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Registered mail is a
mail The mail or post is a system for physically transporting postcards, letters, and parcels. A postal service can be private or public, though many governments place restrictions on private systems. Since the mid-19th century, national postal sys ...
service offered by postal services in many countries which allows the sender proof of mailing via a mailing receipt and, upon request, electronic verification that an article was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made. Depending on the country, additional services may also be available, such as: * a
chain of custody Chain of custody (CoC), in legal contexts, is the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of materials, including physical or electronic evidence. Of particula ...
, where the posted item has its details recorded in a register to enable its location to be tracked, sometimes with added insurance to cover loss; *return receipt, called an
Avis de réception Avis is Latin for bird and may refer to: Aviation *Auster Avis, a 1940s four-seat light aircraft developed from the Auster Autocrat (abandoned project) *Avro Avis, a two-seat biplane *Scottish Aeroplane Syndicate Avis, an early aircraft built by ...
, which provides a postcard or electronic notification with the date of delivery and recipient signature; *restricted delivery, which confirms that only a specified person, or authorized agent, will receive the specific mail. The name of this service varies from country to country, and postal services in some countries offer more than one level of service under different names (e.g., "certified mail" and "registered mail" in the U.S.). See the country-specific information below for details.


Background

Traditionally, registered mail was a manual process which gave rise to a great variety of distinctive postal markings, like handstamps, and usage of registration labels. Many countries have issued special postal stationery and postage stamps for registered mail. Earlier similar services were known as '' Money Letters''. Today, however, the registration process is largely computerized with barcode registration labels replacing the traditional analog labels having only a printed serial number. Generally, the item is pre-paid with the normal postage rate and an additional charge known as a ''registration fee''. Upon payment of this fee the sender is given a receipt, and (usually) a unique numbered ''registration label'' is affixed to the letter. As the letter travels from post office to post office and through any sorting office, it has to be signed for on a ledger. This process is completed when the letter is delivered and the receiver signs for the item. With computerization and barcode technology, much of the logging once done manually has become simpler and leads to greater options for the sender and receiver alike to access the status of their shipment via the internet. Many postal authorities provide tracing information for registered items on their website. Internationally, the use of registered mail requires labels with a 13-digit reference number and corresponding barcode (UPU S10). The first two letters indicate registration (usually "RR") while the last 2 letters usually represent the country where the registered item was posted. ''E.g.'', RR913282511SG indicating Singapore, RB5584847749CN indicating China or RR123456785KR indicating South Korea.


History

The earliest reference to a mail registration system dates to July 1556, during the reign of Mary Tudor, of
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
. In that example, This was likely for state security rather than mail security. In 1603, another Order of Council was made whereby all letters had to be recorded. This system was, in effect, a registration system, although it applied to all items sent via the post.
William Dockwra William Dockwra (c. 1635–1716) was an English merchant who along with his partner Robert Murray created the first Penny Post in London in 1680. In latter 17th century London there was no official postal system for mail delivery within the cit ...
's 1680s
London Penny Post The London Penny Post was a premier postal system whose function was to deliver mail within London and its immediate suburbs for the modest sum of one penny. The Penny Post was established in 1680 by William Dockwra and his business partner, R ...
also recorded all details on letters accepted for onward transmission, but unlike the
General Post Office The General Post Office (GPO) was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. Before the Acts of Union 1707, it was the postal system of the Kingdom of England, established by Charles II in 1660. ...
, gave compensation for losses. The registration of letters as known today was introduced in 1841 in Great Britain. The letter had to be enclosed within a large sheet of green paper. The green sheet was addressed to the Post Office where the recipient lived. The green sheet was then used as a receipt and was returned to the office of origin after delivery. On 1 July 1858 the green sheet was replaced by a green silk ribbon and shortly afterwards by a green linen tape. In 1870 the tape was replaced by green string. On the introduction of postal stationery registration envelopes in 1878 the string was replaced by printed blue crossed lines. The blue crossed lines have survived on registered letters to the present day.


By country


Canada

Canada Post's ''Registered Mail'' service provides the sender with a mailing receipt, and upon delivery of the item, with the delivery date and a copy of the signature of the addressee or the addressee's representative. Registered Mail may include lettermail, documents, valuables, and literature for the blind, but does not include parcels.


Israel

Israel Post's ''Registered Mail'' service ( he, דֹּאַר רָשׁוּם, ''doar rashum'') provides the sender with a mailing receipt, and upon delivery of the item, the addressee must sign in order to obtain the item. The sender can monitor the item until its delivery, for items intended for 84 cities in Israel. A confirmation of delivery is sent to the sender for an additional fee. Registered Mail may include letters, postcards and printed matter. On 25 November 2015 a preliminary reading of an amendment to Postal Law that forces the sender to mention his name on an item sent via registered mail, was passed. According to the press, the major opposition to this bill is the Courts Administration that sends most of its mail via registered mail with a confirmation of delivery, and claims that knowing the identity of the sender, many of their addressees will choose not to accept the items, thus delaying the legal proceedings they are a party to.


Sweden

PostNord's service ''Registered Mail'' ( Swedish: ''Rekommenderad försändelse''), often shortened as ''Rek'', will only be delivered after the recipient have verified their identity with some form of ID card or BankID and had their personal identity number logged. The letter can also be collected by a courier, provided this courier carries both their own ID and the recipient's ID, or if the receiver have verified their identy in the app via BankID and sent a newly generated barcode to the courier. All ''Registered Mail'' is traceable in over 30 countries via PostNord's website and mobile app. Any domestic ''Registered Mail'' is insured for up to 10 000 SEK. International ''Registered Mail'' is insured for up to either 2 000 SEK or 10 000 SEK. There is an optional added service called ''Personal Delivery'' ( Swedish: ''Personlig utlämning'') where only the recipient can collect the letter and denies all else, including couriers and power of attorney. Another optional added service is Advice of Delivery ( Swedish: ''Mottagningsbevis'') where a form signed by the receiver is sent back to the sender. ''Registered Mail'' will be delivered to one of PostNord's service points, often a
grocery store A grocery store ( AE), grocery shop ( BE) or simply grocery is a store that primarily retails a general range of food products, which may be fresh or packaged. In everyday U.S. usage, however, "grocery store" is a synonym for supermarket, a ...
, where the identity of the receiver, and any courier, can be verified and logged before handing over the letter. Since autumn 2017 Postnord no longer require signature for delivering registered mail from China Post. Registered mail from China Post is only traceable in the sense that the mailman marks the item as delivered when and if it is delivered to the recipients mailbox. No proof that the recipient has received the mail is collected.


United Kingdom

Since 1998, the ''Special Delivery'' service has been the only registered service offered by
Royal Mail , kw, Postya Riel, ga, An Post Ríoga , logo = Royal Mail.svg , logo_size = 250px , type = Public limited company , traded_as = , foundation = , founder = Henry VIII , location = London, England, UK , key_people = * Keith Williams ...
, after the old-style ''Registered Letter'' service was discontinued.


United States

The
United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
offers two distinct services called ''certified mail'' and ''registered mail''.


Certified mail

Certified mail allows the sender proof of mailing via a mailing receipt and, upon request, electronic verification that an article was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made. Some in-transit tracking and delivery confirmation information may be provided, but there is no formal
chain of custody Chain of custody (CoC), in legal contexts, is the chronological documentation or paper trail that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of materials, including physical or electronic evidence. Of particula ...
. Certified mail is restricted to
Priority Mail The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U. ...
and First Class Mail parcels and letters mailed within the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
and its
territories A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...
(including APOs and FPOs). Each piece of certified mail is assigned a unique label number which serves as an official record of mailing of the item by the Postal Service. U.S. certified mail began in 1955 after the idea was originated by Assistant U.S. Postmaster General Joseph Cooper. Certified mail may be selected for many reasons, not just for important business mailings. It is used by anyone who needs or wishes to provide a tracking number to the receiver as proof of delivery. It can also substitute, essentially, a proof of mailing form when a Postmark and/or scanned receipt is obtained at a Post Office. Contrary to popular belief, Certified Mail tracking is not accepted as proof of mailing in nearly all legal situations. The service also allows the receiver to track their package/envelope through the online system at usps.com using the unique tracking number provided by the mailer.USPS FAQs Certified Mail can be combined with (for an additional fee) or without "return receipt requested" service, often called "RRR." Standard return receipt requires use of PS Form 3811, which is a green postcard-sized paper: upon delivery, this paper is mailed back to the sender and serves as legal proof of delivery. USPS now offers Return Receipt Electronic (RRE) as an alternative to the traditional mailing back of the PS Form 3811 card. RRE provides electronic proof of delivery information. Many jurisdictions accept this as legal proof of delivery, but a minority do not. With RRE, when the letter reaches its final delivery destination, the letter carrier captures the signature, name and (portion of) address of the person that accepts the letter. The information is electronically stored, making it available to the sender in nearly real-time via an email with attached PDF. As indicated on the return receipt card, either the addressee or the addressee's "agent" may sign for the document. Because the process is automated and does not require postage, RRE is cheaper than traditional RRR.


Registered mail

Registered mail service is offered by the
United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
as an extra service for First Class or Priority Mail shipments. Registered mail provides end-to-end security in locked containers. Registered mail custody records are maintained, but are not normally provided to the customer, unless a claim is filed. In the United States, registered mail may be used to send classified material up to the Secret classified level.


Russia

In Russia registered mail may be sent by several postal services. In Russian any registered mail is called "заказное" (). The postal service provides sender with tracking number of registered mail which may prove whether recipient received mail or not. Major postal service in Russia also provides service of notification of reception.


Gallery

Victoria1s1855scottF1.jpg, First registered postage stamp of
Victoria (Australia) Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in ...
1865, 1 shilling Colombia 1865 ScF2.jpg, United States of Colombia 1865, 5c registration stamp 'A' (Anotacion) Colombia 1889 ScF9.jpg, Colombia 1889, 10c registration stamp Colombia Antioquia 1902 ScF5.jpg, Antioquia 1902, 10c registration stamp StampTuva1933Yver39.jpg,
Tuva Tuva (; russian: Тува́) or Tyva ( tyv, Тыва), officially the Republic of Tuva (russian: Респу́блика Тыва́, r=Respublika Tyva, p=rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə tɨˈva; tyv, Тыва Республика, translit=Tyva Respublika ...
1933, 1 kopeck registration stamp StampYugoslavia2002Michel3082.jpg, Yugoslavia 2002, registration stamp


See also

*
Express mail Express mail is an expedited mail delivery service for which the customer pays a premium for faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic and international mail, and is in most nations governed by the country's own postal administratio ...
*
Registered envelope A registered envelope is a form of postal stationery consisting of a strong envelope with an imprinted stamp or indicia used for sending registered mail. The envelopes usually include a perpendicular blue cross and an R in a circle symbol, both ...
*
Certified email Certified email (known as ''Posta elettronica certificata'' in Italy, or ''PEC'' in short) is a special type of email in use in Italy, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Germany. Certified email is meant to provide a legal equivalent of the traditional ...


References

Notes Bibliography * * *


Further reading

* Holyoake, Alan. (2012) ''Great Britain secured delivery of mail 1450-1862''. The Great Britain Philatelic Society. {{DEFAULTSORT:Registered Mail Philatelic terminology Postal services United States Postal Service