Royal Mail launched a redesigned version of its Queen Elizabeth II definitive stamp, usually known as Machin stamps, for the year 2000. This "Millennium Definitive" was issued Jan. 6 in booklets of 10, and will be in sheets later 2000. The stamps, nondenominated with the inscription "1st" in place of the denomination, are about to replace all first-class definitives printed in the year 2000 in booklets of 10 and in sheets. The "1st" indicates that it pays the rate for first-class domestic mail. That rate currently is 26 pence.

The stamp marked a new design of the long-lasting machin series.  The queen's portrait is now a more enlarged image on the small-format definitive so that it looks more three-dimensional. The queen has less of her shoulders displayed, enabling a larger portrait to be featured on the stamp. The stamp is remarkable also for its color, two colors, never used on a Machin definitive before -- a brownish-olive head on a white background.

The House of Questa and Walsall Security Printers will print the booklets of 10, and De La Rue will print the sheet stamps. The stamps, available in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, along with the country stamps in use in those regions, will remain on sale through the end of the year.