Summary of Changes - USPS

1 Summary of Changes handbook PO-230, Pictorial PostmarksHandbook PO-230, Pictorial Postmarks, has been updated with Postal Bulletin articles through June 30, 2011, as follows::This chapter, subchapter, part, appendix or in Postal Bulletin issue ..with an issue date of ..Transmittal and to reflect the new address and contact information for the Pictorial Postmarks 1, Introductionrevised to reflect the new address and contact information for the Pictorial Postmarks 5, Approving or Rejecting by the District Manager (or Designee)revised to reflect the new address and contact information for the Pictorial Postmarks Postmark Announcement Form (not actual size)revised to replace updated PS Form 413, which reflects the new address and contact information for the Pictorial Postmarks 6, Publicity6-4 Canceling or Amending Previously Published Announcementsrevised to reflect the new address and contact information for the Pictorial Postmarks LetterPictorial PostmarksHandbook PO-230 August 2011 Transmittal Two of the key strategies in the Postal Service Transformation Plan are to enhance revenue opportunities by leveraging existing assets and to continue to seek opportunities to leverage our brand and assets to create new products and services with minimal investment.

2 The Pictorial Postmarks program contributes to both of these strategies because these philatelic postmarks enhance the equity of the Postal Service brand and generate new and continuing revenue. In addition, the Pictorial Postmarks program offers communities across America a way to commemorate local This handbook provides general information about and procedures for the Pictorial Postmark program. This handbook is for Postal Service personnel, including postmasters and district managers, who are responsible for pictorial copies. You may order printed copies from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) using the Touch Tone Order Entry (TTOE) system. Call 800-273-1509, Option : You must be registered to use TTOE and must wait 48 hours after registering before you place your first availability. handbook PO-230 is available on the Postal Service Intranet:a. Go to Under Essential Links in the left-hand column, click Click availability.

3 handbook PO-230 is also available on the Postal Service Web site at and and Questions. Send a memorandum with comments and questions regarding the content of this handbook to:PICTORIAL POSTMARK PROGRAM MANAGERSTAMP FULFILLMENT SERVICESPO BOX 449992 KANSAS CITY MO 64144-9992 Fax: 816-545-1206e-mail: Date. This handbook is effective August KearneyManagerStamp ServicesMarie Therese DominguezSenior Vice PresidentGovernment Relations & Public PolicyAugust 2011iiiContents1 Introduction..12 General Information ..33 Format Requirements and Restrictions ..53-1 Required Information .. 53-2 Size Limitations .. 53-3 Design Limitations.. 53-4 Dating Postmarks for Multiple-Day Events .. 63-5 Restricted Illustrations, Wording, and Designs.. 73-6 Authorization for Artwork .. 73-7 Authorization for Names and Images .. 74 Applying for Pictorial Postmarks ..94-1 Letter of Request and Pictorial Postmark Artwork.

4 94-2 Supporting Information .. 95 Approving or Rejecting Requests ..115-1 Overview .. 115-2 Conditions for Acceptance .. 115-3 Approval/Rejection of the Request .. Response Time.. Initial Action by Receiving Postmaster .. Action by the District Manager (or Designee) .. Action by Postmaster After Approval or Denial .. Action by Postmaster Following Authorized Postmark Period.. 136 Publicity..156-1 Policy .. 156-2 Arranging National Publicity .. Postal Bulletin.. Postal News .. 156-3 Arranging Local Publicity .. 156-4 Canceling or Amending Previously Published Announcements .. 16 Pictorial PostmarksivHandbook PO-2307 Pictorial Postmark Handstamps and Ink Color ..197-1 Procurement and Use of Handstamps .. 197-2 Color of Ink .. 197-3 Return and Disposition of Handstamps .. 198 Special Requests to Retain Handstamp ..218-1 Requests to Retain a Pictorial Postmark Handstamp.. 218-2 Approving and Rejecting Requests.

5 Response Time.. Initial Action by Receiving Postmaster .. Action by the District Manager (or Designee) .. Action by Postmaster After Approval or Denial .. 219 Pictorial Postmark Service ..239-1 Types of Service .. Hand-Back Service.. Mail-Back Service.. 239-2 Conditions for Servicing .. General Information .. Special Materials on Which Postmarks Are Requested .. Items That Must Not Be Serviced .. Service Limitations .. 259-3 Extending Mail-Back Service .. 2510 Backdating and Pre-Dating ..2711 Cooperation With Collectors ..2911-1 Clear and Legible Postmarks .. 2911-2 Handling .. 2911-3 Covers in the Mailstream .. 2912 Damaged or Missing Covers ..3112-1 Requests for Replacements .. 3112-2 Conditions for Replacements .. 3112-3 Customer Returns .. 3112-4 Stale Postmarks .. 3112-5 Time Limit for Complaints and Issues.. 3212-6 Unsettled Complaints and Issues.

6 3212-7 Cacheted Covers .. 32 ContentsAugust 2011v13 Temporary Philatelic Stations ..3313-1 Purpose.. 3313-2 Set-up .. 3313-3 Signs and Displays .. 3313-4 Staffing .. 34 Pictorial PostmarksviHandbook PO-230 This page intentionally left blankAugust 201111 IntroductionHandbook PO-230, Pictorial Postmarks, organizes in one document the guidelines and procedures for managing the Pictorial Postmark program efficiently, consistently, and in accordance with national policies. It is intended to serve as a guide for new and veteran postmasters, marketing managers, Customer Relations coordinators, and pictorial postmark program managers. It also serves as a working reference for everyone involved in of the information in this handbook is found in the Postal Operations Manual (POM). However, some of the information here has been revised specifically to address pictorial postmarks. Additionally, some new guidelines and procedures have been incorporated into the handbook will be updated periodically and reissued.

7 Recommendations are helpful in revising the handbook and making it more useful. Submit your comments or suggestions to the following address:PICTORIAL POSTMARK PROGRAM MANAGERSTAMP FULFILLMENT SERVICESPO BOX 449992 KANSAS CITY MO 64144-9992 Fax: 816-545-1206e-mail: Postmarks2 handbook PO-230 This page intentionally left blankAugust 201132 General InformationPictorial postmarks are event postmarks offered by the Postal Service to commemorate local community events, such as fairs, conventions, or other types of local celebrations. They are initiated by postmasters, sponsors, and organizers of events, and they may feature wording and/or graphics relating to those postmarks are provided upon request to collectors at temporary philatelic stations established at events and through mail-back service. They may not be obtained at regular stamp or retail used for applying pictorial postmarks are generally rubber composition handstamps.

8 There is no charge to the sponsor for the production of these handstamps or for the Postal Service s staffing of the temporary philatelic pictorial postmarks are announced in each issue of the Postal Bulletin and through news releases distributed to the press and philatelic postmarks should not be confused with special cancellations, which are mechanical mail processing picture postmarks approved by the manager of Mailing Standards at Postal Service Headquarters in Washington, day of issue postmarks that feature pictorial designs or digital color postmarks are not part this program. First day of issue postmarks must follow first day of issue mail-back service instructions found in stamp release announcement articles published in the Postal Bulletin. Second day ceremony and first day of sale pictorial postmarks must comply with the program policy and procedures described in this handbook . Reminder: The pictorial postmark date must never predate a postage stamp's first day of issue offices may not use digital color postmarks.

9 Only Stamp Fulfillment Services is authorized to create and use digital color addition digital color postmarks are not available through first day of issue mail-back service. Digital color postmarks are an exclusive product of Stamp Services and are only available through the USA Philatelic catalog and Stamp Fulfillment Postmarks4 handbook PO-230 This page intentionally left blankAugust 201153 Format Requirements and Restrictions3-1 Required InformationEach pictorial postmark must contain the following name of the temporary philatelic word Station or Sta. ( , Gift of Life Station, Founder's Day Sta.). city, state, and ZIP Code of the physical location of the temporary philatelic month, day, and year when the postmark is standard two-letter abbreviation should be used for the state name. The name of the city must be spelled Size LimitationsA pictorial postmark must not be larger than 4 inches wide or 2 inches Design LimitationsOnly one postmark design will be authorized for a temporary philatelic station, regardless of whether the station is operated at a 1-day or a multiple-day only exception to this restriction is for philatelic exhibitions recognized by Stamp Services.

10 Exhibit 3-3 shows multiple postmark designs for an international philatelic exhibition recognized by Stamp Postmarks6 handbook PO-230 Multiple Postmark Designs for an International Philatelic Exhibition3-4 Dating Postmarks for Multiple-Day EventsWhen a temporary philatelic station is operated for more than 1 day, the postmark used for each day of the event must display the date only for that day. Consequently, stations operated for more than 1 day actually require more than one postmark stamp or a stamp that has a date-plug for changing many cases, the design for a multiple-day event contains a bull's-eye whose date Changes each day, but other designs incorporate the date in different parts of the text. Exhibit 3-4a shows properly designed postmarks for multiple-day dates must not appear in a postmark. Exhibit 3-4b shows an improperly designed postmark displaying multiple 3-4aProperly Designed Postmarks for Multiple-Day EventsExhibit 3-4bImproperly Designed Postmark Displaying Multiple DatesFormat Requirements and Restrictions3-7 August 201173-5 Restricted Illustrations, Wording, and DesignsThe Postal Service places the following restrictions on illustrations, wording, and designs featured on a pictorial illustrations, wording, and designs must directly reflect the event to be pictorial postmark cannot promote or endorse the following:(1)The sale or use of non-Postal Service products.