FAQ

Guidelines. Some information was changed from previous years

• Pick a theme! Create a design! Be creative and original - Read the guidelines & check Resources;

  • Please use one design that all participants will receive. and  National Postcard Week and the date, May 2-8, 2027, MUST be printed on the front of the postcard (not a sticker, not handwritten)

• Print 100 (or 25 if you select to send to a smaller list) of ONE design. (Popular size 3.5” x 5.5” or 4”x6”; 90 lb. to 110lb. cardstock.) - Check Resources for potential printers

• Mail all the postcards during the NPCW!!  VERY IMPORTANT

• To exchange and collect other NPCW postcards, Register to receive the participants' list (deadline March 15, 2027)

How to send postcards: Naked or envelope?

First definitions:  Naked is a postcard mailed without and envelope, i.e., as a postcard. Mailed in an envelope is clear, placing them in an envelope and paying more for postage! 

The organizers encourage all participants to send the postcards as postcards, i.e. naked.  Damage by USPS is part of the charm to mail postcards and the postage rate is lower!! 

Return address on the front or the back?   

The  Guidelines state that the address should be "either on the front or back".  

On the back, the address is best if placed on the top left corner, along the left edge or down the center of the card.  If you place it on the bottom, USPS sometimes confused it with the recipient address. Small address labels/stickers or a stamp could also be used. 

On the front it can be part of the design

Make sure that at least your name appears in print somewhere, so that the recipient knows who sent it.  Hand signatures are nice but... not always readable!! 

When to send the postcards?  

All postcards MUST be postmarked during the NPC week.  Not before and hopefully not after!!   Let's flood the USPS with postcards that week!!

Cancellation of postcards... some tips  [Not mandatory to do it - some think that it is fun and add a special flair]

If you can, ask your Post Office to hand cancel them!  They have to accept, as per their regulations: ask nicely and tell them it is for Philatelic reasons. 

Usually, I ask for hand cancellation, when I show the stack, they give me the circular stamp and let me do it. As you know the postcard will go through the machine that will cancel the stamp on the top, Thus I place the circular hand cancellation lower on the address side or on the message side. (see pictures below)

Or you can place the stamp in the message area. They have to hand cancel it and the machine cancellation will not cover it.

USPS rules for Cancellation of postcards:   Click here for a folder with useful files:  

• • Article 164.232 Handback Service

  • 164.44 Standard Cancellations. Circular hand-stamped cancellations with or without killer bars may be provided on request at post offices, stations, and branches. They are available every day the office is open for business.

  • Rules for Collector cancellation 231.3  Click here

  • How many postcards can be cancelled at once: (50) ; read here  and here