A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
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.
Value | Colour | Size | Issued | Demonetised | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
½d | Orange brown | 21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in) |
5 Feb 1968[1] | 29 Feb 1972[2] | |
1d | Olive | ||||
2d | Lake brown | ||||
3d | Violet | 8 Aug 1967[3] | |||
4d | Sepia | 5 Jun 1967[4] | 2nd Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.[5] | ||
4d | Bright vermillion | 6 Jan 1969[6] | |||
5d | Blue | 1 Jul 1968[7] | 1st Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.[5] | ||
6d | Purple | 5 Feb 1968[1] | |||
7d | Emerald | 1 July 1968[7] | The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust.[8] | ||
8d | Vermillion | ||||
8d | Light turquoise blue | 6 Jan 1969[6] | |||
9d | Dark green | 8 Aug 1967[3] | |||
10d | Drab | 1 Jul 1968[7] | The background of the 10d and 1/- stamps had a gradient. | ||
1/- | Pale violet | 5 Jun 1967[4] | |||
1/6 | Blue and deep blue | 8 Aug 1967[3] | |||
1/9 | Orange and black | 5 Jun 1967[4] | |||
2/6 | Peat brown | 30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in) |
5 Mar 1969[9] | 29 Feb 1972[2] | |
5/- | Raspberry red | ||||
10/- | Sapphire blue | ||||
£1 | Blue/black | 31 Jul 2023[10] | Upon demonetisation, the £1 blue/black will be the oldest-circulating Machin stamp, at 54 years and 148 days. |
Decimal issues
Machins continued being issued after Britain's change to decimalisation, and were produced until the end of the queen's reign. During the 1970s and 1980s, Royal Mail issued 12 Machins in a larger format. Other major variations include:
- Elliptical perforation: In 1993 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 and colour | Date 1st issue | Elliptical perf. | EME image | Regional issue | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1⁄2p turquoise | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||||
1p crimson | 15 Feb 1971 | 8 Jun 1993 | 1 Apr 1997 | ||||
1+1⁄2p charcoal grey | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||||
2p deep grey-green | 15 Feb 1971 | 11 Apr 1995 | 27 May 1997 | ||||
2+1⁄2p pale magenta | 15 Feb 1971 | 7 Jul 1971 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
2+1⁄2p rose madder | 14 Jan 1981 | ||||||
3p ultramarine | 15 Feb 1971 | 7 Jul 1971 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
3p rose red | 22 Oct 1980 | ||||||
3p shocking pink | 10 Oct 1989 | ||||||
3+1⁄2p grey green | 15 Feb 1971 | 23 Jan 1974 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
3+1⁄2p purple-brown | 30 Mar 1983 | ||||||
4p rust brown | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||||
4p turquoise | 30 Jan 1980 | ||||||
4p cobalt blue | 26 Jan 1988 | 14 Dec 1993 | 27 May 1997 | ||||
4+1⁄2p blue-grey | 24 Oct 1973 | ||||||
4+1⁄2p steel blue | 6 Nov 1974 | 6 Nov 1974 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
5p grey-violet | 15 Feb 1971 | 7 Jul 1971 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
5p greyish rose | 27 Jan 1982 | ||||||
5p ash pink (red-brown) | 26 Jul 1988 | 8 Jun 1993 | 27 May 1997 | ||||
5+1⁄2p deep violet | 24 Oct 1973 | 23 Jan 1974 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
6p pastel green | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||||
6p lime green | 10 Sep 1991 | 27 Apr 1993 | 1 Apr 1997 | ||||
6+1⁄2p cerulean blue | 4 Sep 1974 | 14 Jan 1976 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
7p reddish brown | 15 Jan 1975 | 18 Jan 1978 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
7p brick red | 29 Oct 1985 | ||||||
7p light grey | 20 Apr 1999 | ||||||
7p shocking pink | 1 Apr 2004 | ||||||
7+1⁄2p pale chestnut | 15 Feb 1971 | 7 Jul 1971 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
8p blood red | 24 Oct 1973 | 23 Jan 1974 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
8p old gold | 25 Apr 2000 | ||||||
8+1⁄2p apple green | 24 Sep 1975 | 14 Jan 1976 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
9p orange & black | 15 Feb 1971 | ||||||
9p bluish violet | 25 Feb 1976 | 18 Jan 1978 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
9p orange | 5 Apr 2005 | 1 Apr 2008 | |||||
9+1⁄2p deep lilac | 25 Feb 1976 | ||||||
10p terracotta & orange-brown | 11 Aug 1971 | ||||||
10p grey-orange | 25 Feb 1976 | 20 Oct 1976 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
10p light tan | 4 Sep 1990 | 8 Jun 1993 | 27 May 1997 | ||||
10+1⁄2p light yellow | 25 Feb 1976 | ||||||
10+1⁄2p greyish blue | 26 Apr 1978 | 18 Jan 1978 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
11p pastel red | 25 Feb 1976 | 20 Oct 1976 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
11+1⁄2p rust brown | 15 Aug 1979 | ||||||
11+1⁄2p mushroom | 14 Jan 1981 | 8 Apr 1981 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
12p yellow-green | 30 Jan 1980 | 23 Jul 1980 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
12p emerald green | 29 Oct 1985 | 7 Jan 1986 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
12p dark turquoise | 1 Aug 2006 | ||||||
12+1⁄2p pastel green | 27 Jan 1982 | 24 Feb 1982 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
13p grey green | 15 Aug 1979 | ||||||
13p light brown | 28 Aug 1984 | 23 Oct 1984 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
13+1⁄2p red brown | 30 Jan 1980 | 23 Jul 1980 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
14p greyish blue | 14 Jan 1981 | 8 Apr 1981 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
14p dark blue | 23 Aug 1988 | 8 Nov 1988 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
14p salmon pink | 1 Aug 2006 | ||||||
15p ultramarine | 15 Aug 1979 | 23 Jul 1980 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
15p light blue | 26 Sep 1989 | 28 Nov 1989 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
15p shocking pink | 1 Apr 2008 | 1 Apr 2008 | |||||
15+1⁄2p light violet | 14 Jan 1981 | 24 Feb 1982 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
16p light mushroom | 30 Mar 1983 | 27 Apr 1983 ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
16p pink | 27 Mar 2007 | ||||||
16+1⁄2p light brown | 27 Jan 1982 | ||||||
17p pastel green | 30 Jan 1980 |