| Photo postage stamps aren't such a new idea; its | | | | public outrage its important for the organizations that |
| been around for years! The USPS (United States | | | | are permitted to produce photo postal stamps to have |
| Postal Service) briefly suspended the use of such a | | | | proper screening processes in place. |
| stamp due to security concerns. There are certainly a | | | | Along with controversial figures, the other things that |
| number of reasons that the USPS would want to | | | | must not be allowed on postage stamps are |
| abolish all photo stamps, for example in the height of | | | | pornographic images, and also certain religious symbols. |
| the anthrax scares a stamp with a scull and cross | | | | Copyright is a tricky subject; technically you should only |
| bones plus the word Anthrax caused a sorting office | | | | use material on a stamp that you own the rights to, or |
| to shut down for several hours. Although custom | | | | have permission to use. Other than this and advertising, |
| photo stamps are legitimate, perhaps getting rid of | | | | the images can be of pretty much anything. |
| them would put people off trying to get away with | | | | The company that supplies the postage stamps are |
| counterfeit postage stamps! | | | | personally responsible for screening, this is nothing to |
| The USPS decided that it would allow another phase | | | | do with the USPS. The vendors themselves should |
| of a pilot program allowing companies to sell their | | | | reject the images that break the strict rules set down |
| customers photo postage stamps. The first stage of | | | | by the USPS. The USPS is able to find out which |
| the trial was a huge success; however the USPS | | | | company generated the stamp by looking at the |
| wants to make sure that these custom postage | | | | information encoded in the stamps barcode, therefore |
| stamps aren't just a fad. | | | | any company not screening images properly could find |
| What is a photo postage stamp? | | | | themselves losing the rights to print postage. |
| Photo postage stamps allow people to put a photo of | | | | Where can I get my photo postage stamps? |
| pretty much whatever they want to on their stamp. | | | | There are three main custom stamp vendors in |
| There are however exceptions, you cannot for | | | | America , Stamps.com, which has been a key |
| example put pornographic or disturbing images onto | | | | contender ever since the postal services first trial. |
| your photo stamp. | | | | Endica are also permitted to produce stamps. Pitney |
| Photo stamps are useful for: | | | | Bowes the popular franking machine manufacturer has |
| -Weddings | | | | realized that photo stamps trespass into their industry, |
| -Births | | | | and so they are grabbing hold of this opportunity with |
| -Anniversaries | | | | both hands and refusing to let go! |
| -Business Logos | | | | Photo stamps are a worldwide phenomenon! |
| -Any Special Occasion | | | | Photo postal stamps arent just popular in America , |
| Internet pranksters - screening photo stamps for | | | | theyre popular worldwide! England has one of the |
| validity | | | | oldest postal services in the world, but even so the |
| Being able to put an image of anything you want onto | | | | Royal Mail is adopting online photo postage stamps. |
| your stamps is very exciting for most people; however | | | | Currently in England you can only buy the stamps |
| some internet pranksters just take things too far. | | | | directly from the Royal Mail (the equivalent of the |
| Some people have tried to order stamps with people | | | | USPS), but only time will tell as to when they will adopt |
| like Slobodan Milosevic on them, as these could cause | | | | the same personalization. |