Royal Mail barcoding stamps - existing stamps valid only until 31 Jan 2023

soolin

Olinda99 said:

you could also use them as part payment for eg the next parcel you post with RM.

If you pay any part by stamps though a standard 2nd class parcel will cost you an extra 50P. That's why I am only using my stamps on large letters as the price is the same for pre printed labels or stamps.

Olinda99

i don't post many parcels so use stamps - i don't possess a printer anyway. 🙂

soolin

Olinda99 said:

i don't post many parcels so use stamps - i don't possess a printer anyway. 🙂

That’s a shame as I think the 50p hike for 2nd class and I think it’s a £1 hike for 1st class is a huge price difference.

Spoonie_Turtle

Olinda99 said:

i don't post many parcels so use stamps - i don't possess a printer anyway. 🙂

Some of the online postage options allow printing the label at the point of posting the parcel (I think RM customer service points rather than Post Offices but didn't take very much notice last time as I was printing it myself at home).  Not that that would help you use up stamps, of course.

soolin

The middle set can be swapped out, the top and bother sets no. I can't read the middle set but I have assumed they are decimal and not old currency. 

custardy

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Olinda99 said:

i don't post many parcels so use stamps - i don't possess a printer anyway. 🙂

Some of the online postage options allow printing the label at the point of posting the parcel (I think RM customer service points rather than Post Offices but didn't take very much notice last time as I was printing it myself at home).  Not that that would help you use up stamps, of course.

Royal Mail online postage options are always going to be RM only  I would bet. 
They are moving away from POC and given the death signs around POC its no surprise.
Label printing services are RM CSP only

NBLondon

soolin said:

The middle set can be swapped out, the top and bother sets no. I can't read the middle set but I have assumed they are decimal and not old currency. 

The middle set are decimal replicas of pre-decimal designs. It's "Wilding Definitives II" from 2003 commemorating 50 years (approx) of that design being released.   The top set is the 2005 Castles Definitives which marks 50 years of those higher value designs being released.  Neither should be swappable.    They can be split for postage or sold on eBay as they are.

The last one is a 2005 Smilers booklet.  Not swappable, still valid for postage as 1st class.

{Extra nerdy explanation....   Wilding refers to Dorothy Wilding who took the photograph of the young Queen in 1952.  Actual Wilding stamps were de-monetised in 1972 after decimalisation.    The current design are called Machin after Arnold Machin who sculpted the bust of the Queen still used today.}

TOP_CAT

How would you term or name  the 1st class picture type of stamps in the last photo that have a small queens head in the corner and also if they were second class ?

NBLondon

TOP_CAT said:

How would you term or name  the 1st class picture type of stamps in the last photo that have a small queens head in the corner and also if they were second class ?

Those ones are called Smilers.  They are "Special Stamps" in RM terminology but not really commemorative as they don't  mark anything in particular.   I don't think we've ever had a 2nd class Smiler - there were some airmail values in 2010 (E and W)  As far as I can work out; the Smilers are not swappable and remain valid for postage.

NBLondon

JamesRobinson48 said:

NBLondon said:

Those ones are called Smilers.  They are "Special Stamps" in RM terminology but not really commemorative as they don't  mark anything in particular.   I don't think we've ever had a 2nd class Smiler - there were some airmail values in 2010 (E and W)  As far as I can work out; the Smilers are not swappable and remain valid for postage.

Your very well-informed feedback is gratefully appreciated!

As you know, there are Machins and/or regional stamps embedded in all prestige stamp booklets and also in many minisheets. Some of those philatelic products trade on the market at well below face value. I assume that, in principle, Machins and regionals are always swappable irrespective of the format in which they were issued?

Yes.  If you've got Machins in a prestige book pane or minisheet and are prepared to break it - they can be swapped for barcoded versions.  If you've bought that at below face value then you're making money on the deal.