The first pictorial “faststamps” went live today at Stampex as well as 31 other Offices and proved to be very popular with collectors both old and new.

Yesterday (Sept 13th)  was the first day of sale for the much anticipated  new Gold Imperforate Horizon labels in Chesterfield.. A first day cover is shown ..

Today (8th September 2010) the Post Office commenced the software upgrade required to issue the new pictorial ‘Birds of Britain I’ Faststamps on17th September 2010

So far two branches in London have been  upgraded ;-

Ludgate Circus -(Machine 4 only) and 205 Old Street.

As a result of these changes the machine printed text changed font and moved to the left.

It is expected that all branches that will vend the new ‘Birds of Britain’ Faststamps will be upgraded between now and the Birds First Day of Issue.

Click here to buy a cover ..

 The Post Office have indicated that carrying on from last years successful roll-out of 

 Wincor Propostal kiosks, a further 50 units will be installed in a mixture of

new locations and additions kiosks in existing locations. 

The first six locations are listed below, with the full 50 installations expected

 to be completed by Christmas.

First Cover Sold for £47

contact me at postagelabelsuk@gmx.com

The ‘Type 2’ Gold Machin labels went live today, in a single branch trial at Old Street Crown Office in London.
These labels are as ‘Type 1’ (with psudeo-perforations) but with imperforate edges and rounded corners. It is believed that these have been issued in response to feedback regarding the ‘peelablity’ of the perforated labels. The next stage will their introduction at Chesterfield Branch Office, next week.

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!

Some of the UK’s favourite garden birds will appear on new Post & Go pictorial stamps available from 17 September in 30 Post Office® branches across the UK and Tallents House.

The Garden Birds Post & Go stamps are the first in the Birds of Britain series of pictorial stamps issued by Post & Go terminals, a self service facility which allows customers to weigh their letters and packets, and pay for and print postage labels.

Initially the Garden Birds Post & Go stamps will be available from Post & Go terminals in 30 branches –as wells as at Autumn Stampex  – with the second set in the Birds of Britain series being available from all Post & Go terminals from next year.

The first Post & Go machine was installed at The Galleries Post Office in Bristol in 2007; since then over 170 terminals have been installed in around 100 branches.

Philip Parker, Royal Mail Stamps spokesperson, said: “Birds have long been one of the most popular thematic subjects and for this first set of pictorial Post & Go Stamps we wanted to celebrate the beauty and variety of the UK’s birdlife, starting with the birds that are frequently seen in gardens.

“To assist our selection, we referred to the results of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch to choose six of the most commonly seen birds, which best reflect the wide range of species gracing both rural and city skies.”

Kate Stephens was commissioned to produce the designs which were illustrated by wildlife artist Robert Gillmor.

Location of Post & Go machines selling Garden Birds pictorial stamps  :-

SOURCE: Aawaz Communications on behalf of Royal Mail