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.| Value | Colour | Size | Issued | Demonetised | Notes |
| ½d | Orange brown | 5 Feb 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 1d | Olive | 5 Feb 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 2d | Lake brown | 5 Feb 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 3d | Violet | 8 Aug 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 4d | Sepia | 5 Jun 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | 2nd Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971. | |
| 4d | Bright vermillion | 6 Jan 1969 | 29 Feb 1972 | 2nd Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971. | |
| 5d | Blue | 1 Jul 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | 1st Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971. | |
| 6d | Purple | 5 Feb 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 7d | Emerald | 1 July 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust. | |
| 8d | Vermillion | 1 July 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust. | |
| 8d | Light turquoise blue | 6 Jan 1969 | 29 Feb 1972 | The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust. | |
| 9d | Dark green | 8 Aug 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust. | |
| 10d | Drab | 1 Jul 1968 | 29 Feb 1972 | The background of the 10d and 1/- stamps had a gradient. | |
| 1/- | Pale violet | 5 Jun 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | The background of the 10d and 1/- stamps had a gradient. | |
| 1/6 | Blue and deep blue | 8 Aug 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 1/9 | Orange and black | 5 Jun 1967 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 2/6 | Peat brown | 5 Mar 1969 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 5/- | Raspberry red | 5 Mar 1969 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| 10/- | Sapphire blue | 5 Mar 1969 | 29 Feb 1972 | ||
| £1 | Blue/black | 5 Mar 1969 | 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:Large size ()
| 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 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 ()
| 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  Horizontal issues
Large size ()
Penny Black anniversary issuesIn 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 ()
Airmail issuesSmall size ()
Self-adhesive stampsSince 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, and 4 April 2022. 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 issues
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