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Author
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Topic: Russian-stamped ISS mail posted in the US?
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cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 08-15-2023 02:26 AM
   
In case a cosmonaut writes me a letter during his stay on board of the ISS which will be posted from the US: Is it allowed that it already has a Russian stamp with a Russian on-board postmark? |
PeterO
Member Posts: 455
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 08-15-2023 08:53 AM
I looked for any applicable postal regulations, but didn't find anything pertaining to this. However, I would caution against trying it. Even if the USPS does not have any prohibition against it, each individual post office or postal sorting center it travels through may reject it. Since this is an irreplaceable item, it would be much safer to send it in another envelope, with a stiffener on each side to keep it from being folded or damaged. |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 08-15-2023 01:41 PM
Thank you for your opinion, Peter. |
Axman
Member Posts: 348
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-15-2023 02:32 PM
As the originating mail came from a Russian vessel (spacecraft) using Russian stamps at Russian postage rates, it is equivalent to Paquebot postage. Both Russia and the US are signatories to the UPU regulations, and therefore so long as the envelope is clearly marked Paquebot and with the vessels name, then it should be treated exactly as internal mail regulations.(Of course, whether that happens or not is open to the usual vagaries attendant with the mail.) |
Antoni RIGO
Member Posts: 318
From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 08-16-2023 04:04 AM
Walter, I am not sure at all but I think all countries signed UPU regulations at any time. So, all letters from/to international destinations travel with stamps issued by origin country, i.e. all letters travel from origin post office to recipient. And this is the point. Is the ISS a post office? You know, better than me, that if you would send a letter to ISS, you should first contact with a cosmonaut, who delivered it to ISS and probably himself postmark it onboard ISS. Even Russian post doesn't allow to send letters to ISS through mail, equal than you can send letters to any Russian city, why US post should accept a letter with Russian stamps and postmarks delivered by an individual, even if cosmonaut returned from space?? Meanwhile ISS Russian segment not be considered a post office by Russian post, we the collectors, have this issue. I am agree with Peter that safer solution would be to send it inside another envelope. Then, when letter comes to recipient this would be sent by mail in two systems/parts. - From ISS to Earth onboard Soyuz capsule throughout cosmonaut personal items.
- From Earth return point to final destination by regular mail.
In my opinion, both envelopes would be shown to demonstrate how works currently mail from space to Earth.Furthermore, if Earth return point is any location inside Russia, then it would be not necessary two envelopes. |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 08-16-2023 06:06 AM
Alan and Antoni, thank you very much for your contributions! Although I have been receiving letters from cosmonauts onboard a space station since the end of orbital complex MIR, I never had the idea to have one of them treated as "Paquebot." The onboard-postmark of the ISS gives the postal code 101000. This is the Moscow main post office. Booths of the Russian Post at stamp exhibitions in foreign countries use the same postal code. I fully agree with you: It should be possible to send the letters with just Russian stamps from the US to Europe, if the letter was returned by a Dragon. The difficult political situation would make this even more desirable. Of course, whether this will be accepted depends on the postal clerk. |
Axman
Member Posts: 348
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 08-16-2023 09:01 AM
It is an interesting situation Walter. Hopefully all goes well with whichever route it goes through. |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 834
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 11-03-2023 07:54 AM
The UPU regulations require that the Paquebot mail is posted from the post office next to the harbour the vessel imbarkes. SpaceX Dragon Crew members don't have the opportunity to access such a post office. |
Axman
Member Posts: 348
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 11-04-2023 02:28 PM
My understanding is this - (examples for clarity):Swedish ship sails to Pacific. Onboard a letter is posted using Swedish postage stamp. Ship PO applies Paquebot rubber stamp. Ship docks at Hiroshima, Japan. Letter is taken to Hiroshima post office and receives a Japanese cancellation and travels through the post to Austria. Russian spacecraft is launched. Onboard a letter is posted using Russian postage stamp. A Paquebot postmark is applied. Letter is landed in USA. Letter is taken to nearest US PO where a US cancellation is applied and letter travels through the post to Austria. I see no need for the crew to be involved in working out which post office to use? |
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