Hidden Meanings of Postage Stamps – The Silent Messenger

The Language of Postage Stamps: A Silent Messenger

Postage stamps, seemingly mundane in their purpose, hold a secret language that goes beyond their utilitarian role. While the government dictates their placement for practical reasons, lovers and romantics have found a way to infuse these small adhesive pieces of paper with hidden messages. Let’s explore the clandestine meanings attached to the position and presentation of postage stamps.

The Government’s Perspective

The official guidelines state that a postage stamp should be affixed to the upper right-hand corner of a letter. This standardization aids in the efficient cancellation of stamps through specialized machines. However, matters of the heart often defy official regulations, leading to a subtle form of communication through stamps.

Decoding the Positions

1. Slight Angle in Upper Right-Hand Corner: “I expect an immediate reply.”
2. Angle of 45 Degrees: “I am provoked at your long silence.”
3. Upside Down: “You are very cruel.”
4. Half an Inch from Upper and Right-Hand Edges: “Expect me tonight.”
5. Upper Left-Hand Corner: “Be careful how you reply to this.”
6. Lower Right-Hand Corner: “Beware! Father has caught on.”

Symbolic Tearing

1. Tearing in Half (Upper Right-Hand Corner): “Our friendship is at an end.”
2. Tearing in Half (Upper Left-Hand Corner): “You have broken my heart.”

Playing with Stamps

1. Two One-Cent Stamps (Side by Side, Upper Right-Hand Corner): “My love for you has doubled.”
2. Two Penny Stamps (Upper Left-Hand Corner): “You have a rival.”
3. Two Penny Stamps (One Above the Other): “I will call to see you tonight.”
4. Two Two-Cent Stamps (Where One Is Necessary): “My love for you stops at nothing.”
5. Two Penny Stamps Reversed: “I am thinking of you with joy.”

Love Notes Under the Stamp

Lovers often go a step further by placing a message of love under the stamp, adding an extra layer of secrecy that requires the stamp to be removed for the message to be unveiled.

In the world of postage stamps, every placement and orientation can be a silent messenger of emotions. What started as a practical aspect of letter-sending has evolved into a subtle art of expression, allowing individuals to convey sentiments that go beyond the written words inside the letter. Next time you receive a letter with a stamp slightly askew, you might find yourself decoding a hidden message of the heart.