A reticle carrier comprising: an outer pod assembly including an upper portion and a lower portion that cooperate to define an enclosure; and an inner pod assembly for storage of a substrate or reticle therein, said inner pod assembly being adapted for containment within said enclosure of said outer pod assembly, said inner pod assembly including: a cover and a base concentric about a central axis, said central axis defining an axial direction, and characterized in that an alignment system includes a structure defining a hole provided in said cover, an alignment pin (350, 370, 380) disposed in the hole and extending from the cover, and a guide recess formed in an edge of the base; in that the guide recess includes a contoured wall having at least one ridge (393, 396) that protrudes outward from the contoured wall and in that said alignment pin (350, 370, 380) has a tapered distal end and is disposed in said guide recess when said cover and base are engaged, such that the tapered distal end of the alignment pin (350, 370, 380) contacts the at least one ridge (393, 396) of the contoured wall of the guide recess to provide line or point contact between the guide recess and the alignment pin (350, 370, 380). an outer pod assembly including an upper portion and a lower portion that cooperate to define an enclosure; and an inner pod assembly for storage of a substrate or reticle therein, said inner pod assembly being adapted for containment within said enclosure of said outer pod assembly, said inner pod assembly including: a cover and a base concentric about a central axis, said central axis defining an axial direction, and characterized in that an alignment system includes a structure defining a hole provided in said cover, an alignment pin (350, 370, 380) disposed in the hole and extending from the cover, and a guide recess formed in an edge of the base; in that the guide recess includes a contoured wall having at least one ridge (393, 396) that protrudes outward from the contoured wall and in that said alignment pin (350, 370, 380) has a tapered distal end and is disposed in said guide recess when said cover and base are engaged, such that the tapered distal end of the alignment pin (350, 370, 380) contacts the at least one ridge (393, 396) of the contoured wall of the guide recess to provide line or point contact between the guide recess and the alignment pin (350, 370, 380). a cover and a base concentric about a central axis, said central axis defining an axial direction, and characterized in that an alignment system includes a structure defining a hole provided in said cover, an alignment pin (350, 370, 380) disposed in the hole and extending from the cover, and a guide recess formed in an edge of the base; in that the guide recess includes a contoured wall having at least one ridge (393, 396) that protrudes outward from the contoured wall and in that said alignment pin (350, 370, 380) has a tapered distal end and is disposed in said guide recess when said cover and base are engaged, such that the tapered distal end of the alignment pin (350, 370, 380) contacts the at least one ridge (393, 396) of the contoured wall of the guide recess to provide line or point contact between the guide recess and the alignment pin (350, 370, 380).