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 reference 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 (21mm x 24mm)

Value & Colour Date first issued
½d orange brown Feb 5 1968
1d yellow & ochre Feb 5 1968
2d lake brown Feb 5 1968
3d spectrum violet Aug 8 1967
4d olive sepia Jun 5 1967
4d vermilion Jan 6 1969
5d stewart blue Jul 1 1968
6d purple Feb 5 1968
7d light green Jul 1 1968
8d scarlet Jul 1 1968
8d duck egg blue Jan 6 1969
9d winchester green Aug 8 1967
10d light olive brown Jul 1 1968
1/- aconite violet Jun 5 1967
1/6 turquoise & garter blue Aug 8 1967
1/9 orange & olive brown Jun 5 1967

Large Size

Value & Colour Date first issued
2/6 peat brown Mar 5 1969
5/- raspberry red Mar 5 1969
10/- deep ultramarine Mar 5 1969
£1 bluish black Mar 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 (21mm x 24mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue Elliptical Perf. EME Image Regional Issue
½p turquoise Feb 15 1971      
1p crimson Feb 15 1971 Jun 8 1993 Apr 1 1997  
1½p charcoal grey Feb 15 1971      
2p deep grey-green Feb 15 1971 Apr 11 1995 May 27 1997  
2½p pale magenta Feb 15 1971     Jul 7 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
2½p rose madder Jan 14 1981      
3p ultramarine Feb 15 1971     Jul 7 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
3p rose red Oct 22 1980      
3p shocking pink Oct 10 1989      
3½p grey green Feb 15 1971     Jan 23 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
3½p purple-brown Mar 30 1983      
4p rust brown Feb 15 1971      
4p turquoise Jan 30 1980      
4p cobalt blue Jan 26 1988 Dec 14 1993 May 27 1997  
4½p blue-grey Oct 24 1973      
4½p steel blue Nov 6 1974     Nov 6 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
5p grey-violet Feb 15 1971     Jul 7 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
5p greyish rose Jan 27 1982      
5p ash pink (red-brown) Jul 26 1988 Jun 8 1993 May 27 1997  
5½p deep violet Oct 24 1973     Jan 23 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
6p pastel green Feb 15 1971      
6p lime green Sep 10 1991 Apr 27 1993 Apr 1 1997  
6½p cerulean blue Sep 4 1974     Jan 14 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
7p reddish brown Dec 1974     Jan 18 1978 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
7p brick red Oct 29 1985      
7p light grey   Apr 20 1999    
7p shocking pink   Apr 1 2004    
7½p pale chestnut Feb 15 1971     Jul 7 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
8p blood red Oct 24 1973     Jan 23 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
8p old gold   Apr 25 2000    
8½p apple green Sep 24 1975     Jan 14 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
9p orange & black Feb 15 1971      
9p bluish violet Feb 25 1976     Jan 18 1978 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
9p orange   Apr 5 2005 Apr 1 2008  
9½p deep lilac Feb 16 1976      
10p terracotta & orange-brown Aug 11 1971      
10p grey-orange Feb 25 1976     Oct 20 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
10p light tan Sep 4 1990 Jun 8 1993 May 27 1997  
10½p light yellow Feb 25 1976      
10½p greyish blue Apr 26 1978     Jan 18 1978 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
11p pastel red Feb 25 1976     Oct 20 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
11½p rust brown Aug 15 1979      
11½p mushroom Jan 14 1981     Apr 8 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p yellow-green Jan 30 1980     Jul 23 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p emerald green Oct 29 1985     Jan 7 1986 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p dark turquoise   Aug 1 2006    
12½p pastel green Jan 27 1982     Feb 24 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
13p grey green Aug 15 1979      
13p light brown Aug 28 1984     Oct 23 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
13½p red brown Jan 30 1980     Jul 23 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p greyish blue Jan 14 1981     Apr 8 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p dark blue Aug 23 1988     Nov 8 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p salmon pink   Aug 1 2006    
15p ultramarine Aug 15 1979     Jul 23 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
15p light blue Sep 26 1989     Nov 28 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
15p shocking pink   Apr 1 2008 Apr 1 2008  
15½p light violet Jan 14 1981     Feb 24 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
16p light mushroom Mar 30 1983     Apr 27 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
16p pink   Mar 27 2007    
16½p light brown Jan 27 1982      
17p pastel green Jan 30 1980      
17p greyish blue Mar 30 1983     Oct 23 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
17p dark blue Sep 4 1990     Dec 4 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
17½p chestnut brown Jan 30 1980      
18p bluish violet Jan 14 1981     Apr 8 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
18p grey green Aug 28 1984     Jan 6 1987 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
18p light green Sep 10 1991     Dec 3 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19p flame Aug 23 1988     Nov 8 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19p olive green   Oct 26 1993 Apr 20 1999 Dec 7 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19½p pale olive grey Jan 27 1982     Feb 24 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
20p purple-grey Feb 25 1976      
20p sea green Aug 23 1988 Dec 7 1993    
20p black Sep 26 1989     Nov 28 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
20p light green   Jun 25 1996 Apr 29 1997 Jul 23 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales[1][2]
20½p ultramarine Mar 30 1983     Apr 27 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p deep blue Oct 22 1980     Apr 8 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p moss green Aug 28 1984     Oct 23 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p flame Sep 4 1990     Dec 4 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
23p pastel red Mar 30 1983      
23p light green Aug 23 1988     Nov 8 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
24p violet Aug 28 1984      
24p terracotta Sep 26 1989     Nov 28 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
24p rust Sep 10 1991     Dec 3 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
25p lilac Jan 14 1981      
25p salmon pink   Oct 26 1993   Dec 7 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p post office red Jan 27 1982     Feb 24 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p stone Sep 4 1990     Dec 4 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p rust   Jun 25 1996 Sep 23 1997 Jul 23 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales[3][4]
26p gold   Apr 21 1997 Apr 21 1997  
27p rust Aug 23 1988      
27p mauve Sep 4 1990      
28p bluish violet Mar 30 1983     Apr 27 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
28p sand Aug 23 1988      
28p slate blue Sep 10 1991     Dec 3 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
29p yellow-brown Jan 27 1982      
29p purple Sep 26 1989      
29p light grey   Oct 26 1993    
30p sage green Sep 26 1989 Jul 27 1993 1997 Dec 7 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
31p deep lilac Mar 30 1983     Oct 23 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
31p ultramarine Sep 4 1990      
31p purple   Jun 25 1996 Aug 26 1997  
32p dark turquoise Aug 23 1988     Nov 8 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
33p emerald green Sep 4 1990      
33p slate blue   Apr 25 2000    
34p yellow brown Aug 28 1984      
34p slate blue Sep 26 1989     Nov 28 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
34p purple Sep 10 1991      
34p lime green   May 6 2003 May 6 2003  
35p dark brown Aug 23 1988 Aug 1 2004    
35p old gold Sep 10 1991 Aug 17 1993    
35p lime green   Apr 5 2005 Apr 5 2005  
36p ultramarine   Oct 26 1993    
37p red Sep 26 1989     Dec 4 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
37p amethyst   Jun 25 1996 Aug 26 1997 Jul 23 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales[5][6]
37p charcoal black   Jul 4 2002 Jul 4 2002  
37p olive green   Mar 28 2006 Mar 28 2006  
38p red   Oct 26 1993    
38p ultramarine   Apr 20 1999 Apr 20 1999 Jun 8 1999 Northern Ireland
39p amethyst Sep 10 1991     Dec 3 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
39p shocking pink   Jun 25 1996 1997  
39p light grey   Apr 1 2004    
40p grey blue   Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000 Northern Ireland
40p dark turquoise   Apr 1 2004 Apr 1 2004  
41p stone   Oct 26 1993   Dec 7 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
41p red   Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000  
42p sage green   Jul 4 2002 Jul 4 2002  
43p dark brown   Jun 25 1996 Apr 1 1997  
43p emerald green   Apr 1 2004 Apr 1 2004  
44p stone   Apr 20 1999 Apr 20 1999  
44p ultramarine   Mar 28 2006 Mar 28 2006  
45p amethyst   Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000  
46p old gold   Apr 5 2005 Apr 5 2005  
47p sea green   Jul 4 2002 Jul 4 2002  
48p amethyst   Mar 27 2007 Mar 27 2007  
49p rust   Mar 28 2006 Mar 28 2006  
50p ochre Feb 2 1977      
50p sand Mar 13 1990 Dec 14 1993 Apr 1 1997  
50p light grey   Mar 27 2007 Mar 27 2007  
54p rust   Mar 27 2007 Mar 27 2007  
56p sage green   Apr 1 2008 Apr 1 2008  
60p slate blue   Aug 9 1994    
63p emerald green   Jun 25 1996 Aug 26 1997 Jul 23 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
64p sea green   Apr 20 1999 Apr 20 1999 Jun 8 1999 Northern Ireland
65p dark turquoise   Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000 Apr 25 2000 Northern Ireland
68p stone   Jul 4 2002 Jul 4 2002  
72p red   Mar 28 2006 Mar 28 2006  
75p India black Jan 30 1980      
78p emerald green   Mar 27 2007 Mar 27 2007  
81p turquoise   Apr 1 2008 Apr 1 2008  
£1 mauve   Aug 22 1995 Apr 1 1997  
£1 ruby   Jun 5 2007 Jun 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 (30mm x 35mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue
10p cerise Jun 17 1970
20p olive green Jun 17 1970
50p deep ultramarine Jun 17 1970
£1 bluish black Jun 17 1970
£1 olive & greenish yellow Feb 2 1977
£1.30 buff & blue-green Aug 3 1983
£1.33 mauve & blue-black Aug 28 1984
£1.41 buff & blue-green Sep 17 1985
£1.50 blue-black & lilac Sep 2 1986
£1.60 blue-black & buff Sep 2 1986
£2 purple-brown and pale green Feb 2 1977
£5 royal blue & pale pink Feb 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 (21mm x 24mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue Elliptical Perf. EME Image Regional Issue
1st black Aug 22 1989      
1st flame Aug 7 1990 Apr 6 1993 Apr 29 1997 Feb 15 2000 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
1st gold   Apr 21 1997 Apr 21 1997  
1st Millennium white   Jan 6 2000 Jan 6 2000  
1st gold (large value)   Aug 1 2006 Aug 1 2006  
2nd light blue Aug 22 1989 Apr 6 1993 Apr 29 1997  
2nd dark blue Aug 7 1990      
2nd light blue (large value)   Aug 1 2006 Aug 1 2006  
E dark blue   Jan 19 1999 Jan 19 1999  

Horizontal Issues

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue Elliptical Perf. EME Image
1st gold (large value)   Aug 1 2006 Aug 1 2006
2nd light blue (large value)   Aug 1 2006 Aug 1 2006

Large size (30mm x 35mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue
1st embossed Feb 16 1999
1st engraved Feb 16 1999
1st typographed Feb 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.

Only size (21mm x 24mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue
15p light blue Jan 10 1990
20p black & cream Jan 10 1990
20p black Apr 17 1990
29p purple Jan 10 1990
34p slate blue Jan 10 1990
37p red Jan 10 1990
1st black Feb 15 2000

Airmail Issues

Only size (21mm x 24mm)

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue
Airmail Europe Mar 27 2003
Airmail Worldwide Mar 27 2003
Airmail Postcard Apr 1 2004

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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