HARRISBURG >> The united States Postal Service is offering a special postmark to commemorate the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, being held this week in Harrisburg.
In addition, the event will be an official postal station, with personnel on hand to issue the postmark for collectors and visitors.
“Because of the special nature of this year’s show – the 100th – it lends itself to doing the pictorial postmark,” said Karen Mazurkiewicz, USPS spokeswoman.
Special cancellations are collectors’ items, she said, and differ from official cancellations because they do not carry a time stamp.
“The postmarks make excellent souvenirs of special dates and events. This one has a date and a year, and it has the station on it. It is memorabilia,” she said. “There are collectors that collect stamps and cancels, but for the average person it is another way of commemorating a visit or event.”
Only items bearing uncanceled postage stamps at the applicable First-Class Mail rate are eligible for the pictorial postmarking at the Farm Show.
“You can put the stamp on anything – a program souvenir, a postcard or piece of mail. The only charge for the commemorative cancellation is the cost of the stamp. So it costs a minimum of 49 cents,” Mazurkiewicz said.
The one-of-a-kind commemorative cancellation is also included in the “Hold Your Horses! The Pennsylvania Farm Show at 100” book, available for sale during the event.
The postmark is available through Friday, Jan. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. The postal station is located in the Friends of the Farm Show Foundation (booth #0097) by the stage.
Collectors and out of town requests for the special cancellation will be processed for 30 days at the Harrisburg Post Office, 1425 Crooked Hill Road, Harrisburg, 17107-9998. Mazurkiewicz said people who want the special postmark after the event can send an envelope with a first class stamp and a return address inside a larger envelope with a request for the Farm Show cancellation.
Mazurkiewicz said the postal service frequently processes requests for special postmarks, and that any organization can request it.
“They just need to send a letter to the postmaster explaining the event and that they would like a pictorial cancellation,” she said. “They would then submit the artwork, and follow specific requirements. The post office will then create the rubber stamper.” She added that if the postal service can’t get an employee to the event, the postmark can be done at the local post office, or event coordinators can sell envelopes that already have been postmarked.
For information about the Pa. Farm Show visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us. For more information about the postal service visit www.usps.com or for information on how to request a pictorial postmark visit www.about.usps.com/handbooks/po230/welcome.htm
To reach writer Donna Rovins call 610-850-0272. Email business story ideas to drovins@pottsmerc.com
