WHAT:

The United States Postal Service in Cooperstown again joins the celebration of Induction Day at the National Baseball Hall of Fame with a keepsake picture postmark -- also known as a pictorial cancellation in collectors' circles -- to be offered at a special postal booth at the event.

WHERE:

Cooperstown Post Office , 40 Main Street

WHEN:

Sunday, July 24, 2016  9 am to 5 pm

BACKGROUND:

Postmaster Mary Powers said the picture postmark is free. The postmark bears an image of the logo of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Sunday’s Induction Day ceremony date. The Postal Service applies the postmark on any envelope that has proper postage, making it a first class souvenir of the day. 

According to Postmaster Powers, souvenir postmarks is a big hit with visitors to the local Post Office each Induction Day, with some returning each year for a new postmark.

She notes that picture postmarks are placed on more than just the local postcards of the Hall of Fame that sits directly across the street from the Post Office or the picturesque shores of Lake Otsego that wash the edge of the village.  Seasoned stamp and sports fans have been known to ask for postmarks to be applied on autographs, pictures, newspaper articles, books, baseball cards, caps and even baseball bats and balls.  Collectors blend stamps and postmarks with hopes of adding to the value of collectibles featuring the national pastime.

If you miss Sunday’s postal station, but wish to obtain the postmark, you may submit a mail order request. Pictorial postmarks are available only with the dates indicated, and requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial postmark date.

Customers wishing to obtain a postmark should affix First-Class Mail postage to any envelope or postcard, address the envelope or postcard and tuck in the flap.  Place the envelope or postcard in a larger envelope and address it to Postmaster, Induction Day Station, Postmaster 40 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326-9998.  

After applying the pictorial postmark, the Postal Service returns the items under an addressed protective cover.