Collecting · Types
Definitive Stamps: A Collector's Guide
A definitive stamp is an everyday stamp, issued over a long period in a range of values, for ordinary postage, in contrast to the special, short-lived commemoratives. Definitives are usually smaller and plainer, designed for daily use rather than to celebrate a subject. In Britain, the Machin head is the classic definitive. Most definitives are common, but they hold great depth for the specialist in their shades, watermarks, perforations and printings.
At a glance
What definitive stamps are
Definitives are the workhorses of the post: the everyday stamps that carry ordinary letters, issued in a full range of values and kept in use for years at a time. Where a commemorative celebrates a subject and is soon withdrawn, a definitive is designed for daily service and quiet reliability, which is why definitive designs often run for decades.
Plain they may be, but they are the backbone of every postal system, and a rich field for the collector. Our comparison of definitive and commemorative stamps explains the distinction.
British definitives, and the Machin
- The classic line-engraved and surface-printed definitives of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the penny issues and the everyday heads.
- The reign definitives of the twentieth century, each monarch's everyday stamps, from George V's heads to George VI's.
- The Machin head, introduced in 1967, the longest-serving British definitive and a vast specialist field in its own right. Our Machin definitives hub covers it in full.
- The current definitives of the present reign, continuing the tradition.
Plain on the surface, deep beneath
The specialist's field
Because the same design is printed for years, by different methods, definitives accumulate differences of shade, watermark, perforation, paper, gum, phosphor and printer. Two that look identical can be quite different, and differently valued, stamps.
The depth beneath a plain stamp
It is the apparent plainness of definitives that hides their depth. Because the same design is printed over many years, in huge quantities and by different methods, definitives accumulate differences, of shade, watermark, perforation, paper, gum, phosphor and printer, that the specialist studies closely. Two definitives that look identical can be quite different, and differently valued, stamps. This is the heart of specialist British collecting, and our guides to watermarks, perforations and identifying a Machin explain how these differences are read.
How to identify and value definitive stamps
A definitive is usually recognised by its everyday format and, for British stamps, the monarch's head with no country name, as our guide to identifying British stamps explains. For value, most definitives are common, while specific shades, errors, early printings and the scarcer Machins are valuable, the exact variety deciding it. Our Machin value guide and our guide to what affects a stamp's value set out the principles.
Collecting definitive stamps
For beginner and specialist alike
Definitives suit both the beginner and the deep specialist. A simple collection of one of each value and design is affordable and satisfying, while the study of shades, watermarks and printings can absorb a lifetime, especially with the Machins. Because most definitives are inexpensive, a great deal can be collected for very little. We are glad to help you with definitive material, honestly described and photographed; browse our Great Britain stamps, or ask us what is available.
Frequently asked questions
An everyday stamp, issued over a long period in a range of values, for ordinary postage, in contrast to the special, short-lived commemoratives. Definitives are usually smaller and plainer.
A definitive is an everyday stamp issued over a long period for ordinary postage, while a commemorative marks a specific subject and is issued for a limited time. Our comparison guide explains.
The Machin head, introduced in 1967, which served for over fifty years and is one of the most reproduced stamp designs in the world. Our Machin hub covers it.
Most are common, while specific shades, errors, early printings and the scarcer Machins are valuable. The exact variety decides it, which is why definitives reward careful study.
The everyday stamp, the specialist's depth
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Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026