Frama labels were basically an experiment by the post office to find a way of providing valid postage labels without using existing stamps. The idea was that the machine could dispense a label to the required value. This was deemed to be too difficult to achieve with stamps. For example if you wanted a postal rate of 12p, the machine would have to dispense 2x5p and 1 2p stamp. This seemed an overcomplicated method, and the experiment with Frama labels aimed to solve this problem.

The idea was that a computer controlled machine would print and dispense the label according to the coins inserted and the buttons pushed by the customer. The machines were initially installed inside Post Offices, where they could be monitored, in Cambridge, London, Southampton and Windsor.

The labels themselves were printed in red on imperforate phosphorised paper, designed grey green wavy background. They were sold in 1/2p increments up to and including 16p and went on sale between May and August 1984. At the end of august a further two 16 1/2p and 17p were made available to correspond to rising postage rates.

The stamps were available via the machines or in collectors packs at the philatelic counters across the country. At the end of August 1984, the machines were adjusted to remove all the 1/2p values and the machines were finally taken out of service on 30th April 1985.

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