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USPS postal marks

These are marks used on US mail. Intelligent Mail and the older PLANET and POSTNET codes carry routing or tracking digits. The Facing Identification Mark only helps a sorting machine turn a letter the right way up. The camera app does not scan them. The Zebra app does not scan them.

  • POSTNET

    POSTNET is a US postal barcode that stores ZIP code digits in full and half-height bars instead of bar widths. It sped up letter sorting for decades before the Intelligent Mail barcode took over.

  • USPS Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb)

    The Intelligent Mail barcode is the row of short and tall bars on US business mail. Its 65 four-state bars carry both a tracking code and the delivery-point ZIP code, combining what POSTNET and PLANET did separately.

  • PLANET Code (USPS)

    PLANET looks like POSTNET turned inside out: mostly tall bars with a few short ones. It was used to track mail pieces through the US postal system before the Intelligent Mail barcode took over that job.

Facing Identification Mark

FIM (Facing Identification Mark)

The Facing Identification Mark is a group of tall bars printed near the stamp area of US envelopes. Mail-sorting machines use it to orient the letter and to recognise reply mail; it does not carry a number like a normal barcode.

Example: A

The camera app does not scan this. The Zebra app does not scan this.