Large USPS Logo Apc Stamp

Nothing particularly exciting here, other than to show the new APC stamp being dispensed by the Automated Postal Center at Woonsocket, RI featuring a large USPS logo. Actually, I was looking for the Holiday Reindeer stamp, but they weren't installed yet, so this is what I got:



Interestingly, the older versions of the stamp had "APC" printed on them ... but not anymore

The've changed the name to APU (Automated Postal Units?)

Actually they call them Self Service Kiosks. "APC" is still used on postage when an item is weighed and exact postage is selected. I wonder why?

They just haven't coded them to stop printing APC on some labels I suspect.

wt1, thanks for sharing this interesting stamp.

I followed your wonder and checked the website of Meter Stamp Society, looks like from begin there are two types that with or without "APC" on the stamps, I do not understand very well all text on that website, you can personally check it on there:
http://www.meterstampsociety.com/ga...compost.html

I have two questions on APC stamp, hope you and other members can help:

1. Will the printing ink on APC stamps disappear as time goes on, just like the ink on the fax paper?

2. How is the market price for entire cover tied APC stamps?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
ZhangCheng

Thanks for the link.

The "Forever" stamp shown in the initial scan supposedly represents new "software" installed in the APC's recently. In fact, this USPS link shows the very reason why the "APC" reference is omitted from the new stamps/labels ... because the image of the Reindeer (that's supposedly being installed for the upcoming holidays, but didn't make it to the unit I used yet) would not allow for it:

https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link...news29s1.htm

Anyway, as to the two questions you posed:

1. Yes, the printing ink on APC stamps will probably (unfortunately) disappear over time, as it appears to be a thermal printing technology. I have an APC stamp from last year and it's very readable, even though a bit faded from the time when actually purchased.

2. I have no idea of on-cover APC values. The use of APC stamps does not require a postmark, so to find them "tied to a cover" is not always possible. Perhaps others can comment about it. Once again, long term storage, even on-cover is going to be a problem as the thermal imprint does fade over time.

Also, after the 2013 holidays, I understand the APC's will be installed with new labels that will no longer have the pink stripe on them, but will have clear phosphor tagging that will be visible as yellow under blacklight.

One other detail which I didn't notice at first: The serial number shown in the 6th to 9th positions indicate the month and day of purchase (i.e. 1125 = November 25 in my case) but no year is shown.

Many thanks for the detailed answers.

I found some APC Reindeer covers for auction on ebay, and will order one to keep, maybe you need the specified location one, if not I can send the auction link to you.

I would be happy to mail APC stamped items to anyone (within reason) for cost. There is one at a PO near where I work.

It turned out to be interesting after all!


-IBFS

smauggie, many thanks, I want to ask your help to send me five mails using APC stamps(single or mulriple) as the real postage to China. I can pay by paypal or US cash, and a gift in the mail will be on your way.

Cheers,
ZhangCheng

Just curious, are APC stamps popular collectibles? I don't collect and know nothing about them. But the reindeer design sort of piqued my interest.

Riderontherain, I know nothing about APC too, since I read wt1's this post I became enjoy this and came up an idea for my small resale business. I found no too much APC auctions/sales on ebay, so I guess the USA APC stamp is not very popular collectibles for now?

It is worth mentioning that China Post issued the first ATM stamp on Dec.30, 1999 in post office of Beijing West Railway Station and only can be used as postage in this post office not nationwide, and disused on July 03, 2001, and China Post did not issued the ATM stamp again until now. About 150000 stamps printed by that ATM, every stamp of them is highly collectible.

Quote the picture from internet:


The USA APC stamp is still nationwide available in USA, so it is different story, but it is also highly collectible if you enjoy them.

I have seen on ebay some APC stamps in a used assortment of Endicia and Zazzle stamps.

The Reindeer APC is the 2013 version for the holidays. It's loosely based on Scott 4425 (2009 Reindeer stamp):





The 2012 version of the Holiday APC is shown below and featured a holiday mailbox:



Loosely based on Scott 1730 (1977 Holiday Mailbox stamp):

Thanks for this really interesting information. I am completely unaware of that even though I collect Chinese stamps. I have not found any catalogue of Chinese stamps that mentions this fact. Do you know the reason for the restricted use of these stamps?

Yes, this is exactly why my curiosity was aroused. When I first saw the reindeer image you posted in another thread, I immediately thought to myself I had seen that design before. Sure enough, I found the 2009 version, but also noticed the interesting difference.

The difference between the APC and regular versions of the mailbox design is even more interesting (I think the different gifts in the mailbox is a very nice touch).

Now I want to know more about these APC stamp designs. Are there others that are also variations of regular stamps? I know I should really do a bit of research myself, but your knowledge probably would save me a bit of time.