Answered by Suzanne Morgan, founder, Print Buyers Online.com

Question:
What is an "indicia" and who provides this information?

J.G.

Answer:
An Indicia comprises the postal permit information that is printed on materials mailed by the U.S. Postal Service. The indicia include information such as the post office location that is the site of the mailing, the permit number belonging to the mailer, and how to sort the mail (e.g., Presorted Standard, etc.). Some buying companies that mail large quantities of printed materials create their own indicia. But more often the buying company uses its mail house’s indicia and gives the mail house a check to cover the amount of postage that will be deposited into the postal account.

For an example of indicia, look at where the stamp would usually be placed on any non-personal mail you receive. It looks like a little black box with a city, state, permit number and other information in it.

Best wishes,
Suzanne