notation on a mailing piece or envelope, authorized by the U.S. Postal Service, indicating that postage has been prepaid by the mailer; also called permit imprint. This postage payment method is available for First-Class mail and Standard Mail (A) and (B). It is used instead of a meter imprint, meter strip, or postage stamp. An indicia is the least costly means of applying postage, but it makes the advertising nature of the mail piece easily recognizable. The content of the indicia varies by class of mail but may include class, permit number, entry point, name of mailer, and amount of postage paid (see illustration). An indicia may be printed directly on the mailpiece, on an address label, or on a wrapper. Preprinting the indicia locks the mailer into a fixed postage rate and class. The indicia must be aligned parallel with the address and placed in the upper-right hand corner of the address area; otherwise it leaves the envelope free for design and copy. There are no size or color requirements other than legibility. Minimum quantity standards apply.
