The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Anything to do with the Machin definitives issued from 1967 to 2022.
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Wilding Mad
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The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Post by Wilding Mad »

Whilst going through some off paper kiloware sourced from the early 1980s, I came across a 14p grey-blue Machin that did not seem to fit the bill.
What initially struck me was the difference in colour this particular stamp was in comparison to the others found in the same batch being of a much lighter shade.
IMG_20210407_225958.jpg
On further investigation using indicators I discovered that the value tablet had been re-positioned as against the others inspected, I had read that the numerals on some stamps had been narrowed to accommodate the setting of the portrait in 1983, especially those values ending with ½p (20½p etc), but it would appear that this 14p value had not been narrowed but just re-positioned.

By using coloured arrows, the positional differences can be seen between the two stamps listed below.

The red arrow points to the centre of the large pearl of the necklace, whereby it's tail points to the upper half of the "P" in the value.

The green arrow points to the white curve of the dress on the portrait with it's tail in the region of the base of the "P"

The blue arrow points to the joining in the design, with it's tail near the base of the "4" of the value.
IMG_20210407_225521.jpg
In all three instances the tails of the arrows did not align in the same way as with the neighbouring stamp, therefore the numerals and the "P" have not been narrowed but re-positioned.

A significant difference was also noticed when placed under longwave ultraviolet light which confirmed my findings as seen in relation to the visible spectrum.
IMG_20210408_133621.jpg
Here are the same stamps but from the reverse.
IMG_20210410_215031.jpg
WM.
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admin
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Re: The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Post by admin »

The Deegam catalogue lists several variant settings of this value from booklet and coil stamps -- the shades could noticeably vary with those as well. The light coloured one here looks like a booklet stamp with guillotined top perfs?
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Wilding Mad
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Re: The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Post by Wilding Mad »

Many thanks for the additional information regarding the guillotined perforation at the top of the lighter shaded stamp (well spotted ! ), this stamp does indeed appear to have originated from a booklet with the darker shaded one coming from a sheet.
There is certainly a difference in the value settings of the two stamps displayed and also a large discrepancy in the colour between the two, so much so that I would have thought that a separate listing would have been given to them.
The only reference that I can find on the web to these particular 14p grey-blue stamps is on the following two sites.
The Adminware guide > https://adminware.ca/machin/Index.php?Simply101

The Connoisseur Catalogue by James Skinner chapter 2 ↓
http://www.connoisseurcatalogue.net/catalogue.htm

None of which mentions the colour changes or the difference in the value settings for this particular value. WM.
Last edited by Wilding Mad on Sat Mar 05, 2022 8:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
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admin
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Re: The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Post by admin »

Well, differences of this type are more Specialised Catalogue level -- the last one for decimal Machins was about 1990 I think, so they may be in there! If I'm reading the (complicated) Deegam listings correctly, the value settings can vary between columns in a single booklet. SG seem not to have listed shades in the Part 1/Concise by this time?

If you're getting into specialised Machins now, you'll probably want to get the Deegam stuff. :)
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Wilding Mad
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Re: The Machin 14p grey-blue (AOP)

Post by Wilding Mad »

Somehow, l had a feeling that you would mention the Deegam catalogue !

But where are the contaminated papers to be found for the Machin decimal stamps that have been discovered ? This is also applicable to some of the earlier multiple crown Wilding stamps of which the RPSL have been aware of now for some years !
IMG_20210720_114508.jpg
Can anyone please enlighten me, as they appear as prominent as any watermark when viewed under longwave ultraviolet light !
IMG_20210720_092951.jpg
These contaminated paper varieties are certainly not listed in any specialised stamp catalogue that I know of, and yet they are so different to the normal type of paper used to print stamps !

Please note that they should not be confused with the contaminated stamps created whilst soaking off paper due to the fugitive volatility of some of the coatings & fluorescent papers.

https://www.gbps.org.uk/boards/viewtopi ... =32&t=1720

Could it be that this type of contaminated paper has come from a batch that has somehow got into the supply system for stamps that is normally used to produce security document paper ?
This may not be the case and I am not saying that this is what has happened, but one should explore every possibility in trying to reach a conclusion.

See the advert for Transcript Papers under " invisible fluorescent fibres " (6th item on list) and you'll see what I mean.
http://transcriptpaper.com/features.html

WM.
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