On 02/01/2000, Laureen C. Urquiaga <urquiagal[_at_]lawgate.byu.edu> wrote:
>
> I always include a SASE when corresponding within the US (I send
> self-addressed envelopes to foreign publishers as well, but for
> obvious reasons they're not stamped :-).
Have you considered International Postal Reply coupons? It might
not be worth the effort for the recipient to redeem one, but they're
relatively cheap, and show that you made the effort to make the
process as cheap and convenient as you could for the person from
whom you would like a permission. See the excerpt below from the
USPS International Mail Manual.
IMM Issue 22, January 1, 2000
Updated With Postal Bulletin Revisions Through January 27, 2000
392 International Reply Coupons
392.1 Description
- The sender of a letter may prepay a reply by purchasing reply
coupons, which are sold and exchangeable for postage stamps at post
offices in member countries of the Universal Postal Union. The period
of exchange of international reply coupons issued by the Universal
Postal Union on or after January 1, 1975, is unlimited.
- International reply coupons (in French, Coupons-Reponse
Internationaux) are printed in blue ink on paper that has the letters
"UPU" in large characters in the watermark. The front of each coupon
is printed in French. The reverse side of the coupon shows the text
relating to its use in German, English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and
Russian.
- Coupons sold in the United States have the selling price printed
on them, while coupons in other countries may not.
392.2 Availability
Reply coupons may be requisitioned by post offices in the same manner
as postage stamps. The coupons should be stocked at post offices that
have a demand for them.
392.3 Selling Price and Rate of Exchange
- The selling price of a reply coupon in the United States is $1.05.
One coupon is exchangeable in any other member country for a stamp or
stamps representing the minimum postage on an unregistered air letter.
Unused U.S. coupons (that is, those with the U.S. selling price stamped
on them) may be exchanged only for United States postage stamps by the
original purchaser at a discount of 1 cent below the purchase price.
- International reply coupons purchased in foreign countries are
exchangeable at U.S. post offices toward the purchase of postage
stamps, postage meter stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels
and embossed stamped envelopes (including aerogrammes) at the rate of
$0.60 per coupon, irrespective of the country where they were purchased.
392.4 Processing Requests
- When an international reply coupon is sold, the USPS clerk must
place a postmark in the block which is headed control stamp of the
country of origin.
- Under Universal Postal Union's regulations, member countries are not
required to place a control stamp or postmark on the international reply
coupons that they sell. Therefore, some foreign issue reply coupons,
which are tendered for redemption, may bear the name of the issuing
country (generally in French), rather than the optional control stamp or
postmark. Such coupons are exchangeable for U.S. postage, as specified
in 392.3b.
- A post office redeeming an unused U.S. coupon must postmark it in
the unpostmarked circle. A post office exchanging a foreign reply
coupon must postmark it in the right circle. Post offices must not
accept foreign coupons that already bear a USPS postmark.
- Reply coupons issued by foreign countries prior to January 1, 1975,
are no longer redeemable at U.S. post offices. These old-style coupons
are distinguishable from the newer coupons printed by the International
Bureau of the Universal Postal Union because the name of the country of
origin is always present on the old-style coupons. Customers processing
pre-1975 coupons of foreign origin should be advised to return them to
their correspondents in the country of issue for replacement or
redemption through the selling post office.
- Reply coupons formerly issued by the Postal Union of the Americas
and Spain are no longer valid. These coupons are printed in green
ink and bear the caption Cupon Respuesta America-Espanol. Customers
possessing any of these coupons should return them to their
correspondents in the country of issue for redemption through the
selling post office.
- Postmasters must process exchanged foreign and redeemed U.S.
coupons as prescribed in 426.9 International Reply Coupons (IRCs)
Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures.
Received on Wed Feb 09 2000 - 20:32:42 GMT