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Europhilex comes to Birmingham in 2025

EuroPhilEx Birmingham 2025 is an upcoming international philatelic exhibition scheduled to take place from May 7 to May 11, 2025, at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, England. (ABPS) This event marks a significant departure from tradition, as it will be the first time the UK’s mid-decade international stamp exhibition is held outside of London. (Canton Fair)

The exhibition is organized under the patronage of the Federation of European Philatelic Associations (FEPA) and with recognition from the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP). (ABPS) It is expected to feature over 2,000 exhibition frames and accommodate a wide range of dealers within a space of up to 10,000 square meters. (ABPS) For context, the London 2022 exhibition occupied 6,000 square meters.

In addition to the extensive displays, EuroPhilEx 2025 will offer meeting rooms for societies and a comprehensive program of lectures and entertainment. (ABPS) The NEC’s location adjacent to Birmingham Airport and the railway station provides convenient access for both domestic and international visitors. (ABPS)

As of October 2024, the exhibition was approximately seven months away, with ongoing preparations to ensure a successful event. (ABPS) For the most current information, including details on participation, schedules, and accommodations, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the official EuroPhilEx Birmingham 2025 website.

There are rumours of a self-service presence and a special Royal Mail show only offer ..TBC

New Self Service machines to be rollout at Post Offices

The Post Office has partnered with imageHOLDERS to enhance customer service across the UK by introducing self-service kiosks in branches nationwide. This initiative aims to streamline access to key services, including postal transactions, home shopping returns, electronic pre-advice, and overseas services. By automating these processes, staff can dedicate more time to addressing complex customer inquiries, thereby improving overall satisfaction.

A key focus of this collaboration is accessibility. The kiosks are designed with inclusivity in mind, featuring ergonomic screens and support for assistive technologies such as screen readers and braille interfaces, ensuring a positive experience for all visitors.

Richard Satchell, CEO of imageHOLDERS, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Post Office to help deliver more efficient and accessible services to customers across the UK.” (Image Holders)

The nationwide rollout is scheduled to commence in Spring 2025, starting with select branches before expanding across the country. This collaboration marks a significant step in modernizing service delivery and meeting the evolving needs of today’s consumers.

Neal Newbrook, Propositions Manager at Post Office, commented: “Introducing these new self-service kiosks will make it easier and more efficient for customers to access the Post Office mail products they require.” (Image Holders)

This partnership underscores the commitment of both organizations to innovation and customer-centric service enhancements.

Watch this space for new developments as they are announced

Post and Go – The beginning of the end or the start of something new?

Over the past six months, significant developments have occurred in the realm of ‘Post and Go’ stamps, particularly within the United Kingdom. These self-service postage labels, introduced to streamline mailing processes, have seen notable changes and announcements affecting collectors and postal enthusiasts alike.

Royal Mail’s Decision to Cease ‘Post and Go’ Operations

In September 2023, Royal Mail announced the termination of its ‘Post and Go’ services by the end of the year. This decision followed a comprehensive review, citing factors such as the absence of new issues in recent years and the impending need to update designs due to the change in monarchy. Consequently, all remaining ‘Post and Go’ kiosks were scheduled to be decommissioned by December 31, 2023. (Norphil Blog)

Impact on The Postal Museum’s Offerings

The Postal Museum, a prominent institution housing ‘Post and Go’ machines, responded to Royal Mail’s announcement by releasing its final set of overprinted stamps. These stamps, available until December 31, 2023, featured unique designs commemorating various themes. The museum also offered limited-edition First Day Covers and Presentation Packs, marking the end of an era for their ‘Post and Go’ offerings. (Postal Museum)

Continuation of ‘Post and Go’ Services in Crown Dependencies

While Royal Mail concluded its ‘Post and Go’ services, postal administrations in the Crown Dependencies—Jersey and Guernsey—confirmed their commitment to continue offering these stamps. Both Jersey Post and Guernsey Post announced plans to maintain their ‘Post and Go’ machines and release new issues in 2024, ensuring that collectors and customers can still access these unique postage labels. (Norphil Blog)

Collecting Opportunities and Market Trends

The cessation of Royal Mail’s ‘Post and Go’ services has sparked increased interest among philatelists. Collectors are keen to acquire remaining stocks and limited editions before they become unavailable. Online marketplaces, such as eBay, have seen a surge in listings for ‘Post and Go’ stamps, reflecting their growing desirability and potential as valuable collectibles. (eBay)

Conclusion

The past six months have been transformative for ‘Post and Go’ stamps, with Royal Mail’s decision to end the service marking a significant shift. However, the continued commitment from Jersey and Guernsey Posts offers a silver lining for enthusiasts. As the landscape evolves, collectors have a unique opportunity to preserve a piece of postal history, underscoring the enduring appeal of ‘Post and Go’ stamps in the philatelic community.

Updated collectors strip from Jan 2021

Post & Go…As you like it..

Various Post and Go museums are starting to re-open. Both Steam GWR A010 and Shakespeare A009 machines resumed service on 17th September 2020. This is the first time that the new tariff values have become available from these sites.

The recent tariff changes include the intrduction of three new ‘combi’ values of “Euro 100g/World 20g”, World 100g Zone 1 -3 and World 100g Zone 2.

The Zone indicator ‘1 -3’ has caused some comment amongst collectors and dealers alike as it is could be taken as including the Zone 2 tariff. A clearer indicator would of course be a simple ‘&’ ..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174440526940

UPDATE 18/9: It has been confirmed in response to feedback received from dealers and collectors that the “Worldwide 1 -3” stamp has been changed to “Worldwide 1 & 3” at all Museum locations.

Royal Mail Covid-19 Tariff Change results in three new Post and Go NVI stamps for 2020

Royal Mail will increase their prices for the third time in 2020 on 1st September, generally due to the impact of COVID-19 and the knock-on effects of increased transport costs across the world. This time the price changes affect International Letter and Large letter tariffs as well as parcels and builds on the earlier changes to pricing zones on 1st July 2020 when a new ‘Zone 3’ was introduced specifically for the USA. https://www.royalmail.com/international-zones#worldzone3

From a Post and Go collector’s perspective this change will result in the introduction of three new NVI values – the first for a few years.

Firstly, the new tariff combines two previously different tariffs- Europe 100g and Worldwide 20g to the same price point (£1.70) , which allows for a new ‘Combi’ Euro 100g World 20g NVI stamp to be introduced.

Secondly, the introduction of new Worldwide pricing zone 3 earlier in the year has allowed for the applicable Letter rates, for the first time, to differ, so we have the Letter rate for zone 1 and 3 at £2.50 and zone 3 (Australasia) a rate of £2.55 – the first time for a while – certainly since Post and Go stamps have existed- that International letter rates have differed in this way.

This is accomodated by introducing two further new NVI values- a “Worldwide 100g Zone 1-3” and a “Worldwide 100g Zone 2”.

The values ‘retired’ as of 1st September as no longer required are “Euro 100g”, “Worldwide 20g”, and “Worldwide 100g”.

In summary, a comparison between existing and revised values and prices available from before and after 1st Sept 2020:-

1st Class Collectors Strip until 31st August 20201st Class Collectors Strip from 1st September 2020
1st Class£0.76 1st Class£0.76
1st Class Large£1.151st Class Large £1.15
Euro 20g/World 10g£1.43Euro 20g/World 10g£1.45
Euro 100g £1.68Euro 100g/World 20g£1.70
World 20g£1.63World 100g Zone 1 – 3£2.50
World 100g £2.42World 100g Zone 2£2.55
Total£9.07Total £10.11
1st Class Collectors Strip price comparison – pre and post 1st Sept 20- an increase of £1.04

The new NVIs will be available on 1st September from all NCR kiosks in Post Offices and IAR locations that are currently in use. (some SSKs are currently out of use to maintain social distancing in Post Office branches and some museum locations are yet to re-open).

The prices for the OV stamps will be updated in line with the tariff, without any design changes.

Machin Stamps are available here:- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174417193519

Robin Stamps are available here:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174417218960

For the NCR SSK and SFKs the ‘buy stamps’ menu will be updated, with the Worldwide 100g stamp option being removed.

Party Political Conferences showcase Post and Go capability

 

Post and Go at Party Political Conference

Image 1 of 5

 
Autumn is the start of the political party Conference season in the UK and as in previous years Royal Mail are keen to showcase their brand heritage as well as their collectible range to influential politicians and decision makers. They also provide an operational mail self service Post and Go facility at selected events. This year this is being provided by the  ‘undercover’ Post and Go Kiosk M007 which has moved from its usual home at Royal Mail HQ and is touring the conference circuit.
It is worth noting that M007 has scales attached and as it is in a restricted access  environment (as the BFPO machines ) dispenses OV style stamps for the acceptance of ‘Ordinary’ Inland and International Mail as well as standard NVI 1st and 2nd Class Machin Post and Go stamps.
 
The Liberal Democratic Party met at Bournemouth from 16 to 19 September but as in previous years (perhaps because of the clash with Stampex and the resources needed to move the machine are elsewhere) no Post and Go facility is provided on the Royal Mail stand.
Next up is the Labour Party who met at Brighton from 24 to 27 September with M007 generating 1st and 2nd Class Machins with a ‘Brighton’ overprint.
 
 
 
This will be followed by the Conservative Party conference in Manchester from 1 to 4 October with M007  and a ‘Manchester’ overprint before finally a move to Glasgow at the Scottish Nationalist Party conference at Glasgow from 8 to 10 October with a ‘Glasgow’ overprint.

The Labour NVI stamps are available from our ebay site Labour Party Conference NVI Post and Go

Conservative NVIs are available here  Conservative Party Conference NVI Post and Go

SNP NVIs are available here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172925006737

Royal Mail Price Changes for Post and Go Collectors- 27th March 2017

Royal Mail’s prices change annually – usually on the Monday nearest to the 1st April (The beginning of Royal Mail’s new financial year). This year the changes are introduced on Monday 27th March 2017.

Royal Mail ‘headline’ rate change is 1p on 1st Class and 2nd Class to 56p and 65p respectively but, dig a bit deeper and significant rises – in international – especially European letter rates that impact Post and Go stamp collectors, can be found.

The ‘1st Class Reel’ NVI values to change are that of the ‘1st Class’ (from 64p to 65p) , ‘1st Class Large’ (from 96p to 98p) and ‘World 10g/Euro 20g’ value (from £1.05 to £1.17), ‘Euro 100g’ (from 152p to 157p), ‘World 20g’ (from 133p to 140p) and finally ‘World 100g’ from 225p to 227p resulting in a 29p increase (3.6%) in the cost of a collectors strip from £7.75 to £8.04 (Ouch).

For ‘2nd Class Reel’ rates they change from ‘2nd Class’ (from 55p to 56p) and ‘2nd Class Large’ (from 75p to 76p) changing the cost of the strip from 130p to 132p.

Royal Mails prices can be found here: Royal Mail Tariff 2017

Royal Mail Tariff Change 29th March 2016

Royal Mail’s prices change annually – usually on the Monday nearest to the 1st April (The beginning of Royal Mail’s new financial year). This year Easter Monday puts a (chocolate flavoured? ) spanner in the works and so prices change on Tuesday 29th March.

Essentially this tariff has very little in the way of the surprises of recent years – but one that could be missed is the difference – for the first time- for postage purchased online verses the price for good old stamps or postage labels applied at a Post Office. For the first time Royal Mail are disincentivising the use of stamps over postage bought online. Granted there has been a difference in pricing for some years for postage applied via a franking machine, but the prices were not really comparable since the necessary equipment had to be purchased/leased and maintained, so only for high volume users did the savings really make any sense.

Royal Mails prices can be found here: Royal Mail Tariff 2016

In summary: Online postage prices have been frozen and the stamped postage generally increased by a few pence. Many prices have not changed including those for International letters between 20g-100g.

Where does this leave Post and Go collectors? The NVI values to change are that of the ‘1st Class’ (from 63p to 64p) , ‘1st Class Large’ (from 95p to 96p) and ‘World 10g/Euro 20g’ value (from £1 to £1.05), resulting in a 7p increase in the cost of a collectors strip from £7.68 to £7.75.

 

Latest Horizon Labels appear in operational Post Offices

Horizon Postage Label

Following on from their introduction at Europhilex 2015, the latest design of Horizon Postage Label has now been seen in day to day use in operational (not event) Post Offices.

The example shown is from Moorgate Post Office a few days prior to relocation of that office.