Taped On - What Made It, What Didn't

Interesting to find as what made it through the sorting machine and what didn't.

Gentle suggestion ... please show the entire cover. It enables us to make a better analysis of postal history pieces - by being able to see ALL the clues.

That said, there are a series of machines which a letter passes through - canceling, barcoding, sorting, etc. In this case the top cover had enough of the stamp surface visible to get detected by the facer/canceler and went on through the the rest of the system and got delivered. The lower cover appears to have the stamp completely covered by tape which means no tagging glows back to be detected - and it got kicked out for the Nixie clerks to examine, where they marked it for return.

Out of curiosity, was one glossy tape and the other tape matte/not glossy?

It might be, but that would not be relevant here. Unless I am mistaken in looking at the image above, the top stamp is taped only around the edges with the center portion of the stamp exposed to have its tagging glow and be detected. The bottom stamp is fully covered.

You're right, I had not noticed that on my phone... The reason I ask is that I have found similar examples completely covered but noticed the one that made it was matte. I was just wondering if that had bearing but as you say it's not relevant here as the top stamp wasn't completely covered.

John,
Gentle is nice. Constrictive support is always appreciated.

No other postal markings on the fronts.The one that was rejected, had one sorting mark on the reverse. The one that was not, had two sorting passes before it went on its way.
pat

Bar coding on the front is also possibly significant. It may be impossible to tell, but there is a considerable likelihood the second cover was delivered, rather than returned.

Just saying ... showing the entire cover may trigger a response to some factor which you (or I) might find insignificant, but someone else will build upon.