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SearchWhy no stamps? I thought that wasn't allowed for general postage.
QEII Stampless Cover
QEII Stampless Cover
I picked up this cover at a local show as it intrigued me. It has no stamps, only 1 and a half Post paid marks on a cover to the USA.
Why no stamps? I thought that wasn't allowed for general postage.
Why no stamps? I thought that wasn't allowed for general postage.
Re: QEII Stampless Cover
Welcome to the boards!
They're marks from a postage meter -- i.e. the machines businesses can buy to frank their mail, more conveniently than keeping and sticking a lot of stamps. They always had to be prepaid in the UK as far as I know (i.e. loaded up with a certain amount of credit).
The ones on this cover are rather odd -- letter rate airmail was 1s 3d. Printed papers airmail was 6d, so it could be triple that -- but the partial strike of the 1/- meter wasn't really valid. Possibly despite the airmail label it went at the surface letter rate, which was also 6d?
They're marks from a postage meter -- i.e. the machines businesses can buy to frank their mail, more conveniently than keeping and sticking a lot of stamps. They always had to be prepaid in the UK as far as I know (i.e. loaded up with a certain amount of credit).
The ones on this cover are rather odd -- letter rate airmail was 1s 3d. Printed papers airmail was 6d, so it could be triple that -- but the partial strike of the 1/- meter wasn't really valid. Possibly despite the airmail label it went at the surface letter rate, which was also 6d?
Re: QEII Stampless Cover
Thanks for the info, Didn't think about meter stamps!