United States Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/GROUP J – Square design with straight outer frame, separate town mark

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GROUP J – Square design with straight outer frame line and separate town mark[edit | edit source]

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  • Authorized in 1960 the first meters were manufactured by the Postalia Division of Telefonbau und Normalzeit GMbH of West Germany and distributed in the U.S. by Tele-Norm Corporation. In 1970 the Postalia division was acquired by the German firm of Anker-Werke and renamed ADS (Anker Data Systems) Postalia. In 1993 the ADS-Postalia Division was sold to meter manufacturer Francotyp and the company was renamed Francotyp-Postalia.
  • All Group J meter stamps have a standing eagle at left or right of the frank.
  • All have either POSTALIA or T-N in the bottom panel with the meter number. The stamps were originally inscribed POSTALIA and later changed to T-N. After Anker-Werke acquired the company the T-Ns were replaced again by POSTALIA. Subtle differences exist in the two versions of POSTALIA. In the earlier version the "L" has a short foot. The later version has a longer foot.
  • The later version of POSTALIA (with wider "L") is also found in two slightly different sizes, the smaller of the two showing a wider gap between the left frame line and the "P".
  • Group J meters were first used on 7 October 1960.



Sub-group JA – Square frank with standing eagle at left, panel at bottom[edit | edit source]

  • Standing eagle at left facing right.
  • Two layers of wing feathers form the top of the frank.
  • Three solid stars are stacked at center right.
  • Separate town mark is at left of the frank, double circle except for Type JA4.
  • Meter models: KF1501, KF-1501/4, KF-1501/8, MS-5, T1000 (Conquest T1000).
  • Meter numbers in 300000, 600000, 750000, 800000, and 900000 series.
  • Earliest known use, October 7, 1960.




Type JA1 in 2001 edition

JA1.1. Postalia "KF-1501, KF-1501/8", October 7, 1960.

"POSTALIA" in bottom panel preceding meter number.
A. Meter numbers in 300000 series [RR]
B. Meter numbers in 600000 (KF-1501) series
C. Meter numbers in 800000 (KF-1501/8) series [S]
V/F: .00 (KF-1501 range: .01 to 9.99)
(KF1501/8 range: .01 to .99)
a. With meter number in 3 0000 series (second digit intentionally omitted)
b. Without decimal in the value figures
c. With date but without town mark
d. With single circle town mark (612145)

SURCHARGES (reading up or down):

-1. ⅝¢ AD'L PAID
-2. AD'L 6/10¢ PD.
-3. ¾¢ AD'L PAID"
-4. 8/10¢ AD'L PD.
-5. ⅞¢ AD'L PAID.

The 300000 series was short lived because it had been previously assigned to Pitney Bowes. Postalia responded by removing the second digit leaving meter numbers in the 3 0000 series. This is variety "a".



Type JA2 in 2001 edition

JA1.2. Postalia "KF1501/8". [S]

As Type JA1.1 but the wavy line triad in the value figures is much taller.
Meter numbers in 800000 series.
Fewer than 100 meters were fielded.
V/F: .00 (range: .01 to .99)



Type JA4 in 2001 edition

JA1.3. Postalia "KF-1501/4". [S]

Value figures without wavy line triad.
Capable of printing half cent values.
Meter numbers in 800000 series.
Fewer than 100 meters were fielded.
V/F: .00(½) (range: .00½ to .99½)



Type JA3 in 2001 edition

JA1.4. Postalia "KF-1501/4".

As Type JA1.3 without wavy line triad in the value figures.
Capable of printing tenths of a cent values.
Meter numbers in 750000 series.
V/F: .000 (range: .001 to .999)

It appears the KF-1501/4 model was used for only a short time with ½ cent capability (Type JA1.3) and was soon modified to print tenths of a cent values. It is possible a different model designation was assigned to the 'tenths of a cent' machine. If so, the model name is unknown at this time.



Type JA9 in 2001 edition

JA1.5. Postalia "MS-5", late 1985.

As previous JA1 types but the spacing between the town mark and frank is wider, approximately 11 mm instead of 5 mm.
Meter numbers in 400000, 950000, and 960000 series.
V/F: 0.00 (range: 0.01 to 9.99)
a. Without decimal in the value figures
b. Date present but without town mark
c. Town mark inverted, date upright (966296 WOODBRIDGE N.J.)


Type JA10 in 2001 edition

JA1.6. Postalia "MS-5", late 1985.

As Type JA1.5 but capable of printing tenths of a cent values.
Meter numbers in 950000, and 960000 series.
V/F: 0.000 (range: 0.001 to 9.999)
a. Without decimal in the value figures



Type JA11 in 2001 edition

JA1.7. Postalia "MS-5".

As Type JA1.5 but capable of printing values up to $99.99.
Meter numbers in 950000, and 960000 series.
V/F: 00.00 (range: 00.01 to 99.99)
a. Without decimal in the value figures
b. With PARCEL POST / INSURED / G - and number left of town mark



Type JA5 in 2001 edition

JA2.1. Postalia "KF-1501, KF-1501/8".

As Type JA1.1 but with "T-N" in bottom panel preceding meter number. (T-N stands for Tele-Norm, the distributor of Postalia meters in the U.S.)
Meter numbers 600300 up plus some lower numbers found on older machines that were refitted with the new die.
V/F: .00 (KF-1501 range: .01 to 9.99)
(KF1501/8 range: .01 to .99)
a. Without decimal in the value figures
b. Decimal in value figures inverted, appearing near the top of the numbers rather than the bottom
c. With date but without town mark
d. Town mark inverted, date upright (607611 DALLAS TEX., 610779 ANCHORAGE ALASKA)
e. With state abbreviation and ZIP code at bottom of town mark
f. Wavy line triad missing from the value figures

SURCHARGES (reading up or down):

-1. AD'l ¼¢ PAID -6. 4/10¢ AD'L PD.
-2. AD'L 3/10¢ PD. -7. 7/10¢ AD'L PD.
-3. AD'L 4/10¢ PD. -8. ¾¢ AD'L PAID
-4. 6/10¢ AD'L PD. -9. 8/10¢ AD'L PD.
-5. ⅝¢ AD'L PAID. -10. ⅞¢ AD'L PAID.








NOTE: Varieties on meter numbers 600326, 600385, 600556, 600875, and 601390 such as inverted town marks and ornaments or permit numbers inserted into the town mark are philatelic fabrications prepared by Henry Meisel of the American Metered Postage Society during the 1960s and 1970s.


Type JA6 in 2001 edition

JA2.2. Postalia "KF1501/8".

As Type JA1.2, with tall triad, but with "T-N" in bottom panel preceding meter number.
Meter numbers in 800000 series.
Approximately 250 meters were fielded.
V/F: .00 (range: .01 to .99)
a. Without decimal in the value figures



Type JA7 in 2001 edition

JA2.3. Postalia "KF-1501/4".

As Type JA1.4 with "T-N" in bottom panel preceding meter number.
Meter numbers in 750000 series.
V/F: .000 (range: .001 to .999)
a. Without decimal in the value figures
b. With comman instead of a stop in the value figures   ,000     [Rare]










Type JA8 in 2001 edition

JA2.4. Postalia "KF-1501/4". [R]

As Type JA2.3 but instead of decimal fractional value it can print a half cent figure (which shows as a blank space when not needed).
Meter numbers in 750000 series.
V/F: .00(½) (range: .00½ to .99½)
a. Without decimal in the value figures (shown)

SURCHARGES (reading up or down. These are all scarce to very rare):

-1.     1/8¢ AD'L PAID
-2.     1/4¢ AD'L PAID
-3.     AD'L 3/8¢ PD.
-4.     3/4¢ AD'L PAID
-5.     7/8¢ AD'L PAID
-6.     8/10¢ Ad'l PD.




Type JA12 in 2001 edition

JA3.1. Postalia "T-1000" (aka Conquest) (digital), 1994.

Similar to Type JA1.7 but the frank frame is narrower, 23 mm wide instead of 25-26 mm wide.
The value figures are applied through a thermal mylar process rather than by ink on die. The value figures are slightly thicker because of this.
The decimal in the value figures is below the level of the bottom of the numbers.
Meter numbers in 260000-270000 and 780000-790000 series.
A. With impression counter number vertical between the town mark and frank
B. Without impression counter number
Value figures evenly centered.
V/F: 00.00 (range: 00.01 to 99.99)


Type JA14 in 2001 edition

JA3.2. Postalia "T-1000" (aka Conquest) (digital), January 11, 1996.

As Type JA3.1A but the eagle is mostly solid rather than outlined.
Meter numbers in 260000-340000 and 1000000 series.
A. V/F: 00.00 (range: 00.01 to 99.99)
B. V/F: 00.000 (range: 00.001 to 99.999)
a. Misprint caused by software error
b. With permit number at left of town mark
c. Used for federal government Official Mail, with slogan reading U.S. OFFICIAL MAIL and penalty statement. One example reported, from meter 263720, Anchorage Alaska, 2005.

The 00.00 value figures are not evenly centered as they are with Type JA3.1. They are centered more to the left leaving room at right for a fractional value. Apparently when the postage amount does not include a fractional cent the space is left blank rather than showing an underlined zero.








Unlisted in 2001 edition

JA3.3. Postalia "T-1000" (aka Conquest) (digital).    [Probably very rare]

Eagle is mostly solid as with JA3.2 but the frank dimensions and centered value figures are as JA3.1.
Two meters reported, 795817 and 795363. Others may exist.
With impression counter number vertical between the town mark and frank
V/F: 00.00 (range: 00.01 to 99.99)




Type JA13 in 2001 edition

JA4. Postalia "MS-5", December 12, 1996.

Similar to Types JA1.5 through JA1.7 but the frank is wider at 29-30 mm rather than 26 mm.
The eagle is also mostly solid (as with Type JA3.2) rather than outlined.
Meter numbers in 510000 series.
A. V/F: 0.00 (range: 0.01 to 9.99)
B. V/F: 0.00 (range: 0.01 to 9.99)
C. V/F: 0.000 (range: 0.001 to 9.999) (probably a factory error.)
D. V/F: 00.00 (range: 00.01 to 99.99)
E. V/F: 000 (range: 001 to 999)
Type JA4 is the only JA Type that had a single circle town mark as standard issue.
a. Value figures as A but without decimal leaving a space between the first and second digits
b. As B, double circle town mark (514160)





Sub-group JB – Square frank with standing eagle at right, panel at bottom[edit | edit source]

  • Standing eagle at right facing left.
  • Two thin layers of wing feathers form the top of the frank.
  • Three solid stars are stacked at center left.
  • Separate single-circle town mark is at left of the frank.
  • Meter model 7000 electronic, used with the 7500 series of mailing machines.
  • Meter numbers in 600000 and 700000 series.
  • Earliest known use, December 3, 1990.



Type JB1 in 2001 edition

JB1.1. Postalia "7000" (aka Electronic).

"POSTALIA" in bottom panel preceding meter number.
Meter numbers in 600000, 700000, and 720000 series.
V/F: 0.00 (KF-1501 range: 0.01 to 99.99)
a. Without town mark and date
b. With date but without town mark


Type JB2 in 2001 edition

JB1.2. Postalia "7000" (aka Electronic).

As Type JB1.1 but capable of printing tenths of a cent values.
Meter numbers in 600000 and 710000 series.
V/F: .00 (range: .001 to 9.999)
a. With date but without town mark