Postal markings

thumb|Postmark used on United States Navy|U.S. Navy ship

postmark on a cover, postal card or stamped envelope franked on the first day the issue is authorized for use

Franking comprises all devices, markings, or combinations thereof ("franks") applied to mails of any class which qualifies them to be postally serviced. Types of franks include postage stamps (both adhesive and printed on postal stationery, whether uncanceled or precanceled), impressions applied via postage meter (via so-called "postage evidencing systems"), official use "Penalty" franks, Business Reply Mail (BRM), and other permit Imprints (Indicia), manuscript and facsimile "franking privilege" signatures, "soldier's mail" markings, and any other forms authorized by the 192 postal administra

postal marking to deface a stamp and prevent its re-use

upright|300px|thumb|A Cancelled-to-order plate block of the US newspaper boy stamp of 1952. right|thumb|Cancelled-to-order "stamps" of Fujairah, one of the [[United Arab Emirates, showing unobtrusive placement of cancellations in stamp corners]]

thumb|A study of the postmarks of Prague between 1850 and 1888.

use of postage from different authorities at the same time

right|thumb|U.S. 2¢ stamp of 1938 with New York precancel, Scott No. 806, PSS type 71 A precanceled stamp, or precancel for short, is a postage stamp that has been legitimately cancelled before being affixed to mail. A number of nations of the world use precancels, typically in the form of an overprint on definitive series stamps.

marking on a mail piece showing that postage has been prepaid

postmark type