How To Read Stanley Gibbons UK Catalogue?

Hi All,

I have here a catalogue from Stanley&Gibbons called "GB Concise Stamp Catalogue".

Now I have a problem, that I have the well-known Elizabeth II stamps.
I have a bunch of different face values.

Well now I want to look them up for my database.
But I only get X931 and all that kind of numbers (see Page 83-92).
But where can I read the face value, so that I know that I have the correct code at the correct stamp.

I hope you all can help me.

Greetings, Rik

Hi Rik,

I have the 2010 edition of the SG GB Concise stamp catalogue so I'll try and help.

I'm guessing your catalogue is a different edition as SG X931 is on page 251 in mine.

The stamps with "X" numbers are decimal Machin definitives with explicit values (not "1st" or "2nd" etc.) and without the later elliptical perforations (which have "Y" numbers).

In my catalogue SG X931 is listed as:

X931 3½p. purple-brown (30.3.83) 50 60

which means SG X931 is purple-brown with face value 3½ pence and was first issued on 30th March 1983.

The catalogue prices are 50p for unmounted mint and 60p for very fine used.

Okay, I gonna try it out.
If I really don't understand it, I will say it here.

Greetings, Rik

Did you try reading the PREFACE to the catalog -- I'm pretty sure there is a page or two explaining the listings.

There is a list of Machin stamps on Wikipedia showing colours and denominations (no stamps) and dates of issue that may be helpful:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Machin_stamps

I have the 2005 GB Concise here (look on the spine for date) so it is probably similar to what you have. It does not have an illustration for every Machin unfortunately.

You can also use the wonderful list of Machins on Robin Harris's site here:
http://www.adminware.ca/machin/m_decpic.htm

. . . also his Machin colour list (a work in progress) here:
http://www.adminware.ca/machin/m_color.htm

A second thought for database numerical sequence of Machins.

You may have to list the denominations by decimal numbers.

Example
3-1/2 p = 03.5p or even perhaps 035p remembering that the extra 5 on the end is 1/2.

But then for older ones you will have pence denominations like 1/2d (d = denarius (plural denarii) = Roman for penny) then to 3-1/2p (p = penny or pence for plural) and then the non-denominated ones coming out now (1st, 2nd, Europe, International).

I think that is why someone chose to use the X and Y numbering system.

Hi Rik,

I've had a look at my 2008 edition which like yours has the (non-elliptical decimal) Machin listings and index in pages 77-88.

The index gives a useful method for finding a particular stamp starting with the face value and the colour.

So to take the the 3½p values as an example, look down the first column in the first index (for decimal Machins without elliptical perforations) and you'll see four stamps listed, all are photogravure, two are olive-grey and two are purple-brown.

The two purple-brown stamps have catalogue numbers X931 and X860.

X931 has (all over) phosphor paper and X860 has one centre phosphor band. The notes indicate the source of the stamps (sheets and/or booklets etc.)

The full details for X931 are in the main listing against that number in the previous pages.

The listings and indexes are the same in my edition but have been moved to a special section at the end of the main listing.

Okay guys, thanks for the help.
It is here bed.
It is in Holland midnight, and I want to go to my bed.
But I will read trough every single reply tomorrow.
In your timezone would it be then 5 AM, lol.

Greetings, Rik

I'm a little bit further with the Stanley & Gibbons catalogue, but here comes another problem.
I have different colors from QE 2 1p. but I can only find the color "crimson".
But I also have QE 2 1p. in red-rose colour.
Here a picture:

I can't tell from the picture given the effect of the phosphor. Remember that the stamps with elliptical perfs have numbers with a "Y" prefix in SG and are listed separately. SG lists three colours for 1p stamps with elliptical perfs: crimson, lake and reddish purple (the last two from booklets).

Well, I found some different 1p. stamps, but by all of them stays: "crimson"...
The page I'm looking at is QE 2/1971 and Decimal Machin Index...
Please help me.

The crimson stamps can look different to each other depending on the phosphor bands or phosphor paper and how this phosphor looks after soaking.

The 1p stamps in your picture all look pretty much the same to me in terms of colour (although some clearly have different phosphor bands).

At least one of them (the one at the back of the three stacked together has "elliptical perfs", with one elliptical perf on the left and right sides of the stamp near the bottom). Stamps like this have
"Y" numbers in SG and are listed (and indexed) separately.

The heavy slogan cancellation also fools the eye into making the shade look different.

Well I mean, that I can't find the red-rose, as seen on the photo on the right side.
At the left side, you see the "crimson".

Can you understand it?

I don't see a 1p red-rose stamp in your scan.

I recommend you look at the Adminware site that Puzzler has already suggested:

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

and here's the page on the 1p value:

http://www.adminware.ca/machin/m001.htm#Ell

No, you are right.
I visited the site you said, and there I saw the differences.

Many thanks, nigelc
If I have an other problem, I will post it here

Next problem...

First of all, thanks for the link.
But here: http://www.adminware.ca/machin/m001.htm#Ell
they say, 1p "dark maroon".
Issued 1993.
So I take a look at QE2 1993, see that there is an 1p. type, but again colour "crimson", and until now I cannot find the colour "dark maroon".

Sorry for all the questions, but I want to know which stamp I really have.

Many Thanks,

Rik