November 2007 37
The post card shown in figure 5 was not as
lucky as the one shown in figure 4. In this
case, the post card simply got a red “ANK”
marking with a pointing hand and the num-
ber “60634”, which is the ZIP Code of the
addressee. Someone (probably the carrier)
wrote “UNK” in black marker just below
the handstamp marking. Instead of using
the barcode of the sender’s address, this
post card got a self-adhesive white strip at
its lower edge.
As mentioned above, sometimes the issue
of forwarding comes into play. The post-
card shown in figure 6 has a black “FOE
RT 55” marking, as well as a yellow label.
Figure 5
The label says “RETURN TO SENDER/
Returned for better address;
Returned for postage;
Returned to sender due to addressee’s
violation of postal false representation or
postal lottery law and
Undeliverable as addressed, missing PMB
[Private mail box] or # sign.
Let us take a look at the various ways these
initial markings are being used. The post
card in figure 4 has the “ANK” marking on
it in both the black pointing hand marking
and the black manuscript pen notation. In
this case, the handstamp marking at least
spells out what “ANK” stands for.
Figure 6
NOT DELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED/
UNABLE TO FORWARD”. The bottom of
the label has the ZIP Code and barcode of
the sender. The initials “FOE” stand for
“Forwarding order expired”, and was ap-
plied by the carrier on Kent, Washington’s
route 55. Even though the two markings are
not in total agreement as to the reason why
the post card was not delivered, they are
close enough to make sense.
Sometimes the abbreviated marking will
exactly match the label. The post card
shown in figure 7 has a black “NMR” mark-
ing applied twice to it. It also has a yellow
label which reads, “RETURN TO
Figure 7
SENDER/NO MAIL RECEPTACLE/UN-
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82