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 identifier was discontinued on 17th April 2011 and replaced on 18th April 2011 by the ‘RSF’ identifier.

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

Cover showing example of ‘all in one’ Horizon postage label incorporating a Special Delivery barcoded label which was inserted into the printer in one piece.  Trialled in one branch (Albemarle Street , London W1) in June 2004.

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:

Some Horizon Indicators are due to change from tomorrow 27/07/09 :-

1LL becomes 1LG

2LL becomes 2LG

BLL becomes BLG

AX becomes AAX

First day covers will be listed soon- in the meanwhile the now obsolete indicators are currently available on FDC in my Ebay shop.

The August 2009 edition of Stamp Magazine has covered the  Trial of the Gold machin Horizon Postage Label  at Camden Town with a picture on the front cover and a detailed article inside!

Mainstream Coverage Of Gold Machin Label Trial At Camden Town!

As titled ‘Shock New Machin Variety goes on trial’.

Record Breaking UK Modern FDC! Camden Town Gold Machin Horizon Label

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 !

The above images show the new ‘Machin Head Horizon labels’ which are printed in sheetlets of two -each being reversed, prior to inserting into

the Epson inkjet counter printer for the ‘SD’ Overprint at the pointof posting.