All about "Machins"

Ever wonder about those colorful little British definitives that have Queen Elizabeth's picture on them?

According to the Stanley Gibbons' Machin (pronounced may’-chin) Mania Web site, they were designed and named after Arnold Machin, a sculptor.

Since the original issue in 1967, Royal Mail has tried many colors. Some worked, some didn’t. In the mid-1980s, they settled on a standard range of 30 colors created by Jeffery Matthews. In 1990, another shade of blue was added, making 31.

Just like Baskin-Robbins.

For more about Machins, click here.