Does Anyone Have A Mailer's Postmark Permit?

While Googling around for local post ideas, I stumbled upon the Mailer's Postmark Permit Club. I'm intrigued and wondering if there are any SCF members with an MPP.

That is a good question! I looked into this once, and if I remember correctly, you have to mail your mail at the post office that issued the cancel.

Hmmm. I might have to look into this. While my current postal clerk is really good at canceling stamps, I fear what his replacement might be like when they reduce the post office hours next year and replace him with a non-federal postal worker. I'll have to take matters into my own hands and make some nicely canceled covers.

Does this help at all?
http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals...00/q604b.pdf

ALSO:

Producing
Precanceled
Stamps
USPS precanceled stamps are preprinted with a price category as the precancelation method (604.3.3);
other stamps may be precanceled by the mailer (604.3.4), as described below.
Precancellation by mailer:
�¡ "Application: complete PS Form 3615 for authorization to preprint price markings or use a precancel
postmark on adhesive stamps, stamped cards, and stamped envelopes (604.3.4).
�¡ "Authorization conditions: valid when sample mailer's postmarks are submitted and approved prior to
mailing. Approval is required for each precanceled postmark format or preprinted marking used
(604.3.4.3).
Format of postmark and required content:
�¡ "First-Class Mail: day, month, and year of mailing. Standard Mail: use of date is optional for Standard Mail.
When the date is used, it must include only the month and year.
�¡ "Words "Mailer's Postmark" followed by permit number and cancellation bars to cancel postage stamps.
�¡ "Either the city, state, and 5-digit ZIP Code of the post office where the precancel permit is held and the
mailing is deposited or the words "Mailed From ZIP Code" followed by the 5-digit ZIP Code of the office of
mailing.

http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/DMM300/604.pdf

section 3.4

The website I was looking at is http://www.mppclub.org/.

Nells, yes, one of the requirements is that you have to present your mail to a window clerk at the post office where the permit was issued. That's probably the only thing that kept me from jumping right on it. I'm trying to decide if the inconvenience is worth the coolness of being able to cancel my own stuff.

That's the website I looked at early. It seems pretty simple with step-by-step instructions. I just need to find out the costs for the canceler device and there's contact information for that too on that site above. I think my postal clerk would appreciate having me cancel my own envelopes as opposed to handing him 1-2 bankers boxes full of envelopes to cancel.

Hmm....

I wonder how much a canceller costs?


Also a bit of an odd question but does anybody know what are the rules for what town name you use on these? I live in the Zip code area 01339 which is made up of several different towns, with Charlemont being the one with the 01339 Post Office. But instead of having my cancel read "Charlemont" could I have it say "East Hawley" (where I live) or "Davis Mine" both of which have the zip code 01339?

new12collector, one website I looked at had several options for rubber stamp cancels ranging from around $30 to $100 depending on the style you want to use.

As for your second question, you might be able to ask someone on that mpp website that I posted. :) My guess is that it would depend on which post office you choose to use.

Dang, Battlestamps! I think your postal clerk would probably help you fill out the application! LOL

A number of Postcrossers I know have gotten MPPs and enjoy them. The postmaster at my nearest post office didn't know anything about MPPs and didn't want to know. My attempt to get a permit turned into a fairly unpleasant memory.




A strict reading of the rules indicates that you'd be required to use Charlemont, since that's the name of the post office. Actually, the rules are pretty strict about the size and shape of the postmarks and the wording. If East Hawley and Davis Mine are recognized postal entities, maybe you could use them. (I hope so. Davis Mine is really a cool name! :) ) If the Charlemont postmaster is less creepy than the one around here, s/he might know or could find out...or could decide on his own that it's a legitimate name and let them go through, which I agree would be aces.

That STINKS! I know on that MPP club website they recommend printing their step-by-step instructions and taking them with you to the PO.

I'm sure my PO wouldn't have any clue, either, but if I timed things right, I think I could find someone willing to help. (I'm still attempting to figure out shift schedules so that I can go in when the "good" clerks are working.)

I'll have to look again, but I seem to recall that you need to submit a proposed design for your cancel before the permit can be issued. Maybe I need to do an exploratory mission to get an idea of whether I'm going to run into roadblocks. I'd hate to spend a lot of time (or money!) on something that might not work out.

Possibly this link will help show the cost for the various designs for your proposed MPP cancel:

http://www.wcp-nm.com/osc/catalog/i...rt=2a&page=1

Thanks for posting that, wt1. I was thinking about it earlier, but I'm watching my Ps and Qs for a while longer as far as posting links. ;)

That site also has a selection of rubber stamps that can be customized for local post, as well as pre-perforated sheets for creating artistamps.

The link is very useful. But I thought that you could only choose from 1 or 2 designs, not ones like this:





Or this:



Edit- fixed pictures.