Post by tomiseksj on Jan 11, 2014 21:10:08 GMT
Certified Mail
On February 15, 1955, Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield announced a proposed change to the registered mail service that was intended to reduce cost to postal customers and speed delivery. The new mail service was to be called “certified mail” and used for first class mail for which no indemnity value was claimed. For a fee of 15 cents, in addition to regular first class or airmail postage, the customer would receive a certificate of mailing and have the letter carrier take a delivery receipt from the addressee. This was in contrast to the minimum charge of 30 cents for registered mail.
The savings which would be passed on to customers were the result of simplification studies conducted by the Post Office Department. The diversion of mail out of the registered service would enable the Department to give greater security protection to letters carrying items of real financial value (at the time estimated to be about 25 million letters per year).
The 15cent fee did not include the cost of obtaining a return receipt. A delivery receipt would be received by the carrier and retained on file by the post office for 6 months, after which it would be destroyed. An additional charge of 7 cents would be made for the delivery of a return receipt to the sender. A charge of 10 cents would be made if the sender requested proof of delivery within the 6 month timeframe.
On June 6, 1955, in Washington, D.C., the Post Office Department issued a 15 cent stamp to be used in connection with the certified mail service. The 15cent red stamp was vertically oriented, printed by the rotary process, electric-eye perforated (10.5x11), and issued in panes of 50. The stamp, Scott FA1, portrayed a uniformed letter carrier on a light graduated background with “Certified Mail” in dark gothic portrayed across the top and “U.S. Postage 15¢” across the bottom in white-face gothic. Although the certified mail stamp was available, ordinary stamps were accepted in payment of the fee(s) and postage.
Effective July 1, 1957, the certified mail fee was raised to 20 cents. On October 24, 1957, the Department announced that the certified mail stamp was no longer available for requisition and that no new denomination would be issued; the certified mail service, however, would continue.
Source: Compiled from multiple Postal Bulletins issued between 1955 and 1957
On February 15, 1955, Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield announced a proposed change to the registered mail service that was intended to reduce cost to postal customers and speed delivery. The new mail service was to be called “certified mail” and used for first class mail for which no indemnity value was claimed. For a fee of 15 cents, in addition to regular first class or airmail postage, the customer would receive a certificate of mailing and have the letter carrier take a delivery receipt from the addressee. This was in contrast to the minimum charge of 30 cents for registered mail.
The savings which would be passed on to customers were the result of simplification studies conducted by the Post Office Department. The diversion of mail out of the registered service would enable the Department to give greater security protection to letters carrying items of real financial value (at the time estimated to be about 25 million letters per year).
The 15cent fee did not include the cost of obtaining a return receipt. A delivery receipt would be received by the carrier and retained on file by the post office for 6 months, after which it would be destroyed. An additional charge of 7 cents would be made for the delivery of a return receipt to the sender. A charge of 10 cents would be made if the sender requested proof of delivery within the 6 month timeframe.
On June 6, 1955, in Washington, D.C., the Post Office Department issued a 15 cent stamp to be used in connection with the certified mail service. The 15cent red stamp was vertically oriented, printed by the rotary process, electric-eye perforated (10.5x11), and issued in panes of 50. The stamp, Scott FA1, portrayed a uniformed letter carrier on a light graduated background with “Certified Mail” in dark gothic portrayed across the top and “U.S. Postage 15¢” across the bottom in white-face gothic. Although the certified mail stamp was available, ordinary stamps were accepted in payment of the fee(s) and postage.
Effective July 1, 1957, the certified mail fee was raised to 20 cents. On October 24, 1957, the Department announced that the certified mail stamp was no longer available for requisition and that no new denomination would be issued; the certified mail service, however, would continue.
Source: Compiled from multiple Postal Bulletins issued between 1955 and 1957
First day of issue cover showing the 15c red, perf. 10.5x11 Certified Mail stamp (Scott FA1) issued June 6, 1955 in Washington, DC. The first class postage rate was paid by the 3c bright green, perf. 10.5x11 Everglades National Park issue (Scott 952; December 5, 1947).
The associated receipt provided the sender (POD Form 3800) at mailing:
