Norvic Philatelics

New Machin definitive & Country stamps - 26 March 2014

Royal Mail announced its annual stamp price rises in late February and they take effect from 31 March 2013.   The rate for 1st class stamps is no longer subject to control by the official government regulator (Ofcom).  This year Royal Mail have kept the price of 2nd class mail lower than the maximum they could have chosen.

Inland rates will be (previous rates in [brackets] ) - 1st class 62p [60], 2nd class 53p [50], 1st Large 93p [90], 2nd Large 73p [69].

The inland 'Royal Mail Signed For' fee remains £1.10.

Airmail rates under 100g are reduced to 3 steps from 6, eliminating the 10g, 40g and 80g steps.  Basic Airmail is now known as International Standard although no new labels have been announced.   

The Europe 20g rate of 88p rises to 97p (a 10% increase) meaning a new national definitive and four country definitive stamps.

The Worldwide 10g rate of 88p is replaced by the 20g rate which remains at £1.28 which means a 45% increase for the lower weight.

The current Europe 40g rate of £1.28 and 60g rate of £1.68 are replaced by a 60g rate of £1.47 (new stamp)

The World 40g rate of £1.88 and 60g rate of £2.48 are replaced by £2.15 (new stamp).

Surface mail has been rebranded International Economy with the 20g rate rising from 78p to 81p (new stamp).
No postcard rate is included in the rate tables, which must mean that postcards will cost the same as 20g letters - 97p and £1.28, a huge rise which will hit postcard usage.

The category known as Small Packets up to 100g (prior 20 April 2013) is now  Small Parcels up to 100g.  From 31 March 2014 new size and weight limits will apply to International Mail (similar to Pricing in Proportion for inland mail).  Letters exceeding 240 x 165 x 5 mm will cost £3.20 for Europe, £3.80 for World Zone 1, and £4.00 for World Zone 2. 

Airmail rates over 100g have increased by 20p on all steps for Europe (range £3.70 for 250g to £13.85 for 2kg), by 25p for World Zone 1, and 30p for World Zone 2.

See more at: http://www.royalmailgroup.com/first-and-second-class-stamp-prices#sthash.8qPoUHt2.dpuf


Pre-issue images of the new stamps for 2013

  
  81p green surface mail Machin definitive stamp. 97p airmail Machin definitive stamp. Machin definitive airmail stamp £1-47. Machin airmail definitive stamp - £2-15.
 
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Official colours of the new stamps:

81p Holly Green
97p Purple Heather
£1.47 Dove Grey
£2.15 Marine Turquoise




   
    Mock-up of England 97p airmail stamp. Northern Ireland 97p airmail stamp.
Scotland 97p airmail stamp. 97p Wales airmail stamp.






Pre-issue publicity images of the Country Definitives.

We've doctored the England stamp to show it in approximately the same colour as previous stamps in this design.

Technical information

The Machin definitive stamps are self-adhesive, printed by De La Rue in gravure in sheets of 25, with 12 sheets of 25 per cylinder. They will have security cuts and the irridescent overprint. 

The Country definitives will be litho printed on ordinary gummed paper by Cartor Security Print also in sheets of 25.  They will have no security features.


Special postmarks available on the day of issue will be shown here.

Postmarks in use this year are the same design as 2012, but with the date 26.3.2014



FDI postmark 25-4-12. Windsor FDI postmark 25-4-12.Windsor FDI postmark.
London FDI postmark 25-4-12.Edinburgh FDI postmark 25-4-12.Cardiff FDI p ostmark 25-4-12.Belfast FDI postmark 25-4-12.
London FDI. Edinburgh FDI. Cardiff fdi. Belfast FDI.                   

Ref FD1407TH - official pictorial FDI Windsor postmark

Ref FD1407PL - official pictorial FDI Tallents House postmark

Ref FD1407NP - official pictorial FDI London postmark

Ref FD1408PL - official pictorial FDI London postmark

Ref FD13409PL- official pictorial FDI Edinburgh postmark

Ref FD1410PL - official pictorial FDI Cardiff postmark

Ref FD1411PL - official pictorial FDI Belfast postmark
 

Co-located non-pictorial postmarks for all except Tallents House, same reference numbers with suffix 'NP'
Belfast cds postmark. Cardiff cds postmark. Edinburgh cds postmark. Glasgow 2 cds postmark. Glasgow 10 cds postmark. Birmingham postmark showing national floral emblems.
Ref S6039 - Belfast operational cds postmark Ref W6038 - Cardiff operational cds postmark Ref S6040 - Edinburgh operational cds postmark Ref S6041 - Glasgow 2
operational cds postmark 		Ref S6042 - Glasgow 10
operational cds postmark 		Ref M13073 Union Street Birmingham
(dated 26th March 2014)
Cardiff postmark. Edinburgh postmark. Belfast permanent postmark. Windsor Castle postmark. Additionally, any postmarks available on this date may also be applied to FDCs
- see Permanent postmarks and Other one-day postmarks		 Postmark showing Windsor Castle.
Ref W5097 - Cardiff permanent handstamp. Ref S4653 - Edinburgh permanent handstamp. Ref S4641 - Belfast permanent handstamp. Ref E4680 - Windsor Castle, Royal Mail permanent handstamp Ref M13074
Windsor View, Birmingham
(dated 26th March 2014)

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This page created 25 March 2014

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