Permit imprint

A printed indicator replacing a stamp in bulk mail.

Also known as: Printed postage impression, Bulk mail indicator, PPI marking

Currency & commercialHistorical & archaeologicalStandard profile

Meanings

A permit imprint is printed directly onto bulk mail in place of a stamp, the postage having been paid in advance under a permit held by the mailer.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Marks bulk mail whose postage was paid in advance under a permit.
Contexts: History
Common modern usageVerified fact
Removes the need to cancel the item at all, since there is no stamp to deface, which is why permit mail often carries no cancellation.
Contexts: History

A printed rectangle with a plain border in the stamp position, carrying the permit number and the office of posting.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Universal Postal Union technical standards
Universal Postal Union · retrieved 2026-08-22
The UPU sets standards for international mail exchange between member designated operators. Cited for markings that cross borders; domestic markings are each country's own and the records name the country.
Postal markings
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-24
Tertiary reference. Used for the names and appearance of handstamps, cancellations and service marks, and for the periods in which particular markings were in use.

Last reviewed 2026-08-24

Meanings

A permit imprint is printed directly onto bulk mail in place of a stamp, the postage having been paid in advance under a permit held by the mailer.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Marks bulk mail whose postage was paid in advance under a permit.

Contexts: History

Common modern usageVerified fact

Removes the need to cancel the item at all, since there is no stamp to deface, which is why permit mail often carries no cancellation.

Contexts: History

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Universal Postal Union technical standards
Universal Postal Union · retrieved 2026-08-22
The UPU sets standards for international mail exchange between member designated operators. Cited for markings that cross borders; domestic markings are each country's own and the records name the country.
Postal markings
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-24
Tertiary reference. Used for the names and appearance of handstamps, cancellations and service marks, and for the periods in which particular markings were in use.

Last reviewed 2026-08-24