11-2 Handling

Postal Service personnel should exercise care in handling all philatelic covers to ensure that they are not damaged in mailhandling. These covers are generally identifiable by a design printed on the left side of the envelope. Postal Service personnel should ensure that philatelic covers are not mishandled; overcanceled, backstamped, marked “received this date,” or otherwise defaced on front or back; used as a tip piece for labeling purposes in a bundle for a destination package; or bent, folded, mutilated, or damaged by rubber bands.