Postal marking
(For example, a letter may be marked "snowbank" if snow accumulation not cleared by the potential recipient, or for whatever other reason, makes it difficult or impossible for the carrier to deliver the mail.)Shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, the Northern authorities declared the existing postage stamps invalid and issued new types.The traditional way to apply a postal marking is with the use of a rubber or metal handstamp; handwritten notations are sometimes seen for unusual situations or in very small post offices.In the United States, modern postal markings may appear in the form of yellow adhesive labels with the text printed on them.Many postal administrations now have the ability to print inkjet annotations directly onto a cover, either as a barcode for reading by other equipment, or as text.
Japanese postal mark letterpostmarkscancellationsforwardingpostage duecensoredpostal historyDead letter officesregistered mailbackstampssteamboatsstagecoachesrailroadsairmailAmerican Civil Warpostage stampscachetsfirst flighthandstampUnited Statesinkjetbarcodephilatelic literatureIndicia (philately)Mail and postal systemsHistoryTimeline of postal historyPostal censorshipAdvertising mailBulk mailEnvelopeIndiciaInformation-Based IndiciaLetter boxMail bagMeter stampParcelParcel lockerPost box / MailboxRelay boxPost officePost office boxPostage meterPostage stampPostal codeVariable value stampExpressPackage deliveryRegisteredSurfaceSurface Air Lifted (SAL)Mail carrierPostal workerPostmasterPostmaster GeneralIntelligent Mail barcodeMail Isolation Control and TrackingMultiline Optical Character ReaderMail coverMail sortingPackage forwardingPLANETPOSTNETPostal entitiesPostal museumsPostal servicesCourierPhilatelymost expensive philatelic itemsStamp collectingnotable stampscatalogues