Let me say, I love these Machin stamps, but if I were living in the UK I might be a little tired of seeing them. They have, after all , been around since 1967. Apparently, neither the Queen nor Arnold Machin would approve any changes to the design. Personally, I love the rich colours which make me think of Fiesta ware. I want to collect all the rainbow of colours.
But the most boring stamps I find, are the ones that bear simply a number.
Like these from Sweden and The Netherlands. The ones on the right are from the 1950s and have interesting swirls descending from the letters 'g' and 'n'. The even simpler one on the left was designed in 1976. Like the Machin series, each denomination is a different colour, though for these the background colour fades from top to bottom. This series was in use until the Euro came and now is no longer valid, so we won't be bored by it any longer.
Grasping at something nice to say about the Machins, I'd agree I like the colours. The Dutch stamps even make them look interesting!
ReplyDeleteBoring indeed but they still get the job done.
ReplyDeleteActually, even the most 'boring' one, the grey nederlands one, I find interesting. I've always been fascinated by a double graduation - ie the grey going up and the opposite within the '70'. There's a place where they are the same tone...
ReplyDeleteIt does funny things to your eyes when the tones coincide yet the colours are different. Can't find an example on the net. But I had a nice side-track... Isn't it easy to waste time on the internet! :-)
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ReplyDeleteThe only things that change with the Machins are the colours and the price.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the number trend on other stamps.
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I've received these stamps a lot of times, since my best friends live in the UK and the Netherlands. I don't mind (not always easy to find beautiful stamps), especially if they arrive combined with others.
ReplyDeleteYes, I find the Machins to be a bit boring, but at least in the past there were more values and colours, it's really quite limited now. I have some fdcs featuring Machins, and they don't even become interesting on an fdc :) .
ReplyDeleteAh I was hoping for some Machins, thank you! Part of it is that they have been in use for so long - decades. I guess many of us like commemorative stamps.
ReplyDeletethank you for participating.
http://myfavoritestamps.blogspot.com/2013/10/usa-2001-flag-united-we-stand-34.html
ReplyDeleteFor me it is the flag stamps from my country, USA. - I love my flag and I love my country, however, every time I turn around there is another stamp with the flag on it. The rules are so strict here on what can go on a stamp, that it makes ours, compared to places like Finland, boring.
I rather like the Machins now though I used to find them boring. There has been an incredible range of colours available over the years so rather than use one on a postcard or envelope, I use a veritable rainbow. I tell myself they look quite nice.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Stamps can be colossally boring. I always ask to see what art stamps are available.
ReplyDeleteI would have posted the Machins too but Sunday was a bit too busy for me, hence no time for posting an entry for Sunday stamps :( It's still nice though to blog hop along the list of entries for this theme.
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