Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office™, by telephone at 800-STAMP-24, or at The Postal Store® website at www.usps.com/shop.
Traditional Postmarks
Customers should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address them to themselves or others, or provide a self-addressed return envelope with sufficient postage large enough to accommodate the canceled item. Mail the request to the corresponding city of issuance. There is no charge for the first 50 postmarks. There is a 5-cent charge for each additional postmark over 50. Customers should submit a check, money order, or credit card for payment. After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service™ will return the envelopes to the customer by U.S. Mail.
All postmark requests should go to the first day of issue city. The first day of issue city Post Office will then forward in bulk all postmark requests to Cancellation Services, Stamp Fulfillment Services, PO Box 449992, Kansas City, MO 64144-9992 by respective Post Offices.
Digital Color Postmarks
Only select stamp issues offer a digital color postmark. Customers may submit #6 or #10 envelopes constructed of paper rated as “laser safe.” The Postal Service recommends envelopes of 80-pound Accent Opaque, acid-free, 9/16" side seams with no glue on the flap. The maximum size of all digital color postmarks is 2" high x 4" long. Allow sufficient space on the envelope to accommodate the postmark. Do not use self-adhesive labels for addresses on the envelope. Two test envelopes must be included. There is a minimum of 10 envelopes at 50 cents per postmark required at the time of servicing. Customers should submit a check, money order, or credit card for payment.
The Postal Service reserves the right to not accept hand-painted and other cachet envelopes that are not compatible with our digital color postmark equipment. The Postal Service also reserves the right to substitute traditional black rubber postmarks if use of nonspecified envelopes results in poor image quality or damage to equipment.
Customers should affix the stamps to the envelopes and address them to themselves or others for return through the mail. Or, they may include an additional self-addressed return envelope, large enough to accommodate their canceled items, with sufficient postage affixed for return of their postmarked items. Mail the request for a first day of issue digital color postmark to the corresponding city of issuance. Post Offices will then forward all customer requests for digital color postmarks to Cancellation Services, Stamp Fulfillment Services, PO Box 449992, Kansas City, MO 64144-9992.
After applying the first day of issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes to the customer by U.S. Mail.
— Stamp Services, Government Relations and Public Policy, 12-17-09
