the impression made by the post office on a cover indicating the time and place of mailing. Postmarks may be made by machine or handstamp. Postmarks are most commonly circular, but are also found as ovals, boxes, straight lines and spray ons. Postmarks are not cancels, although they are sometimes used for that purpose, and the two terms are often and incorrectly used interchangeably.

A marking applied to a cover to show the date and point of mailing or arrival. (cachet postal; marque postale)

Any mark, handstruck, machine-applied or in manuscript form, used on postal items in order items in order to cancel the stamps and/or record the date and origin of their transit through the mail services. (see Cancellation).

A mark, applied by hand or machine, to cancel the stamp and thus prevent re-use. Also a general term for any postal markings applied to mail.

a cancellation mark stamped on mail by postal officials; indicates the post office and date of mailing

stamp with a postmark to indicate date and time of mailing

a cancellation or marking made on a postage stamp , letter or package indicating its approximate date of use

a mark stamped on mail by the official postal authorities (or agents) for postal purposes

a mark that shows the place and date of mailing

a postal marking made on a letter or package indicating the approximate dateand time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service

a postal marking made on a letter or package indicating the (more or less precise) date and time that the item was delivered into the care

A postal cancellation imprint on letters flats and parcels. The imprint shows date code of the post office that accepted custody of the mail item.

a round circle to the left of the stamp showing when and where the letter was mailed

Any mark cancelling the stamp and recording an item's passage through the mails.

A mark indicating when and from where a letter was sent. It may or may not also serve as a cancel.

A postal marking which indicates the time and point of origin of the mail to which it is applied. Often loosely used interchangeably with "Cancel."

Any official postal marking. The term is usually used specifically in reference to cancellations bearing the name of a post office of origin and a mailing date.

The postal services official mark on the letter, envelope, letter sheet or postcard to show the time, date and place of posting, and to cancel the stamp.

is the ink stamp the postal service puts on a letter indicating the date it began the process of delivering the letter.

A franking or cancellation on items sent through the post showing the date and location from where it was mailed - these normally deface the postage stamps to prevent their further use.

A cancellation imprint on letters and packages showing the time, date, and post office or sectional center of origin.

Cancellation mark on mail shoiwng date and place of mailing.

The marking applied to mail to denote place, date and even time of mailing or arrival.

A usually very dimple mark put on envelopes or other mailing pieces, touching the stamp, showing the date and location of the post office where it was mailed.