GB Machin 00's

What can anyone tell me about Machins with a 00 denomination? Are trhey test stamps or color trials? I vaguely recall reading something that there was some controverysey about them. Were they stolen from the GB Post or from one of the printers? Are they legal to own?

US test stamps are not treated as accountable paper (live stamps) and they tend to leak out and seem to be legal to own (even essays and color trials), but I'm not sure about for GB.

kgb - thanks. I did some google work and found the original website they site you linked to took their text from. It idicates that Royal Mail considers them their property and that they could be reclaimed, but I'm wondering if they have taken such an action or if they have relented and they are safe to collect?

Also, don't forget SCF Member, Robin Harris' Machin page http://www.adminware.ca/machin.htm

KirkS

There exists 18 different covering the Matthews colour palette and they were printed by De la Rue as Colour comparison stamps.
They were sent out to all Printers of british Stamps and first came on the public domain at an Amsterdam Street market giving rise to the suspicion they made there way via Enschede of Haarlem though as far as I am aware it has never been proven.
ebay were told not to sell them and all offers were withdrawn and for some years they went 'unseen'.
More recently, I have seen them on the odd occasion on ebay so I assume that as time has lapsed, so too have the banning orders !

My only copy above was a gift from a friend before the ebay ban. When available they can go for upwards of £50 to just about anything.

Londonbus1