One of the most common requests I get is for a “simplified listing” of the Horizon Postage Labels currently available (as well as the ones that have been withdrawn), in order that collectors can determine how ‘complete’ their collections are . Shown here is the full list of the 29  Postage Label Indicators, showing the 22 currently being used (and so available on the two different variants of Gold Labels) as well as the 7 types that have already been withdrawn.

For each label shown there is/was a Welsh ‘Bilingual’ version available and two label overprint types- Thin and Thick lettering as well as two Machin gold label types (Original and the “August 10″ type).

This makes 44 label overprints (22 English 22 Welsh)  in 2 print styles (Thick and Thin)  on 2 different gold Machin label types as well as the existing white labels whose stocks are currently being rundown ~ who said that ‘The modern collecting alternative’ of UK Postage Label collecting was boring, easy or without variation?..

Don’t forget, however, that many of these labels already have a limited lifespan of future availability- The original white labels are no longer available for Post Offices to order , the ‘Thick’ style (From the original Horizon software) overprint only has a matter of weeks left before it is completely removed – the first variant of the Machin gold label will be not replaced and rumors of plans (apparently)  to remove some of the ‘rarer’ indicators before Xmas ’10 have been circulated…So..fill those gaps now!

There is no end to some peoples ingenuity in ‘Manufacturing’ covers that should not actually exist. Here is a cover that appeared on Ebay , with the vendor suggesting someone actually producing it on the first day in Camden Town – but only Special Delivery items were processed on the first day ,suggesting the item has been backdated.

It has now been confirmed that the First Day of use of the Gold Horizon Labels in Wales was yesterday, April 20th 2010.

 Some branches having received their stock yesterday and all others in Wales receiving it  today.

Shown below is a FDC produced yesterday ‘machined’ (sic) into an inch of its life by the Cardiff FCT.

Please contact me if you would like to purchase a similar cover.

As suggested  in this months Stamp Magazine, It is now understood that the De La Rue printed ‘Gold Machin’ postage labels, previously trialed at ‘Camden Town High Street Crown Office’ will shortly return to use at Post Office Counters ~ This time, initially at least, the distribution of the labels will be restricted to Post Offices in Wales.
This means the overprint that will appear on the labels will be bilingual, giving rise to new varients – as there is currently two styles of overprint in use – one from the original Horizon-enabled Post Offices and the other thinner printing style of Branches that have been upgraded to ‘Horizon Online’. A further complication is that some Branches in Wales produce a ‘English’ overprint.
Additionally, unlike the Camden trial, their use will not be restricted to ‘Special Delivery’ mail and all classes of mail that currently receives a Postage Label will be eligible for a new ‘gold’ label.
UPDATED ~The distribution of the labels will commence from April 19th 2010 , giving a potential First Day of Issue of around the 20th-21st April – but no official First Day facilities will be offered by Royal Mail or the Post Office – but please contact me if you would like to buy any covers.  The labels are from a different print run than that used as Camden Town, but it remains to be see if there are any visual differences!

The distribution will be phased, meaning that branches will receive labels on different dates – there is no instruction to use them over the existing white labels so they will appear randomly.  Watch this space!

One of the rarest of the current Horizon Postage Label Identifiers is ‘RPR’  – This is only ever used for items being returned under a “Packet Post Returns” Licence where exceptionally the sender has requested the ‘Recorded Signed For’ service – so the label only has a fixed value of 75p (74p from 5/4/10).  The other oddity of note is that this service results in the item having two barcodes affixed- one for the Packet Post Return Licence service and one for the Recorded Signed-For service.

This week, the Post office have commenced its roll-out of its latest  software upgrade  (Known as “Horizon Online“). This will result in the appearance of all items printed in a Post Office changing slightly in appearance, which obviously includes Clerk-printed postage labels.

The noticeable features of the new labels include thinner lettering and the removal of the final digit  showing the  batch number indicator. (transaction counter).

“Post Office Ltd told us that the Horizon technology is being upgraded in a project called ‘Horizon Online’, which it expects to produce a fully automated system…”

Obviously once this upgrade is complete, the current series of Horizon Postage labels is expected to become obsolete-So fill those gaps now!

A seller on Ebay has been selling Mint Gold Horizon Machin Labels , without apparently knowing what they are!

And at £10.49 for a pair appear to be VERY cheap! (Given that used ones on cover have fetched £40-£50) . However unused sheetlets should not be available…

These should only appear in a used state, affixed to items and for the Special Delivery Trial only that took place in High Street, Camden Town last year.

So where did these come from? – The seller has sold multiples of these..

UPDATE:- Further Mint labels have been listed here by a different seller.

Last Day covers of the Camden Town Trial are still available here:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360210964612

First Day Cover from the First Day of Operation at Old Street (205)  Crown Office , London EC1

As part of an overall program of alignment of the ‘set’ of Postage Labels produced for use in  Royal Mails postal system Post and Go machines will commence to dispense ‘Perforated’ labels.  All existing P&G sites will migrate across to these new labels once the existing rolls are used up.

It is believed that the first site to use thes labels was Clapham Common in early February 2009, followed by Bristol and Doncaster. (Confirmation required).

Further changes to the content printed on the label are expected soon…. Watch this space…