Types of Gum

Five types of gum have been used in the lifetime of the current Machin issues, not necessary in order these are listed below.

This is a clear shiny gum and is very easy to detect when a light is shone across the surface. It shows a crazy paving effect when viewed under magnification, it was cracked by the printers deliberately because it was causing them difficulties, having a tendency to curl. 

PVA:

Replacing gum Arabic it is slightly creamy white in colour and mottled in appearance. Shine a light across and it looks almost invisivble. Harrison & Son and Enschede both added a dye to help distinguish the visibility, which brings us to type three (Dextrin).

PVAD :

This gum looks like PVA except a greenish tint has been added to make it more visible to the naked eye. According to some people the tint has disappeared on some of the later printings, but they have been assured that it is still technically a gum called dextrin.

PVA (Layflat)

This is still a PVA gum but has layflat qualities, the latest (except for acrylic) to be used by the Royal Mail.

Recently introduced to stop the paper from curling in humid conditions. It looks creamy in colour, slightly darker darker than PVA or Dex and less shiny in appearance. Two types exist, the creamy type and a whiter version. It is believed that the whiter version is the same gum but with a thinner variation of paper. This was first tested on the 19p & 25P values issued in 1995.

S.A (Acrylic)

Introduced before layflat but sold only in the Tyne Tees television area and philatelic counters. The first issues were withdrawn from sale because the ink used to cancel them would not adhere to the shiny surface.

Sold originally in booklets of 20, the stamps were smaller in size and of a horizontal format, the head size was reduced in size accordingly.

Since the initial trial run they were again released in the normal vertical format, sold in coils and sheets. Also a larger format 1st class embossed stamp has also been released, this was only available in the form of a stamp pane from the prestige booklet (a profile on print).

During January 2001 several new self adhesive booklets were issued, it looks as though eventually all future issues will revert to having this type of gum. Next:  Printers of Machin Material

To keep up with the latest news a visit to our  new issues page is a must, here you can get all the information including dates of issue etc.