What we collect!

 

Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Stamporama Discussion Board Logo
For People Who Love To Talk About Stamps



What we collect!
What we collect!


United States/Stamps : US Frama stamps?

 

Author
Postings
virgilp

26 Jul 2019
11:29:13am
I see stamps issued by "Post Office Machines" from various countries, listed as FRAMA stamps.
In the attached scan, how are these US stamps considered?
I understand that a vending machine should offer the same stamps or booklets available at the font desk.
But these stamps are printed right at the moment I made the payment.
Are these stamps cataloged somewhere?
Virgil
Image Not Found

Few more questions:
1. Maybe I was wrong, but are these stamps printed just before dispensing or they are pre-loaded already printed?
2. Where I can get these stamps in MNH condition?
Like
Login to Like
this post
michael78651

26 Jul 2019
01:03:06pm
re: US Frama stamps?

Scott categorizes them as "Computer Vended Postage". In the Scott US Specialized Catalog, they are listed with the prefix "CVP".

Like
Login to Like
this post
virgilp

26 Jul 2019
08:03:11pm
re: US Frama stamps?

So, they cannot be considered FRAMA stamps, right?
Where are these stamps available in MNH condition? Only at vending machines?

Like
Login to Like
this post
Philatarium
Members Picture


APS #187980

26 Jul 2019
08:24:20pm
re: US Frama stamps?

I think "FRAMA" is a brand name for a company based in Switzerland, which I think supplied them to some European postal authorities in the beginning (and perhaps still does).

I think, but I could be wrong, that the USPS never used that particular vendor, and so that name never really caught on here, but I have seen 'frama' used generically to mean 'computer vended postage' (which is what Scott calls them).

For current and future US issues, you should be able to buy them at face value from any US post office that has an "APC" (Automated Postal Center). That's the standalone machine in post office lobbies that you see people use to weigh packages and buy postage for them. (There's usually a giant "mail box" right next to it to mail those packages.)

One option on the menu is to buy 'stamps', which are then printed on demand for you. (I think the minimum purchase is $1, but you have a pay with a card -- the machines do not take cash.) I'm not a big user of these machines, but when I tried to buy Christmas-themed stamps this last year, it seemed like you got the labels with designs only if you were purchasing the 1-oz first class rate. If you needed a different rate (either smaller or larger), then it was printed on a blank label stock instead.

Hope that's helpful! Perhaps someone with more experience can confirm or correct my comments here.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/store/the-philatarium
Philatarium
Members Picture


APS #187980

26 Jul 2019
08:30:44pm
re: US Frama stamps?

To find a USPS location that has those machines, go here:

https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorAction!input.action

Under 'Location Types', pull down and select 'Self-Service Kiosks'. Then in the next field over, enter your zipcode. On 'Within' next to that, select however many miles you'd like to find one within with the radius you choose, then press the 'search' button.

That should tell you which locations near you have that machine.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/store/the-philatarium
Philatarium
Members Picture


APS #187980

26 Jul 2019
08:34:38pm
re: US Frama stamps?

I don't know if it's ok to post a link to another stamp-selling site, but here's what comes up on a search for 'cvp' under US on Hipstamp.

https://www.hipstamp.com/search?keywords=cvp&parent_id=12

(I happened to have accumulated a few different types over the years, and have been thinking about listing them (I have a tiny little store on Hipstamp, but with no US listed yet), but I see for the most part, even the older ones, still sell for quite reasonable prices.)

Mods: Please delete this post if it's not allowed.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/store/the-philatarium
BenFranklin1902
Members Picture


Tom in Exton, PA

29 Jul 2019
08:39:40am
re: US Frama stamps?

We have the machine in the lobby of the Exton post office. I've bought both the flag and the Charlie Brown Xmas stamps there. Occasionally I'll try the machine to see what comes out. That's how I discovered the Peanuts stamps.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
smauggie
Members Picture


29 Jul 2019
10:11:43am
re: US Frama stamps?

These are printed by the APC (automated postal counter) machine. Karim Roder compiled a catalog for these recently. See Concise Catalog on United States Variable Denomination Stamps (1989-2018)


Like
Login to Like
this post

canalzonepostalhistory.wordpress.com
        

 

Author/Postings
virgilp

26 Jul 2019
11:29:13am

I see stamps issued by "Post Office Machines" from various countries, listed as FRAMA stamps.
In the attached scan, how are these US stamps considered?
I understand that a vending machine should offer the same stamps or booklets available at the font desk.
But these stamps are printed right at the moment I made the payment.
Are these stamps cataloged somewhere?
Virgil
Image Not Found

Few more questions:
1. Maybe I was wrong, but are these stamps printed just before dispensing or they are pre-loaded already printed?
2. Where I can get these stamps in MNH condition?

Like
Login to Like
this post
michael78651

26 Jul 2019
01:03:06pm

re: US Frama stamps?

Scott categorizes them as "Computer Vended Postage". In the Scott US Specialized Catalog, they are listed with the prefix "CVP".

Like
Login to Like
this post
virgilp

26 Jul 2019
08:03:11pm

re: US Frama stamps?

So, they cannot be considered FRAMA stamps, right?
Where are these stamps available in MNH condition? Only at vending machines?

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Philatarium

APS #187980
26 Jul 2019
08:24:20pm

re: US Frama stamps?

I think "FRAMA" is a brand name for a company based in Switzerland, which I think supplied them to some European postal authorities in the beginning (and perhaps still does).

I think, but I could be wrong, that the USPS never used that particular vendor, and so that name never really caught on here, but I have seen 'frama' used generically to mean 'computer vended postage' (which is what Scott calls them).

For current and future US issues, you should be able to buy them at face value from any US post office that has an "APC" (Automated Postal Center). That's the standalone machine in post office lobbies that you see people use to weigh packages and buy postage for them. (There's usually a giant "mail box" right next to it to mail those packages.)

One option on the menu is to buy 'stamps', which are then printed on demand for you. (I think the minimum purchase is $1, but you have a pay with a card -- the machines do not take cash.) I'm not a big user of these machines, but when I tried to buy Christmas-themed stamps this last year, it seemed like you got the labels with designs only if you were purchasing the 1-oz first class rate. If you needed a different rate (either smaller or larger), then it was printed on a blank label stock instead.

Hope that's helpful! Perhaps someone with more experience can confirm or correct my comments here.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
Philatarium

APS #187980
26 Jul 2019
08:30:44pm

re: US Frama stamps?

To find a USPS location that has those machines, go here:

https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorAction!input.action

Under 'Location Types', pull down and select 'Self-Service Kiosks'. Then in the next field over, enter your zipcode. On 'Within' next to that, select however many miles you'd like to find one within with the radius you choose, then press the 'search' button.

That should tell you which locations near you have that machine.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
Philatarium

APS #187980
26 Jul 2019
08:34:38pm

re: US Frama stamps?

I don't know if it's ok to post a link to another stamp-selling site, but here's what comes up on a search for 'cvp' under US on Hipstamp.

https://www.hipstamp.com/search?keywords=cvp&parent_id=12

(I happened to have accumulated a few different types over the years, and have been thinking about listing them (I have a tiny little store on Hipstamp, but with no US listed yet), but I see for the most part, even the older ones, still sell for quite reasonable prices.)

Mods: Please delete this post if it's not allowed.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
29 Jul 2019
08:39:40am

re: US Frama stamps?

We have the machine in the lobby of the Exton post office. I've bought both the flag and the Charlie Brown Xmas stamps there. Occasionally I'll try the machine to see what comes out. That's how I discovered the Peanuts stamps.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Check out my eBay Stuff! Username Turtles-Trading-Post"
Members Picture
smauggie

29 Jul 2019
10:11:43am

re: US Frama stamps?

These are printed by the APC (automated postal counter) machine. Karim Roder compiled a catalog for these recently. See Concise Catalog on United States Variable Denomination Stamps (1989-2018)


Like
Login to Like
this post

canalzonepostalhisto ...
        

Contact Webmaster | Visitors Online | Unsubscribe Emails | Facebook


User Agreement

Copyright © 2024 Stamporama.com