9 Pictorial Postmark Service

9-1 Types of Service

9-1.1 Hand–Back Service

Hand–back service for pictorial postmarks takes place when a customer personally presents an addressed or unaddressed envelope, postcard, or other item to Postal Service clerk at a temporary philatelic station for postmark with the current day’s pictorial postmark. All such material must bear uncanceled postage stamps at the applicable First–Class Mail rate, but unlike mail–back service, it does not need to be addressed. Postal Service personnel must postmark the item and hand it back to the customer. The envelope, card, or other item does not enter the mailstream. Hand–back service may be provided only on the date of the postmark. (See 9-2.)