Question About Envelope With Missing Stamp But Full Postmark

Hello. This is my first post on the forum, so I apologize if I do not list the question in the right place.

I received an envelope in the mail yesterday with a full postmark, but no stamp. There is no evidence that a stamp was on the envelope. You can see the entire postmark.

My question is: How does this happen? I have received two such envelopes in the last year, both from the same post office.

Can anyone explain to me how this happens, that the post office accepts an envelope without a stamp, and still postmarks it and mails it to me? I thought they were more careful than that.

Also, is this a common occurrence? Are these "errors" worth keeping or should I just toss them?

I have attached a picture of each of the envelopes, with hopes that they will be useful (some info has been blurred for privacy).


Thanks for any info!

Have a great day!

Rgriggs

Since you blurred out the sender, I need to ask, If the mail was sent to you, by one of your State Senators, or Congressman, I believe that their mailings are free.

If sender was just the average Joe, It is a screw-up by the post office.

If they were not free franks from a Senator or Representative, then they just got through the system without being caught. They should have been rejected by the sorting and canceling machines. If the machines don't catch it, chances are that it will get through, because I doubt that many postal workers care enough to worry about one envelope. Very often I receive mail with uncancelled stamps on it.

Hello rgriggs......

Welcome to the club.

Bob & T are both right........Your covers are examples of postal worker error, and machinery error, but are not considered true postal errors, not much if any value, but still collectible as a curiosity.

Thanks everyone for the information! No, these were not from senators/representatives, but from a customer of mine. Not sure why they keep forgetting to put stamps on them... :)

So if someone drops an envelope in the mail with no stamp and no return address, will the PO go on and send it to the recipient COD? (These were not COD by the way...)

Thanks again everyone! Have a great day!

Welcome rgriggs!! Yes, I recently had that happen to me! I bought some stamps on ebay and the seller sent the envelope without postage on it! It came to me without any problem. It sure surprised me and my hubby! I even was surprised that our own mailman didn't say anything because he's always sure to knock on the door when postage is due on something! ha

Gussyboy1