Is it ‘Post & Gone’?

Post & Go initially grabbed the attention of collectors, with a range of varieties, designs and rates to pursue. Fourteen years later, Richard West wonders if the automated system ever really caught on with the general public and whether collectors are no

In October 2008 the first Post & Go machine came into use, in Bristol. There had been previous attempts automatically to serve the needs of customers wishing to post items, but what now appeared would soon be seen nationwide. Interestingly, even today, the public does not seem aware of the full potential of these machines. From personal observation, most only use the ‘Post it Now’ facility, not realising that you can also ‘Buy Stamps’ for later use.

For collectors, of course, it is the ‘stamps’ that have been of greatest interest. However, as I mentioned in last month’s column, new ideas are not always immediately embraced by collectors. So it was again – but soon many decided that ‘Post & Go’ might be the way forward. Here was the chance to be at the beginning of a new collecting trend.

It started well, as the number of machines in post offices rapidly grew, and Royal Mail responded by making the ‘stamps’ more interesting and thus collectable. The basic Machin design was supplemented by several series of pictorial sets.

As with all technology, occasionally something went wrong, but that only added to the collector interest. I recall queues when word got round that the stamps from a particular machine were being printed in the wrong typeface. Since none of the pictorial designs has ever been withdrawn, there was also excitement when new tariffs were introduced – as has happened several times since the machines came in – and by visiting various post offices the new rates could be obtained on a variety of stamps.

Machines then started appearing at venues other than post offices. Royal Mail machines were sited at exhibitions – including overseas events – and at various museums. These had the bonus of special overprints. Long queues waited to use the machines at Stampex.

Sadly, it now seems to have gone wrong: many collectors have given up.

The number of different sites and overprints did not help. Nor did the cost of buying a strip of one of each ‘value’ (in fact, a service indicator), particularly when the highest two rates changed to ‘World 100g Zone 1-3’ and ‘World 100g Zone 2’ on 1 September 2020, then again (from Royal Mail machines) to ‘World 100g Zone 1&3’ and ‘World 100g Zone 2’ on 18 September 2020, and to ‘Europe Large 100g and ‘Worldwide Large 100g’ on 1 January 2021. Every tariff change means the strips cost more.

Errors are interesting, the result of genuine glitches. One of the best is the ‘wings’ that suddenly replaced the Maltese Cross as part of the ‘Penny Black 175’ overprint from the British Postal Museum & Archive. Most common ‘error’ is ‘2nd class’ designs in the ‘1st class’ slot and vice versa. But are some ‘manufactured’? With each tariff change, the new rates are offered on designs issued many years previously, even back to the ‘Birds’ sets of 2010/11.

Royal Mail ceased providing new designs in 2018 (Mail by Bike). With no new designs, ever increasing cost, and deliberately created rarities around, is it any surprise interest has waned?

Richard West MBE, is a respected philatelist and journalist, having written and edited a range of publications over the years. He has served on the Council of the Royal Philatelic Society London and Royal Mail’s Stamp Advisory Committee.

What do you think? Share your views with Richard by emailing the editor at: matthewh@warnersgroup.co.uk