Photgraphing Machin Code Overprints...

Can anybody give me some advice of photographing (or scanning?) the code overprints on modern 'security' Machins? We are new to this modern stuff and it is fascinating and frustrating as well as being fun - all at the same time. I called my 85 year old mother, the other day, and informed her (using my new-found knowledge) the stamp on the envelope she had just sent me was taken from a 12 stamp booklet! I am not sure if she thought I was clever or just bonkers!

Anyway, here is the best I have got so far:



This is a used stamp but the postmark is almost invisible.

A good test would be to see if you guys can see what the date and code are.

Ralph.

Are you looking for backward devil messages? Oh, and Paul isn't really dead.

I reversed it and played with the contrast and exposure. All I got was Royal Mail.

Looks like MBIL (B for business sheet) and M11L (for 2011). Could be MSIL (for booklet of Six). Does not look like MTIL (for booklet of Twelve).
Sorry, I have no advice for photographing to reveal the codes.
Cheers, Robert

Yes, I agree with Trainwreck. The M11L and MBIL can clearly be seen either side of the Queens head [top].

Thankfully, I gave up on this fascinating Definitive series in 2009 when Royal Mail lost the plot.

Londonbus1

Well, that's good! at least I managed to get it clear enough for you to read. I can confirm from studying the original stamp that it is indeed 'B' for Business mail sheet and 2011.

I have seen better results than I have achieved and I would still be interested to hear how others photograph/scan these security codes for reproduction (in the various catalogues and publications) or web exposure...

Ralph.

I read /saw somewhere on the web that a way to get to see the codes better was to hold the stamp at an angle so the light hit the stamp from the side.

Might be worth a try,

Best wishes,

Brian.... machins

oh, ok, I see it now.
But I still wonder what you would get by reading it backwards (answer: a headache)

I just thought I would update this post as the image from my original post is missing. Here is the image that was in the OP.



Ralph.

You could ask this guy how he does it. His are photos, not scans - you can see the edges of the stamp are curved by the lens.

http://www.adminware.ca/machin/mnvi1red.htm

the icard camera is the solution ...

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/Publications..._ssn=cbenbow

Look up "digital microscope" on Amazon and you'll find dozens to suit all budgets. I use a Celestron 44302 which is good quality and a decent price, although I use it for my botany (mosses mostly) not stamps. The picture quality is pretty reasonable but the picture management package which comes with the microscope is dismal and I import directly into Photoshop.