# United States Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/GROUP PO – Franks generated by meters operated by Post Office window clerks
## GROUP PO: Franks generated by meters and franking systems operated by Post Office window clerks

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* In 1934, 1935, and 1936 postage meters were placed in post offices on an experimental basis. The machines were meant for use primarily on high postage mail but were soon used on routine mail as well. The experiment was to see if meters would speed operations by allowing clerks to generate a single meter stamp instead of rooting around for the correct combination of sheet stamps for registered, insured, and multi-ounce mail. The experiment was considered a success, and by 1940 meter use in post offices had spread across the country.
* The Post Office Department experimented with both regular commercial-use meters modified for Post Office needs and meters that were custom designed for use in Post Offices. Sub-group PO-A describes modified commercial meters, and Sub-group PO-B describes stamps from machines custom designed for use in Post Offices.
* The earliest known use of meter in a Post Office is December 26, 1934. The earliest use of a custom designed Post Office meter is February 6, 1935.
* Also included will be postage meters used internally in postal facilities that normally do not have window or counter service. Such facilities are indicated in the town mark.

#### Sub-group PO-A: Stamps generated by commercial postage meters modified for use in post offices

* The earliest uses of meters in post offices was experimental. Six Pitney Bowes "J" model series machines and five NCR meters (PO-A1, PO-A2) were trialed in high volume post offices for several months from late 1934 to 1936. The success of these tests led to an expansion. In 1936 a few thousand Pitney Bowes "JD" model series machines and several hundred National Postal Meter machines (PO-A3/-A4/-A5) were placed in post offices. The use of meters in post offices became widespread starting in 1940 with the purchase of tens of thousands of Pitney Bowes' new model "R" series machines (PO-A6). Nearly all post offices in the nation, save the smaller rural venues, received one.
* Most Post Office meter stamps are printed in red, but blue, green, orange, purple, and black stamps are occasionally found.
Type PO-FB6 in 2001 edition
PO-A1.1. Pitney Bowes "J", December 26, 1934.
    As Type FB2.2 but the meter number has P.O. prefix (except for variety a).
    Four machines were placed in five high volume post offices for trials:
       A. P.O.90059 CITY HALL ANNEX / NEW YORK, N.Y. (horizontal) [S]
       B. P.O.90060 NEW YORK, N.Y. (curved) [RRRR]
       C. P.O.90060 MAD. SQ. STA. / NEW YORK, N.Y. (horizontal) [S]
       D. P.O.90061 BROOKLYN, N.Y. (curved) [R]
       E. P.O.90062 WASHINGTON / D.C. (curved) [S]
    V/F: .00 : (range: .00½ to 9.99½)
       a. Without "P.O." prefix: 90016 MAD. SQ. STA. / NEW YORK, N.Y. (horizontal) [RRRR]$^♦$
NOTES:
* Meter P.O.90060 was the first meter used in a U.S. post office. When it first appeared it had a curved "NEW YORK / N.Y." town mark (B) and was used this way from December 20 to December 31, 1934.$^{♦♦}$ Starting early in the new year (January 2 is earliest date seen) the stamp is found with straight-line town mark "MAD. SQ. STA. / NEW YORK, N.Y." (C).
* First day of use for meter P.O.90061 (D) was January 3, 1935.
* First day of use for meter P.O.90062 (E) was March 8, 1935.
* These stamps are known with slogan commemorating the silver jubilee of parcel post in 1938.
* Most examples found are loose tapes. Examples on cover are quite rare.
♦ Meter, 90016 (without “P.O” prefix, variety a) is found with the same MAD. SQ. STA. town mark as C. The dates known for this stamp are 4-15 January 1935. It is possible the meter was used by a private business near Madison Square Station rather than by the post office itself. More information is needed. ♦♦ The December 20 date is known on three zero cent proof tapes. The earliest date known on a postally used tape is December 26, 1934. Most likely the machine was installed earlier in the month or perhaps even in November to see if a meter would speed the franking of Christmas parcels.
Type PO-FB8 in 2001 edition
PO-A1.2. Pitney Bowes "J".
    As Type FB2.4 but the meter number has P.O. prefix (except for variety a).
    Meter P.O.90061 (PO-A1.1) and two other machines were used in post offices after the meter dies were re-engraved with larger inscriptions in the upper corners:
       A. P.O.90061 BROOKLYN / N.Y. (curved) [R]
       B. P.O.90649 CITY HALL ANNEX / NEW YORK, N.Y. (curved or horizontal???) [RRRR]
       C. P.O.90796 BROOKLYN / N.Y. (horizontal) [RRRR]
       D. P.O.90796 CHURCH ST. ANNEX / NEW YORK, N.Y. (horizontal) [R]
    V/F: .00 : (range: .00½ to 9.99½)
       a. Without "P.O." prefix: 90630 MAD. SQ. STA. / NEW YORK, N.Y. (horizontal) [R] (See ♦ above. Meter 90630 also may be a private-use meter.)
NOTE: Most examples found are loose tapes. Examples on cover are quite rare.
Type PO-EC1 in 2001 edition
PO-A2. National Cash Register Company March 7, 1936. [R/RR]
    As Type EC1.1 but the meter number has P.O. prefix.
    The machines were installed on February 24, 1936 and first placed into use on March 7, 1936.
    Five machines were used in six locations:$^♦$
       A. P.O. 101 WASHINGTON, D.C.
       B. P.O. 102 City Hall Annex, NEW YORK, N.Y.
       C. P.O. 102 Church St. Annex, NEW YORK, N.Y.
       D. P.O. 104 CHICAGO, ILL.
       F. P.O. 105 BROOKLYN, N.Y.
    V/F: .00 (range: .00½ to 9.99½)
♦ A proof from a sixth machine, P.O. 106 "DAYTON, OHIO", exists. It is possible the machine was placed in the Dayton Ohio post office for an early local trial (NCR's headquarters are in Dayton), but used stamps are not known to exist. See below. NOTES:
* Nearly all examples known are loose tapes. Few covers exist.
* A proof exists of meter P.O. 102 without a station name. It is dated March 7, 1936 and is the only known stamp from the first day of use. See below.
Type PO-GA1 in 2001 edition
PO-A3.1. Pitney Bowes "JD/JDC", 1936. [R/RR]
    As Type GA1 but the town mark contains P. and O. at the sides.
    Four machines were fielded:
       A. 92745 CHICAGO / ILL.
       B. 95715 WASHINGTON / D.C.
       C. 95935 PLEASANTVILLE / N.Y.
       D. 96721 NEW YORK / N.Y.
    V/F: 0 00 (range: 0 01 to 99 99)
Type PO-GA2 in 2001 edition
PO-A3.2. Pitney Bowes "JD/JDC".
    As Type GA2 but the town mark contains P. and O. at the sides.
    Several thousand of these machines were fielded, and many varieties of town mark exist.
    Meter numbers: 91000-93999, 95000-97999 series
    V/F: . 00 (range: . 00½ to 9.99½)
       A. Town at top, state at bottom
       B. Station name at top, town and state at bottom: 93223, 93845, 93968, 95668, 96721, 96774, 96778$^♦$
       C. Town and state at top, station name at bottom
       D. Town and state at top, "STATION" and number at bottom: 96798
       E. Town and state at top, station name and "P.P." (for Parcel Post) at bottom: 96793, 96798
       F. Town and state at top, zone number at bottom: 93643, 96690, 96796 [R]
       G. Town and state at top, "POST OFFICE" at bottom: 96797 PHILADELPHIA PA.[R]
       H. Town and state at top, "PARCEL POST" at bottom:
          - 93656 BALTIMORE
          - 96399 HARRISBURG
          - 96430 CLEVELAND, OHIO
          - 96766 SYRACUSE
          - 96767 OAKLAND
          - 96778 NEW YORK
          - 96782 MEMPHIS
          - 96788 TAMPA, FLA.
          - 96790 HOUSTON
          - 96791 CLEVELAND, OHIO
          - 96794 DAYTON, OHIO
          - 96797
          - 96799 MEMPHIS
          - 96802 OKLAHOMA CITY
       I. Town and state at top, "PARCEL POST NO." and number at bottom: [R]
          - 96777 BROOKLYN N.Y. / PARCEL POST No.2
          - 96781 BROOKLYN N.Y. / PARCEL POST No.3
       J. Town and state at top, blank at bottom: [RR]
          - 93643 DETROIT, MICH.
          - 96769 PORTLAND, OREG.
♦ These are the numbers seen or reported. Other numbers for all these sub-types probably exist.
Type PO-HA4-1 in 2001 edition
PO-A4.1. National Postal Meter model "14". [R]
    As Type HA2.1 but the meter number has P.O.––N$^o$ prefix.
    One meter only: 6055 LOS ANGELES CALIF.
    V/F:
       a. After the meter was withdrawn from service in the post office it was assigned to a private firm in error with the meter number prefix unchanged, town mark "VULTEE FIELD / CALIF."
Type PO-HA4-2 in 2001 edition
PO-A4.2 National Postal Meter model "14", 1939.
    As Type HA2.1 but the meter number has P.O.– prefix and –NPM suffix.
    V/F:
       A. Town at top, state at bottom: 6153, 6927$^♦$ [S]
       B. Town and state at top, station name at bottom: 6178, 6372, 6926, 6927, 6930, 6934 [C]
          Ba. With "SEC. 562 P.L.&R." directional slug reading up at right (probably an error): (RR)
                - 6372 WASHINGTON, D.C. / BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STA.
       C. Town and state at top, station name and "P.P." at bottom: 6162, 6894, 6937, 6942, 6943 (all CHICAGO ILL. / OLD P.O. ANNEX P.P.)(S)
       D. Town and state at top, "PARCEL POST" at bottom: 6153, 6176, 6177, 6928, 6929, 6930, 6931, 6933, 6935, 6936, 6938, 6939, 6940, 6941, 6944
          Da. With "SEC. 562 P.L.&R." directional slug reading up at right (probably an error): (RR)
                - 6931 PITTSBURGH PA. / PARCEL POST
                - 6940 INDIANAPOLIS IND. / PARCEL POST
          Db. With a slogan commemorating National Letter Writing Week, October 6-12, 1940.
                - 6931 PITTSBURGH PA. / PARCEL POST
       E. Town and state at top, "PARCEL POST NO." and number at bottom: 6932 NEWARK N.J. / PARCEL POST NO. 1 (in use from July 30, 1940 to April 1, 1942)(RRR)
♦ These are the numbers seen or reported. Other numbers for all these sub-types probably exist.
Type PO-HA4-3 in 2001 edition
PO-A4.3. National Postal Meter model "14", 1942. (R/RR)
    V/F:
    The frank is unchanged from the commercial use meter design (Type HA2.1 with N.P.M.–––N$^o$ meter number prefix). Post Office use is indicated in the town mark.
       A. "PARCEL POST" at bottom of town mark:
          - 6138 NEWARK, N.J.
          - 6254 PITTSBURGH, PA.
       B. Station name and "P.P." at bottom of town mark: 6894 CHICAGO ILL. / OLD P.O. ANNEX P.P.
       C. Town and state at top, "PARCEL POST NO." and number at bottom: 6138 NEWARK N.J. / PARCEL POST NO. 1 (REF: MSA List 6)(RRR)
NOTE: Meter 6415 with town mark "NEW YORK / N.Y." was used in a post office, New York's Madison Square Station, without any indication of post office use in the design.
Type PO-HA5-1 in 2001 edition
PO-A4.4 National Postal Meter model "14", 1942. [S/RRR]
    As Type PO-A4.2 but with broken-inner-circle town mark.
    V/F:
    Seven meters are known:
       A. 6176 PHILADELPHIA / PA.
       B. 6927 NEW YORK / N.Y.
       C. 6930 NEW YORK / N.Y.
       D. 6939 DALLAS / TEX.
       E. 6941 COLUMBUS / OHIO.
       F. 6944 SEATTLE / WASH.
       G. 6970 reported but unseen by us
Type PO-HA5-2 in 2001 edition
PO-A4.5. National Postal Meter model "14", 1946. [R]
    As Type PO-A4.2 but with single circle town mark.
    One meter only: P.O.–6943–NPM CHICAGO ILL. / OLD P.O. ANNEX P.P.
    V/F:
Type PO-HB2 in 2001 edition
PO-A5. National Postal Meter model "14", 1940.
    As Type HB2 but with post office use indicated in the town mark.
    Four sub-types found:
       A. "PARCEL POST" at bottom
       B. "P.P." alone at bottom [RRR]
       C. Station name at bottom (two known): [R]
          - 6840 WASHINGTON, D.C. / BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STA.
          - 8345 NEW YORK, N.Y. / MADISON SQUARE
       D. Station name and "P.P." at bottom (one known): 9391 CHICAGO ILL. / OLD P.O. ANNEX P.P. [RR]
    Meter numbers in 7000 to 9000 series.
    V/F: (range: .00½ to 9.99½)
       a. With advertising slogan from private firm: 7889 [RRR]
Type PO-IA3 in 2001 edition
PO-A6.1. Pitney Bowes "R", 1940.
    As Type IA3 but with post office use indicated in the town mark.
       A. "POST OFFICE" at bottom of town mark [S]
       B. "P." and "O." at sides of town mark [RRR]
    V/F: .00
Type PO-IA4A in 2001 edition
PO-A6.2. Pitney Bowes "R" series, 1942.
    As Type IA4.1 but with post office use indicated in the town mark.
    V/F: ≋ 00 :
       A. "POST OFFICE" at bottom of town mark, Medium colon
       B. "P." and "O." at sides of town mark
          BA. Medium colon ( see IA4.2 for illustration)
             c. town and state at top of town mark, ZIP code at bottom: 182653[R]
             d. town and state at top of town mark, station name at bottom: [S]
                - 107053
          BB. Narrow colon ( see IA4.2 for illustration)
             a. with advertising slogan from private firm (error): [R]
                - 117779 SAN JUAN, P.R.
                - 125908
                - 306178
                - 337631
                - 367660
             b. town at top of town mark, state and zone number at bottom: 195559[R]
             d. town and state at top of town mark, station name at bottom: [S]
                - 176795
                - 312468
             e. town and state at top of town mark, bottom blank: [R]
                - 121060
                - 392052
       C. "US" and "PS" at sides of town mark, narrow colon [RR]
             a. "PS" at left, "US" at right (error): 183180[RRR]
       E. Without indication of post office use in the town mark Narrow colon ( see IA4.2 for illustration)
             a. Without indication of post office use in the town mark but with slogan indicating use at a postal substation. The slogan contains "MAILED FROM" or "MAILED AT", the name of the store or location, and "STATION" or "SUB-STATION" with number. [S]
             b. Without indication of post office use in the town mark, but used on PO receipt as payment of PO fees. [RR]
       F. With town and state at top of town mark, station name at bottom. Without "POST OFFICE", "P. O.", OR "US PS": Narrow colon ( see IA4.2 for illustration)
             a. With town and state at top of town mark, station name at bottom. Without "POST OFFICE", "P. O.", OR "US PS":
                -176795 FREDERICK, MD. / LILYPONS RURAL STA.[R]
             g. with "CONTRACT STA." and number at bottom: [S]
                - 183980 SEATTLE, WASH. / CONTRACT STA. 55
                - 196384 BELLINGHAM, WASH. / CONTRACT STA. 3
                - 320361 SPOKANE WASH. / CONTRACT STA. 12
                - 333766 SPOKANE, WASH. / CONTRACT STA. 10
                - 339986 SEATTLE WASH. / CONTRACT STA. 6
             h. with "CONTRACT STA. No." and number at bottom:
                - 179940 YAKIMA, WASH. / CONTRACT STA. No.5[R]
       G. With "NORTH SUBURBAN FACILITY" / "IL" Narrow colon
                - 395274
NOTE: Stamps of Type PO-A6.2 were used in a number of post offices to surcharge postal cards and possibly other postal stationery on hand after changes in rates. These were not officially authorized by the Post Office Department but were tolerated, i.e. allowed through the mail. Other Post Office stamp types may also have been used in this fashion.
Type PO-IA4B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IA10A in 2001 edition
Type PO-IA10B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IA12A in 2001 edition
Type PO-IA12B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC2 in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC3A in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC3B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC4A in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC4B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC8A in 2001 edition
Type PO-IC8B in 2001 edition
Type PO-IE1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-IG1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-IG2 in 2001 edition
Type PO-JA1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-JA5 in 2001 edition
Type PO-JA14 in 2001 edition
Type PO-JB1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-JB1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KB1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KB3 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KB4 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KB5 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KB6 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KE1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KE3 in 2001 edition
Type PO-KF1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-LA1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-LB1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-LB1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-LB4 in 2001 edition
Unlisted in 2001 edition
Unlisted in 2001 edition
Unlisted in 2001 edition
Unlisted in 2001 edition
Type PO-SB1-1 in 2001 edition
Type PO-SB1-2 in 2001 edition
Unlisted in 2001 edition
USPMSC: POX-D1
USPMSC: POX-E1
USPMSC: POX-E2A
USPMSC: POX-E2B
USPMSC: POX-F1
USPMSC: POX-F2
USPMSC: POX-F3
USPMSC: POX-F4
USPMSC: POX-F5
USPMSC: POX-F6
PO-B9.1C. Toshiba (digital)
PO-B9.2B. Toshiba (digital), 2019.
PO-B15. Pitney Bowes (digital), 2024.