"What-if" Postage Stamps!

sequoiaranger · December 03, 2011, 02:15:00 PM

I hope no one takes offense or umbrage, but I used "our" logo to make some US Postage stamps. The US Post Office allows one to "customize" standard 1 oz postage stamps ($.44) with self-made images (as long as they aren't vulgar, etc.). The stamps end up costing almost a dollar each instead of $.44, but they are "legal tender" for use in mailing. I am going to use them when corresponding to y'all.

I have no idea whether any other postal services allow such self-made stamps. Anyone?

PR19_Kit · December 03, 2011, 02:17:30 PM

What a great idea!

And your version looks really great too.

We'd need a new law to do that in the UK of course, the postage stamps being on a similar level to our currency in that they can be used as money in some cases.

ffrbel · December 03, 2011, 05:15:50 PM

Hello,

In Belgium 'bpost' (The Belgian Post Service) offers 3 different kind of private stamps that can be used for sending one normal letter in Belgium. They are called MyStamp, Duostamp (R) and Happy Stamp. I have played with the idea making stamps but I have never done it.

More info can be found on the 'bpost' web site, but alas there's no English page (just Dutch, French and German pages)

This is the French link:

http://www.bpost.be/site/fr/residential/stamps/my_stamp/index.html

Greetings,

FilipFr

rickshaw · December 03, 2011, 05:31:15 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 03, 2011, 02:17:30 PM
What a great idea! And your version looks really great too.

We'd need a new law to do that in the UK of course, the postage stamps being on a similar level to our currency in that they can be used as money in some cases.

Interesting. Do companies have their own Francing Machines in the UK where they can mark envelopes and the marks are equivalent to stamps? Downunder they have that arrangement - you pay the Post Office of course for the right to do so. The marks are usually similar to a printed stamp but contain basically what ever the company wants (usually their logo). These machines, which are basically just a inked stamping press (usually electrically driven) are now going out of fashion and being replaced with ink-jet printers. I often see Francing Machines on auction sites here.

I like the What-If stamp. How much for one sequoiaranger?

RussC · December 03, 2011, 05:43:33 PM

Quote from: sequoiaranger on December 03, 2011, 02:15:00 PM
I hope no one takes offense or umbrage, but I used "our" logo to make some US Postage stamps. The US Post Office allows one to "customize" standard 1 oz postage stamps ($.44) with self-made images (as long as they aren't vulgar, etc.). The stamps end up costing almost a dollar each instead of $.44, but they are "legal tender" for use in mailing. I am going to use them when corresponding to y'all.

I have no idea whether any other postal services allow such self-made stamps. Anyone?

Was wondering when QR format codes would appear on stamps!

Nice design. How do you get it to USPS? order the stamp design online and paste in JPG or PNG format of the designed image, with the post office part on the right already set up?

Weaver · December 03, 2011, 07:15:27 PM

If you're sending a parcel in the UK, you can buy the postage on-line and print off a label (with a barcode for them to scan) on your own PC. There's no built-in facility to customise it, but I don't see in principle why you couldn't do it yourself with your own program. "Helpfully", the label is just slightly bigger than 1/4 A4, so if you buy sheets of A4 stickers with 4 per sheet, it spoils 50% of them.....

And no, you can't just copy the file and use it to post stuff over-and-over again, having only paid once: you have to hand the parcel over at a Post Office within 24 hours of buying it on-line.....

NARSES2 · December 04, 2011, 02:37:21 AM

Quote from: rickshaw on December 03, 2011, 05:31:15 PM
[Interesting. Do companies have their own Francing Machines in the UK where they can mark envelopes and the marks are equivalent to stamps? Downunder they have that arrangement - you pay the Post Office of course for the right to do so. The marks are usually similar to a printed stamp but contain basically what ever the company wants (usually their logo). These machines, which are basically just a inked stamping press (usually electrically driven) are now going out of fashion and being replaced with ink-jet printers. I often see Francing Machines on auction sites here.

Yup most business mail is franked, and I think is thus discounted. The franking mark is quite simple and isn't the same as our postage stamps which all bear the head of the Monarch on them.We have loads of special ssue stamps during the year all of which are legal tender.

And sequoiaranger thats a great idea

Amphion · December 04, 2011, 10:00:29 AM

Anyone know a good source for custom Lettermarks, i.e. stamp-like pictures you could put on your envelopes?

I had some made ages ago but that company has since diversified and do no longer offer that service.

sequoiaranger · December 04, 2011, 10:20:27 AM

> Nice design. How do you get it to USPS? order the stamp design online and paste in JPG or PNG format of the designed image, with the post office part on the right already set up? <

At our Post Offices you can buy a CD packet that allows you to get on a webpage for photo-stamps and acknowleges pre-payment. The photo can be selected from any JPEG image you have in your computer, and has to be "square" (equal sides) to fit in is space. Then yes, the image you select is uploaded, put on a pre-printed sheet that already has USPS coding, and the composite sheet is mailed out to you.

>Was wondering when QR format codes would appear on stamps!<

Pardon my ignorance, but is the "QR" format the black-and-white "labryinth" seen below the 44 cents?

RussC · December 04, 2011, 02:31:22 PM

Quote from: sequoiaranger on December 04, 2011, 10:20:27 AM
> Nice design. How do you get it to USPS? order the stamp design online and paste in JPG or PNG format of the designed image, with the post office part on the right already set up? <

At our Post Offices you can buy a CD packet that allows you to get on a webpage for photo-stamps and acknowleges pre-payment. The photo can be selected from any JPEG image you have in your computer, and has to be "square" (equal sides) to fit in is space. Then yes, the image you select is uploaded, put on a pre-printed sheet that already has USPS coding, and the composite sheet is mailed out to you.

>Was wondering when QR format codes would appear on stamps!<

Pardon my ignorance, but is the "QR" format the black-and-white "labryinth" seen below the 44 cents?

Yes. Supposedly, if you point your cell phone camera at it you will get , among other things- the web address for USPS plus postage rate table.

These are appearing all over very quietly such as at bus stops, where a scan of it connects you to a route map, schedules and fares.

PR19_Kit · December 04, 2011, 03:08:27 PM

Quote from: RussC on December 04, 2011, 02:31:22 PM
Yes. Supposedly, if you point your cell phone camera at it you will get , among other things- the web address for USPS plus postage rate table.

These are appearing all over very quietly such as at bus stops, where a scan of it connects you to a route map, schedules and fares.

How does that work then? I tried it and all I got was a .jpg of the 'stamp'............

RussC · December 04, 2011, 04:27:17 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 04, 2011, 03:08:27 PM
Quote from: RussC on December 04, 2011, 02:31:22 PM
Yes. Supposedly, if you point your cell phone camera at it you will get , among other things- the web address for USPS plus postage rate table.

These are appearing all over very quietly such as at bus stops, where a scan of it connects you to a route map, schedules and fares.

How does that work then? I tried it and all I got was a .jpg of the 'stamp'............

Well you doing better than me, I have a desk phone ! and only gave up rotary dial 5 years ago.

sequoiaranger · December 04, 2011, 04:35:03 PM

Slightly off-topic, but what they hay!

>and only gave up rotary dial 5 years ago.<

My old workplace at Columbia State Historic Park (gold-mining "ghost town" in California) had a rotary phone in the archive room. Some middle-school kids were working with me on a historical project when one asked to use the phone to call home. I said--the phone is over there. The gal went over there, and a minute later or so came back and asked how did it work? She had NEVER seen one except in movies!! Had a chuckle over THAT one!

rickshaw · December 04, 2011, 07:07:19 PM

I still have a rotary dial phone. It works wonders with automated response systems. They can't detect it and automatically put me through to a human operator!

Hobbes · December 05, 2011, 01:08:05 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 04, 2011, 03:08:27 PM
Quote from: RussC on December 04, 2011, 02:31:22 PM
Yes. Supposedly, if you point your cell phone camera at it you will get , among other things- the web address for USPS plus postage rate table.

These are appearing all over very quietly such as at bus stops, where a scan of it connects you to a route map, schedules and fares.

How does that work then? I tried it and all I got was a .jpg of the 'stamp'............

Taking a photo won't do, you need an application that understands QR codes. (example for iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qr-reader-for-iphone/id368494609?mt=8)