Perhaps another question should be asked first - Why collect stamps?

Unlike most hobbies or pastimes, philately is as varied as your imagination. You can collect by country, theme, subject etc. etc. But why have so many people, estimated at around 10,000 worldwide, opted for Machins? The answer, I believe, is that Machin collecting offers you all of the above under the one heading of the Machin definitive.

Most of us start in stamp collecting in general when very young. We can all remember buying packets of stamps at the local sweet shop and we couldn't wait to get home and 'stick' them in our albums. (I wonder how many scarce and expensive stamps have been ruined thanks to stamp hinges!). Machin collecting usually starts in a similar way in that we collect one of each value - and here the first choice has to be made - mint and/or used. After buying our first simple catalogue we realise that some values have been printed in more than one colour. Next, that more than one printer has been used, with each being identifiable, different paper and gum combinations too are identifiable. Oh! and then there are Regional (or country stamps), stamps from books, coil stamps, Post Office training stamps, cylinder blocks, date blocks, first day covers, postal history, self adhesives..........................

When you have reached this point you realise that collecting Machins is as diverse as your imagination. Looking through the new MCC Machin catalogue it becomes plain that it would be impossible to collect everything that is listed and it is more likely to be controlled by the depth of your wallet.

But by now you are hooked - the only decision is which area of Machins to collect.

Welcome to the world of Machins!!