Stamp collectors derived the name Machin ( pronounced “May-chin”) from the surname of the designer, the late Arnold Machin O.B.E - R.A. -  1911 to 1999.

Arnold Machin was the Artist who designed and developed the actual plaster cast that was used for the original printing of the portrait. Several trials and tests had to be conducted including photographing the cast in several positions and in different lighting conditions.

Individual negatives were then prepared and 2 basic head types were chosen for the first printings.This was carried out by Harrison & Son of  High Wycome.They were printed on unwatermarked coated paper. (uncoated errors) do exist more about these elsewhere under the index types of papers.

It has been said that Machin chose the actual simplicity of Machins design and based it on the very first postage stamps introduced by Great Britain in 1840 (the penny black). It is this simplicity that has kept this unique design in production for over thirty years, and as far as we know the Royal Mail have no immediate plans to change it in the near future.

The first issues were released on 5th June 1967 consisting of three values.These were the pre decimal issues (see below)

4d value ; 1/- value ; 1/9d value

For those who are not familiar with pre decimal currency there were 12 pennies = to 1 shilling and 20 shillings = to £1

One penny was written 1d ; two pence as 2d ; etc. One shilling was written 1/- . 

Decimal currency was introduced on February 15th 1971.

Six different printers have been employed using three basic types of print process, listed the types of print are:                                       

Photogravure (gravure)

Intaglio (recess)

Lithography                                                          Next  Heads & Values