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Registered mail
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Registered mail describes letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and need a chain of custody that provides more control than regular mail. The mail has its details recorded in a register to enable their location to be tracked, sometimes with added insurance to cover loss. Registered mail has many distinctive handstamps and registration labels. Many countries have issued special postal stationery for registered mail.
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Encyclopedia
Registered mail describes letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and need a chain of custody that provides more control than regular mail. The mail has its details recorded in a register to enable their location to be tracked, sometimes with added insurance to cover loss. Registered mail has many distinctive handstamps and registration labels. Many countries have issued special postal stationery for registered mail. Earlier similar services were known as Money Letters
Generally, the item is pre-paid with the normal postage rate and an additional charge known as a registration fee. Upon payment of this fee the sender is given a receipt, and (usually) a unique numbered registration label is affixed to the letter. As the letter travels from post office to post office and through any sorting office, it has to be signed for on a ledger. This process is completed when the letter is delivered and the receiver signs for the item.
In most countries, Registered Mail comes with a 13-digits reference number. The last 2 letters usually represent the country where the registered mail is originated from. E.g. RR913282511SG.
History
In the turbulent political and religious climate during the reign of Mary Tudor is found the earliest reference to a registration system in the Kingdom of England in London in July 1556 whereby: that the poste between this and the Northe should eche of them keepe a booke and entrye of every letter that he shall receive, the tyme of the deliverie thereof unto his hands with the parties names that shall bring it unto him, whose handes he shall also take to his booke, witnessing the same note to be trewe. This was likely for state security rather than mail security. In 1603, another Order of Council was made whereby all letters had to be recorded. This system was in effect a registration system although it applied to all items sent via the post.
William Dockwra's 1680s London Penny Post also recorded all details on letters accepted for onward transmission but unlike the general post office, gave compensation for losses.
In the United Kingdom, up until the 1990s, the Royal Mail provided a "Registered delivery" service now replaced by "Royal Mail Special Delivery", which provided extra security and insurance against loss (often using special stamps, postmarks and blue lines).
See also
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