GB 24p Machin stamp POSTAL FORGERY in MUH blocks.
GB 24p Machin stamp POSTAL FORGERY in MUH blocks.
GB 24p Machin stamp 1993 POSTAL FORGERY in MUH blocks.
I bought a few sheets of these 25 years back when they first surfaced in the UK - sold to Indian, and similar family owned small corner stores and supermarkets, who retailed stamps for mailing letters.
These were the FIRST Postal Forgeries ever to appear in the UK for over a Century, since the QV 1/- "Stock Exchange Forgeries" of the early 1870s. SG lists those forgeries between £850-£4,000 EACH used.
A UK dealer Bushell & Wright, was too literally scared to offer them in the UK in case Scotland Yard paid him a visit, so he did a deal with me, and I sold them here for about $A40-$50 per stamp as I recall. Sterling was was VERY high back then of course, and UK retail was £20 which was about $A45 then.
He got a Solicitor's written opinion that him owning or selling these above face value created no offence under British Law. I can enclose a copy of that letter to all buyers who ask for it.
Just as well - the forgers were caught and got prison sentences of up to 12 years each - see detail below.
Stanley Gibbons notes these Machin Postal Forgeries SG Cat X969, in the "Concise" catalogue -
UK dealers currently sell blocks of 8 of these same stamps for £77.50 (~$A150) or near $A20 apiece - and they charge high postage on top to oz, as you can see -
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/1993-SG-X969-24p-chestnut-FORGERY-UNMOUNTED-MINT-/300474355627
1. MUH Block 4 at around HALF the UK dealer price - $A40 (Stock 619TM)
2. MUH Block 6 around 40% the UK dealer price - $A50 (Stock 619TN)
3. MUH Block 8 at 35% the UK dealer - $A55 (Stock 619TP)
4. MUH block 9 at 30% UK dealer price - $A60 (Stock 619TW)
5. MUH block 10 at 30% UK dealer price - $A65 (Stock 619TQ)
6. MUH block 15 at UNDER 30% UK dealer price - $A80 (Stock 619TX)
7. MUH Block of 20 at 25% of UK dealer price - $A100 (Stock 619TR)
8. I have one even larger block 30 on hand at $A4 ($US3!) a stamp, if anyone is interested in breaking it down on ebay etc for an ever far greater profit. (Stock 619TZ)
2. MUH Block 6 around 40% the UK dealer price - $A50 (Stock 619TN)
3. MUH Block 8 at 35% the UK dealer - $A55 (Stock 619TP)
4. MUH block 9 at 30% UK dealer price - $A60 (Stock 619TW)
5. MUH block 10 at 30% UK dealer price - $A65 (Stock 619TQ)
6. MUH block 15 at UNDER 30% UK dealer price - $A80 (Stock 619TX)
7. MUH Block of 20 at 25% of UK dealer price - $A100 (Stock 619TR)
8. I have one even larger block 30 on hand at $A4 ($US3!) a stamp, if anyone is interested in breaking it down on ebay etc for an ever far greater profit. (Stock 619TZ)
Keep a single or block of 4 for yourself from the above lots, and sell the others on ebay etc, to get yours FREE! You may even come out in front money wise, AND keep yours totally free.
Global TRACKED airpost is $A4 extra on any of the above.
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From the "Connoisseur" Machin catalogue "Bible" -
In May/June 1993, copies of a forgery of the 24p brown Machin, then the first class value, started to appear on commercial mail.
These forgeries were clearly designed to defraud the Royal Mail of revenue and apparently became available through very small retail outlets, such as newsagents, corner shops, etc.
The change in Royal Mail policy of allowing almost any type of retailer to offer postage stamps enabled the forgers the opportunity to offer their “stamps” at a greater discount than was obtainable through the Royal Mail retail units, and unsurprisingly, and unknowing of their status, shopkeepers took the opportunity to make a little more profit than usual.
The forgeries were produced by offset litho and the image is convincing enough to pass as the genuine item to the unsuspecting.
Despite the wide philatelic interest in this item, it must be stressed that it is strictly illegal to use these forgeries to prepay postage.
Soon after their discovery mint copies were circulating amongst collectors with a retail price of £20.00, and philatelically produced covers bearing one genuine 24p and one forgery were selling for £40.00. These covers are usually cancelled by a 1994 slogan postmark and bear no address, having had an address label removed by the producer (presumably to avoid incrimination).
Examples used on genuine commercial covers, prior to the 1st November 1993 rate rise, are rare and fetch prices from £100 upwards
© Connoisseur Publications 2008 • https://www.connoisseurcatalogue.net •
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And similar information From the © Deegam Machin catalog
24p rust brown Machin
In the Summer of 1993. shortly after the first edition of this Handbook went to press, forged copies of the 24p rust (prepaying the then basic 1st - class inland letter rate) began to appear on mail posted in London and Essex.
Later, mint examples were purchased from London newsagents who, it is said, bought them for 20p each. This is a greater discount than the 5% then obtainable under Royal Mail's policy to sell window books of stamps through retail outlets.
The colour of the forgeries is an excellent match with that of genuine stamps. However, there are several features which make them easily seen for what they are.
Most obvious to collectors is the use of perforation gauge 11 instead of the normal 14 or 15, making it noticeably different from that used on genuine stamps.
The perforater exhibits another characteristic which has never been seen an any Machin stamp; it is a line machine, not a comb or rotary one. as can be seen by the irregular intersections of the holes.
Another feature differentiating mint examples of the forgeries from genuine Stamps is the gum, which is very thin and shiny, with no green or blue dye. It does not appear to be gum arabic since there is no 'crazy paving' appearance under magnification and this product is in any case quite expensive.
It maybe a variant of Polyvinyl acetate (PVAc). The stamps were printed by lithography, and it seems that a genuine half-sheet of 100 stamps was used by the forgers as their 'artwork'.
Sales of mint copies of this stamp sometimes have been accompanied by a photocopy of a letter from a Sherbome, Dorset, solicitor stating that "on the basis that there is no intention to use the stamps for sending letters there is no criminality whatsoever attached to your holding the stamps and there is no restriction whatsoever in your dealing with these in the course of your stamp collecting business'.
The gang of forgers, nicknamed The Lavender Hill Mob by police. were identified and brought to trial at Winchester Crown Court in January 2000 charged with forging stamps and banknotes.
The leader of the "mob' was Kenneth Mainstone of Upminster, Essex who was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Three confederates got from three to eight years. A fourth was convicted but died of cancer before being sentenced.
There can be little doubt that Royal Mail's use of retail outlets for the sale of stamps prompted the forgers to distribute their product through the same channels.
The Mint blocks I am selling of these 24p Machin stamp forgeries, all come with this copy of the Solicitor letter to the UK dealers Bushell and Wright who sold them to me.
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=40863
Despite the letter indicating he was "probably" legally covered, he was still too nervous of Royal Mail Police, and/or Scotland Yard pouncing, and sold them all to me, rather than risk a knock of the door at 5am from The Bill.
Most folks add the letter to their collection.
Glen
$A40 plus $4 TRACKED global post
Call it - "24p Machin Forgery" - please order via new HTTPS encrypted SECURE site - https://tinyurl.com/GlenOrder
And please do that NOW. Too many think “I’ll do that later” and then quickly “forget”. I then lose the stamps in the rubble here, and waste an annoying hour finding them again.
All payment details etc are on: https://www.tinyurl.com/GlenPay - NICE franking is used when I mail : see member pix of that here - https://tinyurl.com/GlenCTO - and COMBINED POSTAGE is fine – save money buying more than 1 lot at once!
For overseas members, to find out the approx cost in YOUR currency, click here - https://www.xe.com - the $A has CRASHED lately, and for USA and UK buyers etc, these prices are REALLY cheap in your money!
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - don't like it - mail it back within 48 hours of receiving it. No-one ever has yet.
And "lay-by/layaway" is always possible - email me with any queries to glen [at] glenstephens.com - OR "trade-ins" always possible! If you have a pile of surplus stuff, I may well be happy to offset that against this item, see: https://tinyurl.com/GlenBuy
As most know - I do NO fairs or shows, have NO shop, and do NOT bother with ebay or any other auctions. I buy endless bulk lots from Estates, and distress sales etc, in this massive city of 6 million with no other real stamp buyers, and offer it here at NETT prices for fast turnover. NO "20%-25% Buyer Fees" and “3% credit card fees” to add to my NETT prices, as in auction!
Many similar mouth-watering NETT price offers are being loaded weekly onto - https://tinyurl.com/GlenRare and https://tinyurl.com/GlenSpec
All stampboards lots $A200 and under are always mailed Unregistered and untracked, unless YOU specifically note otherwise on order form. 1000s of my transactions here for 9 years have been safe by normal post.
If Registered (PO cover is to $A100 only sadly) is required, clearly STATE that on order form - cost is extra $A4 local, and minimum $A15 extra foreign. Only YOU know if your street address is secure - a large packet covered in pretty stamps left outside, just might tempt passers-by? Only YOU know that, I do not. Mail contractors these days are often lazy and leave packets on top of mailboxes etc in view of public, and out in wet weather etc. PO Boxes are FAR safer.
"All Risk" Insurance is always possible if required as well, at $A2 per $100 covered - again it must be specified on order form. It is like Travel Insurance - decline that when booking your ticket, and THEN tell Qantas you really meant to take it 3 weeks back, and you now need to cancel your ticket for no penalty, and see how you go with THAT one!
As per stampboard convention - this lot is offered exclusively first to board members - and on no other sales venue.
For members who make a BANK TRANSFER payment you WILL generally get your goods faster, as it saves me some hassle - but you MUST email me the confirmation number etc - many "forget"!
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