A change to the Horizon postage labels has taken place today, which has resulted in some additional codes being added to the overprint, to be used for Post Office internal accounting purposes for example it will be possible to identify which product a ‘SD’ label refers to – SD by 9, SD next day, SD to Channels Islands etc, as each different type will have a specific code added.

The two additional characters have been added at the end of the ‘Postage PaidUK’ and ‘Royal Mail’ or ‘Parcelforce’ lines.  An image will added as soon as possible.

Machin Head Post and Go stamps have been dispensed from Wincor-Nixdorf kiosks in the UK since 2008.
There are two versions of the print – one printed by the kiosk at Post Offices across the UK and another press-printed version of the original font set available from the Philatelic Bureau at Tallents House in a presentation card.
The labels can be obtained with 5 different service indicators: 1st class & 1st class Large up to 100gr, Europe up to 20gr, Worldwide up to 10gr and 20gr, singly or in strips of up to 5 of the same value or various values.
For those that are printed by machine there are two further versions of the oveprint- original and updated font (see below) , for these we supply a strip of the five different values currently available in a special ‘collectors strip’ and offer a choice of machine code (when available) and font.

 

LEFT- ORIGINAL FONT

During 2009, In preparation for the pending issue of Pictorial (Birds) Faststamps some 32 Post Office branches had their kiosks’ software upgraded which resulted in the repositioning and resizing of the font.
RIGHT- UPDATED FONT
Postage is FREE to all worldwide destinations~ We ship anywhere! click here to purchase ;
Click here to purchase
Select the strip required and click ‘add to cart’:-

The Post Office have confirmed that White Horizon Postage Labels are no longer available for Post Offices to order nationwide  and that all branches are using up old white label stock before using the new Gold Machin labels. It is likely, therefore, that all branches will be using white labels by the end of the year. So which branch will be the last? Watch this space..

As part of the London 2010 exibition the Post Office has provided counter facilities – using the Gold Machin Labels!

This item and similar can be purchased here:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170483626262

An Office in Oxfordshire has been mis-supplied with ‘Welsh gold’ labels..

It has been reported today that a distribution of the Gold Machin Horizon Labels has taken place outside of Wales!-to some Branches in Kent – Further details to follow- in the meanwhile-check with your local PO to get some before they are withdrawn..

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!

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

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

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.