A variable value stamp, is a gummed or self-adhesive

postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...

of a common design, issued by a machine similar to an

automatic teller machine An automated teller machine (ATM) or cash machine (in British English) is an electronic telecommunications device that enables customers of financial institutions to perform financial transactions, such as cash withdrawals, deposits, fund ...

(ATM), with a value of the user's choice printed at the time the stamp is dispensed. The value may be variable or from a fixed selection of postal rates. The stamps and machines are typically for use in retail or post office environments. As only the postal value varies from stamp to stamp, these stamps have been described as

key type stamp Key type stamps are stamps of a uniform design that were widely used by colonial territories in the 19th and 20th centuries. Origins The idea was invented by Perkins Bacon who used it to print stamps for Trinidad (1851), Barbados (1852) and M ...

s. They are also closely related to

meter stamp A meter stamp, or meter mark, is the impression made by a postage meter machine that indicates that postage has been paid on a letter or parcel. Meter stamps are widely used by businesses and organisations as they are more efficient than using pos ...

s from

postage meter A postage meter or franking machine is a mechanical device used to create and apply physical evidence of postage (or franking) to mailed items. Postage meters are regulated by a country's postal authority. A postage meter imprints an amount o ...

s. As the concept has developed, a variety of different names have been used, including Automatenmarken Mackay, James. ''Stamp Collecting: Philatelic Terms Illustrated''. 4th edition. London: Stanley Gibbons, 2003, p.9. (Germany), Computer vended postage stamp,Scott 2014. Specialized Catalogue of United States. Stamps & Covers. Computer vended postage stamp, p. 1. ATM stampsYoungblood, Wayne L. ''All about Stamps''. Iola WI: Krause Publications, 2000, pp. 12-13. (USA), Autopost stamps (USA), Frama labels (Europe) or machine labels (Stanley Gibbons catalogues).

History

There have been many experiments with similar systems over the years but none has been truly successful until the evolution of modern sophisticated computer printing technology. The development of the postage meter, which performs a similar function in businesses and organisations has also been instrumental in developing the technology. The first patent for a machine to produce variable postage was taken out by Carl Bushe in 1884. In 1900 Christian Kahrs' machine was tested in Oslo. Similar machines were soon tried in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Frama labels

The Frama company of Switzerland produced a special type of patterned paper suitable for dispensing by machine and electronic printing that could be used to create an unlimited number of different stamp designs. The British Post Office used the paper experimentally in vending machines in 1984–85 but the experiment was not regarded as a success. Frama labels were also introduced in Switzerland in 1976. Frama labels were distinctive for the whole design being printed in one operation onto the special paper, including the value, rather than just the value being printed onto a pre-printed stamp.

ATM stamps and Autopost

The U.S. Postal Service experimented with similar stamps in 1989–90. Those experiments also were not considered a success. The U.S. Postal Service owns a patent for an ''ATM dispensable self-adhesive postage stamp construction''. Freepatentsonline: ''United States Patent 5503436''
. Retrieved 10 June 2007.

Collecting

* ''ATEEME'', the ''Variable Value Stamps Study and Collecting Group'', specializes in collecting these items. * ''InfoBrief: ATM. Ein Kulleraugen-Informationsdienst'' (Schellerten), (since October 1984)

References

External links

{{commons category, Variable value stamps
ATEEME website
Postal systems Philatelic terminology