This was received in the mail the other day and I was amazed that the USPO would have a FOREVER machine label. I'm just wondering if this label actually is reusable forever, or would that be more indicative of meaning the USPO is forever? Surely the answer to both of those comments would be a huge NO.
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
I do believe one does not have to use these labels immediately. One can go and stock up for later use.
These labels are sold in the lobby of the post office, even when the windows are closed, by machines.
That does make some sort of sense, but one would have to assume that these come out of the machine on a paper backing then! Also, I note a lack of monetary value showing, so how does anyone know what the value is, unless you were to buy, say 10 of them for 45 cents or so. Would it not be easier to just buy the regular postage stamps instead? This was sent from my nephew and I can only guess that they don't buy many postage stamps, or it would have had one on the envelope, but who knows about those "hillbilly's" up in north Georgia. ROFLOL
No offense to you regular people that live in GA, but you don't know my kinfolk.
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Mike, I take it you did not check where I was from? My ZIP code is 30135, which is Douglasville, GA! Maybe not strictly North Georgia, but Northwest?
Anyway, these labels have a datecode built in. On the bottom left side is a long string of numbers. The last three on your label is 371.
The actual date of sale is found by starting at September 10, 2011, and add 371 days to it.
Since we don't go to school here, I will let yoiu figure this one out for yourself!
skool, what the hay is skool. Just kidding of course. That's why I put that disclaimer in about the rest of the state of GA, I wasn't trying to offend anyone else, besides my kinfolk, who are not involved with SOR anyway and will never read these little words of wit.
I'm not sure about that date code thingy you mentioned, but that does sound about right for the purchase date. They most assuredly only buy stamps on an as-need basis, just because they are related to moi. I live much deeper in the South than any of you folks from GA. I'm so far south that we don't even say "y'all" down here, but instead say "Hey Mon, how you be doin?" LOL
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Mike, no offense taken whatsoever.
I am originally from Holland, and my wife from West Virginia.
But I do know one thing; here no one ever accuses any Floridian of being a Southerner!
Anyhow, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year!
There are actually several real live "crackers" down here in the Sunshine State, but most of them are of the older variety, since the newer ones are really from Yankee parents, as three of my grandkids are.
You did mispronounce the state your wife was from, since all real live folks from WV say, "West, by God Virginia", but we can forgive you for that, since she probably never taught you the right proper annunciacation nohow! LOL
Prettige Kerstdagen en Gelukkig Nieuwjaar voor u ook. (I hope that is the correct saying.)
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 10 Feb 2013 08:53:22am
re: Computer Vended Postage on Incoming Mail
Hi Mike,
Yes. Peter has already said it. This is not a counter printed postage label. But let me add the "offical" name what it is, it is computer vended postage from an a USPS Automated Postal Center (APC, now: Self Service Kiosk)). CVP is an area of modern postal history that gets pretty much completely overlooked by main stream philately. Keep the cover intact. I don't see these too often and keep any that I come across.
I did come across these at the local PO the other day, so now know what everyone is talking about. I had just figured they were printed at the window when you went to mail a letter, not sold just like booklet stamps and can now see why they would be quite collectible for some.
Thanks to everyone that responded to this discussion.
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
Mike's been to Jamaica too many times. As for "y'all" , I use it all the time but, I'm from
then again ,I'm from Kentucky. actually everyone asks me if i'm from Texas. as for W.
Virginia, we call it East Kentucky.
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" I have a burning love for stamps. Lord A'mighty ,feel my temperature risin'! "
I got one during the past Holiday Season (bottom image) but it arrived not cancelled. It was one of the so called "error labels" where one of the six designs was printed over the preprinted holiday label. This happened when a machine was loaded with holiday labels but not programmed correctly. It happened frequently enough that they are not at all rare.
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 07 May 2013 05:16:51pm
re: Computer Vended Postage on Incoming Mail
Hi Cal516,
Thanks for sharing this interesting printing error! I will keep my eyes out for these.
It is an interesting question whether these CVP labels are usually not cancelled -- like the examples shown my Mike and you -- or if they should be cancelled like regular stamps and, thus, the unused condition represents an oversight on part of the USPS.
The labels have a 2D matrix code similar to the modern postage meters, which now all have similar pixels. I have heard that all of these matrix codes are scanned during processing and thus "used up." If the same code would enter the mail again, the scanner should notice and toss out the envelope as not bearing valid postage. To me this sounds pretty crazy, because it would require instantaneous checking of the item against billions of matrix codes. On the other hand, once properly developed and in place, such system would offer perfect protection against mail fraud and eliminate the extra cost associated with cancelling mail. I am not sure, if this is correct, and would welcome independent verification. To me, again, this sounds pretty crazy. Considering also that the date of the postmark is significant for many contexts, and thus discontinuing postmarking altogether may cause more problems that it solves.
Metered mail, of course, is dated, so not cancelling metered envelopes is less of an issue. In fact, the matrix code could be used to identify and update the date on those metered covers that have not been posted on the same day (as identified by the scanned matrix code).
Does anybody have any insights on this question? Function of the 2D matrix codes?
All this talk about these made me want to show off my small collection. I only started a couple of years ago by accident. I frequently buy boxes of U.S. stamps on paper, from the same dealer and he always puts in the computer vended stamps as well. The first were just the plain ones with the white background and the pink and/or blue spaces on them, and the rest of the information needed printed on it.
Then I started finding these. I love them. I especially like the first one in the second row with a value of $9.20 on it. The second favourite is the middle one on the 5th row, "Silver Screen and Golden Tunes". Would like to find more advertizing ones. The pictures are great on all of them.
I also collect these. I see there are two sizes as well. I hope I will find the larger of the other four as well. Anyone know if they do come in the larger format?
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"Stamp collectors don't go crazy, they just become unhinged."
Doodles,
You have a mixture of computer vended postage and personalized postage. There is a section in the Scott Specialized catalog that describes the different categories.
I see that you have TWO of the "Christmas overprint errors" mentioned earlier.
Very nice!
Lars.
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
Yes, thank you. I have looked at the Scott Catalogue. I figured that the child was a personalized stamp, but wasn't sure about some of the others. I like them all.
I was pleased when I read that the two are errors. Even if there are a lot of them, it's still nice to own a couple and know that they are errors.
I think they make a good collection and now I am hooked and anxious to find more.
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"Stamp collectors don't go crazy, they just become unhinged."
I had a sheet of these and used most of them, but there are several postally used copies floating about here somewhere.
If you want a used copy, I'll send you one, when they next turn up.
Charlie
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Nice cover DrDarryl. I don't have any kind at all on cover. I am going to have to keep looking.
Some of the members in our club put bundles of covers into the club auctions, and there have been quite a few with the computer vended postage on them, but that was before I started actually collecting. Now when I want them, no one is going to have any. Oh well, there is a club meeting a week this Monday. I'm certainly going to check out any covers being sold.
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"Stamp collectors don't go crazy, they just become unhinged."
These are mint CVP for new 2014 USPS rates from USPS Kiosk machine. Note, no longer using pink bar.
34c Postal Card
Forever First Class letter
$1.15 International First Class
$2.32 First Class Parcel up to 3 oz
$5.60 Priority Mail * This has change to $5.75 now
$19.99 Priority Express Mail
Just took a look at the ones you can make on Zazzle.com, pretty expensive... $1.24 a stamp! They are $24.75 for a sheet of 20. There are minor discounts for larger quantities..
That is true, but once you place your first order, you'll get special offers from Zazzle all the time with some big discounts like 50% off your order. It's a vanity thing if you create stamps through Zazzle, so there is the price for vanity.
"Reusable". Well, no. "reusing" US stamps would be a violation of federal law.
Using it (if not previously used on mail) is "forever" as it states on the stamp. HOWEVER, Forever may only be a couple of years in reality, as these stamps are prone to severe fading. I have some bought just 3 years ago, and the smaller print is already faded.
That's the main problem with these items:
1) thermally printed. These will all fade eventually.
2) self-adhesive. We all know what happens 10 - 30 years from now when the adhesive dries out.
Collectible? Sure. I've got a 96-page exhibit about these that has been exhibited at TEXPEX and the Mid-Cities Stamp Club EXPO (also received the APS Research Medal). You can download the PDF file of the exhibit from my dropbox here:
It's a fascinating area studying this stuff, so it's a good thing that everything has been scanned, as the actual items in the exhibit are deteriorating as I'm typing this...
I've also ordered tons of the "personalized" postage from various USPS authorized vendors, a lot of my spare ones are viewable at my site at http://photostamps.webs.com