Overview of Stamp Verification Practices in Postal Services
Postal services around the world have strict procedures to ensure that only authentic stamps are used on mail items. This involves not only verifying the stamps being used but also stopping the circulation of counterfeits. Different postal services employ various methods to achieve this, from manual checks to advanced optical technologies.
US Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS) takes a multi-layered approach to verify the authenticity of stamps. Counterfeiting US stamps is a major offense under US law due to the significant financial and operational impacts it can have on the postal system.
Verification of US Stamps:
- **Availability at Post Offices:** Representatives of US stamps are available at every post office, allowing for easy verification.
International Stamps:
- **Exchange of Stamps:** The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has periodic exchanges of valid international stamps. These exchanges ensure that the stamps used are legitimate, although it is nearly impossible to catch fake foreign stamps being used on mail to the US. Nigerian issues are particularly notorious for the number of fakes, but these are caught when used in large numbers.
Counterfeit Prevention Measures:
- **No Fluorescence Verification:** Postal services do not use fluorescence to check stamp authenticity since it is too easy to mimic.
Manual Checks:
- **Visual Inspection:** Envelopes without tagging get shunted for visual checking, but finding counterfeit US stamps in this manner is rare.
United Kingdom Royal Mail
The Royal Mail in the United Kingdom is implementing new measures to enhance stamp authenticity. One such measure involves introducing stamps with unique data matrix barcodes. This technology makes it possible to detect duplicates, ensuring that the same stamp is not used multiple times.
Canadian Postal Service
The Canadian Postal Service employs a combination of advanced technology and manual checks to verify the authenticity of stamps.
Verification Methods:
- **Facer-Canceller Machine:
- Phosphorence Check: Facer-canceller machines check for phosphorence, a property that helps locate the stamp position accurately. Any stamps that do not show phosphorence are flagged for manual inspection.
- Fluorescence Check:
- Meter Impression: Machines also check for meter impressions in the corners of stamps. If these are not present, the letter is rejected and manually inspected.
Optical Character Reader:
- Stamp Recognition: Optical character readers can recognize stamps and compare them to a database of valid stamps. Any unrecognized stamps are rejected for further investigation.
Meter Impression Verification:
- List of Valid Meters: The OCR also checks for meter impressions that do not come from a meter known to be on the list of valid meters. These are also flagged for further investigation.
Conclusion:
Postal services are committed to preventing the circulation of counterfeit stamps through a combination of technological solutions and manual checks. As technology advances, these measures will become even more sophisticated, ensuring the integrity of the postal system.
Keywords: stamp verification, postal service, counterfeit stamps