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The new security features on GB Machines
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Slits in the stamp to prevent removal, one each side of the Queen’s head. Two types, a continuous U shaped slit (De La Rue sheet) and ones with a small break in the middle of curve (Walsall booklets) as shown here.
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Elliptical perf in each long side as before.
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Another difference with the Walsall stamp is that the value is further to the right by 0.4mm. A further feature of the stamps has come to light in the words Royal Mail which are in a repeating pattern in the background of the stamp. This was identified by Douglas Myall the Machin specialist and reported in the June edition of Stamp Magazine. The 1st and 2nd class stamps contain hidden codes in the wavy-line security text where one letter in ‘Royal Mail’ in a set place above the Queen’s crown is replaced with another letter. This identifies which format the stamp was produced in and so there are several. Business sheets have a B replacing either A, in the wording, so sheets of 100 have Royal Mbil and those from sheets of 50, Roybl Mail. Stamps from booklets have an F if from booklets of 4, so have Foyal Mail, those in booklets of six have an S, Royal Msil, those in booklets of 12 have a T, Royal Mtil and the stamps in booklets with commemoratives as well have a C, Royal Mcil. Royal Mail’s aim here is to trace the stamp to its format to assist in quality assurance and it gives collectors seven different versions to collect. Counter sheets do not have the code and the code does not appear in the similar word pattern within the background image of the Queen’s head, which varies in size within the pattern.
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