2002.07.04   United Kingdom New Rate Machin and Country Definitives
With the increase of international postage rates on 4 July, new definitive and country stamps issued the same day, including four machins: 37 pence (dark gray) European letter and postcard rate, 42p (sage) world-wide airmail postcard rate, 47p (sea green) 10gr airmail letter rate outside Europe, 68p (stone) 20gr airmail letter outside Europe, and four different 68p regional definitives: England, tudor rose; Scotland, tartan; Wales, three Prince William feathers; and Northern Ireland, detail of Parian china oval basket. All these new stamps are printed by De La Rue Security Print. 

On the same day, three new self-adhesive stamp booklets printed by Walsall also issued. The booklets have new designed covers, with matrix (margin) surrounding the stamps removed. The books are :6 x 'E' in blue, 6 x 42p postcard stamps, and 6 x 68p airmail 20gr stamps. The 1st class gold stamp in sheets of 100 printed by Enschede was also be issued on this date.
 

Country Definitives
Machins
Issue Date
4 July 2002
Designs 68p: English Tudor Rose (England)
68p: Traditional tartan (Scottland)
68p: Lace (North Ireland)
68p: Prince of Wales feathers (Wales)		 37p: dark gray
42p: sage
47p: sea green
68p: stone
Designer
Sedley Place
-
Stamp size
20 x 24mm
Perforation
15x14 inc an elliptical perf on each side replacing 3 perfs
Phosphor
Two bands
Gum
PVA
Printing
Gravure
Sheet
200
100
Printers
De La Rue Security Print

 
Original information from Norvic Philatelics and Stamp Cafe Web Sites