Machin Definitives The so-called ‘Machin definitive’ bears the profile of Her Majesty the Queen created by the sculptor Arnold Machin. So many stamps have been printed since it was first issued in 1967 that this portrait is arguably the most reproduced image of all time. So far more than 180 billion have been printed.
The highest value stamp today is the £3.30 Rose Pink Definitive. Many people wrongly claim stamps are legal tender – they aren’t.
1900s Post Office Investigation Department badge (20th century)
1800s Queen Victoria First National Standard Pillar Box (1861)
2000s Gerry Anderson Thunderbirds (2011)
1900s Proposed King George V memorial issue (1936)
1900s Sir Stephen Tallents (1884-1958)
1900s Postmaster General Tony Benn’s unsuccessful attempt to remove the Queen’s head on stamps (1965)