Horizon label

A 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^[1] as part of the computerisation of the counter services of the post office network of Royal Mail using the Horizon System.^[2]

A second class large Horizon label 2009. Early labels were very crude.

2003 "VOID" Horizon labels for training post office staff

Reception

The labels received a frosty reception from philatelists initially as they were seen as replacing postage stamps, but as they have become more complex and more stamp-like, collectors have warmed to them and they have now become a popular collecting specialism in the U.K. and an established part of modern British postal history.^[1]

Timeline

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.

The principal events in the development of the labels were:^[3]

• 14 February 2002 – First labels used in about 1000 post offices. Plain white with straight edges.
• 30 April 2002 – Security slits added to prevent reuse.
• August & September 2002 – Labels rolled out nationally.
• April 2009 – Labels with simulated perforations appear.
• 8 June 2009 – First gold labels appear featuring the Machin head for Special Delivery only from the Camden High Street P.O., London. Gold labels gradually introduced nationally.
• 20 April 2010 – First labels with dual English-Welsh language inscriptions available from Welsh post offices.
• 23 August 2010 – Straight-edged labels reintroduced first at Old Street then nationally.
• 29 September 2011 – Value Added Tax codes added.
• May 2015 – "Pre-cancelled" labels trialled at the Europhilex exhibition with corner "Single Use Only" wording. Colour changed back to white. Subsequently used nationally.
• September 2015 – Barcode added to the design.

Post Office training

The training of postal workers includes the use of voided horizon labels,^[4] noted as early as 2003.^[5]