New Machin definitive stamps - 1 April 2004

Postage rate changes which are effective from 1 April will require several new stamps. The inland 2nd class rate will increase from 20p to 21p - this will continue to be served by the '2nd class' stamp. A new 7p stamp will replace the 8p representing the difference between the 1st & 2nd class basic rate. The rate for 20gr European letters will increase from 38p to 40p and the NVI European rate ('E') stamp will be replaced by a valued 40p in blue.

Royal Mail publicity images of 7p-43p and our mock-up of the airmail stamp which will be slate-grey.

The inland 2nd class 100gr rate increases from 34p to 35p; the international surface mail postcard and 20gr letter rate increases from 38p to 39p; the airmail postcard increases from 42p to 43p. Following the NVI Universal Airmail 40gr letter rate stamps issued last year, a booklet of 4 similar stamps for use on postcards will also be issued on 1 April. The colour is believed to be slate-grey.

Images are from The Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark Bulletin and are copyright 2003/4, Royal Mail.

Norvic Philatelics serviced Post Office first day covers for these stamps, and a Norvic Exclusive FDCs was produced for the NVI Airmail Postcard stamp to match the covers produced last year for the 40gr letter rate stamps (See right).

Prices:
Set of 5 ordinary definitives on PO FDC with any postmark - £3.25
Single Airmail Postcard stamp on Norvic limited edition 'World Map' FDC - £3.75
Single Airmail Postcard stamp on PO FDC - £1.95
Airmail postcard cylinder number booklet on Norvic FDC with Windsor FDI postmark £8.95
Set of 5 mint stamps - £2.20
Airmail Postcard booklet - £2.50

These postmarks were available for the date of issue and all should be available on first day covers. However some will be more plentiful than others, and some may only be available on specific 'official covers', with a very few on PO fdcs in collections. It may be many years before these appear on the resale market.

Ref FD431 - Bureau 'Scottish Coat of Arms' postmark	Ref FD432 - Windsor 'English Coat of Arms' postmark	Ref E4680 - Windsor Castle, Royal Mail permanent handstamp	Ref L9037 - World of Postcards, Croydon	Ref M9046 - Stoke-on-Trent Machin Definitive
Ref M9015 Universal Postcard Rate, Birmingham	Ref L9005 Self Adhesives Universal Postcard Rate London	Ref E9032 Universal Postcard, Send, Woking	Ref E9057 World of Postcards, Southampton	Ref W9071 World of Postcards, Falmouth