The 3rd ATM design, dedicated to the protection of the environment, was issued on June 5th 2002. It includes the text 'Poupança de energía' (Energy saving) in both Portuguese and Chinese.
This issue (upper image) could be obtained from the Klüssendorf automatic vending machines whilst the lower ATM design came from the Nagler distributor. Notice the difference between the two in the printing styles of the face value.
Like other similar issues every 5th ATM has a control number, on the back, indicating the amount of labels remaining in the machine.
The designer is by Ng Wai Kin and the rolls of labels were manufactured in Holland by Joh. Enschedé Security Imp. In the lower right corner one can be read the reference and printing numbers: S032 (1/1) JES Imp. 2002.
An Official first day cover franked with a set of ATMs with the basic franking rates: 1.0, 1.5, 3.5 and 4.5 Patacas, and commemorative postmark.
Text: PROTECÇAO DO AMBIENTE. Poupança de energia. 1º Día de Circulaçao.
Size: 160 x 113 mm.
Postal tariffs changed on January 1st 2006, and there were not enough 0.50 avos 'traditional' stamps available to meet the needs for ‘make-up’ values. So on January 2nd, Correios de Macau started to issue Klüssendorf ATMs with this face value.
Rolls of the Ponte 'Flor de Lotus' (‘Lotus Flower’ bridge) and the 'Poupança de energia' (Energy saving) designs were used, and the difference that can been seen is the 3 asterisks before the decimal point, rather than the usual 2 asterisks and a zero before the decimal point, as found in the ATMs issued by the vending machines.
A reprinting of this design was made in 2006, again by Joh. Enschedé Security Imp, which was available from December 1st 2006. The new paper contains colour fibres and the text S032 (1/1) JES REIMP 2006 appears in the bottom right hand corner.
2008. World Heritage
This new ATM issue uses the World Heritage in Macau as a subject, and shows a section of the Old City Walls, from a watercolour by the local artist Lai Ieng.
On the first day of issue, July 31st 2008, it could only be obtained from the Nagler vending machines.
The rolls of labels were manufactured by the Dutch company Joh. Enschedé Security Print on gummed paper with coloured fibres. As with the previous issues, every 5th label has a 4-digits number printed on the back to indicate the number of labels remaining on the roll.
Micro printed at the bottom of the labels is; at left side - the author of the design (LAI IENG des.). At the right - the reference number of the issue and the stamp (S100 1/1 - usual information printed on the stamp issues of this country), and finally the manufacturer and year (JES Imp. 2008).
The issue shows the unique surviving section of the old walls of defence of the historical city, built by the Portuguese from 1569. The preserved section is 18.5 metres long and 5.6 metres high, and includes an archway. The small Na Tcha Temple was built in 1888 next to it, and it is another of the monuments included in the World Heritage List.
Currently there are 35 ATM vending machines in service in Macau, Taipa and Coloane - 15 Klüssendorf 631 and 20 Nagler (N714 - as used by the Philatelic Service, and N104 - right picture, by T. von Loeper). These ATM vending machines are installed in post offices, postal kiosks and various public locations around the city. In the Macau GPO there are 2 Nagler machines and 1 Klüssendorf.
On the date of issue, the new ATM could be only obtained from 15 Nagler distributors, although one can be expect that eventually these ATMs will also be obtainable from the Klüssendorf machines, as they use up rolls of the previous design and are replenished by the new design. The 9 values programmed in the Nagler distributors are: 0.50-1.00-1.50-2.00-3.00-3.50-4.50-8.00-12.00 (machines N104) and 1.0-1.5-2.0-3.0-3.5-4.5-5.0-8.0-12.0 (machines N714).
This issue follows the set of 8 definitive stamps (S099), designed by the same artist and issued on the same date. They depict 8 monuments making up the Historic Centre of Macau, inscribed in the UNESCO's World Heritage List of July 15th 2005.
Lai Ieng is also the author of the pretty watercolours with the archway next to the Na Tcha Temple, reproduced on the official first day covers and a maximum cards.
The first day cancellation, also used for the set of definitive stamps, depicts a detail of the bell tower of St. Anthony’s Church, another of the buildings reproduced in the stamp set.
As with ATM designs issued in 1999 and 2002, a reprinting of the rolls of labels was made of the design issued in 2008 - World Heritage in Macau. Both editions have been manufactured by the Dutch company Joh. Enschedé Security Print on gummed paper with coloured fibres, and can be recognized easily by the micro text printed at the bottom right corner of the labels: JES Imp. 2008 in the first edition (left picture, below) and JES REIMP 2009 in the second one (right picture).
The new imprint was available from February 22nd 2010, and only in 8 Klüssendorf 631 distributors around the city.
The 15 values programmed in the Klüssendorf distributors in the date of issue were: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 30.0, 50.0 patacas (MOP).
From June 17th 2011 the new JES REIMP 2009 imprint could also be obtained from the 10 Nagler N104 and N714 distributors located around the city.
On the date of issue, the 9 values programmed into the Nagler N104 distributors were: 0.50-1.00-1.50-2.00-3.00-3.50-4.50-8.00-12.00. The Nagler N714 distributors (right images below) were programmed with the 9 values: 1.0-1.5-2.0-3.0-3.5-4.5-5.0-8.0-12.0.
Left. Button options in the Nagler N104 distributor
Right. Distributor Nagler N714
After the rapid depletion, in just over two months, of the 750,000 labels manufactured for the 'Lunar Year of the Snake' issue, (see next article >, also published in VARIABLE 29), due largely to ATMs with minimum face value for this purpose being issued, Correios de Macau decided to order a new reprinting of the previous 'World Heritage' design.
This release was originally issued in 2008 (Imp JES 2008, at the bottom right corner of the labels), with a reprint in 2009 (JES REIMP 2009) (see previous articles, also published in VARIABLE 10 and 16).
The 2013 reprint maintains the original design, and is also manufactured by the Dutch company Joh. Enschedé Security Print on gummed paper with coloured fibres, and includes the micro text JES REIMP 2013 printed at the bottom right corner of the labels.
The new issue was available from July 22nd 2013 from all the Klüssendorf (upper left image and right franking detail) and Nagler (upper right image) vending machines in service.
With no changes in the button programming, the 15 values available in the Klüssendorf distributors in the date of issue were: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 30.0, & 50.0 patacas.
On the other hand, the 9 values programmed into the Nagler N104 distributors were: 0.50-1.00-1.50-2.00-3.00-3.50-4.50-8.00 & 12.00 patacas. The Nagler N714 distributors were programmed with the 9 values: 1.0-1.5-2.0-3.0-3.5-4.5-5.0-8.0 & 12.0 patacas.
Postal kiosk in Macau, with a Nagler N714 vending machine
(Photos by D. Leung)
2013, Lunar Year of the Snake (Ano Lunar da Cobra)
Macau is the only postal administration in the world which maintains Klüssendorf & Nagler ATM vending machines in service, for public use. This type of equipment was used, with varying success, by various European, American and Asian postal services, especially during the 1980s-1990s but only the 33 machines installed in Macau (13 Klüssendorf & 20 Nagler) remain in service 20 years after installation.
Since 1993, Correios de Macau had released a total of 4 different label designs, for issue by the distributors - 3 of them with reprintings in later years.
In 2013, the fifth issue was released, the first of the Chinese Zodiac with the theme of 'Lunar Year of the Snake'. The design is by Anita Fung Pou Chu, a well known local artist.
The new ATM could be obtained, from April 30th 2013, in 20 Klüssendorf (upper image) and Nagler (image below) vending machines, distributed throughout the Macao Special Administrative Region.
These machines print the face value on the labels by mechanical imprint, using black ink cartridges.
The rolls of labels were manufactured on gummed paper with coloured security fibres by the French company Cartor Security Printing. After cutting by the distributor, the ATM size is 43.5 x 25.4 mm.
Every 5th label has a 4-digit number preprinted on the back to indicate the number of labels remaining on the roll.
Micro printed at the bottom of the labels at the left side - the author of the design (ANITA, FUNG POU CHU des.). At the right - the reference number of the issue and the stamp (S156 1/1 - usual information printed on the stamp issues of this country), and finally the manufacturer and year (CARTOR Imp. 2013).
The total printing for the first edition of this design was 750,000 labels.
The Chinese Zodiac is a very popular theme in philately.
Focusing on the world of ATMs, the Hong Kong postal administration released annual ATM issues dedicated to the Chinese zodiac, for issue by its Frama distributors, in the '80s-'90s.
Such is the interest in this subject, that Correios de Macau established strict limits on the purchase of the different philatelic products on sale (sets, first day covers and information brochures), and also limited the use of some of the ATM vending machines on the first day of issue.
Despite this planning, all the labels in stock were sold out in just over two weeks. Collectors had to wait some further weeks, until June 21st 2013, for the arrival of new rolls and the refilling of the vending machines.
Just over twoweeks later, onJuly 9th 2013, Correios de Macau reported thatthe issuehad beenfully sold out.
On the date of issue, there are three types of ATM vending machines in Macau, each with different values programmed.
The Klüssendorf 631 distributors have 15 values programmed: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 30.0, 50.0 patacas.
There are two types of Nagler distributors, with the same impression but with one difference in one of the 9 values programmed, so it is possible to obtain 10 different face values with this printing variety:
- Nagler N104, with 9 values programmed: 0.5-1.0-1.5-2.0-3.0-3.5-4.5-8.0-12.0.
- Nagler N714, with 9 values programmed: 1.0-1.5-2.0-3.0-3.5-4.5-5.0-8.0-12.0.
The philatelic service prepared a special first day postmark, with the same design as appears in the ATM issue and also on the first day cover (image below, left).
2014, Lunar Year of the Wood Horse (Ano Lunar do Cavalho)
Following the success of the ATM issue dedicated to the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Snake, issued in April 2013 and which sold out in a few weeks (see article >, also published in VARIABLE 29), in 2014 Macao Post released, a new ATM dedicated to the Year of the Horse, in what appears to be a series of annual releases dedicated to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac Zodiac.
The new design, by the local artist Anita Fung Pou Chu, could be obtained, from February 14th 2014, from all the Klüssendorf(upper image) and Nagler(image below) vending machines, distributed throughout the Macao Special Administrative Region.
These machines print the face value on the labels by a mechanical impression, using black ink.
On this occasion, the rolls of labels were manufactured by the Dutch company Joh. Enschedé Security Print, using gummed paper with security fibres.
The information about the issue is micro printed at the bottom of the labels. At the left there is the author of the design (ANITA, FUNG POU CHU des.). At the right, there is the reference number of the issue and the stamp (S167 1/1), the manufacturer and year (JES Imp. 2014).
The total print run for this design was 750,000 labels.
After cutting by the distributor, the (approximate) size of the stamp is 43.5 x 25.4 mm.
The security fibres were embedded during the paper manufacturing and can be seen on the back of the ATMs. Every 5th label has a 4-digit number preprinted on the back to indicate the number of labels remaining on the roll.
After the experience, in 2013, with the previous issue, dedicated to the Chinese zodiac, Macao Post again set quantity limits for the purchase of the different philatelic products (sets, first day covers and information brochures), and also time limited the use of the Klüssendorf (left pictured) and Nagler vending machines installed in 5 of its main post offices (Macao Post Headquarters, Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office, Red Market - Almirante Lacerda Post Office, Mong Ha Post Office, and the Communications Museum).
To try to reduce abusive purchases of ATMs with a minimum face value, at the end of January 2014, all the machines with the button allowing the direct purchase of ATMs with a 0.5 patacas (approx. 0.04 EUR) face value, had this button disabled. This minimum value can now only be obtained from Nagler N104 vending machines, by overpaying when buying another ATM and getting this value as a residual or refund stamp.
So, on the date of issue, the Klüssendorf 631 distributors had 14 programmed values - 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 30.0, 50.0 patacas.
With the Nagler printing variety, it was possible to obtain 9 different face values programmed - 8 values in Nagler N104 machines (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.5, 8.0, 12.0) and 9 in Nagler N714 distributors (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.5, 5.0, 8.0, 12.0).
Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover.
The philatelic service sold the set with the 4 values 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 & 4.0, printed using a Klüssendorf equipment. This set was also used on the franking of the official first day covers.
