36 Whole Number 227
marked in this manner would not be able
to figure out its meaning. Let’s look at the
rest of the reasons on this label:
ANK = Attempted, not known;
ILL = Illegible;
DIS = Disputed;
IA = Insufficient address;
NSN = No such number;
NSS = No such street;
DEC = Deceased;
NMR = No mail receptacle;
REF = Refused;
TA = temporarily away;
UNC = Unclaimed &
VAC = Vacant.
Figure 2
appear on both the label and pointing hand
marking. The barcode, once again, has been
obliterated with a black felt tip pen.
One trend in these modern markings is the
use of initials for the reasons the item is
being returned. The post card in figure 3
has a yellow label with “RETURN TO
SENDER” at the top of it. Below it are thir-
teen reasons for this, all of which are ab-
breviated. The “UTF” reason is check. Hav-
ing looked at a number of other similar post
cards, the author deduced that these initials
stand for “Unable to forward”. The average
person who receives such a post card
Figure 3
The barcode on this post card was left
alone. Instead a new bar code was applied
to the bottom of it. This bar code is for the
sender’s address, and is on a piece of self-
adhesive tape.
The DMM lists all the above reasons, and
then a number more. To complete the list,
we must add the following:
Box closed – no order;
Delivery suspended to commercial mail
receiving agency (the subject of part
three of this series);
In dispute;
Moved, left no address;
No such office in state;
Outside delivery limits;
Figure 4
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