Postmarked

Postmarked refers to an item that bears a postmark, the official ink impression applied by a postal authority to indicate the date and place of mailing. The postmark also serves to cancel the postage stamp, preventing reuse. Postmarks are typically printed or stamped on envelopes, packages, and other mail pieces, and may include the exact date, time, and the originating post office or locality. In everyday mail processing, postmarks provide a record of when the item entered the postal system and, in many countries, help establish deadlines for mail delivery.

In philately, postmarks are of particular interest because they convey historical and geographical information. Collectors study the variety of markings, including the style of date stamps, the shape of the cancel, and any accompanying cachet or routing marks. Postmark design and redemption rules can vary by country and era, creating a field known as postal history.

The phrase postmarked is also used as a title or descriptor in arts and media, applied to works that engage with themes of travel, communication, or time. The use of the term in titles is diverse and not exhaustive.

See also: postmark, cancellation, stamp, postal history.