What do the lines on envelopes mean? (Next to where a stamp goes -- 3 to 5 vertical lines)?

Answer 1

The vertical lines "tell" the sorting machines that the envelope is pre-printed with a barcode, so that part of the sorting process can be skipped. Different configurations of lines mean the bar code is 5-digit or 9-digit ZIP Code and possibly if the bar code is above or below the address.

These do not help the cancelling machine "find" the stamp. That is done by a substance on the surface of the stamp called "taggant" that glows in UV light. Tagged stamps alert the machines so they turn the envelope if necessary for the cancel to go in the right place. Sometimes a seal or return address label or other sticker will also glow in UV light and the machine gets "confused" and cancels that instead.

Answer 2

Those lines are used by both the company that printed the envelope, and by the post office processing equipment. I am not sure of the whole process, but I know those lines help the automated equipment recognize, process and sort the envelopes. They may even help the equipment locate the area to place the cancellation stamp.

Answer 3

Understanding FIM (Facing Identification Marks) on Envelopes

Overview
The Facing Identification Mark (or FIM) is used by the USPS to assist in the processing of letter mail. This small pattern of vertical bars plays an important role in speeding your envelope mail through the USPS system.

You can see one type of FIM pattern on the envelope design in Figure 1 (in the upper right hand corner). This pattern is a FIM D. The other common patterns you will see are FIM C and FIM A. The significance of these different patterns will be explained in this tutorial.

A PC Postage Envelope Design with FIM
Figure 1: A PC Postage Envelope Design with FIM

The FIM Is for Envelopes - Not Shipping Labels
The FIM should only be applied to letter and postcard mail. The USPS equipment that processes flats and packages does not look for or use a FIM.

What Does the FIM Tells USPS Mail Processing Equipment?
The FIM tells a key USPS processing machine two things about the envelope. First, it alerts the machine as to what type of postage is (or should be) affixed to the piece. Second, it tells the machine if the mail piece already has a Intelligent Mail barcode representation of the delivery ZIP+4. You can see the Intelligent Mail barcode just below the address in Figure 1. Endicia software validates every U.S. address so we can confirm that the address is recognized by the USPS and print the Intelligent Mail barcode. You will see what a tremendous processing advantage this gives your envelopes.

The Common FIM Marks (A, B, & C)
the common FIM marks

The FIM A is used to designate an envelope which has a Intelligent Mail barcode and should contain a conventional stamp or a red postage meter ink mark. Conventional stamps contain an invisible phosphorescent ink and red postage meter ink contains a red fluorescent trace. Both materials - when excited with a short wave light source - emit a green or red signal which can be detected by a USPS machine called a Facer Canceller. The pre-addressed envelope you receive from your water company or credit card company typically will have a FIM A. This type of envelope is called a courtesy reply envelope - they have provided a preaddressed envelope as a courtesy to you. You are expected to place your payment in that envelope, affix a stamp or postage meter mark, and drop it in the mailbox. The billing entity wins big time on this because their pre-addressed and POSTNET encoded envelope gets to them quickly so they get your money that much sooner!

A FIM C is used for Business Reply mail as depicted in the figure below. This tells the USPS facer canceller the mail piece contains a Intelligent Mail barcode but also indicates that there will be no fluorescent ink to detect. The postage is paid by the recipient of the mail, using a permit billing system. They are only billed for the post cards sent back to them. You can see dozens of Business Reply postcards in any magazine you pick up.

A FIM B is used for Business Reply mail which doesn’t have an Intelligent Mail barcode. You will seldom see this because the USPS charges much more to the permit holder to process non-Intelligent Mail encoded reply mail. Plus, it’s easy to obtain a proper ZIP+4 for the reply address and use that to print thousands of pieces for distribution. (Our DAZzle software is used to design compliant artwork for Business Reply - it’s used by USPS Mail Piece Design Analysts nationwide as well a many commercial customers.)

Answer 4

The lines around the -3 means the absolute value of -3. Absolute value is the distance of a number from zero on a number line. So in your problem the distance of -3 from zero on a number line is 3. It would be rewritten as 4*3-5. Multiplication comes first. 12-5=7

Answer 5

It means that the stamp has been cancelled or used and the recipient or another cannot steam off the stamp and reuse it...