The ATMs in the United Kingdom. 2013, Post & Go issues. Freshwater life

The ATMs at SPRING STAMPEX 2013

Spring Stampex is the first major annual philatelic fair in the United Kingdom. Contrary to what its name suggests, this philatelic event is actually held in late February, in winter, in a cold and inclement London. However, this does not prevent thousands of collectors coming to the Business Design Centre, over the four days of this major philatelic event.

	The Spring Stampex 2013 was held from Wednesday February 20th to Saturday 23rd. For nearly sixty years, it has been organized and staged by the Philatelic Traders' Society (PTS), in collaboration with Royal Mail.
	(For more information, see articles on the two Stampex fairs in 2012, the Spring Stampex 2012, also published in VARIABLE 24, and the Autumn Stampex 2012, in VARIABLE 26).

To improve the layout of the philatelic fair, the organizers of the Autumn Stampex 2012 made a significant change in the arrangement of the stands, by moving the national philatelic exhibition and the large Royal Mail stand (left image), usually located at the front of the venue, to the very back of the hall. In 2013, because of the increase in demand for stands, along with the need for more commercial space in the central hall, the organizers were forced to remove their own stand, whilst all the spaces for philatelic promotions went to the upper floor gallery bays, where only a small number of visitors are attracted.

Most surprising and remarkable is the success of the Post & Go issues at such philatelic events. Bear in mind that the first Wincor Nixdorf postal kiosk was introduced in the small Post Office Ltd stand during the London 2010 Festival of Stamps, different types of kiosks have, since then, been installed on the stands of Royal Mail, at the different Stampexs, and each time with increasingly more options for collectors. Commercial success has been overwhelming and Royal Mail continues to research and develop new options and applications for these machines.

Interestingly, for the first time, starting with the Spring Stampex 2013, the 'Post & Go' machines were not integrated into the Royal Mail stand, but on an independent stand located in the entrance area - the best location of the fair. On this occasion, Royal Mail installed three Postalvision postal kiosks plus one 'Smiler' unit (images below), another of the new Royal Mail commercial projects.

On the stand there were also one of the mailboxes that Royal Mail painted in gold to commemorate the UK gold medals won at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Royal Mail currently has (March 2013) four Hytech Postal Vision 5000 postal kiosks (see article >, also published in VARIABLE 26). After some problems with the two machines installed in the Autumn Stampex 2012, some hardware changes were made to improve print reliability and speed. They are also working on modifications to the software, incorporating suggestions from users and dealers, and adding new options, such as the purchase of 'Smilers'.
Three of these postal kiosks (A2, A3 and A4), identified by Royal Mail as 'Royal Mail series 1 - Post & Go machines', were installed at the Spring Stampex 2013, whilst the fourth machine (A1) is permanently installed, since December 2012, in The Royal Mail Archive of the British Postal Museum & Archive (see article >, and in VARIABLE 27).

At the Spring Stampex 2013, Royal Mail also introduced the purchase of 'Smilers' or personalized stamps, that collectors could obtain from the postal kiosks, for £ 9.95 (see screen images - Button 'Post & Go Smiler sheet').

So how does it work ? Well once the user purchases the service, Royal Mail staff takes a photo using a tablet computer, according to customer instructions (image below, right), and using a special application, developed by Intelligent AR Limited, the information is sent to a Hewlett Packard Laser Jet Pro 400 colour printer located in a unit at the side of one of the postal kiosks.

	The result is a sheet with 10 self-adhesive personalized stamps. Each stamp is made up from a label and one '1st class' stamp. The first label is an image related to the venue, whilst the other 9 have the personalised photo.

Spring Stampex 2013 was especially generous with ATM issues. Visitors could get up to 8 different issues, each with different face values and machine numbers.

On February 20th and 21st, the three postal kiosks issued ATMs of the definitive 'Machin' design with the special imprint 'The Coronation 60th Anniversary', in the 6 usual face values, and a new release featuring the profile of the Queen created by Arnold Machin. This new issue is similar to the first definitive design, but in shades of blue, and is intended to be used only for '2nd Class' stamps. During the Spring Stampex 2013, this issue could only be obtained with the values '2nd Class up to 100g' & '2nd Large up to 100g' (In the UK, '2nd Class' is an economic-mail option, with nationwide delivery within 3 days).


Right, receipt for the purchase of one set with the two values programmed for the new design 'Machin - 2nd Class' - Machine A4

From the 22nd, the three postal kiosks issued ATMs of the new topical series 'Freshwater life - Ponds'. In the second reel, the A2 machine continued to issue ATMs of the first Machin design with the special imprint (image below, and screen below, left), whilst machines A3 and A4 issued ATMs with the new '2nd Class' Machin design (screen below, right).
	Right, first day of issue receipt for the purchase of one 'Collectors strip', the set with the 6 values programmed into the postal kiosks, of the new topical series - Machine A2.

As in previous Stampex shows, as well as the postal kiosks for public use, Royal Mail also had in service two Postalvision terminals (series B - B1 & B2) for internal use only, mainly to meet orders from collectors at the counters.


	The fifth special imprint, on Post & Go issues, is again dedicated to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II, with the text 'The Coronation 60th Anniversary'. During the Spring Stampex 2013, this special imprint was done on rolls of labels with the first definitive or 'Machin' design. Probably this special imprint will be repeated at the Autumn Stampex 2013, but using rolls of the 'Union flag' design. The special imprint could be obtained from the three postal kiosks for public use (A2 - picture above, A3 and A4 - left image), and also with the internally used terminal B1. Note that some of the ATMs printed by this terminal, such as the image below, have the first line of the special text slightly displaced to the right.

The new 'Machin' edition for '2nd Class' stamps could be obtained with the only two values programmed into the three postal kiosks for public use (A2, A3 and A4), and also from one of the terminals for internal use (B2).

Royal Mail released a new pictorial presentation pack for this issue, containing a strip of 2 ATMs, with the two available values. The ATMs were issued by the terminals C1 or C2, used by the philatelic service.
As can be seen in the images below, the printing in these terminals is slightly different from that made by the other machines.

As the last Robin2012 special ATM edition, the year of manufacture has also been included here. It is in the continuous security background text, where one of the ROYALMAIL texts has been replaced by ROYALMA12.

It is expected that, in the coming months, this type of economic mail stamp might be available at post offices, by introducing some modifications in the Wincor Nixdorf postal kiosks currently in service, or by installing new equipment.

Royal Mail prepared various first day special postmarks for this new 'Post & Go' issue. In the picture, the Spring Stampex special postmark.

2013. Freshwater life (1) - PONDS

In 2013, the third topical series of Post & Go issues is dedicated to showing different species of fish, amphibians and invertebrates living in UK freshwater areas. The first series of six designs could be obtained from February 22nd 2013, coinciding with Spring Stampex 2013, and is dedicated to freshwater life in ponds. Another two sets of six designs will appear in June and September, devoted to showing life in lakes and rivers, respectively.

As for the previous releases, this new series was available, from the date of issue, at many of the Wincor Nixdorf - Post & Go postal kiosks installed in post offices across the country, and also from the Postalvision equipment installed at the philatelic fair - the three postal kiosks A2, A3 & A4, and the B1 terminal.

Royal Mail released its usual vertical pictorial presentation pack containing a 6 ATMs strip with the basic inland postage rate '1st Class up to 100 g'. These strips were printed by one of the two series C - Hytech terminals used by the philatelic service - C1 or C2. All these machines are fitted with direct thermal printers.

The 6 designs show a lesser silver water beetle (Hydrochara caraboides), the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris), the fairy shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanus), the emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator), and the glutinous snail (Myxas glutinosa).

	The rolls of labels are manufactured by Walsall Security Printers, and have identical characteristics to previous issues. The 6 images are designs by Kate Stephens, based on illustrations by Chris Wormell. For the ATMs used in the folders (left strip), the identification code is the same for the 6 stamps - A2GB13 C2-051840-11. In the first block, A is the reel identification, 2 is for the month of issue (February), GB for the country where the strips where printed, and 13 for the year of issue.
	In the second block, C2 (or C1) are the codes of the two terminals used by the philatelic service. Then follows 051840, the usual fictitious session number used in these types of issues, symbolizing May (05) of 1840 (the date of issue of the very first stamp), and 11 indicates the eleventh Post & Go pictorial series.
	Special pictorial first day postmarks.

The new series could be obtained, from the Wincor Nixdorf postal kiosks and Hytech Postalvision equipment installed at Spring Stampex 2013, with the only 6 face values or indicators programmed (images below).
1. '1st Class up to 100 g' and '1st Large up to 100g', for standard and large domestic letters up to 100 g.
2. 'Europe up to 20 g', for letters to European countries and
3. 'Worldwide up to 10 g', 'Worldwide up to 20 g', and 'Worldwide up to 40 g', for the rest of the world.

Postal kiosks Wincor Nixdorf	Postal kiosks / Terminals Hytech Postalvision A2 - A3 - A4 - B1

First day cover with the 6 designs and the 6 face values programmed, and detail of the Spring Stampex 2013 special postmark.

'Union flag' at The British Postal Museum & Archive

Coinciding with the celebration of Spring Stampex 2013, Royal Mail decided to replace one of the two designs used in the postal kiosk (A1) installed at The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA).

		The Christmas Robin design used in the postal kiosk from its installation, in December 2012 (see article >>>, also published in VARIABLE 27), was replaced, on February 21st 2013, by the 'Union flag' definitive design. The new ATMs retain the special imprint 'The B.P.M.A.' ('Union + Overprint' on the screen below).

Pictorial first day cover, with the 6-ATMs programmed values set, and The British Postal Museum & Archive permanent postmark.

The 'Post&Go' services on tour

After the Spring Stampex 2013, the 'Post & Go' service by Royal Mail, consisting of two postal kiosks (A3 and A4) and a printer for 'Smilers' or personalized stamps, started its tour of major national and international philatelic events. It is planned that a special programmed impression on the ATMs will be available only at the major philatelic events.

The first stop of the machines, outside London, in 2013, was the Salisbury Stamp Show 2013, held on March 15th and 16th 2013. The two postal kiosks issued ATMs with definitive designs 'Machin' and 'Union flag', without any special imprint. The code on the bottom line of the stamps issued during this philatelic fair is A3GB13 A3- & A3GB13 A4-.

There are ATMs with the new 'Machin' design for '2nd Class' stamps (see article and VARIABLE 28) and the special imprint 'Salisbury Stamp Show 2013'.
This is a private overprint, made without the permission of Royal Mail.
A well-known English philatelic dealer bought 6,000 ATMs of the new 'Machin' design at the February Stampex. Then added the overprinting using private printing equipment, and used the ATMs for franking the philatelic fair promotional mail to all his customers.

The next destination was the 84th Congress of the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies, held on April 19th and 20th 2013, at the Dewar's Centre, in Perth.
In 2013, the annual meeting was hosted by the Alba Stamp Group, a group created in 1970. Its object is the encouragement of the collecting of stamps and allied material relating to Scotland.
In addition to the congress, the event included a national philatelic exhibition and a fair.

In this case, Royal Mail considered it a sufficiently important event, and programmed a special text into the postal kiosks. During the two days of the show, the A3 and A4 machines issued ATMs with the definitive designs of 'Machin' and 'Union flag', and the special overprint

84th Scottish
Congress 2013

The code at the bottom of the stamps, issued during this philatelic event, is A4GB13 A3- and A4GB13 A4-.

You may recall that the first travel of the two 'Post & Go' postal kiosks, outside London, was to Perth, in October 2012, on the occasion of the 94th Philatelic Congress of Great Britain, where both machines were programmed for printing the special text
Perth 2012
19-22 October
(see article and VARIABLE 27).

The organization commemorates the centenary of the Edinburgh Zoo with the release of a special cover and postcard. The cover (image below) depicts King Penguins in front of the Mansion House at the Zoo. Both the postcard and the congress postmark are dedicated to the giant panda.
	Right, receipt issued after the purchase of a 'Collector Strip', kiosk A3

The first international journey of the 'Post & Go' equipment was in May 2013, at the World Stamp Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.
The Australia 2013 World Stamp Expo was held from May 10th to 15th 2013 in the stunning Royal Exhibition Building, in Melbourne. Designed by architect Joseph Reed and built for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880-1881, is the first building in Australia declared by UNESCO, in 2004, as a World Heritage Site.

Royal Mail did not have a stand at this exhibition, but sent the 'Post&Go' (the two postal kiosks A3 and A4, and the 'Smilers' unit) equipment in full. Because of transportation problems, the machines arrived at the exhibition just two hours before opening. There was no time to make the necessary tests, and both kiosks had many operational problems during the first day, mainly because of the internet connection of the payment module. All these problems were solved by the second day, and the kiosks worked normally after this.

	Left, main screen with the designs and options available at the World Stamp Expo, kiosk A3
	Right, receipt for the purchase of a 'Collector Strip', kiosk A4
Photos: Athena Lao, Peter Schoer & Peter Veeken

In this case, Royal Mail programmed a special text for both postal kiosks. During the six days, postal kiosks A3 and A4 issued ATMs with definitive designs 'Machin' and 'Union flag', and special impression

Australia 2013
Stamp Expo

Since the issue was released in Australia, the code at the bottom of the stamps issued during the World Stamp Expo is A5AU13 A3- & A5AU13 A4-.

Royal Mail consider that a special impression on a 'Post&Go' stamp is not a new issue and, therefore, it does not qualify for a first day of issue facility. Furthermore, they never provide any postmarking facilities at non-UK exhibitions, as that is contrary to its postmarking policy.

Therefore, for the Melbourne exhibition, they did not prepare any special postmark, nor set up any mailbox where collectors could post covers franked with these stamps. However, a well-known Australian philatelic dealer, the Royal Mail representative at the world exhibition, produced his own commemorative cachet, with the Royal Mail logo, and used it to postmark philatelic items with different UK stamps, including some covers with ATMs.

To satisfy demand from collectors interested in 'Post&Go' issues, who could not travel to Australia (!!), Royal Mail sold sets or 'Collector Strips' of the same definitive designs issued at the World Stamp Expo, 'Machin' and 'Union flag', but issued by the desktop terminal B1. Besides the machine number, there are two very important differences with the Australia releases; the special overprint is different, as it includes the word 'World':

Australia 2013
World Stamp Expo

And, furthermore, since the issue was released in the UK, the code at the bottom of the stamps sold by Royal Mail is A5GB13 B1-.

2013. Freshwater life (2) - LAKES

The second topical set of Post&Go issues, showing different species of animals living in UK freshwater areas, is dedicated to life in lakes. It was available, from June 25th 2013, at many of the Wincor Nixdorf - Post&Go postal kiosks installed in post offices across the country.

Royal Mail released the usual vertical format pictorial presentation pack containing a 6 ATMs strip with the basic inland postage rate. These strips were printed by the series C - Hytech terminals used by the philatelic service (C2 in the right and below).

The 6 designs show a Perch (Perca fluviatilis), the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla), the Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), the Caddis Fly Larva (Caddisfly larvae), the Arctic chair (Salvelinus alpinus), and the Common Toad (Bufo bufo).

The rolls of labels are manufactured by Walsall Security Printers, and have identical characteristics to previous issues. The 6 images are designs by Kate Stephens, based on illustrations by Chris Wormell.

For the ATMs used in the folders (upper left strip), the lower identification code is the same for all the 6 stamps - A6GB13 C2-051840-12. In the first block, A is the alleged reel identification, 6 is for the month of issue (June), GB for the country where the strips where printed, and 13 for the year of issue. In the second block, C2 is the code of the printing terminal used by the philatelic service. Then follows 051840, the usual fictitious session number, symbolizing May (05) of 1840 (the month of issue of the very first stamp), and 12 indicates the twelfth series from the start of the Post&Go issues.
In the ATMs issued by Wincor Nixdorf - Post&Go postal kiosks (upper right image), the lower code is formed by the post office or location number (006007 in the picture), the machine number in that location (1), the session number (08844) and the stamp number in that session or purchase operation (31 to 36). In the postal kiosks, users can obtain ATMs with 6 different face values or indicators - '1st Class up to 100 g' and '1st Large up to 100g', for standard and large domestic letters up to 100 g., 'Europe up to 20 g', for letters to European countries and 'Worldwide up to 10 g', 'Worldwide up to 20 g', and 'Worldwide up to 40 g', for the rest of the world.

First day cover with the 6 designs, and details of different pictorial first day postmarks used with this series.

The continuation of the 'Post&Go' services tour 2013

	After the Melbourne World Stamp Exhibition, the next stop for the 'Post & Go' services was Midpex 2013. This philatelic event was held on Saturday July 6th 2013, at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, in central England. For the first time, Royal Mail installed two postal kiosks -A3 and A4-, which issued ATMs with the definitive designs 'Machin' and 'Union flag', and the freshwater life (2) series. This was the first time that it was possible to obtain this series issued by a Hytech postal kiosk. The ATMs issued during Midpex 2013 do not include any special imprint, and the code on the lower line is A7GB13 A3- & A7GB13 A4-. The next stop was at the York Stamp Fair, held on July 19th and 20th 2013 at the York Racecourse. The two postal kiosks -A3 & A4- were again installed there, also issuing ATMs with the definitive designs 'Machin' and 'Union flag', and the freshwater life (2) series (images).
	But the interesting news is that the rolls of labels with definitive designs were a reprint made in 2013, where one of the ROYALMAIL texts in the lines of the security background was replaced by ROYALMA13 (pictures below). However, the ATMs issued during the York Stamp Fair 2013 do not include any special imprint, and the code on the lower line is also A7GB13 A3- & A7GB13 A4-.

The ATMs at AUTUMN STAMPEX 2013

	In 2013, the new London Autumn Stampex, was held from September 18th to 21st, at the Business Design Centre. Along with the Spring fair, the two London Stampex are the major philatelic events held every year in the UK.
	(For more information, see articles on the two last Stampex fairs, the Autumn Stampex 2012, also published in VARIABLE 26, and the Spring Stampex 2013, in VARIABLE 28).

For nearly sixty years, both fairs have been organized and staged by the Philatelic Traders' Society (PTS), in collaboration with Royal Mail. Visitors can find there many UK philatelic dealers, as well as some of the major international traders. The fair is complemented by philatelic exhibitions and promotional activities.

	The large Royal Mail stand located at the back of the hall is the most visited by collectors and traders. Each day, brand new sets are issued to coincide with Stampex.
	The stand is thronged with visitors during the fair, who take their time to examine everything on sale.


The 50 years of the British Philatelic Bulletin were celebrated during the Autumn Stampex	Mailboxes on the Royal Mail stand, for the different daily special postmarks

After the successful experience in Spring Stampex 2013, the 'Post & Go' services were again located on an independent stand, on the ground floor, near the entrance area. Royal Mail installed three postal kiosks (A2, A3 & A4), renamed as 'Royal Mail series 1 - Post & Go machines', along with the 'Smiler' unit, for personalized stamps.

As usual, visitors could get various ATM issues during the Autumn Stampex 2013, each with different face values and machine numbers. To make the huge offer more easy to understand, the staff stuck on the wall a daily listing with all the options available.

		During the first two days, the three postal kiosks issued ATMs of the definitive designs 'Machin' and 'Union flag' - this last one with the special imprint 'The Coronation 60th Anniversary'. Both designs were issued using rolls of labels of the reprinting made in 2013, with the text ROYALMA13 in one of the security background lines (see previous article). From the 20th, the new topical series Freshwater life (3) (next article) replaced the 'Machin' definitive design in the A2 and A3 kiosks. The code on the lower line of the ATMs, issued during the Autumn Stampex, is A9GB13 A2-, A3- or A4- (kiosks), and A9GB13 B1- or B2- (terminals).

Besides the three postal kiosks for public use, Royal Mail also had in service two Postalvision terminals (series 'B' - B1 & B2) for internal use only, to meet additional orders from collectors and traders.

2013. Freshwater life (3) - RIVERS

Royal Mail scheduled the release of the third 'Freshwater life' series to coincide with London Autumn Stampex 2013. After the 'Post&Go' series depicting life in ponds and lakes, the final series is dedicated to showing life in the UK rivers.

On the date of issue, September 20th 2013, the new series could be obtained at many Wincor Nixdorf - 'Post&Go' postal kiosks in service in post offices, and also in some of the equipment installed at the philatelic show - the two postal kiosks A2 and A3, and the B1 terminal.
Royal Mail released a presentation pack with the 6 designs. The strip of ATMs were printed on the 'C' series terminals.

The 6 designs show the Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), the Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotomobius pallipes), the River Lamprey (Lampreta fluviatilis), the Blue-winged Olive Mayfly Larva, and the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta).

	For the ATMs inserted in the folders (left strip), the identification code is the same for the 6 stamps - A9GB13 C2-051840-13. A is the alleged reel identification, 9 is for the month of issue (September), GB for the country, and 13 for the year of issue. In the second block, C2 is the code of the printing terminal used by the philatelic service. Then follows 051840, the usual fictitious session number, and 13 indicates the thirtieth series from the start of the Post&Go series.
	Special pictorial first day postmarks.


Screen with all the options programmed into one of the postal kiosks installed at the Autumn Stampex 2013. Right, first day of issue receipt for the purchase of one 'Collectors strip', the set with the 6 values programmed, of the new topical series - Machine A3

Wincor Nixdorf postal kiosks	Hytech Postalvision 'Royal Mail series 1 - Post & Go' machines A2 - A3 - B1

Chris Wormell, author of the illustrations in the 'Freshwater life' series, took part in a signing session at Autumn Stampex 2013.

	First day cover with the 6 designs, signed by Chris Wormell. Autumn Stampex 2013 special first day postmark

The 2013 Christmas 'Post&Go' issues

With the arrival of the Christmas season, Royal Mail prepared a further reprint of rolls of labels with the Robin design.
This image first appeared in September 2010 - it is one of six of the first series of pictorial designs for Post & Go postal kiosks, dedicated to the birds of Britain (see article >, also published in VARIABLE 18). The first reprint was released in November 2012 - and these rolls only include the image of the Robin design, and the text ROYALMA12 in the security background text of the labels (see article > , and VARIABLE 27).

In 2013, Royal Mail produced a second reprint of the same design, but with the ROYALMA13 text in one of the lines of the security background text (right image).

The first postal kiosk using the Robin 2013 reprint was that installed in the The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA), which used code A1.

		On November 5th 2013, the roll of the Union flag definitive design, usually installed in Reel A, was replaced by the new Robin 2013 design. During the holidays, and until December 24th 2013, this design could be obtained with the special imprint 'The B.P.M.A.' ('Robin + Overprint' on the screen below), and codes ANGB13 A1 (November) and ADGB13 A1 (December).

A few days later, on November 8th and 9th, the Robin 2013 design was again available from the two 'Post & Go' postal kiosks (A3 and A4) installed at the Stafford Stamp Show -for the first time, without any special printing-, and from November 20th also from the Christmas Stamp Shop (see next section).

From November-December, and during the Christmas season, many post offices nationwide, equipped with the Wincor Nixdorf Post & Go postal kiosks, replaced the rolls of labels in their machines with this Christmas design, and the 2012 or 2013 reprint, depending on the roll availability in the post office.
'Collectors strip' with the 6 postal tariffs programmed, issued by a Wincor Nixdorf postal kiosk

The mobile Christmas Stamp Shop goes on tour

After the interesting experience of the Christmas Post Shop, in 2012, the first temporary post office, open only during the holidays in the Stables Market, in Camden, London (see article > , also published in VARIABLE 27), Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd moved a step further, in 2013, with the creation of the first mobile post office, the Christmas Stamp Shop. This Pop Up Post Office was a large mobile trailer that was on tour at some of the major shopping locations around the UK in the run up to Christmas, from November 20th to December 19th 2013 (see list below). The trailer included various large red panels that could be opened and show the shop image and outdoor space, complemented with some decorative objects on wood, related to Christmas - such as the 'wishing forest'. Various staff members walked the street and informed the public about the products on sale in the shop - stamps and mainly the 'smilers' or sheets of 10 personalized stamps, made up of a photo label and a Christmas stamp for domestic mail (image below, right), which were printed on the spot. They also offered a leaflet about the last posting dates, depending on the destination and the shipment type, and the location of the nearest post office branches (below). Indeed, the Christmas Stamp Shop was not a post office, but only a shop selling stamps, but without a postbox !

20th November	Newcastle	Northumberland Street North
21st November	Newcastle	Northumberland Street South
23rd and 24th November	Glasgow	Braehead Shopping Centre
29th, 30th November & 1st December	Liverpool	Paradise Place
5th and 6th December	Birmingham	Rotunda Square
7th and 8th December	Cardiff	St Mary's Street
11th and 12th December	Croydon	North End
13th and 14th December	Covent Garden	Site D
17th, 18th & 19th December	London Westfield	Centre Atrium (North)
The Post Office Christmas Stamp Shop in YouTube >

Inside the small crowded shop, there was a Christmas decoration, used as the background in many of the photos taken for the personalized stamps.
At the left side, there were the usual two postal kiosks - A3 and A4, used by visitors to pay for the 'smilers' sheets (option 'Post & Go - Smiler sheet' on the screen below), and the purchase of stamps for postage.

On both machines, the first roll ('Reel A' in the image of the screen) issued ATMs of the Robin 2013 design.

The second roll ('Reel B') issued ATMs of the new Machin design for 2nd class stamps, in the only two programmed postal tariffs for domestic mail (2nd Class and 2nd Large). This design was introduced and used for the first and only time during the Spring Stampex 2013 (see article > , and also VARIABLE 28), because the special equipment required for their issue has still not been installed in any post office.

The postal kiosks installed in the Christmas Stamp Shop used rolls of the Machin 2nd class design of the original printing (text ROYALMA12 in the security background) and also, for the first time, of the first reprinting produced with this design, with the ROYALMA13 text.

		No special imprint was programmed for the ATMs issued in the Christmas 2013 Pop Up Shop. The codes below are ANGB13 A3 or A4 for ATMs issued during the month of November, and ADGB13 A3 or A4 for ATMs issued in December (pictures). The heading of the receipts was changed at every stop of the shop, with a text related to the location. All the images illustrating this article correspond to the visit of the Christmas Stamp Shop to Croydon, south London. The trailer was installed on December 11th and 12th in front of the Whitgift shopping centre main entrance, in the busiest shopping area of the city.