Restrictions because of the Covid-19 pandemic caused HMRC to accelerate its switch to new digital processes. This approach has now become the norm and will be officially adopted from mid-July. 

HMRC’s eight stamp presses were introduced in 1920, replacing older devices that dated back to the Victorian era. The presses are 18-die recording presses that can stamp values from 50p to £1m. 

Each press weighs about 685kg. They were designed by the Stamp Office and built by its internal engineering department, with some parts supplied by London engineers and millwrights Grover & Co.

According to Grace’s Guide to British industrial history, Grover & Co’s product range also included perforating and gumming machines.

HMRC will keep three presses at its new regional centres “as a nod to the department’s lengthy history”, and is looking for suitable new homes for the other five at, for example, museums or financial institutions. 

Angela Macdonald, HMRC’s deputy CEO and second permanent secretary, said: “In many ways it is sad to see the presses go, almost like seeing a life-long colleague retire, but it is wonderful that HMRC is able to keep and enjoy the stamp presses themselves in so many of our new offices, where they will make decorative and informative talking points, acknowledging our past in the very places that are so important to our future.

“Now what we’d most like to do is secure long-term homes for the remaining pieces, which are well crafted and represent elements of both British industrial history and financial history.”

HMRC also shared some fascinating historical details. The first “stamp duty” was introduced in 1694 as a temporary measure to fund the war on France. It was paid on all paper, vellum or parchment that would be used for legal documents, and payment was indicated by an embossed, colourless stamp, hence the name.

Over the years various duties where payment was indicated by stamps have been devised and withdrawn, and items subject to stamp duty have included dice, playing cards, hats, gloves and mittens. 

“Once ink technology improved in the 1870s stamp presses were developed and redesigned to stamp many different values and be more efficient and secure,” HMRC said.

Any organisations interested in rehoming a decommissioned stamp press should contact stamp.presses@hmrc.gov.uk for more details.