US Box Type Postage Due Meter Stamp

United States · 1950 · Variable (printed at time of use)

Two examples of US postage due meter stamps, both featuring a rectangular box design. The top stamp displays 'POSTAGE DUE' above the amount field and 'U.S. POSTAGE' below, while the bottom stamp reverses this order, with 'POSTAGE DUE' below the amount field and 'U.S. POSTAGE' above. Both include a wavy line cancellation.

These 'Box Type' postage due meter stamps were employed by the United States Post Office to efficiently collect underpaid postage directly from recipients. They represent an early mechanized solution for handling postage deficiencies, preceding more modern digital systems.