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List of Machin stamps facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

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.

1967–1969 pre-decimal series
Value Colour Size Issued Demonetised Notes
½d Orange brown 21 mm × 24 mm
(0.83 in × 0.94 in)		 5 Feb 1968 29 Feb 1972
1d Olive
2d Lake brown
3d Violet 8 Aug 1967
4d Sepia 5 Jun 1967 2nd Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.
4d Bright vermillion 6 Jan 1969
5d Blue 1 Jul 1968 1st Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.
6d Purple 5 Feb 1968
7d Emerald 1 July 1968 The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust.
8d Vermillion
8d Light turquoise blue 6 Jan 1969
9d Dark green 8 Aug 1967
10d Drab 1 Jul 1968 The background of the 10d and 1/- stamps had a gradient.
1/- Pale violet 5 Jun 1967
1/6 Blue and deep blue 8 Aug 1967
1/9 Orange and black 5 Jun 1967
2/6 Peat brown 30 mm × 35 mm
(1.2 in × 1.4 in)		 5 Mar 1969 29 Feb 1972
5/- Raspberry red
10/- Sapphire blue
£1 Blue/black 31 Jul 2023 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 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
2+1⁄2p rose madder 14 Jan 1981      
3p ultramarine 15 Feb 1971     7 Jul 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
3p rose red 22 Oct 1980      
3p shocking pink 10 Oct 1989      
3+1⁄2p grey green 15 Feb 1971     23 Jan 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
5p grey-violet 15 Feb 1971     7 Jul 1971 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
7p reddish brown 15 Jan 1975     18 Jan 1978 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Isle of Man Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
8p blood red 24 Oct 1973     23 Jan 1974 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
8p old gold   25 Apr 2000    
8+1⁄2p apple green 24 Sep 1975     14 Jan 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
9p orange & black 15 Feb 1971      
9p bluish violet 25 Feb 1976     18 Jan 1978 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
11p pastel red 25 Feb 1976     20 Oct 1976 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
11+1⁄2p rust brown 15 Aug 1979      
11+1⁄2p mushroom 14 Jan 1981     8 Apr 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p yellow-green 30 Jan 1980     23 Jul 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p emerald green 29 Oct 1985     7 Jan 1986 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
12p dark turquoise   1 Aug 2006    
12+1⁄2p pastel green 27 Jan 1982     24 Feb 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
13p grey green 15 Aug 1979      
13p light brown 28 Aug 1984     23 Oct 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
13+1⁄2p red brown 30 Jan 1980     23 Jul 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p greyish blue 14 Jan 1981     8 Apr 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p dark blue 23 Aug 1988     8 Nov 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
14p salmon pink   1 Aug 2006    
15p ultramarine 15 Aug 1979     23 Jul 1980 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
15p light blue 26 Sep 1989     28 Nov 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
15p shocking pink   1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008  
15+1⁄2p light violet 14 Jan 1981     24 Feb 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
16p light mushroom 30 Mar 1983     27 Apr 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
16p pink   27 Mar 2007    
16+1⁄2p light brown 27 Jan 1982      
17p pastel green 30 Jan 1980      
17p greyish blue 30 Mar 1983     23 Oct 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
17p dark blue 4 Sep 1990     4 Dec 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
17p olive green   31 Mar 2009    
17+1⁄2p chestnut brown 30 Jan 1980      
18p bluish violet 14 Jan 1981     8 Apr 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
18p grey green 28 Aug 1984     6 Jan 1987 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
18p light green 10 Sep 1991     3 Dec 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19p flame 23 Aug 1988     8 Nov 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19p olive green   26 Oct 1993 20 Apr 1999 7 Dec 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
19+1⁄2p pale olive grey 27 Jan 1982     24 Feb 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
20p purple-grey 25 Feb 1976      
20p sea green 23 Aug 1988 7 Dec 1993    
20p black 26 Sep 1989     28 Nov 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
20p light green   25 Jun 1996 29 Apr 1997 23 Jul 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
20+1⁄2p ultramarine 30 Mar 1983     27 Apr 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p deep blue 22 Oct 1980     8 Apr 1981 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p moss green 28 Aug 1984     23 Oct 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p flame 4 Sep 1990     4 Dec 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
22p stone   31 Mar 2009    
23p pastel red 30 Mar 1983      
23p light green 23 Aug 1988     8 Nov 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
24p violet 28 Aug 1984      
24p terracotta 26 Sep 1989     28 Nov 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
24p rust 10 Sep 1991     3 Dec 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
25p lilac 14 Jan 1981      
25p salmon pink   26 Oct 1993   7 Dec 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p post office red 27 Jan 1982     24 Feb 1982 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p stone 4 Sep 1990     4 Dec 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p rust   25 Jun 1996 23 Sep 1997 23 Jul 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
26p gold   21 Apr 1997 21 Apr 1997  
27p rust 23 Aug 1988      
27p mauve 4 Sep 1990      
28p bluish violet 30 Mar 1983     27 Apr 1983 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
28p sand 23 Aug 1988      
28p slate blue 10 Sep 1991     3 Dec 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
29p yellow-brown 27 Jan 1982      
29p purple 26 Sep 1989      
29p light grey   26 Oct 1993    
30p sage green 26 Sep 1989 27 Jul 1993 1997 7 Dec 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
31p deep lilac 30 Mar 1983     23 Oct 1984 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
31p ultramarine 4 Sep 1990      
31p purple   25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997  
32p dark turquoise 23 Aug 1988     8 Nov 1988 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
33p emerald green 4 Sep 1990      
33p slate blue   25 Apr 2000    
34p yellow brown 28 Aug 1984      
34p slate blue 26 Sep 1989     28 Nov 1989 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
34p purple 10 Sep 1991      
34p lime green   6 May 2003 6 May 2003  
35p dark brown 23 Aug 1988 1 Apr 2004    
35p old gold 10 Sep 1991 17 Aug 1993    
35p lime green   5 Apr 2005 5 Apr 2005  
36p ultramarine   26 Oct 1993    
37p red 26 Sep 1989     4 Dec 1990 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
37p amethyst   25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997 23 Jul 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
37p charcoal black   4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002  
37p olive green   28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006  
38p red   26 Oct 1993    
38p ultramarine   20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999 8 Jun 1999 Northern Ireland
39p amethyst 10 Sep 1991     3 Dec 1991 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
39p shocking pink   25 Jun 1996 1997  
39p light grey   1 Apr 2004    
40p grey blue   25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 Northern Ireland
40p dark turquoise   1 Apr 2004 1 Apr 2004  
41p stone   26 Oct 1993   7 Dec 1993 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
41p red   25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000  
42p sage green   4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002  
43p dark brown   25 Jun 1996 1 Apr 1997  
43p emerald green   1 Apr 2004 1 Apr 2004  
44p stone   20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999  
44p ultramarine   28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006  
45p amethyst   25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000  
46p old gold   5 Apr 2005 5 Apr 2005  
47p sea green   4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002  
48p amethyst   27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007  
49p rust   28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006  
50p ochre 2 Feb 1977      
50p sand 13 Mar 1990 14 Dec 1993 1 Apr 1997  
50p light grey   27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007  
50p slate grey 3 Jan 2013      
54p rust   27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007  
56p sage green   1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008  
60p slate blue   9 Aug 1994    
60p emerald green      
62p red   31 Mar 2009    
63p emerald green   25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997 23 Jul 1996 Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
64p sea green   20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999 8 Jun 1999 Northern Ireland
65p dark turquoise   25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 Northern Ireland
68p stone   4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002  
72p red   28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006  
75p India black 30 Jan 1980      
78p emerald green   27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007  
81p turquoise   1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008  
81p holly green 26 Mar 2014      
87p orange 25 Apr 2012      
88p shocking pink 30 Mar 2010      
88p amber yellow 27 Mar 2013      
90p ultramarine 31 Mar 2009      
97p mauve 31 Mar 2009      
97p purple heather 26 Mar 2014      
£1 mauve   22 Aug 1995 1 Apr 1997  
£1 ruby   5 Jun 2007 5 Jun 2007  
£1 wood brown 3 Jan 2013      
£1.05 gooseberry green 22 Mar 2016      
£1.10 lime green 29 Mar 2011      
£1.17 sunrise red 21 Mar 2017      
£1.25 holly green 20 Mar 2018      
£1.28 emerald green 25 Apr 2012      
£1.33 amber yellow 24 Mar 2015      
£1.35 orchid mauve 19 Mar 2019      
£1.40 dark pine green 12 Mar 2017      
£1.42 garnet red 17 Mar 2020      
£1.45 dove grey 26 Mar 2014      
£1.46 dark turquoise 30 Mar 2010      
£1.47 dove grey 26 Mar 2014      
£1.50 brownish red   9 Mar 1999    
£1.52 orchid mauve 24 Mar 2015      
£1.55 marine turquoise 20 Mar 2018      
£1.57 tarragon pine green 21 Mar 2017      
£1.60 amber yellow 21 Mar 2017      
£1.63 sunset red 13 Mar 2020      
£1.65 sage green 29 Mar 2011      
£1.68 tarragon green 17 Mar 2020      
£1.70 marine turquoise 23 Dec 2020      
£1.88 sapphire blue 27 Mar 2013      
£1.90 amethyst 25 Apr 2012      
£2 slate blue   9 Mar 1999    
£2.15 marine turquoise 26 Mar 2014      
£2.25 plum purple 24 Mar 2015      
£2.27 harvest gold 21 Mar 2017      
£2.30 gooseberry green 19 Mar 2019      
£2.42 purple heather 17 Mar 2020      
£2.45 spruce green 24 Mar 2015      
£2.55 garnet red 21 Mar 2017      
£2.65 purple heather 20 Mar 2018      
£2.80 spruce green 19 Mar 2019      
£2.97 rose pink 17 Mar 2020      
£3 dull purple   9 Mar 1999    
£3 purple 3 Jul 2003      
£3.15 aqua green 24 Mar 2015      
£3.25 aqua green 23 Dec 2020      
£3.30 rose pink 24 Mar 2015      
£3.45 dark pine green 19 Mar 2019      
£3.60 bright orange 19 Mar 2020      
£3.66 harvest gold 17 Mar 2020      
£3.82 holly green 17 Mar 2020      
£4.20 plum purple 23 Dec 2020      
£5 brown   9 Mar 1999    
£5 grey blue   1 Jul 2003    

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

Value and 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 15 1987
£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 (21 mm × 24 mm (0.83 in × 0.94 in))

Value and 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 and 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 (30 mm × 35 mm (1.2 in × 1.4 in))

Value and 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 five stamps to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Penny Black. They 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 and 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

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

Value & Colour Date 1st Issue
Airmail Europe up to 20g 30 Mar 2003
Airmail Europe up to 40g 27 Mar 2003
Airmail Worldwide up to 20g 30 Mar 2003
Airmail Worldwide up to 40g 27 Mar 2003
Airmail Postcard 1 Apr 2004

Self-adhesive 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.

Barcoded series (2021–present)

Machin stamps with Data Matrix barcodes were introduced in two stages, on 1 February 2022 (non-value indicators), and 4 April 2022 (other values). All barcoded stamps are self-adhesive.

Existing definitive stamps issued from 15 February 1971 to 31 January 2022 remain valid until 31 January 2023: since 31 March 2022, they can be indefinitely exchanged for the barcoded series.

The 2022 issue was the last release in the Machin series prior to the death of Elizabeth II. On 8 February 2023, the design for the new definitive series, to be released on 4 April 2023 and featuring a portrait of Charles III by Martin Jennings, was revealed.

2021 barcoded trial

2022 barcoded trial
Type Value Colour Size First issued
NVI 2nd Light blue 39 mm × 30 mm
(1.5 in × 1.2 in)		 23 March 2021

2022 barcoded issues

2022 barcoded series
Type Value Colour Size First issued
NVI 1st Plum purple 39 mm × 30 mm
(1.5 in × 1.2 in)		 1 February 2022
2nd Holly green
NVI Large 1st Marine turquoise
2nd Dark pine green
Low Value 1p Sapphire blue on white 4 April 2022
2p Dark green on white
5p Purple heather on white
10p Aqua green on white
20p Light green on white
50p Slate grey on white
£1 Wood brown on white
High Value £2 Bright blue on white 4 April 2022
£3 Purple on white
£5 Spruce green on white
International £1.85 Wood brown 4 April 2022
£2.55 Sapphire blue
£3.25 Purple
£4.20 Light green
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List of Machin stamps Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.