Self-addressed stamped envelope
Encyclopedia
A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), stamped self-addressed envelope (SSAE), or just self addressed envelope (SAE) in the UK
, is an envelope
with the sender's name and address on it, with affixed paid postage
and mailed to a company or private individual. Often, SASEs are used when requesting information about products or services or sending manuscripts to literary agents.
Companies and charities use SASEs in order to save on postage; each recipient can afford the cost of a single stamp and envelope, but the business does not want to pay for the postage on all the letters it sends out. One of the most common uses is when companies are legally required to send something upon request, such as a "winners list" at the end of a sweepstakes
; the company will require a SASE with the request to avoid paying postage.
SASEs are also vital in the hobby of autograph
collecting and amateur radio
. An enthusiast will send a request to a celebrity
or athlete through the mail. Included with the autograph request as a SASE, in which the celebrity or athlete is to return the autographed item. For amateur radio, operators will send a SASE when requesting the other station's QSL
card.
s are used, and these can be purchased over the counter at Post Offices. In many cases and as a courtesy users of IRCs also send a Self Addressed Envelope to save the receiver the cost and time of buying and filling out an envelope.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, is an envelope
Envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card....
with the sender's name and address on it, with affixed paid postage
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
and mailed to a company or private individual. Often, SASEs are used when requesting information about products or services or sending manuscripts to literary agents.
Companies and charities use SASEs in order to save on postage; each recipient can afford the cost of a single stamp and envelope, but the business does not want to pay for the postage on all the letters it sends out. One of the most common uses is when companies are legally required to send something upon request, such as a "winners list" at the end of a sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
; the company will require a SASE with the request to avoid paying postage.
SASEs are also vital in the hobby of autograph
Autograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
collecting and amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
. An enthusiast will send a request to a celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
or athlete through the mail. Included with the autograph request as a SASE, in which the celebrity or athlete is to return the autographed item. For amateur radio, operators will send a SASE when requesting the other station's QSL
QSL
QSL is one of the Q codes used in radiocommunication and radio broadcasting. A Q code message can stand for a statement or a question . In this case, QSL? means "do you confirm receipt of my transmission?" while QSL means "I confirm receipt of your transmission". Some also take it to mean "Query...
card.
International reply coupons
SASEs cannot easily be used for foreign mail, since senders rarely have supplies of mint foreign stamps. Rather, international reply couponInternational reply coupon
An international reply coupon is a coupon that can be exchanged for one or more postage stamps representing the minimum postage for an unregistered priority airmail letter of up to twenty grams sent to another Universal Postal Union member country...
s are used, and these can be purchased over the counter at Post Offices. In many cases and as a courtesy users of IRCs also send a Self Addressed Envelope to save the receiver the cost and time of buying and filling out an envelope.