This is a guide to Pricing in Proportion and issues released to date. I wrote this and posted it to a couple of the online groups, for ease of reference it has been reproduced here

Well its been a short while since August 21st, the date when Royal Mail introduced the revision of the inland Mail Rate to reflect what we are now calling Pricing in Proportion ( POP )To cope with the new tariff several new stamps have already been released. These have been separated into two main groups ( standard and Large) and then (to date ) to help with identification divided into 5 sub groups.

MAIN Group AThese stamps are the standard letter versions for 1st class (32p) & 2nd class (23p) for letters up to 5mm thick 240 mm x 125 mm (up to 100 gr ). These are sized the same as current definitives with a bigger value tablet in the top left corner.

MAIN Group BLarge versions which are wider than the standard have been released for the bigger letters over 5mm thick and over 240 mm x 125 mm up to 353 mm x 250 mm and 25mm in thickness. It should also be noted that all of these new Machins show a smaller head (including the ones described above). The large rate (horizontal stamps) show a much bigger value tablet at the top left and the word large in the bottom left.The full range of Machin Definitive Products to date are listed below:

SUB Group One

Conventional Sheets PIP Printed by De La Rue Dunstable. Issue date 01/08/06

Standard 2nd class PVA (centre bands) cyl DI pD1

Standard 1st class PVA (two bands) cyl DI pD1Large 2nd class PVA (two bands) cyl DI pD1 *Large 1st class PVA (two bands) cyl DI pD1

SUB Group TwoCoil Stamps ( 500,1000 & 10000) Printed by De La Rue

Standard 2nd class PVA Centre band 15/08/06Standard 1st class PVA two bands 14/11/06

SUB Group ThreeBooklets (self adhesive) Printed by Walsall

Large 4 x 1st class two bands W1pW1 15/08/06Large 4 x 2nd class centre band W1pW1 15/08/06Large 4 x 2nd class centre band cyl W1pW1 12/09/06Large 12 x 1st class two bands cyl W1pW1 12/09/06Standard 12 x 2nd class centre band W1pW1 12/09/06

SUB Group FourPrestige Stamp Books

( Victoria Cross ) printed by Jon Enschede of Holland 4 x Standard fist class (ex multi value se-tenant pane) PVA gum 21/09/06

(World of invention) printed by De La Rue Dunstable 4 x standard 1st class(ex multi value se-tenant pane. PVA gum 01/03/07

(40th Anniversary of the Machin) printed by De La Rue 2 x large 1st class, 2 x large 2nd class, 1 x PiP 1st and 1 x PiP 2nd class 08/06/207

SUB Group FiveBusiness sheets of 100 (self Adhesive) Walsall dates on reverse of top panel

Standard 2nd class centre band

Standard 1st class two bands

Notes* Conventional Sheets PIP Printed by De La Rue issue date 01/08/06. Large 2nd class PVA (two bands) cyl DI pD1 unusually this has two bands, it is said " It is an aid so it can be used as first class if used on a standard letter ".If you can add to this this list with short or inset bands please feel free to do so, perhaps we can also add to it with every subsequent issue, I am sure with new prestige booklets and the 40th anniversary of the Machin next year (2007) there will be many more to come.

It has been confirmed that the Machin pane from the inventions Prestige booklet will have 4 x standard PIP 1st class stamps and 4 x 5p (plum) in a se-tenant pane. The centre label will show a pic of Rowland Hill. This has been added to the listing above.

Be sure to come back for information on the contents of the NEW anniversary of the Machin Prestige booklet due in June 2007, which will be added shortly.

A letter from Tony Cartor which deserves an answer. It will also explain the phosphors on these stamps.

Dear Roy,

New to Machins having only been a Maniac for only 18 months I still have a lot to learn. This is just one of my problems at ths time . I am a little confused and wander if you cold help.

I have been informed that there are several types of 1st and 2nd class (large PiP) Machins, they all look the same to me. Can you help?."

As far as I am aware there only two of each of the (basic) Large PiP Machins, these are the sheet variants and booklet variants. However for the specialist (as with most Machin values) there are many stamps from different Prestige Booklets, business sheets and Coils to collect.

Getting back to the basics

You can separate the two basic types quite easily as sheet stamps have normal perforations and booklet stamps are separated by the kiss / die cut method which simulates perforations.

I also believe that the phosphor arrangement is different, Both 1st and second class have 2 ( blue) phosphor bars, sheet stamps having wider bars. I guess there are also errors with short or inset bars available.

The sheet stamps are on the left.

Please note this information is not up to date, you will need to cross reference with newer posts on Prestige booklet panes and security slit stamps issued after this was written.