PSPL Centennial Postmark Q&A
The postmark is no longer available from the Post Office or the Bookstore. The information shown, below, is solely for historical purposes, and for anyone who wants to know how to create their own event postmark. |
1. How was
the PSPL Centennial postmark created?
The
library designed the hand stamp postmark, in accordance with United States
Postal Service
guidelines,
in order to celebrate the library's centennial, December 12, 1908 - 2008.
The
design was a collaborative effort between the winners of the PSPL's Centennial
logo contest,
Nataliya Kokhanva and Carla Phillips. The
Wilkinson Blvd Post Office's knowledgeable staff suggested
minor alterations
to improve the postmark's legibility, which were executed by the library.
The final design
was subsequently approved by the USPS district office.
2. Were any
taxpayer or other monies used in the creation of the PSPL Centennial postmark?
The
USPS is a private company. The creation of the hand stamp used for the
Centennial postmark came solely
from
USPS funds, which are earmarked for postal-based community projects and events
throughout the nation,
such
as the PSPL Centennial. As such, no
local, State, or Federal taxes or monies
were
used in the design and execution of the postmark, as is true of any postmark
created by the USPS.
Also,
no library or Friends of the PSPL
funds were used to create the postmark.
3. How may I obtain the PSPL Centennial
postmark?
Anyone
may go to the Wilkinson Blvd PO between December 12, 2008 and January 9,
2009,
during
regular business hours, and request that the
PSPL Centennial postmark be applied to their
outgoing
mail (i.e., envelope, package, postcard, etc), or to a pre-stamped envelope
supplied by the
postal patron or by the USPS to be handed back to the patron
(n.b., regardless of the day the Centennial postmark is
applied,
the
date on the postmark will always read "December 12, 2008").
The
Wilkinson Blvd PO will also process mail-in requests addressed to the Wilkinson
Blvd PO's Postmaster.
The
library's Lilian Lindsey Bookstore will offer pre-stamped, Centennial
postmarked envelopes,
available to library and store patrons starting December 12, 2008, until supplies run out.
4. How much
does the PSPL Centennial postmark cost?
If
a postal patron uses his/her own envelope(s) and stamp(s), then the PO will not
charge anything to
apply
the postmark. The PO will charge only for any PO-supplied envelope(s) and
stamp(s)
(e.g.,
52 cents for a pre-stamped envelope). Again, the postal patron must
specifically ask for the PSPL
Centennial
postmark at the PO counter. The Lilian Lindsey Bookstore will sell
pre-stamped, Centennial
postmarked
envelopes for $2.00 each as a fund raiser, of which 100% of the proceeds
benefit the library;
the
envelopes and postage were donated by library patrons and/or by funds provided
by the Friends of the PSPL
(n.b., purchases made at the PO
do not benefit the library).
5. How many
PSPL Centennial postmarked envelopes may I obtain at a time?
The
PO limits purchases made at the counter in accordance with USPS regulations,
and, of course,
depending
on the number of people waiting on line.
Envelopes purchased through the Lilian Lindsey
Bookstore
are limited to five per patron per
day, to allow as many people as possible to purchase them,
as
well as to limit the number of staff trips to the Wilkinson Blvd PO to obtain
additional Centennial postmarked envelopes.
6. What can
I do with envelopes cancelled with the PSPL Centennial postmark?
If
the PSPL Centennial postmarked envelope or package is purchased at the PO, then it
may be filled with
appropriate-to-postage
contents, and mailed from the PO at the counter. Or, it may be left empty
and
kept by the postal patron, as a memento of the event, or to add to one's stamp
collection,
or
to be given to a friend, relative, etc. Once the postmark is applied and
returned to the postal patron,
the
envelope cannot be used for mailing. However, it may be placed inside another
envelope to be mailed, as usual.
The
same is true of Centennial postmarked envelopes purchased from the Lilian
Lindsey Bookstore.
8. Why does
the postmark have only "December 12, 2008"?
Even
though the postmark may be applied between December 12, 2008 and January 9,
2009,
the
date will always read "December 12, 2008", because that is the design of the postmark
per USPS requirements.
9. What
happens to the postmark and its hand stamp after January 9, 2009?
The
PSPL Centennial postmark will cease to be used after that date, though,
under
certain circumstances, such as unusually heavy demand for the postmark,
the
USPS may grant an extension for
its continued use, for a limited time.
Per USPS regulations, the PSPL has requested and received permission to
retain the Centennial postmark hand stamp as a historical artifact.
After the official, final, date of use by the USPS,
the USPS will partially deface the rubber stamp, per USPS regulations,
then present it the library. Once given to the library, the
hand stamp cannot be used,
and
must be kept in a secured location within the library for display or storage,
or kept in a separate, protected, storage facility, again, per USPS regulations.
Depending on demand, the Lilian Lindsey Bookstore may have a supply
of Centennial postmarked envelopes, which may continue to be sold
to the public
after
the official, final, date of use.
10. How
much is the PSPL Centennial postmark worth?
Other
than the face value of the stamp(s) used on the postmarked envelope and the
envelope itself,
the
postmark does not have any intrinsic value, except, potentially, to a stamp
collector,
and to those for whom the library and/or such special events may hold.
11. What is the return policy for the PSPL Centennial postmarked envelopes?
Since
envelopes may be purchased at the PO for a lower price than at the
Bookstore,
the library cannot offer any returns, refunds, exchanges, etc, for any reason,
as is the case with the PO.
12. Where
may I find out about other such postmarks from the USPS?
Stamp collectors and those
interested in collecting pictorial postmarks offered by the USPS
throughout the nation commemorating special events, such as the PSPL Centennial,
may find them listed in stamp collector magazines, such as Linn's Stamp News,
stamp clubs, and through the USPS in their
"Postal Bulletin"
at
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm (click
on the current bulletin's image or links,
then scroll to the appropriate
pages, and follow the instructions on obtaining the postmark).
Patrons
interested in creating special, pictorial, postmarks for their own events
should consult
USPS
Handbook PO-230, available at most PO's or through the USPS website at
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/hand/po230.htm (text only)
or
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/hand/po230.pdf (contains
graphics; requires Adobe Acrobat software).