
43p dark brown Jun 25 1996Apr 1 1997 
43p emerald green Apr 1 2004Apr 1 2004 
44p stone Apr 20 1999Apr 20 1999 
44p ultramarine Mar 28 2006Mar 28 2006 
45p amethyst Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000 
46p old gold Apr 5 2005Apr 5 2005 
47p sea green Jul 4 2002Jul 4 2002 
48p amethyst Mar 27 2007Mar 27 2007 
49p rust Mar 28 2006Mar 28 2006 
50p ochreFeb 2 1977   
50p sandMar 13 1990Dec 14 1993Apr 1 1997 
50p light grey Mar 27 2007Mar 27 2007 
54p rust Mar 27 2007Mar 27 2007 
56p sage green Apr 1 2008Apr 1 2008 
60p slate blue Aug 9 1994  
62p red Mar 31 2009  
63p emerald green Jun 25 1996Aug 26 1997Jul 23 1996
64p sea green Apr 20 1999Apr 20 1999Jun 8 1999
65p dark turquoise Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000Apr 25 2000
68p stone Jul 4 2002Jul 4 2002 
72p red Mar 28 2006Mar 28 2006 
75p India blackJan 30 1980   
78p emerald green Mar 27 2007Mar 27 2007 
81p turquoise Apr 1 2008Apr 1 2008 
90p ultramarineMar 31 2009   
£1 mauve Aug 22 1995Apr 1 1997 
£1 ruby Jun 5 2007Jun 5 2007 
£1.50 brownish red Mar 9 1999  
£2 slate blue Mar 9 1999  
£3 dull purple Mar 9 1999  
£5 brown Mar 9 1999  
£5 grey blue Jul 1 2003  

Large size (30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st Issue
10p ceriseJun 17 1970
20p olive greenJun 17 1970
50p deep ultramarineJun 17 1970
£1 bluish blackJun 17 1970
£1 olive & greenish yellowFeb 2 1977
£1.30 buff & blue-greenAug 3 1983
£1.33 mauve & blue-blackAug 28 1984
£1.41 buff & blue-greenSep 17 1985
£1.50 blue-black & lilacSep 2 1986
£1.60 blue-black & buffSep 15 1987
£2 purple-brown and pale greenFeb 2 1977
£5 royal blue & pale pinkFeb 2 1977

NVI (non-value indicator) issues

NVI (or non-value indicator) Machins first appeared in 1989 in an attempt to negate the need to keep issuing new stamps after each postal rate change. They are marked 1st and 2nd for the two classes of post in the United Kingdom. The E NVI stamp represented the standard letter rate to Europe.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st IssueElliptical Perf.EME ImageRegional Issue
1st blackAug 22 1989   
1st flameAug 7 1990Apr 6 1993Apr 29 1997Feb 15 2000
1st gold Apr 21 1997Apr 21 1997 
1st Millennium white Jan 6 2000Jan 6 2000 
1st gold (large value) Aug 1 2006Aug 1 2006 
2nd light blueAug 22 1989Apr 6 1993Apr 29 1997 
2nd dark blueAug 7 1990   
2nd light blue (large value) Aug 1 2006Aug 1 2006 
E dark blue Jan 19 1999Jan 19 1999 

Horizontal issues

Value & ColourDate 1st IssueElliptical Perf.EME Image
1st gold (large value) Aug 1 2006Aug 1 2006
2nd light blue (large value) Aug 1 2006Aug 1 2006

Large size (30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st Issue
1st embossedFeb 16 1999
1st engravedFeb 16 1999
1st typographedFeb 16 1999

Penny Black anniversary issues

In 1990, the Royal Mail issued 5 stamps to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black. It featured the machin image of Queen Elizabeth II overlaying the image of Queen Victoria from the Penny Black. An NVI issue was released in 2000.

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st Issue
15p light blueJan 10 1990
20p black & creamJan 10 1990
20p blackApr 17 1990
29p purpleJan 10 1990
34p slate blueJan 10 1990
37p redJan 10 1990
1st blackFeb 15 2000

Airmail issues

Small size (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value & ColourDate 1st Issue
Airmail EuropeMar 27 2003
Airmail WorldwideMar 27 2003
Airmail PostcardApr 1 2004

Self-adhesives stamps

Since about 2009, virtually all Machins have been issued only as self-adhesive stamps. The primary exceptions have been stamps issued as part of Prestige Stamp Booklets or in souvenir sheets.

Footnotes

  1. An EME version of the regionals was also issued on Jul 1 1997.
  2. The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
  3. An EME version of the regionals was also issued on May 28 1997.
  4. The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
  5. An EME version of the regionals was also issued on Jul 1 1997.
  6. The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix.
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