This is a list of all the major variations of the Machin series of postage stamps in the United Kingdom. The complete list of all variations is vast and outside the scope of this encyclopedia.
Note: the colours and the colour descriptions are to be used to give an idea only, as each catalogue and website will name the colours differently.
Pre-decimal issues The first Machins were issued in 1967 and were in use until the UK changed to a decimal currency in 1971. These Machins came in two sizes, with the four higher value stamps being the largest.
+1967–1969 pre-decimal series Value Colour Size Issued Demonetised Notes½d Orange brown5 Feb 196829 Feb 19721d Olive2d Lake brown3d Violet 8 Aug 19674d Sepia 5 Jun 19672nd Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.4d Bright vermillion 6 Jan 19695d Blue 1 Jul 1968 1st Class basic rate from 16 September 1968 to 14 February 1971.6d Purple 5 Feb 19687d Emerald1 July 1968The 7d, 8d and 9d stamps had the value indicator behind the bust.8d Vermillion8d Light turquoise blue 6 Jan 19699d Dark green 8 Aug 196710d Drab 1 Jul 1968 The background of the 10d and 1/- stamps had a gradient.1/- Pale violet 5 Jun 19671/6 Blue and deep blue 8 Aug 19671/9 Orange and black 5 Jun 19672/6 Peat brown5 Mar 196929 Feb 19725/- Raspberry red10/- Sapphire blue£1 Blue/black 31 Jul 2023 Upon demonetisation, the £1 blue/black will be the oldest-circulating Machin stamp, at 54 years and 148 days.
Decimal issues Machins continued being issued after Britain's change to decimalisation, and were produced until the end of the queen's reign. During the 1970s and 1980s, Royal Mail issued 12 Machins in a larger format. Other major variations include: Elliptical perforation: In 1993 Royal Mail started issuing Machins with two large elliptical perforations, one on either side, as a security feature. Some Machins have both standard and elliptical perfs, but those issued after 1993 only have the ellipticals. EME Images: In 1997 a new profile of the Queen was used on Machins. EME (or electro-mechanically engraved) images are created by computer and therefore offer better detail in the image. Regional issues: These Machins were issued with a heraldic symbol in the top left-hand corner. These represent the Isle of Man with the Three Legs of Man symbol; Northern Ireland with the Red Hand of Ulster symbol; Scotland with the Lion of Scotland symbol and Wales with the Welsh Dragon symbol.
Small size ()
Value and colour Date 1st issue Elliptical image Regional issue p turquoise 15 Feb 1971 1p crimson 15 Feb 1971 8 Jun 1993 1 Apr 1997 p charcoal grey 15 Feb 1971 2p deep grey-green 15 Feb 1971 11 Apr 1995 27 May 1997 p pale magenta 15 Feb 1971 7 Jul 1971 p rose madder 14 Jan 1981 3p ultramarine 15 Feb 1971 7 Jul 1971 3p rose red 22 Oct 1980 3p shocking pink 10 Oct 1989 p grey green 15 Feb 1971 23 Jan 1974 p purple-brown 30 Mar 1983 4p rust brown 15 Feb 1971 4p turquoise 30 Jan 1980 4p cobalt blue 26 Jan 1988 14 Dec 1993 27 May 1997 p blue-grey 24 Oct 1973 p steel blue 6 Nov 1974 6 Nov 1974 5p grey-violet 15 Feb 1971 7 Jul 1971 5p greyish rose 27 Jan 1982 5p ash pink (red-brown) 26 Jul 1988 8 Jun 1993 27 May 1997 p deep violet 24 Oct 1973 23 Jan 1974 6p pastel green 15 Feb 1971 6p lime green 10 Sep 1991 27 Apr 1993 1 Apr 1997 p cerulean blue 4 Sep 1974 14 Jan 1976 7p reddish brown 15 Jan 1975 18 Jan 1978 7p brick red 29 Oct 1985 7p light grey 20 Apr 1999 7p shocking pink 1 Apr 2004 p pale chestnut 15 Feb 1971 7 Jul 1971 8p blood red 24 Oct 1973 23 Jan 1974 8p old gold 25 Apr 2000 p apple green 24 Sep 1975 14 Jan 1976 9p orange & black 15 Feb 1971 9p bluish violet 25 Feb 1976 18 Jan 1978 9p orange 5 Apr 2005 1 Apr 2008 p deep lilac 25 Feb 1976 10p terracotta & orange-brown 11 Aug 1971 10p grey-orange 25 Feb 1976 20 Oct 1976 10p light tan 4 Sep 1990 8 Jun 1993 27 May 1997 p light yellow 25 Feb 1976 p greyish blue 26 Apr 1978 18 Jan 1978 11p pastel red 25 Feb 1976 20 Oct 1976 p rust brown 15 Aug 1979 p mushroom 14 Jan 1981 8 Apr 1981 12p yellow-green 30 Jan 1980 23 Jul 1980 12p emerald green 29 Oct 1985 7 Jan 1986 12p dark turquoise 1 Aug 2006 p pastel green 27 Jan 1982 24 Feb 1982 13p grey green 15 Aug 1979 13p light brown 28 Aug 1984 23 Oct 1984 p red brown 30 Jan 1980 23 Jul 1980 14p greyish blue 14 Jan 1981 8 Apr 1981 14p dark blue 23 Aug 1988 8 Nov 1988 14p salmon pink 1 Aug 2006 15p ultramarine 15 Aug 1979 23 Jul 1980 15p light blue 26 Sep 1989 28 Nov 1989 15p shocking pink 1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008 p light violet 14 Jan 1981 24 Feb 1982 16p light mushroom 30 Mar 1983 27 Apr 1983 16p pink 27 Mar 2007 p light brown 27 Jan 1982 17p pastel green 30 Jan 1980 17p greyish blue 30 Mar 1983 23 Oct 1984 17p dark blue 4 Sep 1990 4 Dec 1990 17p olive green 31 Mar 2009 p chestnut brown 30 Jan 1980 18p bluish violet 14 Jan 1981 8 Apr 1981 18p grey green 28 Aug 1984 6 Jan 1987 18p light green 10 Sep 1991 3 Dec 1991 19p flame 23 Aug 1988 8 Nov 1988 19p olive green 26 Oct 1993 20 Apr 1999 7 Dec 1993 p pale olive grey 27 Jan 1982 24 Feb 1982 20p purple-grey 25 Feb 1976 20p sea green 23 Aug 1988 7 Dec 1993 20p black 26 Sep 1989 28 Nov 1989 20p light green 25 Jun 1996 29 Apr 1997 23 Jul 1996 An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 1 Jul 1997.The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix. p ultramarine 30 Mar 1983 27 Apr 1983 22p deep blue 22 Oct 1980 8 Apr 1981 22p moss green 28 Aug 1984 23 Oct 1984 22p flame 4 Sep 1990 4 Dec 1990 22p stone 31 Mar 2009 23p pastel red 30 Mar 1983 23p light green 23 Aug 1988 8 Nov 1988 24p violet 28 Aug 1984 24p terracotta 26 Sep 1989 28 Nov 1989 24p rust 10 Sep 1991 3 Dec 1991 25p lilac 14 Jan 1981 25p salmon pink 26 Oct 1993 7 Dec 1993 26p post office red 27 Jan 1982 24 Feb 1982 26p stone 4 Sep 1990 4 Dec 1990 26p rust 25 Jun 1996 23 Sep 1997 23 Jul 1996 An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 28 May 1997.The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix. 26p gold 21 Apr 1997 21 Apr 1997 27p rust 23 Aug 1988 27p mauve 4 Sep 1990 28p bluish violet 30 Mar 1983 27 Apr 1983 28p sand 23 Aug 1988 28p slate blue 10 Sep 1991 3 Dec 1991 29p yellow-brown 27 Jan 1982 29p purple 26 Sep 1989 29p light grey 26 Oct 1993 30p sage green 26 Sep 1989 27 Jul 1993 1997 7 Dec 1993 31p deep lilac 30 Mar 1983 23 Oct 1984 31p ultramarine 4 Sep 1990 31p purple 25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997 32p dark turquoise 23 Aug 1988 8 Nov 1988 33p emerald green 4 Sep 1990 33p slate blue 25 Apr 2000 34p yellow brown 28 Aug 1984 34p slate blue 26 Sep 1989 28 Nov 1989 34p purple 10 Sep 1991 34p lime green 6 May 2003 6 May 2003 35p dark brown 23 Aug 1988 1 Apr 2004 35p old gold 10 Sep 1991 17 Aug 1993 35p lime green 5 Apr 2005 5 Apr 2005 36p ultramarine 26 Oct 1993 37p red 26 Sep 1989 4 Dec 1990 37p amethyst 25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997 23 Jul 1996 An EME version of the regionals was also issued on 1 Jul 1997.The EME version for Wales was printed without the 'p' suffix. 37p charcoal black 4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002 37p olive green 28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006 38p red 26 Oct 1993 38p ultramarine 20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999 8 Jun 1999 39p amethyst 10 Sep 1991 3 Dec 1991 39p shocking pink 25 Jun 1996 1997 39p light grey 1 Apr 2004 40p grey blue 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 40p dark turquoise 1 Apr 2004 1 Apr 2004 41p stone 26 Oct 1993 7 Dec 1993 41p red 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 42p sage green 4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002 43p dark brown 25 Jun 1996 1 Apr 1997 43p emerald green 1 Apr 2004 1 Apr 2004 44p stone 20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999 44p ultramarine 28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006 45p amethyst 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 46p old gold 5 Apr 2005 5 Apr 2005 47p sea green 4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002 48p amethyst 27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007 49p rust 28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006 50p ochre 2 Feb 1977 50p sand 13 Mar 1990 14 Dec 1993 1 Apr 1997 50p light grey 27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007 50p slate grey 3 Jan 2013 54p rust 27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007 56p sage green 1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008 60p slate blue 9 Aug 1994 60p emerald green 62p red 31 Mar 2009 63p emerald green 25 Jun 1996 26 Aug 1997 23 Jul 1996 An EME version for Wales, printed without the 'p' suffix, was also issued on 1 Jul 1997. 64p sea green 20 Apr 1999 20 Apr 1999 8 Jun 1999 65p dark turquoise 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 25 Apr 2000 68p stone 4 Jul 2002 4 Jul 2002 72p red 28 Mar 2006 28 Mar 2006 75p India black 30 Jan 1980 78p emerald green 27 Mar 2007 27 Mar 2007 81p turquoise 1 Apr 2008 1 Apr 2008 81p holly green 26 Mar 2014 87p orange 25 Apr 2012 88p shocking pink 30 Mar 2010 88p amber yellow 27 Mar 2013 90p ultramarine 31 Mar 2009 97p mauve 31 Mar 2009 97p purple heather 26 Mar 2014 £1 mauve 22 Aug 1995 1 Apr 1997 £1 ruby 5 Jun 2007 5 Jun 2007 £1 wood brown 3 Jan 2013 £1.05 gooseberry green 22 Mar 2016 £1.10 lime green 29 Mar 2011 £1.17 sunrise red 21 Mar 2017 £1.25 holly green 20 Mar 2018 £1.28 emerald green 25 Apr 2012 £1.33 amber yellow 24 Mar 2015 £1.35 orchid mauve 19 Mar 2019 £1.40 dark pine green 12 Mar 2017 £1.42 garnet red 17 Mar 2020 £1.45 dove grey 26 Mar 2014 £1.46 dark turquoise 30 Mar 2010 £1.47 dove grey 26 Mar 2014 £1.50 brownish red 9 Mar 1999 £1.52 orchid mauve 24 Mar 2015 £1.55 marine turquoise 20 Mar 2018 £1.57 tarragon pine green 21 Mar 2017 £1.60 amber yellow 21 Mar 2017 £1.63 sunset red 13 Mar 2020 £1.65 sage green 29 Mar 2011 £1.68 tarragon green 17 Mar 2020 £1.70 marine turquoise 23 Dec 2020 £1.88 sapphire blue 27 Mar 2013 £1.90 amethyst 25 Apr 2012 £2 slate blue 9 Mar 1999 £2.15 marine turquoise 26 Mar 2014 £2.25 plum purple 24 Mar 2015 £2.27 harvest gold 21 Mar 2017 £2.30 gooseberry green 19 Mar 2019 £2.42 purple heather 17 Mar 2020 £2.45 spruce green 24 Mar 2015 £2.55 garnet red 21 Mar 2017 £2.65 purple heather 20 Mar 2018 £2.80 spruce green 19 Mar 2019 £2.97 rose pink 17 Mar 2020 £3 dull purple 9 Mar 1999 £3 purple 3 Jul 2003 £3.15 aqua green 24 Mar 2015 £3.25 aqua green 23 Dec 2020 £3.30 rose pink 24 Mar 2015 £3.45 dark pine green 19 Mar 2019 £3.60 bright orange 19 Mar 2020 £3.66 harvest gold 17 Mar 2020 £3.82 holly green 17 Mar 2020 £4.20 plum purple 23 Dec 2020 £5 brown 9 Mar 1999 £5 grey blue 1 Jul 2003
Large size ()
Value and colour Date 1st issue 10p cerise Jun 17 1970 20p olive green Jun 17 1970 50p deep ultramarine Jun 17 1970 £1 bluish black Jun 17 1970 £1 olive & greenish yellow Feb 2 1977 £1.30 buff & blue-green Aug 3 1983 £1.33 mauve & blue-black Aug 28 1984 £1.41 buff & blue-green Sep 17 1985 £1.50 blue-black & lilac Sep 2 1986 £1.60 blue-black & buff Sep 15 1987 £2 purple-brown and pale green Feb 2 1977 £5 royal blue & pale pink Feb 2 1977
NVI (non-value indicator) issues
NVI (or non-value indicator) Machins first appeared in 1989 in an attempt to negate the need to keep issuing new stamps after each postal rate change. They are marked 1st and 2nd for the two classes of post in the United Kingdom. The E NVI stamp represented the standard letter rate to Europe.
Small size ()