
164.54 Unofficial First-Day Covers.
Stamps acquired at the first-day post office may be canceled at any post
office.  Envelopes containing new stamps canceled on the first day of sale at
a post office other than the issuing office are known as "unofficial first-day
covers."

164.6 Flight Covers

164.61 Definition.
The Postal Service authorizes special cachet and cancellation services for
mail carried on inaugural flights and other aviation events of national
interest.  Flight covers generally bear official USPS cachets, the postmark of
the city of origin, and the backstamped postmark of the city of destination.

164.62 Authorization.
The Stamp Support Branch may authorize cachet and cancellation service for

a.
all stop points on a new airmail route,

b.
new stop points on an existing route, and

c.
other aviation events of national interest.

Notices authorizing official cachets and cancellation services are
published in the Postal Bulletin.  This service is not authorized for
new aircraft used on an existing airmail route.  Backstamped postmarks may be
authorized where international airmail service is inaugurated to a stop point
in the United States, when the postal administration of the country of the
flight's origin officially requests that the U.S. Postal Service provide
philatelic treatment to mail carried on the flight.

164.63 Preparation of Covers.
Collectors must preaddress each cover to the right side of the envelope and
at least 5/8 inch from the bottom of the envelope.  Each envelope must bear
postage at the applicable airmail rate.  Each envelope should include a
uniform enclosure of the approximate weight of a postal card to ensure a good
impression.  A clear space, 2-1/2 by 2-1/2 inches, on the lower portion of the
envelope and to the left of the address, must be allowed for the cachet.  An
additional 1-1/2 inches to the left of the innermost stamp must be provided to
permit a clear postmark.

164.64 Submittal of Covers.
Collectors should send the envelopes for inaugural cachets, under cover and
endorsed "Flight Covers," to the post office or airport mail facility applying
the cachet and postmark.  A request to hold covers for the inaugural service
should be enclosed, indicating the directional service and cachet desired.

164.65 Compliance With Collectors' Requests

a. Direction Specified.
Post offices should comply with requests for dispatch in a particular
direction to the greatest extent practicable, unless otherwise specified by
the Stamp Support Branch.  No directional service is accorded for events of
national aviation interest.

b. Direction Not Specified.
In the absence of specific requests, post offices should dispatch covers on
the actual date of the first flight, regardless of direction.

c. Incomplete Instructions.
If the collector's request is not clear, post offices should dispatch
covers in accordance with the judgment of the dispatching office.

d. Color of Ink Used for the Cachet.
The Stamp Support Branch determines the color of ink to be used on the
cachet at each stop point.  Requests from collectors for other ink colors must
not be honored.

e. Position of Cachet.
Post offices should apply cachets legibly and neatly to the left side of
the address side of the cover.

164.66 When Cachets Must Not be Applied.
Cachets must not be applied to the following:

a.
Covers for immediate return to sender.  All covers must be dispatched on
the flight.

b.
Covers bearing a previous official or unofficial cachet.

c.
Covers lacking sufficient clear space for application of cachet without
obscuring the address.

d.
Aerogrammes and postal cards.

e.
Double postal cards or postcards intended for return-reply purposes.

f.
Covers received after the flight.

g.
Covers on which postage is not fully prepaid.

h.
Covers containing previously canceled postage stamps.

i.
Anything other than a flight cover.

164.67 Backstamping.
All inaugural covers are backstamped with machineor hand-cancellation
devices at the destination post office.  Postage stamps are not required for
the second cancellation.  Requests for additional or special backstamping must
not be honored.

164.68 Delay of Flight.
If, after postmarking of covers has begun, the flight is canceled or the
scheduled date of departure is delayed to a subsequent date, the postmark
dates already stamped on the flight covers are not changed, replacement covers
are not issued, nor is any liability accepted.

164.7 When and Where Philatelic Postmarking May be Done

164.71 Date and Place of Postmarking

a.
Postmarking provided for philatelic purposes may commence prior to the
actual date of the cancellation requested and may continue after that date
when demand, processing capability, or other requirements of the Postal
Service dictate.  Under no circumstances may any postmarked materials be
released before the date of the cancellation.

b.
The regional director, marketing and communications, may determine that
local processing capability requires that philatelic cancellation services be
performed at an office other than the post office whose cancellation is used.
In such cases, however, all materials to be postmarked must be received at or
deposited in the post office whose cancellation is being used or at an office
designated by the regional director of marketing and communications or the
Philatelic Sales Division.

164.72 Preparation Requirements.
Postcards, postal cards, and envelopes submitted through the mail must bear
postage at the applicable rate and complete addresses, except as provided in
164.83d.  Materials submitted for handback service need not be
addressed.

164.73 Special Materials on Which Cancellations Are Requested.
The materials described in this section may be canceled as indicated.
Photographs, postcards, or other materials having a glossy-coated, or
hard-calendered surface, or any material that does not readily accept ink, are
submitted for cancellation at the customer's risk.  The U.S. Postal Service is
not responsible for smudged cancels or offsetting on this type of work.

a. Plain Cards, Slips of Paper, and Blank Envelopes.
Postal employees may not place postmarks for customers on plain slips of
paper, plain cards, or blank envelopes which do not bear unused postage in an
amount equaling or exceeding the First-Class rate.

b. Picture Postcards (Maximum Cards).
Picture postcards with the stamp placed on the face of the card rather than
on the address side are known as maximum cards.  Postmasters may cancel these
cards and hand them back to the person presenting them.

c. Posters, Portfolios, and Other Memorabilia.
These items with the stamps placed thereon may be canceled when presented
in person for handback service.  Submittal and return through the mail is not
permitted.

d. Already Canceled Stamps/Multiple Cancellations.
Items bearing previously canceled stamps and postmarks are acceptable for
additional cancellations when uncanceled  First-Class postage is affixed to
receive the subsequent cancellation.  Such material may be submitted and
returned through the mail.  When fewer than 50 items are submitted for
subsequent cancellation, they must all be addressed and must be returned to
the addressee as individual pieces and not in outer envelopes.  Return under
separate cover is allowed only as specified in 164.83.
First-day-of-issue cancellations may not be provided on a handback basis after
the first day of issue.  Mint stamps to cover the First-Class rate must be
affixed for each cancellation.

e. Currency.
Currency bearing unused postage stamps of First-Class value or items
bearing currency with stamps affixed or adjacent thereto may be canceled when
presented in person for handback service.  Submittal and return through the
mail is not permitted.  The Postal Service does not accept responsibility for
currency in its possession in conjunction with philatelic services.

f. Backs of Envelopes.
Post offices may cancel unused stamps when they are affixed to the reverse
side of envelopes bearing already canceled stamps.  This service is available
only for envelopes presented for handback service.  They may not be returned
through the mail, even when outer envelopes are provided.  Such a cancellation
denotes only that the item was presented to the post office for postmarking on
that date; it does not denote that the envelope was carried by the Postal
Service, and should be differentiated from flight covers described in
164.6.  This type of cover may be presented, for instance, in
situations reenacting Pony Express routes, promoting special airline flights,
balloon ascents, and the like, on which covers are carried outside the mail
service.

g. Foreign Postage Stamps.
Unused foreign postage stamps may be canceled with a U.S. Postal Service
postmark only when unused U.S. postage of the appropriate rate is canceled
with the same stroke.

164.74 Holding Mail

a.
Post offices may hold mail to comply with customers' requests that the mail
be postmarked on a specified date.  Post offices may not, however, hold mail
for an event where the date of occurrence is not certain or where it is
subject to change or for cancellation on a day when the office is closed,
except as authorized by the Philatelic Sales Division.  In these latter
instances, the envelopes submitted should be returned, unserviced and in an
outer envelope, to the customer with a short note explaining why the requested
service cannot be performed.

b.
There is a limit of 50 covers per customer which can be held for
cancellation.  Except on first-day covers where customers have affixed their
own stamps, quantities above this number must receive the prior written
authorization of the Philatelic Sales Division.  The Philatelic Sales Division
may also authorize the holding of mail for events of nationwide interest.

164.75 Damaged or Missing Covers

a.
Requests for replacement of first-day cancellations, pictorial
cancellations, and standard cancellations may be accepted at the appropriate
post office for a period of 60 days from the date of issuance for first-day
covers or 30 days from the date of cancellation for pictorial and standard
cancellations.

b.
Replacement cancellations are made for poor quality of cancellation, damage
to the envelope, or other similar defects.  Replacements are not made,
however, in cases where envelopes were marked on the back by letter-sorting
machine code numbers as they moved through the mail system.

c.
The customer must return the unsatisfactory cover or covers to the
appropriate post office for replacement.

d.
Replacement covers must be returned to the customer in a penalty envelope
so that a stale postmark does not appear in the mailstream.

e.
Damaged covers must be disposed of in accordance with Handbook F-1,
Post Office Accounting Procedures, 450.

f.
The Postal Service does not replace missing or unsatisfactory standard
machine cancellations, special die hub cancellations, or flight cancellations,
as these cancellations are made in the course of live mail processing.

g.
All claims for nonreceipt of other covers submitted for servicing by the
Postal Service must be sent to the appropriate post office no later than 60
days from the date of postmark or from the date cancellations were last
applied. Claims for replacement cancellations filed after this time are not
honored but are returned to the customer with a short explanation as to why
the request cannot be honored.

h.
The Postal Service is not responsible for damage or loss of cacheted covers
or of other items of value.

164.76 Special Requests.
Requests for cancellations at postal facilities which normally do not
cancel mail must be made in writing to the field director, marketing and
communications, at least 60 days in advance to permit authorization and
appropriate national publicity.  These requirements also apply to requests for
cancellations at offices which are inaccessible to the public or to requests
for cancellations at any offices on dates when mail is not normally canceled;
i.e., Sundays and holidays.  Cover servicers, as described in 164.8,
must submit their requests for cancellations to the Philatelic Sales Division.

164.77 Military Post Offices.
Military post offices, including APOs and FPOs, may hand-stamp covers both
on a handback basis and on mail-order requests in conformance with all
policies and in accordance with all conditions and procedures herein stated,
except that

a.
the postal chief at each such installation may establish the maximum number
of covers individual collectors or dealers may submit, and

b.
military post offices may not establish temporary philatelic stations or
provide pictorial cancellations.

164.8 Philatelic Cover Servicers and Dealers

164.81 General.
In order to more efficiently provide philatelic services, the Postal
Service is clarifying its regulations on cover servicers and dealers to
specify that their submissions must be of 50 or more identical pieces.
Smaller quantity orders can be handled better through the centralized
first-day cover process.

164.82 Definition.
Cover servicers and dealers include those individuals, groups, or
commercial enterprises which submit 50 or more envelopes or other items for
identical cancellations, whether presented in one or more packages, and
request return in bulk.

164.83 Mailback Service

a.
Written authorization must be obtained from the Philatelic Sales Division
for more than 50 rubber composition cancellations.  Copies of authorizations
are sent to the postmaster and appropriate division office.  Postmasters must
complete a cancellation confirmation information sheet and return it to the
Philatelic Sales Division, which bills the cover servicer or dealer for the
cancellation charge.  A service charge as indicated in 164.84 is
established by the Philatelic Sales Division for rubber composition
cancellations.

b.
Mailback service, or return under cover in bulk, is available to dealers
only when return postage, registration if desired, and all other applicable
fees such as special handling and special delivery are paid to the postmaster
at the place of postmarking.  Such requests which do not include such payment
are held until the proper amount is received.  In the event of overpayment by
the cover servicer, the amount in excess of postage and fees required must be
returned separately in mint postage stamps.  If the refund is $10 or more, it
must be sent under registered mail.

c.
Mailback service is generally permitted on first-day-of-issue, pictorial,
or standard cancellations requested on the following materials: envelopes,
postal cards, maximum cards and posters, portfolios, or other memorabilia.
The Postal Service does not accept covers for first-day-of-issue cancellation
which bears a stamp issued after the date of the postmark but before the
expiration date for submittal.

d.
Unless the cover servicer has received Headquarters' written approval for
cancellation service, the envelopes are returned to the cover servicer,
unserviced, with a letter stating that advance approval from the Philatelic
Sales Division must be obtained before the request can be honored.

e.
Mailback service with overwrapping for cover servicers and dealers
submitting 50 or more addressed covers is subject to a service charge
established by the Philatelic Sales Division.  This service charge must be
paid by check or money order before the mailing is processed.

f.
Cover servicers and dealers wishing to use a protective envelope other than
the protective overwrapping provided by the Postal Service for mailing
first-day covers must have a signed agreement on file with the Philatelic
Sales Division.  This agreement specifies guidelines that must be met by the
cover servicer or dealer in order to protect Postal Service revenue.

164.84 Conditions of Service

a. First-Day-of-Issue Cancellations.
Customers recognized as first-day cover servicers are permitted, though not
required, to purchase mint stamps by mail from the first-day post office or
from the Philatelic Sales Division on the date of issuance.  Metal die hub
cancellations are provided to dealers free of charge only when stamp-affixed
envelopes are submitted.  All stamped envelopes must be returned for servicing
within the prescribed time limit.  Rubber composition cancellations are
provided subject to a service charge established by the Philatelic Sales
Division.

b. Pictorial Cancellations.
These rubber composition cancellations are provided subject to approval by
and a service charge established by the Philatelic Sales Division, except for
exhibition or convention sponsors as indicated in 164.95.

c. Special Die Hub Machine Cancellations.
All envelopes must be addressed.  They are canceled free of charge on any
quantity of envelopes submitted, but may not be returned in bulk.

d. Standard Cancellations.
These rubber composition cancellations may be applied on unaddressed covers
and returned in bulk only when authorized by the Philatelic Sales Division.
Orders are subject to a service charge established by the Philatelic Sales
Division.

e. Flight Cancellations.
These covers must be addressed and service is subject to approval by the
Stamp Support Branch.  A service fee is charged when hand stamped
cancellations are requested.

164.9 Cancellation Services at Temporary Philatelic Stations

164.91 Approvals

164.911 Standard.
Postmasters may request authority from the field director, marketing and
communications, to provide cancellation service at temporary philatelic
stations.  Only the standard circular cancellation may be provided, unless the
sponsors or organizers apply to the postmaster for use of a pictorial
cancellation at least 10 weeks prior to the event.  The sponsors or organizers
must also propose a design and finished artwork for a pictorial cancellation.
The cancellation service and design require the approval of the postmaster and
the field director, marketing and communications.

164.912 Exceptional.
As an exception to 164.911, requests for approvals of pictorial
or special cancellations for National Stamp Collecting Month (NSCM) in October
of any year (see Exhibit 164.912) *viewer dmm195.pcx*  may be sent
by postmasters directly to Postal Service Headquarters.  Postmasters must
submit their requests by August 1 to:  NSCM Program Manager, U.S. Postal
Service (for address, see Address List in Appendices).  Postmasters must
also send file copies of such requests to the directors, marketing and
communications, at the MSC and the division.  Requests for NSCM cancellations
must include a contact name and telephone number, dates the cancellation is to
be offered, a clear copy of the original cancellation artwork for publication
in a philatelic news release, and a complete mailing address for customers
requesting the cancellation.  For the cancellation designs, post offices may
use clip art printed in the annually distributed NSCM guidebook, or they may
create their own artwork.  NSCM cancellations may be offered for 1 or more
consecutive days during October.  These pictorial and special cancellations
must be applied by rubber handstamps locally procured by the requesting office.

DMM195Exhibit 164.912, Examples of NSCM
Cancellations]




164.92 Requirements.
All cancellations must carry the name of the exhibition or event, followed
by the word "Station" or "Sta.," the city, state, and ZIP Code, and the month,
day, and year.  Pictorial cancellations which endorse the ideals, policies,
programs, products, campaigns, or candidates of religious, antireligious,
commercial, political, fraternal, trade, labor, public-interest, or
special-interest organizations may not be approved. However, cancellations may
be approved which recognize events such as meetings or conventions sponsored
by or involving such organizations, providing their designs do not include
words, symbols, or illustrations referring to ideals, policies, programs,
products, campaigns, or candidates.  If there is doubt as to whether a
proposed cancellation meets these requirements, the manager, Stamp Support
Branch, USPS Headquarters, should be consulted before granting approval.
Overall dimensions must not exceed 4 inches horizontally and 2 inches
vertically.

164.93 Publicity.
The field director, marketing and communications, must submit a
reproducible copy of the pictorial cancellation (actual size) to the Stamp
Support Branch so that appropriate national publicity can be arranged.  The
use of standard cancellations at temporary philatelic stations must also be
reported.  All reports should include the dates the temporary philatelic
stations are to be open.  Reports and copies of pictorial cancellations must
be submitted the first of each month for those cancellations authorized 2
months later (e.g., January 1 for March authorization; February 1 for April,
etc.).

164.94 Equipment.
Pictorial and standard cancellations must be applied by rubber hand stamps
purchased by the region.  If more than 100,000 pieces of mail are anticipated,
the region may apply to the Stamp Support Branch at least 60 days in advance
for purchase of a metal die for machine cancellation.  These cancellations may
be provided only for the duration of the temporary philatelic station.

164.95 Service Limitations.
Except for the exhibition or convention sponsor, hand-stamping as a free
service is limited to 50 covers for any single individual or group.  The
sponsor may obtain any reasonable amount of handbacks free of service charge
for its members, and special folders or programs prepared by the sponsor may
be canceled and made available upon the opening of the show.  Individuals or
groups requiring more than 50 hand-stamped cancellations may obtain this
service only by paying a special fee.  Written application for this service
must be made in advance to, and authorized by, the Philatelic Sales Division.

164.96 Use and Return of Equipment.
Philatelic cancellation hand stamps, like other canceling devices, may be
used only under the supervision of authorized postal personnel and must be
returned by the postmaster to the field director, marketing and
communications, 65 days after close of the exhibition or convention, by which
time all replacement requests are to have been handled.  The field director,
marketing and communications, must destroy the cancellation device upon
receipt.

165 Special Philatelic Services, Products, and Programs

165.1 Postal Cacheted Envelopes.
Postal Service-produced cachets or cacheted envelopes are permitted only
for first flights and for major postal or aviation events, such as the opening
of a new philatelic center or dedicated philatelic window.  All such cachets
or cacheted envelopes must be approved by the appropriate regional and
Headquarters organizations, and their approval must be communicated to the
Stamp Support Branch at least 2 months prior to the event so that national
publicity of their availability can be arranged.

165.2 Presentations.
The following officials are authorized to approve the use of canceled and
uncanceled postage stamps, postal stationery, and other philatelic products
for information, for official postal business, and for official Postal Service
presentations: the Postmaster General; the Assistant Postmaster General,
Philatelic and Retail Services Department; the general manager, Stamp
Marketing Division; the manager, Stamp Product Development Branch; and the
manager, Stamp Distribution Branch.  Each such presentation is approved in
writing by one of these officials, with a statement of its intended use.
Presentations are used for incentive awards, tokens of appreciation, media
relations, sales promotions, public image, etc.  Presentations must be used
only in the best interests of the Postal Service; they must not be used as
postage.

165.3 Autographs.
Postal employees have the prerogative to accept or refuse requests for
autographs.  Employees should exercise fairness in handling such requests.
Nothing of value may be accepted or requested in exchange for autographs.

166 Copyright of Philatelic Designs

166.1 Policy.
The designs of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postal cards,
aerogrammes, souvenir cards, and other philatelic items issued on or after
January 1, 1978, have been copyrighted by the U.S. Postal Service in
accordance with Title 17, United States Code.

166.2 Permission for Use.
The use of illustrations of the designs covered by such copyrights is
permitted as follows:

a.
In editorial matter in newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic
catalogs, and philatelic albums.

b.
In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of the postal
items illustrated.

c.
In advertising matter, circulars, or price lists for the sale of
newspapers, magazines, journals, books, philatelic catalogs, and philatelic
albums containing illustrations of philatelic designs.

d.
In motion-picture films, microfilms, slides, or electronic tape for
projection upon a screen or for use in telecasting.  No print or other
reproduction from such films, slides, or tapes shall be made except for the
uses permitted in 166.2a through 166.2c.

166.3 Reproduction of Designs.
Illustrations permitted by 166.2a through 166.2c may be
in color or in black and white, and may depict philatelic items as uncanceled
or canceled.  When depicting uncanceled items in color, illustrations must be
less than 75% or more than 150% in linear dimension of the size of the design
of the philatelic items as issued.  Color illustrations of canceled philatelic
items and black and white illustrations of uncanceled or canceled philatelic
items may be in any size.

166.4 Requests for Licenses.
The U.S. Postal Service may grant licenses for the use of illustrations of
its copyright designs outside the scope of the above permission.  Requests for
such licenses must be sent to the Office of Licensing, U.S. Postal Service
(for address, see Address List in Appendices).

170 Special Cancellations

171 Authorization

171.1 Description.
"Special cancellations" are machine cancellations in which a slogan or
message publicizing an event is engraved on a die hub and used to cancel mail.
 They may be used only in post offices which have 190 or more revenue units
and cancel a significant volume of mail.  The special cancellations described
in this section are not of philatelic quality.  Other types of cancellations
are the following:

a.
First-day-of-issue cancellations authorized by the Stamps Division in
accordance with 164.5.

b.
Hand-stamped cancellations for collectors, described in 164.3.

c.
Pictorial cancellations authorized by the Stamps Division in accordance
with 164.42.

d.
Postal message cancellations are used to convey official postal messages or
slogans and are authorized in accordance with 175.

171.2 Purpose.
Special cancellations are authorized when the scheduled event to be
observed is

a.
for a national purpose for which Congress has made an appropriation, or

b.
of general public interest and importance and is to endure for a definite
period of time and is not to be conducted for private gain or profit.

171.3 Prohibitions.
Special cancellations are not authorized for

a.
events of interest primarily to a particular local group;

b.
fraternal, political, religious, service, commercial, or trade
organizations;

c.
campaigns or events promoting the sale or use of private products or
services;

d.
idea or slogan promotions not directly connected with an event of general
public interest and importance;

e.
post office anniversaries;

f.
recruitment programs, or

g.
events which occur during a period when all canceling machines in the post
office have already been scheduled for the use of other special cancellation
die hubs.

171.4 Periods of Use.
Special cancellations may not be used longer than 6 months.  Special
cancellations which are approved on an annual basis are limited to one 60-day
period annually.

172 Revocation

Permission to use any special cancellation may be curtailed or revoked when
it is necessary to use special postmarking dies for Postal Service purposes.

173 Requirements for Obtaining Special Cancellation Die Hubs

173.1 Application

173.11
The application, for a purpose described in 171.2, must be
submitted in writing to the postmaster at the post office where the special
cancellation is to be used.

173.12
The application must be submitted by the sponsor at least 4 months before
the date the special cancellation is to be used.

173.13
The application must provide the following information

a.
Complete description and schedule of the event to be observed, including
evidence that it is not being conducted for private gain or profit.

b.
Wording of the proposed cancellation:

(1)
Space available for the wording is shown in the figure below.*viewer
dmm194.pcx*


(NOT SHOWN)


Wording is limited to three lines of not more than 20 letters, numbers, or
spaces each.  Do not use illustrations or designs since, in most
circumstances, such designs are not easily reproduced on a die hub.  The
wording must directly reflect the event to be commemorated.

DMM194

(2)
Wording on a special cancellation must be standardized and approved by the
sponsor's national headquarters when the sponsor is an affiliate or local
chapter of a national organization.  Standardized requests for national events
must be forwarded to the Office of Classification and Rates Administration,
U.S. Postal Service (for address, see Address List in Appendices).

c.
Name and telephone number of the post office where the cancellation is to
be used.

d.
Period of use desired.

e.
Number of die hubs required.

f.
Name, address, and telephone number of the sponsor who is to be billed for
the cost of manufacturing the die hubs.

g.
The application described in this section should be in the form of a letter
from the sponsor, to the postmaster, giving all required information.

173.14
A request must be submitted for reuse of recurring annual cancellations 3
months prior to the date the sponsor desires the cancellation to be used
again.  In the case of national cancellations, a single request from the
national sponsor is sufficient.

173.2 Referral of Postmaster

173.21
Forward the application to your designated division manager, mailing
requirements, as soon as it is received.  (See 132 for the 3-digit
ZIP Code areas served by each division.)  Enclose the information described in
173.22 and 173.23.

173.22
Furnish the name of the manufacturer and the model number of the canceling
machine on which the special die hub is to be used.  If the machine is a Model
Flier, Model M, or Model G, the correct die hub part number must be stated.
The part number for Model Flier and Model M machines is 1535 for a hub which
uses a round base ring die, and 1535 G for a hub which uses a square base ring
die.  The part number for a Model G machine is 218A for a hub which uses a
round base ring die, and 218E for a hub which uses a square base ring die.  A
part number is not required for other machines.

173.23
State the effect the approval would have on the use of special
cancellations already approved for that office.

173.3 Approval and Disapproval.
The sponsor is informed through the postmaster of the approval or denial of
the application.  If approved, the division manager, mailing requirements,
arranges for the manufacture of the die hub and instructs the postmaster on
its use by memorandum or Form 3617.  If the request is not approved, the
postmaster is advised by the division manager, mailing requirements, of the
decision and the reason.

173.4 Cost.
The sponsor must pay the cost of manufacturing the special cancellation die
hub and any cost incurred in adapting canceling machines for its use or for
installing the hub.  The approximate cost of a die hub can be obtained from
the division manager, mailing requirements.  The organization or person
assuming the cost of manufacturing the die hub is to be billed by the
manufacturer.

174 Disposition

174.1 After Use.
Used die hubs may not be given to sponsors or transferred to another post
office.  Used hubs not retained for future use must be sent for disposal to
the Mail Equipment Shops, U.S. Postal Service (for address, see Address List
in Appendices).

174.2 Special Request.
A request from the sponsor that a special cancellation die hub be retained
for an appropriate purpose, such as placement in a museum, library, historical
site, or other suitable use, may be approved by the Office of Classification
and Rates Administration.

174.3 Replacement.
When a special cancellation die hub must be replaced, local sponsors must
be notified immediately so that they may, if they desire, apply for a
replacement through the local postmaster.  Sponsors must pay for replacement
die hubs.

175 Postal-Message Cancellations

175.1 Purpose.
Postal-message cancellation die hubs are normally used to convey official
Postal Service messages or slogans.  They may be used as long as the slogan or
message remains timely or as long as the regional director, operations
support, considers necessary.

175.2 Authorization

175.21 Application.
Heads of postal installations having 190 or more revenue units, who require
postal-message die hubs, should submit the requests on Form 4636 Send Form
4636 to the regional director, operations support, accompanied by a letter
explaining the intended use and duration.

175.22 Approval.
Approved requests for postal-message cancellations should be forwarded to
the installation's area materiel distribution center.  Requests for die hubs
to be used on Mark II or M-36 facer/cancelers should be sent to the U.S.
Postal Service Materiel Distribution Center in Topeka, KS (for address, see
Address List in Appendices).

176 Mail Submitted for Special Cancellations

176.1 Postage.
Mailers requesting that their mail be canceled with a special cancellation
must affix First-Class postage to the mail.  The mail must bear a complete
address.  Stamps issued by foreign countries may not be placed on the mail.

176.2 Prohibitions

176.21 Holding the Mail.
Mail must not be held to comply with a customer's request that the mail be
postmarked with a special cancellation on a particular date.

176.22 Backdating.
Backdating of mail to comply with customer requests is prohibited.  No
exceptions to the above policy are granted unless authorized in writing by the
general manager, Philatelic Sales Division.

176.23 Returns.
Mail bearing the special cancellation must not be enclosed in another
envelope for return, even if the customer provides a postage-paid envelope for
return (see 164.43).

176.24 Replacements.
Replacement of damaged envelopes canceled with a special cancellation is
prohibited.



