The Royal Mail ‘Swap Out’ scheme has now been up and running for around three years. Recently we have noticed a change in how this initiative is being managed. Many of the smaller Machin sized stamps which were being swapped successfully are now being returned to us with a covering letter stating that they remain valid for postal use. The image below shows a range of stamps recently returned from RM Swapout, which Royal Mail now tell us, after two years of swapping them, they remain 100% valid for postal use in the UK. There could be more to follow so we will keep you posted!
ROYAL MAIL HAVE TOLD US IN WRITING THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE STAMPS REMAIN 100% VALID FOR POSTAL USE IN THE UK – PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE SWAPPING THEM.
GB Commemorative and Christmas Stamps
The current postage market for traditional stamps appears to have bottomed out so hopefully prices will now remain stable. Judging by our latest June 2024 auction sales you could almost set your watch on the percentage of face value lots of GB postage realise. It doesn’t matter what we sell it all seems to sell for roughly the same percentage of face value.
Until next time,
Dave Waldie – MD Philatelink Ltd