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!

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

An unannounced new Horizon postage label, bearing the Machin Head and with simulated perforations went on trial at Camden High Street Branch only , in London, on Monday 8th June 2009.

Printed by De La Rue in gold with security printing of wavy “ROYAL MAIL”

These labels were used on Royal Mail Special Delivery items only

After three months and three days, the trial has now (11th Sept 2009) come to an end.

No other branches will sell the label or any further extension will occur for the time being.

Any further developments may utilise a different label to that used at Camden High Street Post Office

This cover is available for purchase in our shop at £45

The Post Office have indicated that the last day of sale of the Horizon Gold Machin Head labels, currently being used at one branch (Camden High Street, London, NW1 ) will be 11th September 2009. No other branches will sell the label  or any further extention will occur for the time being.  Any further developments may utilise a different label to that used at Camden.

A reposting facility will be available for the last day only – All covers must reach Camden Town Crown office by next Friday (Absolutely no back dating will be possible) and payment to cover the Special Delivery rate of at least £4.95 must be made by Postal Order payable to ‘Post Office Ltd’ only.

Covers should be addressed to:

Branch manager

Camden Town Crown office

114-120 Camden High Street,

Camden
London, NW1 0RR

It may be necessary to restrict quantities if stock run low. RMSD Covers can only be sent to UK addresses.

(If any overseas customers require covers -please contact me asap- postagelabelsuk@gmx.com)

A limited number of First Day Covers were produced for the new Machin Head Horizon Labels

– If you wish to purchase FDC s or other items please visit my Online Shop or my Ebay pages.

UPDATE- RECORDING BREAKING COVER- The above cover and similar items have commended record-breaking prices when auctioned on Ebay..  The current record being £94.54 !