14 September 2011
The Hytech self-service machines used at Autumn Stampex were loaded with Machin stock to produce the Arnold Machin Centenary special issue. But one back-office machine producing stamps for sale over the Royal Mail counter was loaded with Birds 3 stock. As with previous Hyetch machines this dispensed a strip of 6 stamps, one for each value plus an extra 1st class. We understand that all the strips were printed with the Mallard as the first stamp, and no other combination was sold.

These were available for only a short period on the first day of Stampex. After that, until Birds 4 were issued on Friday 16th, machine 93 produced the Machin Centenary stamps.

The set has 6 designs. This Royal Mail FDC has all 6 stamps with the fixed 5 values +extra 1st class, cancelled with the Stampex 14 September 2011 special handstamp.

Mallard – Anas platyrhnchos
Greylag Goose – Anser anser
Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis
Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus
Mute Swan – Cygnus obor
Great Crested Grebe – Podiceps cristatus