What Is an MPP?

A Mailer's Postmark Permit (MPP) is a cancellation applied by a mailer to a piece of mail before depositing it with the USPS for mailing. Anyone can obtain an MPP. The process is very simple and is free except for the price of the cancel itself.

There are 3 different style of cancels that are authorized for use. The older Format B permits are no longer authorized for new permits, but permits previously authorized under the Format B style are still permitted to be used. There are very few of these permits still in active use -- mostly by older stamp collectors.

New permits must be in one of two styles. Format A is illustrated below and includes the town name, state name, and zip code in the cancel. Another version of Format A (called Format Z by the MPPC Checklist) includes only the "Mailed from Zip Code ..." designation.

People frequently contact the MPPC asking how they can use up extra precanceled stamps. The basic problem is that different people (and the USPS) are using one term to describe several different things.

To simplify all of this, let's figure out what you are trying to do. Then we'll cover how to do it.

Option A) You only want to cancel (postmark) your own mail with a rubber stamp. The postage stamps you are using are "regular" postage stamps available to the general public (e.g., 39 cent stamps; 3 cent stamps issued in the 1940s; 22 cent stamps; "First-Class" stamps without a numeric value; non-denominated "letter" stamps such as A rate, B rate, C rate, etc.). The stamps can be "new" stamps, "old" stamps or any combination thereof. (Of course, the stamps must be postally unused, and they must add up to the current rate for the piece you want to mail.)

Solution A) What you actually want is to cancel your own mail using a rubber stamp authorized by a Mailer's Postmark Permit. This option is actually what the Mailer's Postmark Permit Club is all about! We cover this in detail on the "How to Obtain an MPP" page of this web site. Please click here to visit that page.

Important: do not use non-denominated stamps on any mail being mailed outside the United States or its territories. Foreign post offices require a numeric value to be printed on any stamp received from the United States.

Option B) You only want to use up extra precanceled stamps they have purchased from the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City. A subset of precanceled stamps are referred to as "service-inscribed stamps," ones that say "Bulk Rate," "Presorted STD," "Non-Profit Organization," or something like that. A service-inscribed stamp may or may not contain a numeric value. (Note: precanceled stamps do NOT include "Official Stamps" or "Duck Stamps.")

First, if the stamp does not have a numeric value, you'll need to find out what it's worth in postage. The USPS has a chart here that will tell you: http://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/Q604a.htm. Another chart is available from Linn's Stamp News: http://www.linns.com/howto/refresher/nondenominated_20011231/refreshercourse.asp?uID=

Second, you will need a permit from the USPS to use these stamps. Just get a Form 3615 here: http://www.usps.com/forms/_pdf/ps3615.pdf.

Fill in these fields:
A1 Individual or Company Name.
A2 Date.
A3 Signature.
A4 Email address if you have one.
A6 Address.
A7 Other names under which company does business (if applicable).
A8 Check how the post office can contact you.
A11 Contact person.
A12 Telephone.
B2 Put an X in the box just to the right of "2." and circle the words "Precanceled Stamp." Three lines down, put an X beside First-Class Mail.

Third, give the completed form to your postmaster. He/she may tell you that a) individuals can't have such a permit and/or b) there is a $150+ fee to get this permit per year and/or c) you can't use precanceled stamps on just one piece of mail. None of these statements is actually true. Simply refer him or her to Domestic Mail Manual section 604.3.5 which allows individuals to use precanceled stamps for philatelic purposes -- with no fee required. If that fails, ask your postmaster to contact his/her Rate & Classification Office to validate your request.

Eventually, you'll get a permit, but it might take some time.

Fourth, we highly suggest you purchase a rubber stamp that looks something like this. (Another alternative is to print up some sticky labels.) Once you have your permit, your local post office will know you are authorized to use service-inscribed stamps. Downstream mail handlers, however, have no way of knowing you have a permit (unless you so mark your letter) and may return your mail.

Precanceled Stamps Used by Permit
Permit # ____, <Your City, State>
DMM 604.3.5

Option C) Some people want to be able to do either A or B anytime they want. In some cases, they might choose to do A and B on the same letter.

Solution C) How you approach this depends on whether or not you already hold a permit to use a Mailer's Postmark Permit.

Solution C1: You already have a permit to use a Mailer's Postmark Permit. In this case, all you have to do is to ask your postmaster to pull the Form 3615 you already have on file, put an X the box just to the right of "2." in section B, and circle the words "Precancel Stamp" just to the right of that. That's it. Your one permit number now allows you to use precanceled stamps and/or your Mailer's Postmark Permit. If you postmaster asks, this is all covered in Domestic Manual 604.3.2.1.

We also highly recommend you purchase a rubber stamp that looks something like this and use it whenever you are using service-inscribed stamps. (Another alternative is to print up some sticky labels.) Once you have your permit, your local post office will know you are authorized to use service-inscribed stamps. Downstream mail handlers, however, have no way of knowing you have a permit (unless you so mark your letter) and may return your mail.

Precanceled Stamps Used by Permit
Permit # ____, <Your City, State>
DMM 604.3.5

Solution C2: You do not already have a permit to use a Mailer's Postmark Permit. In this case, you will want to follow the procedure on the "How to Obtain an MPP" page of this web site. Please click here to visit that page. There is one change you need to make, however, when you fill out Form 3615. In addition to everything else you filled out on the form, you need to put an X in the box just to the right of "2." in section B, and circle the words "Precancel Stamp" just to the right of that. When your permit is issued, your one permit number will allow you to use precanceled stamps and/or your Mailer's Postmark Permit.

Precanceled Stamps Used by Permit
Permit # ____, <Your City, State>
DMM 604.3.5

Variation 1) Some people want to use up extra Official stamps, "Duck Stamps," postage-due stamps, certified mail stamps, special delivery stamps, special handling stamps, foreign stamps, or revenue stamps they have in a collection.

Discussion 1) Sorry, none of these are valid for postage on mail originating within the United States or its territories.

Variation 2) Some people want to use up stamps that have been "precanceled" by a local post office. Usually these stamps have either two bars, or two bars with a city and state name. In the days before service-inscribed stamps, it was very common for local post offices to have a rubber stamp (or a small printing press) where they could cancel entire mint sheets of stamps at once. The stamps were sold to mass mailers who applied the stamps to a large batch of outgoing mail. Since the stamps already had a cancel on them, the batch of letters could skip going through a canceling machine, thus saving the post office time.

Discussion 2) Technically, if you have a permit to use precanceled stamps (as discussed in options B and C above) you can use these stamps (as long as they haven't been postally used, of course) on your outgoing mail. The problem is that the stamps look like they have been postally used, and you're going to confuse lots of post office employees who might handle your mail. You might be better off to sell these stamps to a dealer.

Discussion 3) Airmail stamps are now considered "regular" stamps (as discussed in option A above). You can use them on domestic and international mail.

Variation 4) What about fractional-value stamps without a service inscription?

Discussion 4) Scott 1902, for example is the 7.4 cent "Baby Buggy" stamp. It does not have any service inscription marking on it such as bulk rate or non-profit. As far as we are concerned, this is a "regular" stamp that's worth exactly 7.4 cents. We have, however, had mail with these stamps returned by the post office. So, if you have a rubber stamp that says you are authorized to use precanceled stamps, we would suggest your using it on mail that has these stamps.

At one point in time the post office issued Christmas stamps with the word "precancel" printed on them. These were sold to the general public for use on regular Christmas mail. Because of this, these stamps are considered "regular" stamps. We have, however, had mail with these stamps returned by the post office. So, if you have a rubber stamp that says you are authorized to use pre-canceled stamps, we would suggest your using it on mail that has these stamps.

These stamps are an excellent example of the fact that the USPS is using the term "precancel" to mean a lot of different things. Unfortunately, it is very difficult for stamp collectors and postal employees to figure out the rules that apply to each stamp. It is even more difficult as time passes and few people remember how the stamp was initially intended to be used.