Page METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

MSS Website Edition

Collector’s Guide

The Meter Stamp Society

Est. 1948

0193

What Is a Postage Meter?

The Postage Meter has a long history around

the world. The United States has a slightly differ-

ent story. While the focus for this Guide is on the

U.S.A stamps, the guidelines, suggestions, and

examples shown here are

universally applicable

and are designed to

serve collectors no mat-

ter what areas of the

world they collect. This

Guide will be revised

and reprinted as neces-

sary so any suggestions

and additions are wel-

comed.

Quoted from a Pitney-

Bowes Booklet, “The

postage meter is a gov-

ernment-licensed mail-

ing machine that prints

postage as required, di-

rectly on the envelope

(or on an adhesive tape)

for any type of mail -

first, second, third, or

fourth class; air mail,

registered mail, special

delivery, or other special services. In a single op-

eration, it prints a prepaid postage meter stamp,

including dated postmark, of any value needed.

Most models also seal an envelope, or moisten

the gummed tape at the same time the meter is

being printed.

The postage meter’s stamp is non-negotiable,

and requires no cancellation in most countries. It

can be used only by the licensed user whose as-

signed meter number appears in the meter stamp

itself. The meter does its own bookkeeping

through sealed but visible registers, which show

postage used and postage on hand, in dollars and

cents.”

Except for the smallest desk models, the post-

age meter is a detachable unit of a larger mailing

machine. The meter contains the postage print-

ing die and the recording mechanism. Whenever

the private user needs to ‘fill’ the meter, he used

to take it to the post office

to be ‘set’. Today most

meters are set over the

phone or the internet.

Postage is paid for in ad-

vance, and need not be

entirely used before the

meter is reset. But if post-

age is allowed to run out,

the meter automatically

locks against further use.

Because meters print

postage and collect Gov-

ernment revenue under

official lock and seal, in

the United States they can

only be leased from the

vendor. However they can

be owned in some coun-

tries. These vendors are

held responsible for the

proper operation, service,

location, and replacement

of all of their meters in service.

The mailing machine, as distinguished from

the meter, has nothing to do with the collection

of postage revenue. The complete mailing ma-

chine can be quite large and can prepare the

mail, insert it into the envelope, print the ad-

dress and advertisement (some models in color)

and finally print the postage. They were availa-

ble in a wide range of hand and electrically driv-

en models, for large and small firms, and are

usually sold outright. Today they are fully digi-

tal.

OK, so what exactly are meter stamps? This is

not as obvious as it sounds. They are used to

What continued on page 2

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 2

What is a Postage Meter?....................................................

Meter Stamp Evolution…………………………..…………….

Glossary, Abbreviations and Symbols of

Traditional Postage Meters…………….………....

Glossary, Abbreviations and Symbols of CVP

Meters…………………………………………………....

Early History of Traditional Meter Stamps………………...

General Types of Postage Meters…………………………...

What to Collect………………….……………………………..

Sources…………………….…………………………………...

How to Collect………………………………………………….

Collection Organization……………………………………...

How to House a Collection………………………………….

US Variable Denomination Stamps –.FAQs……………...

U.S. Postage Alternatives…………………………………...

Postage Meter Country Identifier…………………………….

References……………………………………………………….

Inside the Collector’s Guide

President : Richard Stambaugh

100 Elder Court

Prescott AZ 86303

email: rickstambaugh@gmail.com

Past President: Joel Hawkins

3102 North 150th Lane

Goodyear, AZ 85395

email: joel5215@aol.com

Secretary Treasurer: Harold Effner

27 Pine Street

Lincroft, NJ 07738

email: haroldeffner@comcast.net

Vice President : Stephen P. Kaplan

3659 S. Green Road, Suite 100

Beechwood, OH 44122

email: spk@skaplanassociates.com

MSS Bulletin Editor: David Crotty

1305 Old State Road

Park Hills, KY 41011-2750

email: decrotty@yahoo.com

Proofreader: Richard Stambaugh

Auctions Chairman: Rick Stambaugh

Annual dues:

First Class USA: $24 one year, $45 two years.

International Airmail: $45 one year, $85 two years.

Web Delivery $10 per year (Provide email)

(Contact Secretary Treasurer)

Dues may be paid by PayPal w/voluntary $1 extra.

Send money using PayPal to msstreasurer@comcast.net.

The Meter Stamp Society is a non-profit organization

under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Send financial donations to the Secretary Treasurer.

Meter Stamp Society Website:

www.meterstampsociety.com

Includes Complete Indexes 1948 to Present

Meter Stamp Society Data Center:

www.draves.com/mss

Maintained by Alan Draves

Meter Stamp Society Discussion Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meterstampsociety

Any related topic. Open to nonmembers.

To join send an email to:

Meterstampsociety-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Visit us on Facebook

collect postage revenue just like other stamps,

but what makes them DIFFERENT from other

stamps?

Some people call non-metered stamps “adhes

ives”, but this distinction is meaningless since

meters are often printed on gummed paper. Per-

haps we can say that meters are different be-

cause they can be printed directly on the enve-

lope while other stamps are stuck down, but this

ignores postal stationery stamps which certainly

are printed directly on the envelope. Another

distinction often made is that meters have a

town/date mark while other stamps don’t. Meter

stamps are usually dated for the day of use but

some classes of mail are supposed to be undated,

and prepaid return mail is usually undated. In

early models the date was inserted by hand and

were often forgotten, inserted in odd order or

inverted. Some countries, like New Zealand,

never had a date as part of a meter imprint.

Sanction was given for the worldwide introduction of

franked mail on 30 November 1920 at the 7th Universal

Postal Union Congress in Madrid: ‘ARTICLE 13. Pre-

payment; reply coupons; exemptions from postage. 1.

Prepayment of postage on every description of article

can be effected either by means of postage stamps valid

in the country of origin for the correspondence of pri-

vate individuals, or by means of impressions of stamp-

ing machines, officially adopted and working under the

immediate control of the Administration.’ Detailed Reg-

ulation VI: ‘Impressions produced by stamping ma-

chines must include an indication of the country of

origin. They must be bright red in color, whatever the

value represented by them. . . The impressions of stamp-

ing machines must also be applied in that place [top

right-hand corner]’. (Window envelopes were also ap-

proved at this Congress.) The UPU regulation came into

force on 1 January 1922: “ARTICLE 30. Duration of the

Convention. The present Convention shall come into

force on the 1st of January 1922, and shall remain in

operation for an indefinite period.”

The definition of a “meter stamp” has blurred

in recent years. In the U.S. the USPS has extend-

ed the definition of “metered mail” to a rather

bewildering array of postage devices. This will

include the traditional office postage meter, and

what the USPS calls “PC Postage” (see Glossa-

ry). PC Postage is considered by the USPS to be

What continued from page 1

What continued on page 15

Page 3 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

While the collection of postage meter stamps was

originally simply a problem of determining the coun-

try, maker and meter type of a particular item in

hand, today the meter world is much more complex.

In 1988 the U.S. Postal System (USPS) opened a

Pandora’s box by allowing several new types of

“stamps” that could pay postage. The full story was

written up in the MSSQB issue 289 Autumn, 2010.

There are three types of meters, if you allow us a

little freedom of expression.

Traditional Postage Meter. The postage meter

stamp from the beginning was dated and generally

had to be used on that date (there are a few excep-

tions to this). The meter stamp must show the

amount of postage paid. Generally the stamp also

indicates the country of origin as well as the maker

of the postage meter. The postage meter itself is a

machine that is capable of printing the meter stamp

and keeping

track of

(meter) the

amount of

postage paid

for and the

amount of

postage used

up to that

moment.

This type

of postage

payment de-

vice is cata-

loged by the

International

Meter Post-

age Stamp

Catalog by

Hawkins

and Stam-

baugh and is

currently provided online at www.wiki books.org.

Personalized or Custom Postage was originally

first days of use in

1988. These types of

postage were generally

printed in sheets by

one of several desig-

nated vendors (today

there are three with

many sub-licensees).

The sheets were then

mailed to the user. The

user could often pro-

vide his/her own image for the stamps although most

vendors also provide a range of stock images. The

stamps are generally not dated and can be used at

Meter Stamp Evolution

any time, very much

like traditional postage

stamps. These are often

called Photo Stamps.

The term “PhotoStamp”

is a registered trade-

mark of one of the ven-

dors. There is tremen-

dous variation in these

items and catalogs like

Scott Specialized tried

to keep up. Scott aban-

doned this type of postage payment in about 2006.

The only catalog for U.S. Personalized Postage is an

incomplete one mounted on the web at:

www.meterstampsociety.com/custompostage/

cataloghome.html.

Computer Vended Postage (aka Variable Denomi-

nation) is postage

that is printed by

an automatic

vending ATM (aka

automat) or on a

personal comput-

er. The denomina-

tion is variable to

suit the needs of

the user at the

time of printing.

Kiosks that vend

this type of post-

age are usually

found in U.S. Post

offices but Pitney

Bowes has placed

its own kiosks on

college or office

campuses. These

stamps largely

have been b/w

prints but lately

have been in col-

or. The USPS kiosks also have largely been b/w but

now some stamps are printed on preprinted paper

stock with color images.

The Pitney Bowes CPV stamps have been printed

in full color by the kiosk. The stamps printed by the

unit is usable at any time or place inside the U.S. or

at an APO. These CVP postage items continue to be

cataloged by the Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S.

Stamps and Covers. Karim Roder, a member of the

MSS has produced three editions of his catalog, the

first in German. The second and third editions are in

English. The current edition USA: Variable Denomi-

nation Stamps (1989=2015) is available from

www.Createspace.com a division of Amazon.com.

Early and Current Postage Meter Stamps

Personal Postage with

A Stock Image

Recent USA Computer Vended Postage

of Charlie Brown from the SSK Kiosks

Personal Postage with

User’s Image

■

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 4

Term Definition

Bank a wheel with numbers on the rim which is rotated to impress part of the

postage amount on Multi Value meters.

Denomination: the amount of postage shown by the Value Figures.

Die: the solid print head of a non-digital meter.

Digital: a meter that uses thermal, laser or some other digital technology in-

stead of a die to apply the Stamp.

Fixed Value: a meter with Frame and Value Figures carved out of a single die. A

Fixed Value meter can print either a single denomination stamp or has

a small set of different denomination stamps.

Frame: that portion of the Frank surrounding the Value Figures.

Frank: Noun: that portion of the Meter Stamp showing the Denomination and

(nearly always) the country name. Often a currency name or symbol is

shown along with “POSTAGE PAID” or similar statement.

Verb: to apply a postage stamp to a piece of mail.

Greater Border: a frame surrounding a large portion of the Impression such as the

Stamp, Town Mark and Slogan. This is a feature found on many early

Italian stamps but is otherwise quite uncommon.

Identification Number: meter identification number assigned by the postal authority or vendor

Impression: the entire imprint including the Stamp (Frank, Town/Date Mark), and,

if present, Serial number, Slogan, Slug, Greater Border, etc.

Indicia/Indicium: same as Frank.

Key Letter: same as Prefix.

License Number: a number the postal authority assigns to the mailer (rather than to the

meter).

Limited Value: a meter that has one Frame die with a slot into which several Denomi-

nation dies can be rotated.

Mailing Machine: a device which processes outgoing mail. It can contain a feeding mech-

anism, an envelope sealer and a sorter as well as a postage meter. Some

can print the contents, stuff the envelope and print postage.

Meter: for the purposes of this book, same as Postage Meter Stamp Some col-

lectors manage to find a few actual postage meter machine that printed

the meter stamps. Some countries allow ownership, some do not.

Meter Number: an identification number assigned by the meter manufacturer.

Meter Stamp: a postage stamp impressed by a Meter.

Multi Value: a non-digital meter that can print any postage value within a specified

range. The machine uses Banks of number wheels that are rotated to

make the correct postage value appear in the Die.

Panel An area within a frank bordered by an outer frame line on two or three

sides and an inner frame line on the fourth side.

Glossary, Abbreviations and Symbols for Traditional Postage Meters

Page 5 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

■

Permit Imprint on bulk mail items indicating prepayment of postage based on

number and weight of mail item. Permit imprints usually a square box

with the words postage paid. Some permit imprints resemble postage

meter stamps.

Permit Number: same as License Number.

Postage Meter: a machine that prints a postage stamp and maintains a record of the

amount of postage generated.

Prefix: a character or characters (usually alphabetic) preceding a Meter Num-

ber, Identification Number or License/Permit Number.

Relief Machine: a Postage Meter lent by the distributor or dealer to a customer while

the customer’s machine is being serviced.

Serial Number: a counter of Impressions made by the Meter.

Slogan: a verbal or pictorial message of a non-postal nature printed by the me-

ter. A slogan typically promotes a product or cause supported by the

mailer.

Slug: similar to a Slogan but the message is for postal purposes. Examples

are FIRST CLASS, BULK RATE, PARCEL POST, AIRMAIL, RE-

TURN SERVICE REQUESTED.

Spacing: the distance between the Town Mark and the Frank. It is usually meas-

ured from the right edge of the Town Mark to the left edge of the

Frank.

Setting Distance from the center of the Town Mark to the center of the Frank

and/or the Value Figures.

Stacked a word or number with each letter or digit placed one above or below

the other,

Stamp: the Frank plus the Town/Date Mark.

Tape: a Meter Stamp impressed on an adhesive paper strip meant to be af-

fixed to a parcel or mail-piece that cannot be fed through a postage me-

ter.

Town/Date Mark: that portion of the Meter Stamp that contains the post office name

where the meter is licensed and (usually) the date of mailing.

Town Mark: same as Town/Date Mark.

Value Box: a small rectangle immediately surrounding the Value Figures in some

Stamps .

Value Figures: the numbers and symbols that make up the postage value.

Vertical a word or number reading up or down.

Abbreviations

BIC: circular town mark with Broken Inner Circle

DC: Double Circle town mark

FV: Fixed Value meter, single denomination

FV-n: Fixed Value with ‘n’ stamp dies. FV-5 indicates an FV meter that can

print five different value stamps

ID number Identification Number

L# License number

LV-n: Limited Value meter with ‘n’ different denominations

M# Meter number

MV: Multi-Value meter

S# Serial number

SC: Single Circle town mark

TM: Town Mark, Town/date Mark

V/F: Value Figures (not “face value”)

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 6

Glossary, Abbreviations and Symbols for CVP Meters

ATM Automatenmarken (German) or Vending Machine Stamps (English), not to be

confused with the US term ATM which means “automated teller machines.”

ATM Stamps A USA term for preprinted definitive size stamps in an unfolded booklet form that

can be sold by Bank ATM machines (some USPS APC machines still vend ATM

stamps).

Automat (German) Vending Machine (English), that can range from stamp vending machines to ciga-

rette and soft-drink machines; it is a general term.

Automatic stamps No such thing, some people use this due to confusion with “Automat” or

“Automatenmarken”. There’s nothing “automatic” here.

Customized Postage See Personalized Postage.

CVP Computer vended postage, which applies to any postage stamp / label that is gen-

erated through a computer and generally requires an internet connection. A

“Frama” stamp is NOT a CVP stamp, as these were mechanically printed using an

impact printer in the machine and used pre-designed label rolls. Aka Variable De-

nomination postage.

Variable Denomination VDS Variable Denomination Stamps. See CVP Computer Vended Postage.

Frama A specific type (brand) of ATM stamp, but not every ATM stamp is a

“Frama” (kind of like calling photocopies a “xerox” – that’s only true if it’s done

on a Xerox copier). Originally developed in Switzerland and now defunct (except

in a few countries, such as Liechtenstein).

Klüssendorf A specific type (brand) of ATM stamp. A German manufacturer of postage vend-

ing machines.

APC Automated Postal Center kiosk which dispenses ATM stamps usually located in

US post offices. Now known as Self Service Kiosk (SSK).

SSK Self-Service Kiosk (see APC above).

Personalized Postage Generally stamps that have to be ordered through the internet (not printed at

home) and can have custom images and text (this includes “Photo Netstamps”).

Most products have value preprinted on stamp but some products allow the value

to be printed at a home PC on specially designed sheets of peelable labels. See PC

Postage.

Personalised Postage Worldwide term for a wide range of alternate postage products. Spelled with an

‘s’.

Netstamps A particular brand name of CVP stamps for which special pre-printed sheets have

to be ordered and then the value printed by the end-user at home (these can be

plain or also have stock images available, known as Photo Netstamps).

Internetmarke A German type of CVP by which the user can print postage at home (either on

paper, labels or envelopes and either with or without a selection of stock images

or clipart).

Page 7 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

■

Post & Go UK-based machines that print thermally printed postage labels (on pre-printed la-

bel stock).

Mail & Go Pitney Bowes trademark for its US-based kiosks that printed both thermally print-

ed postage labels (plain) or inkjet printed full color stamps on die-cut self-

adhesive labels. Mostly located at school and corporate campuses.

CPU Contract Postal Unit, a privately owned company authorized to do certain func-

tions of a US Post Office. In 2007-2008 most were equipped by Pitney Bowes

units that print thermally printed postage label strips.

Briefmarke Individuell A German “custom / personalized” stamp that has to be ordered via Deutsche

Post’s website; which will print the customer’s design and mail them on sheets of

10 or 20 to the customer. Similar to USA “personalized” / “customized” stamps

such as those offered by PictureItPostage (Endicia), Zazzle and

“PhotoStamps” (stamps.com) .

Plusbrief Individuell German “custom / personalized” postal stationery envelope that has to be ordered

via the Deutsche Post website, which will print the customers design on envelope

(various sizes are available).

PhotoStamps A specific brand name of stamps (from stamps.com) that are ordered via the inter-

net and printed by stamps.com using the customer-supplied image.

Zazzle Stamps A specific brand of “photo stamp” (ie: NOT “PhotoStamp by stamps.com) or-

dered via the internet and printed by Zazzle and mailed to the customer.

PictureItPostage A specific brand of “photo stamps” / custom postage that is ordered via the inter-

net and printed by Endicia and mailed to the customer.

Dymo/Endicia A specific brand of “internet postage”

PC Postage As defined by the USPS DMM (Domestic Mail Manual), “PC Postage products

allow customers to purchase and print postage with IBI (Information Based Indi-

cia) or IMI (Intelligent Mail Indicia) indicia directly onto mailpieces, shipping

labels, and USPS-approved customized labels (usually peel off labels designed to

be used for PC Postage). USPS-approved commercial providers offer PC Postage

products for customers through subscription service agreements.” These indicia

include all postage products other than traditional postage stamps and stand alone

postage meters.

PVI Postage validation imprint (although some people think it means “postage value

indicated”). A term used by the USPS to describe a security meter-like strip (self-

adhesive) generated by a postal clerk’s counter meter and immediately applied to

a mail piece. Many countries have picked up on this type of counter meter.

mPOS A type of PVI postage strip issued by a postal clerk using a hand held “mobile de-

vice” that then prints a postage label.

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 8

Soon after the introduction of adhesive

stamps in 1840, suggestions were made and

patents taken out in an attempt find better

ways to pay postage, especially for businesses.

It was recognized that a system involving the

purchase, moistening and affixing of small

pieces of gummed paper to mail for subsequent

cancellation by the Post Office might well be

replaced by some mechanical means whereby

prepayment of postage might be made by the

approved use of a machine to imprint the

"stamp" and at the same time to keep a register

of the postage used.

Carle Bushe of Paris appears to have patent-

ed the first postage meter. He took out a Brit-

ish patent in August 1884, covering an appa-

ratus for impressing and registering stamps.

But he may not have actually built one. An

Italian inventor, Count Detalmo di Brazza,

placed about four coin operated meters that

placed registration marks as shown here, on

mail in New York in 1897 for a few months. A

Hungarian inventor, Antal Fodor, built another

meter to put a registration mark on mail and

placed it in front of a Paris post office in 1909

for a few months. Other postage meters were

tested and used around the world.

NORWAY.

A machine, invented by Charles

A. Kahrs, was installed in the lobby of the

General Post Office, Kristiania, (Oslo), on Au-

gust 24, 1900. This was a coin-feed model

(used by the public for franking their own mail

by insertion of the required coins). The franks

produced were considered only as receipts for

prepaid postage and the Postal authorities af-

fixed adhesive stamps to the letters bearing

them, usually over the meter impressions. The

machine was withdrawn on September 14,

1900.

To Karl Uchermann goes the honor of hav-

ing originated the franking system as we know

it today for use by private firms. His machines

were constructed by Krag Maskinfabrik, of

Kristiania. The frank dies were supplied by the

Postal authorities and the design is one of the

most attractive ever to have been used. The

Krag/Uchermann machines produced both the

5 and 10 Ore stamps, but only the 5 ore value

impressions are known used on covers. The

machines were first used on June 15, 1903 and

the latest date of use known is January 2,

1905.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .

The

forerunner of the meter machines used in the

United States was the invention of Arthur H.

Pitney, co-founder of Pitney-Bowes, Inc. The

machine was designed and built by Eugene A.

Rummler. The printing unit was contained in a

rectangular box-like structure. The first com-

pany for its promotion, Pitney Postal Machine

Co., was organized in 1902. The machine was

first demonstrated by Mr Rummler in the Post

Office Department in Washington D.C. in

March 1903. From November 24, 1903 to

March 1904, all official correspondence of the

Third Assistance Postmaster General was han-

dled by this machine under the supervision of

a committee of the P.O. Department appointed

by Postmaster General Payne. The committee

reported favorably on the machine but con-

cluded that the Postmaster General did not

have the authority to adopt that style of post-

age. Very few impressions from this machine

are known. As only official mail was franked,

Early History of Traditional Postage Meters

Di Brazza Imprint 1897

Norway 1903

Uchermann

Sample of First US Postage Meter Pitney Bowes

First used August 1920.

History continued on page11

Page 9 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

the impressions produced bore no indication of

value but only a serial number and the usual

penalty clause applied to official mail

PENALTY OF $300 IS FIXED BY LAW

FOR / USING THIS ENVELOPE TO

AVOID PAYMENT OF / POSTAGE ON

PRIVATE MATTER),

and therefore they are

not actual postage meter stamps, but merely

government permits.

In May 1912, a five-day test of the first Pit-

ney meter machine was conducted at Washing-

ton D.C. Matter which was run through this

postage meter went through the mail and bore

a shield shaped impression, value 1-cent or 2-

cents. In September 1912, the American Post-

age Meter Co. of Chicago, Illinois was orga-

nized as a successor to Pitney Postal Machine

Co. On January 28, 1914, further experiments

were started at Chicago where at least eight (8)

business houses used meter machines in con-

junction with an envelope sealing machine, ca-

pable of sealing, franking, and counting ap-

proximately 250 pieces of mail per minute.

Only third class mail (printed matter) was

franked, with 1 cent or 2 cent values. This was

permissible without further legislation as the

frank was considered merely a permit, and the

permit system had been in effect for third class

matter since 1904. A total of over 850,000

pieces of mail were franked by the machines

and mailed through the regular channels, but

very few have survived.

It was not until September 1, 1920 that the

first postage meter designed for first class mail

was approved by the Post Office Department

through a special act of Congress. The first

mail franked by this Pitney-Bowes Postage

Meter Co was posted at Stamford, Conn. on

December 10, 1920, at 6:00 P.M. The remain-

ing history of United States meters is covered

in sufficient detail in other publications (See

References).

NEW ZEALAND Ernest Moss of Christ-

church presented a machine (Model 1) in

March 1904. The first official reference to the

machine is found in the report of the Postmas-

ter General of June 21, 1904, which states that

"quite recently no less than three 1d. Coin-in-

the-slot stamp-vending machines have been

offered to the department for trial. Only one of

these has so far been sufficiently perfected to

stand actual working tests. This machine, the

work of a Christchurch inventor, was tried for

two weeks in the portico of the Christchurch

Office and for three weeks in Wellington" The

insertion of discs, washers, etc, in place of

coins led to the withdrawal of this machine.

The Model 2 was introduced in 1905. There

was only one die; the ld. Various models con-

tinued to be used and New Zealand is credited

with being the country with the longest contin-

uous use of postage meters.

GREAT BRITAIN. As in the case of Nor-

way Franking Machine in Oslo, an experi-

mental unit was installed at the General Post

Office, London E.C. It was the invention of F.

Wilkinson of Essex and manufactured by the

Automatic Stamp Selling Machines Ltd. It con-

tained a coin-slot into which a penny was

dropped after insertion of the letter to be

franked in another opening. By turning a han-

dle the letter was then franked, drawn into the

box, and dropped into the box below. It was

Pitney Bowes 1903 Test

1904 Moss Meters in New Zealand

Pitney Bowes 1912 and 1914 Tests

History continued on page12

History continued from page10

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 10

installed in King Edward General Post Office,

London, January 25, 1912, in accordance with

a notice in the P_O_ Circular of January 23_

1050 letters and cards were posted on the first

day but the number soon dwindled to 20-30 per

day and the machine was removed on August

31, 1912.

GERMANY. The first experiments in Ger-

many involving postal franking machines be-

gan in 1921 and a few specimen impressions

from a machine invented by Erich Komusin are

known, but it was not until February 1923 that

the first machines were used. They were of

three types, lettered, A, B, and C, produced by

Uhrenfabrik verm. L. Furtwangler Sohne A.G.,

Bafra A.g., and Ankerwerke A. G. respective-

ly. Nineteen A machines were know to have

been used, but only one each are known of the

multi-value B and C machines. The later were

on trial in Berlin for a very short period of

time.

SWITZERLAND. Switzerland first author-

ized the use of meter franking on March 18,

1922 and its first use was at the end of March

1923 when Franco machines supplied by Fran-

co A.G., Lucerne, and manufactured by Elster

and Co., Lucerne, were put on the market.

These were fixed value machines and the dies

were supplied by the Government. The first

Halser machine was authorized on September

15, 1923 and first used on February 1, 1924.

FRANCE. France first used meter machines

in May 26, 1924 when L’Agence Havas intro-

duced the Tiranty model, a single value ma-

chine. Like early New Zealand machines, this

model printed the impression through a ribbon.

Some of these machines had the value dies

changed several times to keep pace with the

devaluation of the franc, and the increase in

postage rates.

OTHER COUNTRIES/FIRMS Many other

firms entered the field of meter machines,

most of them marketing their products in the

country of origin, such as Timbrographe

(Belgium 1926), Sima (Societa Italiana Mac-

chine Affrancatrice, Milan, Italy -- 1927), Sa-

tas (Societe pour l'Affranchissement et le Tim-

brage Automatiques, Paris, France -- 1934), A/

B Frankator (Sweden -- 1934), Krag Maskin

Fabrik A/S. (Oslo, Norway -- 1933), Portos

(Aage Bencke, Copenhagen, Denmark --

1941), Taxo-post (A/B Hadar Schmidt, Stock-

holm --1943), Postalia (Friestempler G.m.b. H.

Frankfurt am Main, Germany -- 1939), Postita-

lia (S.A. Italiana Audion, Milan -- 1942), Ro-

tex (C.R. Hawkins Ltd., Christchurch, New

Zealand -- 1932), Taxotyp (Marton Kalman,

Budapest, Hungary -- 1931), Safag

(S.A.F.A.G., Biel, Switzerland 1928), Frama

(Switzerland -- 1952).

Metered Tax Stamps. A number of coun-

tries, including the U.S. and Canada, have used

modifications of postage meters to collect a

variety of taxes including document, real es-

tate transfer and cigarette taxes.

Wilkinson coin operated Meter

Great Britain 1912

Germany Uhrenfabrik

Furtwängler 1923

■

Tax Meter Stamps used for a variety of Tax Collections

History continued from page11

Page 11 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

■

The meters from the world as cataloged can be classified based on how the meter prints the postage

indicia and if the device meters the postage used by mechanical, electronic or digital means.

Fixed Value (FV, FV-n)

The stamp from a FV machine is printed from a die containing the

entire frank including the frame and value figure as fixed elements.

Some FV meters contain a small selection of dies for different de-

nominations of stamps. Such meters are designated FV-n with ‘n’ be-

ing the number of different frank dies. The earliest meters are of this

type.

Limited Value (LV-n)

LV-n machines contain a single frame die with a slot into which a

number (n) of different denomination dies can be brought into posi-

tion. Because a denomination die is much smaller than a complete

stamp die, typically LV-n machines have a larger range of denomina-

tions than a FV-n meter.

Multi Value (MV)

MV machines contain a single frame die with a slot fitted with banks of num-

ber wheels. The postage is set by rotating the wheels until the correct amount

appears in the face of the die. Any denomination within a range determined by

the number of wheels can be printed.

Some multi-value machines are fitted with trailing fixed zeros to accommo-

date inflation, currency changes, etc. In the descriptions for value figures, this

catalog identifies all value places and does not differentiate between regular

and fixed zeros. Some catalogs use the term Omnidenominational to indicate

that the meter prints all values between zero and some maximum like 9.99.

Digital (digital)

The early Digital postage meters maintained postage records and operated

electronically but printed with a metal die as did older meters. Modern com-

pletely digital meters do not have a solid die but print the stamp with com-

puter printer through a ink tape or more recently use ink jet or laser technol-

ogy. All meters that were not fully digital were recalled as a result of the

Meter Migration Mandate. In the US and Canada this was completed, after a

few extensions, by 2007. Most counties now allow only fully digital postage

meters.

PC Postage

About 1988 the US Postal Service began allowing several forms of user de-

fined postage and took PC Postage as a trademark. This program opened the

way for a number of “alternate postage” items. These include postage printed

at a personal computer (which in some cases has a user supplied image) as

well as postage with a user supplied image that is printed by an authorized

vendor and shipped to the user. The USPS originally stated in earlier versions

of the DMM (Domestic Mail Manual) that all PC Postage are “meters” and not

stamps. That statement is no longer found in the DMM.

Computer Vended Postage (CVP)

Also known as Variable Denomination. A subset of PC Postage. Postage is

vended by a computer housed in a postal kiosk or from a personal computer or

from a machine that is similar to a digital postage meter. There is some overlap

with other types of postage. This type is available in the U.S. and around the

world.

General Types of Postage Meters

FV One Value possible per meter

LV Six Values possible per meter

MV Values 0.00 to 9.99 1/2

Electronic w/Mechanical Printer

Fully Digital Meter

CVP Postage

PC Postage with

User Image

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 12

On the topic of what to collect, the possibilities

are almost endless and bound only by such factors

as interest, access to material, finances and inno-

vation. The guidelines below are designed to help

collectors who recently have become interested in

postage meter stamps and are looking for ideas of

what they might collect.

GENERAL TYPE COLLECTION: Collecting the

postage meter stamps from all the different meter

types or models placed into use in a given country,

area, or the world. This could be limited to major

types only or could include varieties of the main

stamp types. Collecting U.S. meter stamps this

way, for example, would correspond to the organi-

zation used in the Hawking/Stambaugh catalog

(see References).

SPECIAL TYPE COLLECTION: This is collect-

ing by type, but limiting it to one meter manufac-

turer or meter stamp group. Collecting this way

can be done in various degrees of depth. For ex-

ample, one of these could include all major and

minor varieties, experimental versions, essays,

proofs and specimens, errors, different colors, dif-

ferent denominations, and even different meter

numbers.

COLLECTIONS BY GROUP: A collection could

be limited to a special group of meter stamps such

as: post office machines (regular and/or postage

due), those dispensed by vending machine, and

those used by the Military or by the Federal gov-

ernment.

COLLECTIONS BY TOPIC: Just about any topic

or theme can be collected through meter stamp

slogans. Topical collection (AKA Thematic) has

become a major collection method, blending nor-

mal postage stamp subjects, envelope advertise-

ments as well as meter stamps with slogans.

POSTAL HISTORY: Collecting postal rates and

services is ideal with metered mail. In fact, some

rates and services are unknown on anything but

metered mail. It is also possible to collect postal

directives, e.g., “FIRST CLASS MAIL”, or

“BOUND PRINTED MATTER - SHEET MUSIC”,

a well as a wide range of other directives, applied

by meter.

TOWN COLLECTIONS: Collecting by meter

stamp town mark is very popular. This can be done

for all the towns in any country, state or province,

or even all the known meter numbers used in any

one town.

RELATED AREAS: Closely related to meter

stamps are permit stamps, i.e., those postage

stamps applied by permit printer machines. Permit

stamps are as collectable and varied as meter

stamps. Also popular to collect are CVP stamps

(AKA as Frama stamps). These computerized

vending machine stamps are produced as meter

stamps but are used as normal adhesive postage

stamps.

From about 1960 to the early 1990s United Parcel

Service (UPS) shipping tags were produced by

postage meters and these also make a good collect-

ing area.

■

What To Collect?

Sources

There are many sources where collectors may

acquire and accumulate meter stamps and in some

cases, need be limited only by one’s own creativi-

ty.

The first source is our own daily mail. This has

always been an excellent way of acquiring material.

Convincing your neighbors to save envelopes from

their mail for you is also an excellent source. Get-

ting a local business to save envelopes for you is

even better, given their volume of mail. These

sources don’t require a cash outlay and, for those

people just starting, are a good source of modern

meter stamps.

A second source is participating in the many

MSS auctions (minimum of one per year). These

auctions often present opportunities to acquire, at

fair prices, scarce material that may otherwise be

difficult to obtain in any other manner. Items of-

fered range in price from $1.00 to several hundred

dollars. Occasionally, meter lots are offered

through mail auctions, as postal history, by some

of the large mail bid companies.

A third source is a dealer who stocks meters.

Admittedly, there are very few of them, but some

advertise in the MSS Bulletin and members are en-

couraged to support them. With the increased inter-

est in meters as postal history and the increased

interest in meter slogans, dealers are becoming

more aware of collector needs. Local stamp dealers

also often have meters available as they get them

in the course of acquiring stamp collections. And,

don’t overlook the dealers at the stamp shows, who

often have small stocks of meters available.

A fourth source is through use of the “want ad”

section of the MSS Bulletin (also posted on the

MSS website) where members can advertise their

collecting interests. Members are given one free ad

per year.

Finally, the Meter Stamp Society Discussion

Group on Yahoo Groups is a good place to meet

others who may have material to swap.

Page 13 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

■

How To Collect

There is no mandated, or even universally

preferred, size format when it comes to col-

lecting meter stamps - this is ultimately dictat-

ed by personal choice. However, the prevailing

thinking on the subject today is that they

should, whenever possible, be collected in

their original size. That is to say, a metered

cover should never be reduced to a cut or a

front (except where very large envelopes make

storage and mounting clumsy). - full covers

are better than fronts, which, in turn , are bet-

ter than 2” x 4” cuts. By “better”, it is meant

that the item is more valuable as a collectable

artifact in terms of postal significance and sal-

ability. The postal history value of a cover

should be considered before cutting it down.

Special rates, special usages and important

events should cause a cover to be saved intact.

Meters can be collected in many different

ways and the most common are full cover,

cuts, and tapes.

CUTS

2 or 3 inches by x inches: The two or

three inch cut is the most practical. Cut to at

least 4 inches but never cut off a company slo-

gan or a postal directive. If the company ad-

dress is at the left corner consider keeping that

too. Cutting the strip was very popular in the

early days. Its almost considered a crime today

by collectors seeking postal history items.

TAPES Meter stamps on tape, of course, re-

quire no trimming. They may conveniently be

mounted on album pages with one wide hinge

or two stamp hinges. (NEVER use cellophane

tape). Many collectors mount their tapes on

slips of plain paper cut to the same size as the

rest of the collection for ease of filing. Again,

it is best to keep the entire, especially when

there are other markings or stickers (such as

customs forms) on the cover. For larger enve-

lopes and boxes try to keep as much of the

postal history as possible. Older tapes could be

soaked off of the envelope in cold water and

dried between blotters or paper towels. More

recently the glue used prevents removal.

FULL COVER This is the preferred format

for collecting. By collecting in this manner,

all aspects of the piece are preserved

(information on user and addressee, postal

handling marks, backstamps, annotations,

etc). The small size covers can be mounted

horizontally and the large size can be mounted

vertically. Only if a large piece is damaged

and is your only example, for now, should it

be cut. In any case, try to salvage as much of

the cover as possible. Scarce and unusual

pieces or usages should never be cut.

Collection Organization

The answer to the question of how to organ-

ize your collection depends entirely on what

you collect and why. If you collect SLOGANS

you would most likely want to categorize them

by topic. If you collect TOWNS you would

probably find it convenient to arrange them

alphabetically under each state. If you collect

by meter TYPE you would want to organize

them according to a logical structure such as

that found in the Simon-Walsh United States

Postage Meter Stamp Catalog. The Simon-

Walsh (S/W) system is not the only way, nor is

it necessarily the best way for your special in-

terests. Some TYPE collectors ignore the S/W

categories of Post Office and Postage Due me-

ters and include such examples as varieties of

the basic meter type. Others focus on the type

of meter MACHINE and collect all meter

stamp types and varieties produced by that ma-

chine. Such collections could contain Official

and Revenue meter stamps, which are design-

different, as well as same-design commercial,

Post Office, and Postage Due meters. Such

collections could even include meter stamps

from other countries as long as they are pro-

duced by the same machine.

Years ago, collecting by METER NUMBER

was popular. Collectors would try to get exam-

ple from every meter placed into service and

would organize them in numeric sequence. In

the 1920s with only a few thousand meters in

existence this may have been a realistic chal-

lenge, but today, with millions of meters in

use, such a collection seems very unrealistic.

Collecting by number may still have some

Organize continued on page 16

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 14

■

meaning when focused on meter types which

had only a few machines were placed into ser-

vice. An amazing meter number database for

early US postage meters is available for free

download from the MSS website’s bookstore.

Today some collectors work together to deter-

mine the meter ranges for each type of postage

meter and manufacturer.

As some traditional philatelists focus on a

single Scott-listed stamp and try to collect all

varieties, errors, and uses associated with it,

some meter stamp collectors do the same with

an individual meter type. One could organize

the collection into sections such as (a) COL-

OR, which would contain an example of every

color ink used on a meter, (b) VALUE, con-

taining all values the machine could produce,

and (e) odd and unusual USES. No doubt there

are many other categories imaginative collec-

tors will create.

How to House A Collection

There are generally two ways to house a col-

lection: in boxes (to include any kind of contain-

er) and in albums. Boxing covers is cheap and

can be efficient as long as the covers are kept in

some kind of logical order (by type, by number,

or by whatever method you collect) and are not

jammed in tightly. It is also simple to insert new

acquisitions in their proper order. The trouble

with boxing is that it is not easy to peruse your

collection or show it off with out manhandling

the covers and, being unmounted, it is, of course,

not exhibitable. If you have no intention of ex-

hibiting and are careful when you go through

your meters, boxing is a completely satisfactory

way to house a collection. One word of caution:

cardboard boxes contain acid in the cardboard,

so for long-term storage, line the boxes with

neutral paper.

Mounting a collection in albums makes it easier

to review and show others. It also helps preserve

the covers since, once mounted, they do not have

to be touched to be seen. Additionally, a small

write-up can easily accompany each cover on the

page. Drawbacks include the inconvenience of in-

serting new acquisitions in their proper place and

the high relative cost. Mounting in albums is more

expensive than using boxes, both in money and in

time.

There is a wide variety of choices for mounting

covers ranging from almost free to very expen-

sive. Collections can be mounted cheaply in com-

mon three-ring binders using stamp hinges and

notebook paper, or expensively in leather binders,

with slip covers, and double-sided pocketed pages

for protection.

Adding to the expense is the fact that no stamp

album publisher makes a pages for covers over 7

or 8 inches wide. Since most meters are found on

standard business size envelopes (#10), conven-

tional album pages are usually too small for hori-

zontal mounting. Mounting vertically will allow

you to use the cheaper standard size pages, but

this can be ultimately more expensive since there

is room for only one cover per page. A few page

publishers make plain unpocketed pages large

enough to hold two or three business size covers

per side, but to use these pages one is still faced

with the problem of how to mount the covers.

Hinges and photo corners are available for this but

have drawbacks. Only one manufacturer currently

makes binders and pocketed pages designed to

hold covers up to nine and even eleven inches

wide, but a single album of this size with room for

240

covers is very expensive.

As a technical data note regarding album pages,

a Chicago firm published the results of a study of

64 different brands/types and found that MOST

contain acid and will harm anything mounted on

them, over time. Current technology requires ar-

chival paper, i.e. paper that provides resistance to

the effects of natural aging, to be acid free with a

minimum pH of 7.0. The pH is a measure of the

acid/alkaline content of an item. A pH of 7.0 is

neutral, below 7.0, the item is acidic and higher

than 7.0, it is alkaline. Since this is a logarithmic

scale, an item with pH of 5.0 is ten times more

acidic than one with pH of 6.0. Of the 64 pages

tested, 47 were acidic and only 17 were acid free.

What is exceptionally disappointing is that some

of the worse papers are marketed by philatelic

supply houses with the most prestigious names

(and highest prices). The point is that collectors

should be aware of the long-term effects of paper

and various adhesives and that some mounting

techniques and methods should be avoided. It is

also pointed out that the material in the windows

of “TRANSO” envelopes will stain anything they

touch and gum and tape on the backs of certain

envelopes can also stain other envelopes they

come in contact with. -- don’t store these in con-

tact with other covers. Postage Validation Im-

printer (PVI) postage meters are very light-

sensitive so store them in a cool dark place or they

will fade. This is also probably true with Intermec

and Canadian Nixdorf postage meters.

Organize continued from page 15

Page 15 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

US Variable Denomination Stamps - FAQs

■

What are variable denomination stamps (VDS)?

They are stamps printed and dispensed from public vend-

ing machines (eg self-service kiosks in post offices), or

with the use of personal computers. They can be used any-

where and anytime, just like traditional postage stamps.

The public generated issues are called computer vended

postage (CVP), Automat stamps or ATM stamps (German

for ‘Automaten-marken’),

The personal computer printed postage issues are referred

to as Internet Postage stamps.

What do variable denomination stamps look like?

The major types of US variable denomination stamps are

depicted in following pages. All VDS issues since 1999

have in common that they show a 2D-barcode, which indi-

cates postage payment, eases mail sorting and prevents

postage fraud.

Where can you purchase variable denomination

stamps?

(a) Computer vended postage stamps:

They can be purchased from self-service (In the U.S.

APC/SSK) kiosks in larger post offices. In the US, more

than 2,600 self-service kiosks are operating. The location

of these kiosks can be found on the USPS website:

https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorAction!input.action

Additionally, some one hundred mail & go

postal ki-

osks manufactured by Pitney Bowes are operating on uni-

versity campuses, military facilities and in corporations.

(b) Internet postage stamps:

To print stamps on a personal computer, one has to first

US (Stamp.com, Endicia or Pitney Bowes) online (or their

affiliates). Next, specially designated sheets or label rolls

are purchased from the PC postage provider. Upon receipt

of sheets or label rolls and purchasing postage online, con-

sumers can print real postage stamps on sheets or label

rolls using a personal computer and an inkjet, laser or ther-

mal printer.

Is it possible to obtain variable denomination stamps

from the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Center (“The

Cave”)?

Unfortunately, neither the USPS nor any PC postage pro-

vider offers variable denomination stamps to collectors. In

addition, almost no information about new issues/changes

in the paper/imprint/etc. is released by these companies

making it very difficult and challenging to collect VDS!

Are US variable denomination stamps listed in cata-

logs?

Yes, the ‘Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States

Stamps & Covers’, 93rd Edition (2015), by Charles Snee

and James E. Kloetzel lists most major types.

For collectors who are interested in a more detailed list-

ing of major/minor types and information about these is-

sues, the handbook ‘USA: Variable Denomination Stamps

(1989-2015)’ by Karim Roder, a member of the MSS, is

recommended:

https://www.createspace.com/5554174

Where else can I find information about older and fu-

ture variable denomination stamp issues?

A membership in the MSS is highly recommended to learn

more about these issues. It is really easy and cheap to join

the MSS and you can learn a wealth pf onformation about

variable denomination stamps, meter postage and custom-

ized postage as well as other modern types of postage

from the US and the rest of the world.

What continued from page 2

■

a meter, not a “Stamp”. This includes several va-

rieties of postage indicia that may or may not in-

clude an image provided by the vendor or an im-

age provided by the user. Most of these postage

payment methods are handled by vendors in the

U.S. (See page 4).

Many countries now have some form of Per-

sonalised (as the rest of the world spells it) post-

age that can be ordered from the central post of-

fice. Virtually all countries that provide Person-

alised stamps handle sales and printing through

the country post office. A partial list of countries

that provide at least one form of Personalised

postage is maintained at http://

meterstampsociety.com/WorldPersPost.html.

Some allow a user supplied image inside the

stamp and some allow the image on a tab next to

a stamp. At this writing only the U.S. allows

third party vendors to sell products directly to

the user. Many countries now have websites that

allow a postal patron to pay the postage for a let-

ter or package over the internet and print the la-

bel from a computer printer.

These postage payment methods as used out-

side the U.S. generally are not considered “meter

stamps” by the postal administrations. They are

considered “stamps” just like their other items.

Several catalogs have been prepared just for

U.S. “meter stamps” based on the definition that

the authors choose. Collectors around the world

have enthusiastically embraced Computer Vend-

ed Postage (CVP), most of which are vended by

machines outside each country’s post offices.

U.S. CVP and Personalized stamps were listed by

Scott until about 2006. After 2006 only U.S.

CVP stamps are listed by Scott.

Variable continued on page 16

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 16

Page 17 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 18

U.S. Postage Alternatives

The invention of the Postage Meter provided the first ma-

jor alternative to the use of postage stamps. Then after about

1989 when the USPS invented the concept of PC Postage

things got very complex. We have attempted to provide a

guide here for the many postage alternatives that have been

available. Most of the alternatives were short lived but

stamps produced by them are very collectable. It should be

noted that the USPS registered the term PC Postage as its

trademark. However, we have the choice of naming and cate-

gorizing as we please.

Essentially this list is of three categories, Traditional Post-

age Stamps, Traditional Postage Meters, and PC-Postage

(including the experiments leading up to PC-Postage). Due to

the many forms of PC Postage the list below certainly does

not seem quite that simple. This outline shows a few exam-

ples of each type of PC Postage available. These were sold

by a number of authorized vendors.

A. Unmetered: Traditional postage stamps, fixed denomina-

tion postage produced before it is sold. Definitives, com-

memoratives, semi-postals, airmail, tax, postage dues.

Used anytime after sale. Sold by USPS over the counter,

through vendors, by mail or from vending machines.

B. Metered: postage generated/produced and controlled by a

mechanism (mechanically or algorithmically) matching

that postage to the credit available. Credit used to be add-

ed when the meter was taken to the local post office. Later

telephone connections handled credit. In the digital age

the internet is used.

B1. Generated by rented postage meters, used on the

date of sale

B. Metered: postage generated/produced is con-

trolled by a mechanism (mechanically or algorith-

mically) matching that postage to the credit availa-

ble.

B1. Generated by rented postage meters, used

date of sale

B1a. Stand-alone units

Traditional Postage Meters

(mechanical, electronic, digital)\

Mechanical Meter

Electronic Meter

Fully Digital Meter

B1b. Units attached to a personal

computer (special printer or vault)

E-Stamps 1998-2000

Neopost PC Stamp/Simply Postage

PCmail1998-2000

NeopostSimply Postage/

SimplyPostage PROmail 2000-2003

PB ClickStamp Plus 1999

Stamp Expressions

E-Stamp Experiment

B2. Post Office Counter Units, used date of sale

B2a. Traditional Postage Meters, used at the

post office desk

Post Office

Meter

B2b. PVI Meters. Used date of sale

MOS Units

Toshiba

Units

mPOS (point of sale) handheld units

PB Mailomat

Page 19 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

B4a. USPS Click-N-Ship

Online Postage

■

B3. Generated by vending machines

B3a. Stamps valid only on date vended

Vending Experiments

Di Brazza 1898

NCR Austin 1971

PPMF 1973

Pi Elec. Zipster Plus 1992

ASM 1992

PB NPM Postcard 1993

Vending

PB Mailomat 1936-1970

B3b. Stamps valid on any date

Vending Experiments

Autopost 1989

Postal Buddy 1990-93

PMC Coils 1992-2002

APC 1999-2004

Neopost Kiosk Test 2000-2002

IBM(Schaumburg) 2008-2009

Vending

APC 2004 SSK 2014

PB Mail&go Kiosk 2005

B3b. Early APC Stamps (thermal printing)

B3b. SSK Stamps (Thermal on Preprinted color stock

B3b PB Mail&Go Stamps

Thermal B/W and Inkjet Color

B3b. APC Parcel Shipping Label

B3b. IBM (Schaumburg) Experiment Stamps

B4. Generated online

B4a. Stamps valid only on date generated

Stamps.com 1998

Neopost Postage Plus/SimplyPostage

EZmail1999-2000

PB ClickStamp Online 1999-2004

PB Shipstream Manager 2010-2012

PB iSend/pbSmartPostage 2012

Endicia Internet Postage 2001

USPS Click-N-Ship 2002

eBay/Paypal shipping assistants

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 20

B4b. PBSmartPostage

With user image.

B5a. Zazzle Personal (Custom)

Postage w/ User Image

B5b Affiliate “Your Postage”

Postage w/ User Image

B4b. Dymo Postage

W/o user image.

B4b. Stamps valid on any date

SnapStamps 2000-2001

NetStamps 2002

InstaPostage/Dymo Postage 2005

Avery Stamps 2009

pbSmartPostage 2011

Dymo Postage

USPS Priority Mail Forever Packaging 2011

Designs-on-Demand NetStamps 2012

B5. Personalized postage (postage containing design

element chosen by patron), Valid any date.

B5a. PC Postage Providers:

Pitney Bowes Expressions SE

Stamps.com PhotoStamps 2004

Endicia PictureItPostage 2005

Zazzle.com ZazzleStamps 2005

B5b. PC Postage Affiliates:

Xpress It Postage 2006

PremierPostage LLC 2006

Fujifilm: YourStamps 2007

And many more

B5c. Postcards

PhotoCard 2009

An affiliate vendor sends photo post cards either

by eMail or Post Office. If by Post office prints

an image of a PC Postage stamp on the post

card.

■

B4a. Endicia Postage

Page 21 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

Postage Meter Stamp Identifier

Text in the Stamp See:

ABU DHABI .................................................................... UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

ACORES.......................................................................................................AZORES

ADEN............................................................................................................ YEMEN

A.E.F. .................................................................... FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA

AFARS & ISSAS........................................................................................ DJIBOUTI

AFRIQUE EQUATORIALE FRANCAISE ................. FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA

AFRIQUE OCCIE FRANCAISE ............................................ FRENCH WEST AFRICA

ALGERIE or ALGERIENNE ........................................................................ ALGERIA

AMSTERDAM / TE BETALEN .......................................................... NETHERLANDS

ANDORRE................................................................................................ ANDORRA

A R E ............................................................................................................. EGYPT

B H ............................................................................................................... BELIZE

BASUTOLAND.......................................................................................... LESOTHO

BECHUANALAND .................................................................................BOTSWANA

BELGIQUE BELGIE or BELGIE BELGIQUE .............................................. BELGIUM

BIAFRA ......................................................................................................NIGERIA

BÖHMEN UND MÄHREN ...........................................................CZECHOSLOVAKIA

BOPHUTHATSWANA.......................................................................SOUTH AFRICA

BR. SOLOMON IS. ................................................................... SOLOMON ISLANDS

BR. VIRGIN IS. ............................................................. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

BRASIL .........................................................................................................BRAZIL

BRITISH GUIANA ...................................................................................... GUYANA

BRITISH HONDURAS ................................................................................... BELIZE

BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS................................................. SOLOMON ISLANDS

BS.AS.REP.ARG. .................................................................................. ARGENTINA

BURMA................................................................................................... MYANMAR

CCCPUNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS (also ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA)

C F A .........................................................................................................REUNION

CABO VERDE ......................................................................................CAPE VERDE

CAMBODGE........................................................................................... CAMBODIA

CAMEROUN.......................................................................................... CAMEROON

CAYMAN W.I. ........................................................................... CAYMAN ISLANDS

CESKA REPUBLICA..................................................................... CZECH REPUBLIC

CESKOSLOVENSKO ..................................................................CZECHOSLOVAKIA

CEYLON .................................................................................................SRI LANKA

Chra./Aut. No. 1..........................................................................................NORWAY

CISKEI............................................................................................. SOUTH AFRICA

COMORES................................................................................ COMOROS ISLANDS

CONGO/ BELGE / BELGISCH............................. CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

CONGO (alone)................................................... CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

CONGO, REPUBIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE............ CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

CONGO, REPUBLIQUE DU ........................................ CONGO, PEOPLES REPUBLIC

CONGO, REPUBLIQUE PPAIRE/ REP POP ................. CONGO, PEOPLES REPUBLIC

CORREIOS DO ESTADO DA INDIA .........................................PORTUGUESE INDIA

COTE D’IVOIRE.................................................................................IVORY COAST

COTE DU SOMALI .................................................................................... DJIBOUTI

COTE FRANCAISE DES SOMALIS ............................................................ DJIBOUTI

CURACAO ..................................................................... NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

DAHOMEY..................................................................................................... BENIN

DAI NIPPON TEIKOKU YUBIN .............................................................. INDONESIA

D’ANDORRE............................................................................................ ANDORRA

DANMARK ..............................................................................................DENMARK

DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST.......................................................................GERMANY

DEUTSCHE POST.....................................................................................GERMANY

DEUTSCHE REICHPOST ..........................................................................GERMANY

DEUTSCHES BUNDESPOST/ SAARLAND ................................................GERMANY

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 22

DEUTSCHES REICH................................................................................. GERMANY

DEUTSCHES REICH or REICHPOST with Austrian town mark ..................... AUSTRIA

DEUTSCHLAND ...................................................................................... GERMANY

DUBAI ............................................................................ UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

EESTI ........................................................................................................ ESTONIA

EGYPTE......................................................................................................... EGYPT

EIRE or EIREANN...................................................................................... IRELAND

EMPIRE CENTRAFRICAIN ..................................... CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

ESPANA.......................................................................................................... SPAIN

ESPANOLA ..................................................................................................... SPAIN

ESTADO DA INDIA ................................................................. PORTUGUESE INDIA

FEDERATED MALAY STATES ............................................................... MALAYSIA

FØROYAR...................................................................................... FAROE ISLANDS

FRANQUIA ............................................................................................. PORTUGAL

FUNCHAL................................................................................. MADEIRA ISLANDS

GABONAISE ................................................................................................. GABON

GEBÜHR BEZAHLT ................................................................................. GERMANY

GENERAL-GOUVERNEMENT ..................................................................... POLAND

GOLD COAST ............................................................................................... GHANA

GRØNLAND......................................................................................... GREENLAND

GUINE-BISSAU...............................................................................GUINEA BISSAU

GUINEA ECUA .....................................................................EQUATORIAL GUINEA

GUINEE ....................................................................................................... GUINEA

HARARE ................................................................................................ ZIMBABWE

HAUTE VOLTA................................................................................BURKINA FASO

HELLAS.......................................................................................................GREECE

HELVETIA ........................................................................................SWITZERLAND

HRVATSKA ............................................................................................... CROATIA

HYDERABAD ................................................................................................. INDIA

INDOCHINE............................................................................ FRENCH INDOCHINA

ISLAND ..................................................................................................... ICELAND

ITALIANE....................................................................................................... ITALY

JAMAHIRIYA .................................................................................................LIBYA

JAMAICA with GRAND CAYMAN W.I. in the town mark............. CAYMAN ISLANDS

JUGOSLAVIJA or JUGOSLLAVIA .......................................................YUGOSLAVIA

K S A ............................................................................................... SAUDI ARABIA

KATANGA ......................................................... CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

KENYA UGANDA ......................................................EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

KENYA UGANDA TANGANYIKA..............................EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

KENYA UGANDA TANZANIA ...................................EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

KGL. POST… ØRE PORTO...................................................................... DENMARK

KIBRIS ........................................................................................................CYPRUS

L A R ..............................................................................................................LIBYA

LAO ................................................................................................................. LAOS

LATVIJA or LATVIJAS ................................................................................ LATVIA

LIBAN ......................................................................................................LEBANON

LIETUVA or LIETUVOS......................................................................... LITHUANIA

LUXEMBURG ................................................................................... LUXEMBOURG

MACAU ........................................................................................................MACAO

MAGYAR POSTA..................................................................................... HUNGARY

MAGYARORSZAG ................................................................................... HUNGARY

MAKEDONIJA ..................................................................................... MACEDONIA

MALAGASY...................................................................................... MADAGASCAR

MALAYA ................................................................................................ MALAYSIA

MALGACHE...................................................................................... MADAGASCAR

MAROC ................................................................................................... MOROCCO

MAURITANIE ..................................................................................... MAURITANIA

MOCAMBIQUE ..................................................................................MOZAMBIQUE

NATIONES UNIES ....................................................................... UNITED NATIONS

NED-INDIE or ned.indie ......................................................................... INDONESIA

Page 23 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

NEDERELANDSE ANTILLEN......................................... NETHERLANDS ANTILLES

NEDERLAND ...................................................................................NETHERLANDS

NEDERLANDS-NIEUW-GUINEA ............................................................ INDONESIA

NEW HEBRIDES....................................................................................... VANUATU

NIPPON .......................................................................................................... JAPAN

Nlle CALEDONIE ......................................................................... NEW CALEDONIA

NOREG or NORGE .....................................................................................NORWAY

NORTH BORNEO ....................................................................................MALAYSIA

NORTHERN RHODESIA .............................................................................. ZAMBIA

NYASALAND ............................................................................................. MALAWI

N Z...................................................................................................NEW ZEALAND

OFFENTLIG SAK .......................................................................................NORWAY

OSLO .........................................................................................................NORWAY

ÖSTERREICH ............................................................................................. AUSTRIA

P. I. POSTAGE...................................................................................... PHILIPPINES

PAKKEPOST/ PORTO BETALT...................................................................NORWAY

PAKKETPOS/ PARCEL POST ...........................................................SOUTH AFRICA

PILIPINAS............................................................................................ PHILIPPINES

POCZTA ...................................................................................................... POLAND

POLSKA...................................................................................................... POLAND

POLYNESIE FRANCAISE ........................................................ FRENCH POLYNESIA

POST NA MBEART.....................................................................................IRELAND

POSTAS IOCTHA .......................................................................................IRELAND

POSTES FRANCAIS with Algerian town mark ..............................................ALGERIA

PRINCIPAUTE D’ANDORRE or PTE D’ANDORRE.................................... ANDORRA

R A E..............................................................................................................EGYPT

R A U .............................................................................................................EGYPT

R D C ................................................................. CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

REFUGEE/ RELIEF.......................................................................................... INDIA

REPUBLICA DOMINICA ..................................................... DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA/ CORREIO DE ANGOLA................................. ANGOLA

REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE........................... CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO............. CONGO, PEOPLES REPUBLIC

REPUBLIQUE DU CONGO.......................................... CONGO, PEOPLES REPUBLIC

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE ......................................................................... FRANCE

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE ALGER or ALGERIE ........................................ALGERIA

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE C F A.............................................................. REUNION

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE POSTES with Algerian town mark .....................ALGERIA

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE with ANDORRE LA VIEILLE in the town markANDORRA

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE with MAYOTTE in the town mark .................. MAYOTTE

RHODESIA ............................................................................................. ZIMBABWE

ROMANA ................................................................................................. ROMANIA

R M ....................................................................................................... MOLDOVA

R M I...................................................................................... MARSHALL ISLANDS

R.O. del U. ..............................................................................................URUGUAY

R O P............................................................................................................. PALAU

RWANDAISE..............................................................................................RWANDA

S.A.D.C. .............................................................................................. SINGAPORE

S. MARINO ......................................................................................... SAN MARINO

SAAR .......................................................................................................GERMANY

SAARGEBIET...........................................................................................GERMANY

SAARLAND..............................................................................................GERMANY

SABAH MALAYSIA ................................................................................MALAYSIA

ST. CHRISTOPHER NEVIS ANGUILLA ............................ SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

ST. KITTS NEVIS ANGUILLA .......................................... SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

SALISBURY ........................................................................................... ZIMBABWE

SAMOA ....................................................................................... WESTERN SAMOA

SAORSTAT EIREANN ................................................................................IRELAND

SARAWAK ..............................................................................................MALAYSIA

SERBIEN .......................................................................................................SERBIA

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 24

SERPOST ......................................................................................................... PERU

SERVICO POSTAL MILITAR .................................................................. PORTUGAL

SIAM ...................................................................................................... THAILAND

SLOVENIJA ............................................................................................. SLOVENIA

SLOVENSKO ...........................................................................................SLOVAKIA

SOUTH ARABIA, FEDERATION OF .............................................................. YEMEN

SOUTH WEST AFRICA or SOUTHWEST AFRICA ...................................... NAMIBIA

SOUTHERN RHODESIA ......................................................................... ZIMBABWE

SOUTHERN YEMEN, PEOPLES REPUBLIC................................................... YEMEN

SPEED POST/ RUPEES.................................................................................... INDIA

SPLAJ .............................................................................................................LIBYA

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS ....................................................................... MALAYSIA

SUIDAFRIKA or SUID AFRIKA........................................................ SOUTH AFRICA

SUIDWESAFRIKA or SUIDWES AFRIKA ................................................... NAMIBIA

SVERIGE .................................................................................................... SWEDEN

SYRIAN AR .................................................................................................... SYRIA

SYRIENNE ......................................................................................................SYRIA

TANGANYIKA...........................................................EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

TANZANIA UGANDA KENYA ...................................EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

TAXE PERCUE / CHENGDU........................CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC (mainland)

TCHAD ............................................................................................................CHAD

TE’BETALEN/ PORT ........................................................................ NETHERLANDS

TER FRs AFARS ET ISSAS........................................................................ DJIBOUTI

TOGOLAISE.....................................................................................................TOGO

TRANSKEI....................................................................................... SOUTH AFRICA

TUNISIE ..................................................................................................... TUNISIA

TURK POSTALARI ..................................................................................... TURKEY

TURKIYE.................................................................................................... TURKEY

U A E .............................................................................. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

U A R............................................................................................................. EGYPT

U.S. POSTAGE ......................................................... UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

VATICANE .......................................................................................VATICAN CITY

VENDA ............................................................................................ SOUTH AFRICA

VEREINTE NATIONEN ................................................................ UNITED NATIONS

VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)..........................................BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

VOLTA ............................................................................................BURKINA FASO

VOLTAIQUE ....................................................................................BURKINA FASO

WINDHOEK ............................................................................................... NAMIBIA

YKPIHI ......................................................................................................UKRAINE

ZAIRE................................................................ CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

ZENTRALER KURIERDIENST ................................................................. GERMANY

Frank without country name. With “ALGER” in town mark............................ ALGERIA

Frank without country name. With “БЪПГАРИЯ” in town mark .................. BULGARIA

Frank without country name. With “COфИЯ” in town mark......................... BULGARIA

Frank without country name. With “TCHAD” at bottom of town mark ..................CHAD

Frank without country name. With Congolese town (e.g. “LUBUMBASHI”) in town mark CONGO,

D.R.

Frank without country name. With crown ...........................................GREAT BRITAIN

Frank without country name. With “DJAKARTA” in town mark ................. INDONESIA

Frank without country name. With “POЧTA”KAZAKHSTAN, MOLDOVA, RUSSIA, or UKRAINE

Frank without country name. With flying “ptt” symbol at bottom.............. MACEDONIA

Frank without country name. With date above “Franqueadora National” at top ..MEXICO

Frank without country name. With “CASA-POSTES” in town mark .............. MOROCCO

Frank without country name. With “K” in box at lower right ....................... MYANMAR

Frank without country name. With “NAMIBIA” in town mark ........................ NAMIBIA

Frank without country name. With “BUCHURESTI” in town mark.................ROMANIA

Frank without country name. With “R.S.M.” in town mark ...................... SAN MARINO

Frank without country name. With “SINGAPORE” in town mark................SINGAPORE

Frank without country name. With solid panel at top of frank, “ptt” logo at bottomSLOVENIA

Page 25 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Spring 2016

■

Frank without country name. With “TANZANIA” in town mark................... TANZANIA

Frank without country name. With “WESTERN SAMOA” in town markWESTERN SAMOA

Frank without country name. With “LJUBLJANA” in town mark ............ YUGOSLAVIA

Frank without Western country name, with Arabic script only ............................EGYPT

Frank without Western country name, with Burmese script only...................MYANMAR

Horizontal lines with value figures, no country nameBERMUDA, CHINA (mainland), CZECHOSLO-

VAKIA

Meter no. N27, “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE” vertical at sides, blank panel at topGREAT BRITAIN

Octagonal frank without inscription, “TAPTY” in town mark.......................... ESTONIA

Oval frame, blank at top, “Rpf” at bottom, RIGA in the town mark ................... LATVIA

Shield shape containing “Washington, D.C.” or “CHICAGO, ILL”...... UNITED STATES

Unengraved frank appearing solid around the value figures. TM reads “HALFWAY HOUSE”

........................................................................................................SOUTH ARFICA

Upright rectangle with wavy border and diagonal panel containing town nameNEW ZEALAND

Frameless text on cash register style tape, inscribed “KИEB”, often with “KACCA”UKRAINE

БЕЛАРУС ................................................................................................. BELARUS

НРБ ........................................................................................................ BULGARIA

БЪПГАРИЯ ............................................................................................. BULGARIA

ПЛАТЕНО .............................................................................................. BULGARIA

EΛΛAΣ ....................................................................................................... GREECE

KA3AHb .......................................................................................................RUSSIA

POCCИA, POCCИИ or POCCИЯ ...................................................................RUSSIA

Pф ................................................................................................................RUSSIA

PЯЭЗAH ......................................................................................................RUSSIA

ROSSIJA .......................................................................................................RUSSIA

CPБИJA .........................................................................................................SERBIA

YKPAÏHИ, YKPAÏHA or YPAÏHИ .............................................................. UKRAINE

.............................................................................................................. IRAN

...................................................................................................... ….ISRAEL

政郵華中 .......................................................................................CHINA (Taiwan)

政郵國民華中 .............................................................................CHINA (Taiwan)

政郵東華 ................................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

政郵民人 ................................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

政郵民人國中 .......................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

中国人民邮政 .......................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

中国邮政 ................................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

国内邮已付 ................................................................................ CHINA (mainland)

邮览已付 ................................................................................... CHINA (mainland)

日本郵便 .................................................................................................... JAPAN

대 한 민 국 우 편 가 ............................................ KOREA

NOTE: Frameless designs with value figures and town mark only are known from several countries. Of-

ten these reflect inappropriate use of decertified meters or are receipts rather than stamps. Only those

with confirmed legitimate use are listed in the catalogs.

Spring 2016 METER STAMP SOCIETY Collector’s Guide Page 26

MSS participates in eBay Giving

Works. A portion of an eBay sale can

be donated to the non-profit MSS as a

tax deductible donation. Contact the

Editor David Crotty for details.

References

1. The Meter Stamp Society Quarterly Bulletin (MSSQB). The Bulletin is provided as part of the MSS membership and

arrives quarterly at your mailbox. It is also available by web-delivery to your email address. Members can choose to

obtain the mailed edition or the web edition. The mailed edition includes free access to the web edition.

2. The Meter Stamp Society Literature CD Disk. Contains every issue of the Bulletin from the beginning in 1948 plus

other publications. It also has an article index from all MSSQB issues. The price is $50 postpaid worldwide.

3. The MSS website, www.meterstampsociety.com, is a repository of a lot of information. The site has a bibliography

and a library of free and for purchase materials. The MSSQB article index is also on this website.

4. The International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog, Hawkins/Stambaugh, 2005. This was the first publication since

1952 to include virtually all postage meter stamps used worldwide. This catalog is now on the web as a wikibook:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/International_Postage_Meter_Stamp_Catalog. This catalog is dedicated to traditional

postage meter stamps that are normally dated for use that day.

5. Other catalogs have been prepared for Computer Vended Postage (CVP) for the US and other countries, customized

PC Postage stamps. The most recent such catalog available early 2015: Karim Roder, USA: Variable Denomination

Stamps (1988-2015), www.Createspace.com/5554174, about $70.

6. A number of specialized catalogs have been published for individual countries and for individual topics. The MSS

website contains a bibliography of all known catalogs and other works related to postage meters. Most of the works

listed in the bibliography are kept by the APS American Philatelic Research Library (APRL) and other libraries

mentioned on the MSS website Bibliography page. Some catalogs are listed below.

7 U.S. Computer Vended Postage

USA: Variable Denomination Stamps (1989-2015) 2nd Edition. Now 500 pages, all color images.

New December 2015.

Karim Roder

www.CreateSpace.com, about $73

8 U.S. Customized Postage

United States Customized Postage

Charlie Gore, Otto Bergman, Joann Lenz

www.meterstampsociety.com/custompostage/cataloghome.html .Free

9 U.S. Postage Meter Stamp Catalog

Joel Hawkins and Richard Stambaugh (1994) Out of print but found on

eBay occasionally. An on-line edition is in the works.

10. Worldwide Traditional Postage Meters

The International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog

Joel Hawkins and Richard Stambaugh

en.wikibooks.org/wiki/International_Postage_Meter_Stamp_Catalog , Free

11. UK CVP and ATM Catalogue

UK Wincor Nixdorf Hyteck ATM Book

John McCallum https://sites.google.com/site/atminformer/wincor-and-

hytech-book, Free

12. MICHEL-ATM-Specialised Whole World 2013/2014

http://www.schaubek.de/MICHEL-catalogues-Germany, €64.00

13. U.S. CVP and Personalized Stamps

Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps and Covers

Years 1998 to 2007 listed CVP and Personalized stamps. Subsequently Scott

lists only CVP stamps.

14. Variable the CVP journal of Ateeme, covering worldwide CVP stamps.

http://www.ateeme.net/angles/aatmintro.htm

The MSS Quarterly Bulletin

1948-Present On CD as

searchable PDF format.

Now includes Homer Hemenway

Linn’s Stamp News articles and

MSS Special Publications.

Send $50 to Secretary Treasurer

for free worldwide delivery.