Clearing the air on postmarks

Philatelic Foreword by Jay Bigalke

In recent weeks, postmarks have appeared in mainstream media coverage, a rare moment of attention for one of the most basic elements of postal operations. Unfortunately, many of those stories contained errors, prompting the United States Postal Service to place a corrective notice on its home page. What matters most is not the reporting itself, but the clear guidance the Postal Service chose to emphasize.

The notice states: “Postmarks: If you want to ensure that your mail receives a postmark on the day you mail it, ask a retail associate at a Post Office retail counter to hand-cancel it for free.” While this is not new policy, its prominent placement is notable.

Collectors have long experienced uneven results when requesting hand-canceled postmarks. Some clerks comply readily, while others insist the mail must enter automated processing or suggest the service is no longer available. I have encountered this inconsistency myself. The result has been understandable frustration over a basic retail service.

The key takeaway is clarity. USPS has publicly reaffirmed that customers may request a hand-canceled postmark at the retail counter, at no charge. That guidance applies to everyday mail as much as to philatelic covers. Postmarks remain important for legal, financial, and time-sensitive mail, and collectors are simply among the most attentive users.

Collectors may find it useful to print the USPS notice and keep it handy if questions arise at the counter. USPS also published a “Postmarking Myths and Facts” page in early January 2026 that addresses common misunderstandings and is worth saving for reference: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/010226-postmarking-myths-and-facts.htm.

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