Horizon Label Royal Mail.h (International / Within EU)

An Horizon label is an adhesive postage label that is a type of variable value stamp. The labels were introduced in the United Kingdom in 2002 as part of the computerisation of the counter services of the post office network of Royal Mail using the Horizon System. The first labels were large plain labels composed purely of text but later labels are of a gold colour with a Machin head and a repeating pattern of the words ROYALMAIL in order to prevent forgery.

Machin Horizon Label is stamp/label that are oversized Machins measuring 59 x 64.5 mm and printed in pale ‘gold’ with full bleed (no white frame around design). It was introduced in June 2009.
 
The Queen’s Head was produced using a wavy line ROYAL MAIL pattern printed in micro text pale ‘gold’.
 
The complete label was overprinted with a repeating iridescent wavy line ROYAL MAILpattern for the background while the head itself had a different pattern.
 
These labels were not printed with phosphor lines and they are self-adhesive paper.
 
Produced by De La Rue and printed in photogravure. Original version has simulated perforation while the revised has ‘straight edged’ and rounded corners. The revised versions were introduced on 23 August 2010 to address problem with operational difficulties by clerk when feeding the second label after the first one has been removed.
 
The printing for different services are produced at the point of sale using ink jet printer and in black.

Useful information,

Royal Mail.b : 1st Class Recorded Letter 1L
Royal Mail.c : 1st Class Large Letter (£1.46)
Royal Mail.d : 1st Class Recorded Packet in 251-500g price band (£3.25)
Royal Mail.d : 1st Class Packet (£1.96 or £2.48)
Royal Mail.g : 2nd Class Packet (501-750g) Recorded - £3.38
Royal Mail.g : 2nd Class Packet (101-250g) - £1.72
Royal Mail.y : Special Delivery between 2kg & 10kg

Notes

On reverse of the cover, CN-22 Custom Declaration was stick.

It was posted on 2 January 2014 and received on 6 January 2014 to an address in Denmark. Four days.

From the Label

Service Indicator / Tariff Code : A (Airmail Within Europe)
Royal Mail code : h
UK code : 4
VAT rate : Exempt rated VAT
 
Post Office : DL1 - Darlington

Two set of numbers at the bottom are Post Office Branch Identifier on the left and on the right, the transaction number. Transaction number is also recognised as 'Session' printed on receipt upon payment. 

Original Characters

        A
Royal   Mail.h
POSTAGE PAID UK.4
02/01/14 £3.00      DL1
220309        4-2025943

Royal Mail Accounting Codes - September 2011

The Horizon software was changed in late September 2011 to classify the VAT rating of posted items. As a consequence the Machin Horizon labels were printed with two codes indicating the accounting classification and can be found at the end of the lines as follows :
 

Line on Label	Indicator Type
Royal Mail	Accounting Code
POSTAGE PAID UK	VAT rating code

‘Accounting codes' are solely for easy identification of the VAT rate or product combination for each label, where a subsequent refund has to be made, ensuring any VAT is accounted for correctly.