Government Relations and Public Policy

Antiques, Collectibles, and Objects of Historic Value

As USPS® facilities are consolidated or upgraded, some employees may be tempted to leave historic items in dis­used spaces or even keep the items for themselves — especially if they were used throughout a long career. How­ever, these items belong to the United States Postal Ser­vice®. Theft of USPS property is a federal felony punishable by steep penalties.

Policy

All antiques, collectibles, and objects of historic value must be controlled within a postal facility and appropriately safe­guarded to ensure that they are not damaged, destroyed, sto­len, or disposed of as junk or valueless property.

Local postal officials may not dispose of historic items whether by loan, donation, sale, or otherwise without the approval of the USPS historian. Requests for such approval must include a photograph and description of the item.

For further information, see Handbook AS-701, Material Management, Part 645, Material Requiring Special Approval, at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/hand/as701.pdf.

For assistance, email phistory@usps.gov or contact:

Historian
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-0012

Telephone: 202-268-2074

Fax: 202-268-5413

Records Created Before Postal Reorganization on July 1, 1971

All records that were generated by the Post Office Department are subject to the Federal Records Act and must be offered to the National Archives and Records Administration for appraisal, disposition instructions, and, if warranted, accession into the National Archives.

For assistance in handling records created before July 1, 1971, and in the disposition of Postal Service™ records created after that date, contact:

Records Office
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Rm. 4541
Washington, DC 20260-2201

Telephone: 202-268-7119

Fax: 202-268-8976