Great Britain postage stamps year 1977 Queen Elisabeth II MNH set

Great Britain postage stamps year 1977 Queen Elisabeth II MNH set

Machin Series (Definitive Stamps)

The Machin series is a long-running series of definitive stamps in the UK, designed by Arnold Machin and introduced in 1967. These stamps feature the sculpted profile of Queen Elizabeth II and span a wide range of denominations for regular postal use.

High-Value Machin Stamps (1977–87)

The high-value Machin definitives issued from 1977 to 1987 included high denominations such as £1, £2, and £5. These were primarily used for large-value postage needs, such as parcel mailing or overseas rates:

• £1 (Green) – Catalog identifiers include SG 1026 or Stanley Gibbons 1026; Michel – GB 732; Scott – GB MH169. Issued 2 February 1977, printed by Harrison & Sons using photogravure on fluorescent coated paper. Design by Arnold Machin / Jeffrey Matthews.
• £2 and £5 – Often referred to as “large format Machin” stamps and similarly issued in the late 1970s. These complete the high-value slab of definitive values.

Presentation Pack

Royal Mail released a High Value Presentation Pack No. 91 in 1977, which included the £1 to £5 Machin set in mint condition (MNH)