Cataloging Automatic Postal Machine Stamps??

I have acquired a couple of different designs of "stamps" from APMs recently. I am aware of various designs such as the eagle and one that features a mailbox. My question is how everyone catalogs the various designs? Is their some sort of number system assigned to each design? Thanks for any and all help!

Just to be clear, the right terminology should be APC's (Automated Postal Center) labels/stamps (depending on how you wish to refer to them).

The Scott Specialized Catalog of US Stamps does have a section in it entitled "Computer Vended Postage Stamps" and it stands to reason that the numbering system used starts with "CVP1" and continues on from there. They even list the few old "Postal Buddy" postal cards from 1990-1993 beginning with the numbering "CVUX1".

The Catalog goes on with another set of listings for "Personal Computer Postage" as in the various postage labels produced by Stamps.com beginning with the numbering "1CVP1" and forward.

Obviously with the number of differing images and postal rates that could be applied to these labels, the references are generalized to the varieties known to exist rather than to their specific denominations.

Thank you for the quick response. This forum never fails to be a great help!

Sorry for the double post, but another similar question just came to mind. Are the various models of postage meters (pitney bowes, hasler, etc.) cataloged in the same way? Thanks!

Postage Meters are not considered "stamps" and therefore are not contained in the Scott Catalog.

However, there is a very detailed on-line catalog (with catalog numbers) of the various Postage Meters for all countries around the world at this link:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Intern...tamp_Catalog

Thanks for another very helpful reply! Still trying to figure all of this out!

Sportfan - While Scott does list the APC stamps (and other computer vended stamps), they only give a single generic catalog number for the six new black designs (Eagle, Mr ZIP, Ballons, Flowers, Heart, Flag), although the latest multicolr mailbox design should get its own catalog number. Also, they used to list in detail the eralier square barcode design stamps (detailing the different imprints for different postal services), but in the new 2013 US Spoecialized, they have delisted many of the varieties and replaced them with a vague footnote. Europeans are more into these type of stamps than Americans, and Michels puts out a catalog of them (although I have no idea how up to date it is).

Thanks again for the help. wt1, back on the subject of meters, I have a question that I hope you can help me with. I have a meter that appears to be an M2 according to the above catalog. However, there is a flag printed to the left side of the remainder of the meter. Is it possible that this is the same number? Or is it entirely different? As a new collector, I appreciate the help that this forum is provided and hope that someone can help me with this question as well. Can't wait until I know enough to be helpful to other new collectors on this forum!

Yes, in all liklihood it is the same number. (You can post a scanned image of it for us to see, if you want to be sure.)

Most modern meters typically provide this "feature" that may be turned on or off as the user may desire. The images can range from a generic flag or greeting such as "Happy Holidays" to customized logos and/or slogans for any given company.

It dresses up the mail and provides a means of self promotion for a company or organization if the meter imprint is on a large enough envelope. On the negative side, it uses more ink also takes up much more space on a piece of mail so they do not often look appropriate on smaller pieces (i.e. not recommended for 6-3/4" envelopes) or on parcels where labels must be attached. Since meter labels can be very expensive, most companies would prefer to save on consumables (labels) rather than add any extra imprint to the meter itself.