How To Order the First Day of Issue Digital Color or Traditional Postmarks

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, and at The Postal Store^® Web site at www.usps.com/shop.

Customers may submit #6 or #10 covers constructed of paper rated as “laser safe.” The Postal Service™ rec­ommends 80-pound Accent Opaque, acid-free envelopes,
9/16" side seams with no glue on the flap. There is a mini­mum of 10 covers at 50 cents per postmark required at the time of servicing. You may submit a check, money order, or credit card for payment. Two test envelopes must be included. For covers with graphics or lettering, please note the maximum size of all digital color postmarks is 2" high x 4" long. The Postal Service reserves the right not to accept hand painted and other cachets that are not compatible with our digital color postmark. The Postal Service also reserves the right to substitute traditional black rubber postmarks if use of non-specified envelopes results in poor image quality or damage to equipment.

After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked within 60 days of the first day of issue date.

They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to the fol­lowing address: