# Chapter 20 The Post

This chapter was last modified on 21 November, 1997.

Please send all bug reports, additions etc. to the Editor, Kaleb S. KEITHLEY. Make certain RCSFAQ appears in the subject.

## Section 20.1 Postal rates

Heinz Flemming writes: Here are the new German postal rates. Maybe someone is interested in this information.

                               postal rates from germany (valid from 1.4.93)
                               ---------------------------------------------

                               maximum      weight     europa      world
                                                        air      air  surface
                               ----------------------------------------------
                                    mm         til        DM      DM      DM
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    postcard                   148x105     500g/m**2    0.80    2.00    2.00
    aerogramme                 220x110          5g      ----    2.00    ----
    standard-letter            235x125x5       20g      1.00    3.00    2.00
    compact-letter             235x125x10      50g      2.00    4.00    2.00
    maxi-letter international  length +        50g      3.00    6.00    3.00
                               width +        100g      5.00   10.00    5.00
                               height =       250g      8.00   16.00    8.00
                               900 mm         500g     12.00   24.00   12.00
                               maximal        750g     16.00   32.00   16.00
                               length =      1000g     20.00   40.00   20.00
                               600 mm        1500g     28.00   56.00   28.00
                                             2000g     36.00   72.00   36.00

Dave Gomberg writes:

    Postal rates to Netherlands:   (Scandanavia and Great Britain are different)

              <----------   AIR   ------------>       <------   Surface  -------->

     Weight
    (pounds)  Letter   Express  Parcel    M bag       Letter  Packet   Book  Parcel

       1       12.65    16.00    9.25                   6.31    3.20   1.36   6.55
       2       25.13    21.00   14.25                  11.59    5.08   2.32   6.55
       4       37.61    34.00   24.25                  21.59    8.38   4.12  10.75
       8                53.80   41.25                                  7.72  19.15
      16                93.00   73.25     64.00                       14.92  35.95

## Section 20.2 Address labels for your correspondence

William Krebs writes:

There are several choices of return addresses I employ in the U.S.A.

1. Pre-printed - these are usually supplied free by charity organizations who hope you send a contribution. They are rather small and consist in two or three pads of 25--50 - they usually contain the organization logo (these can be trimmed off). Address about 1/2 inch by 1 inch.

Sometimes there are ads for 100--200 address labels by companies that advertise in magazines. The cost about $2.00 per hundred + postage. These too are small and rather than an organization logo, they can have a picture to the side of the address.

2. Address Stamp - a pre-inked address stamp. I ordered mine through a magazine ad for about $3.00 plus postage. This too is rather small.

John Farrell (farrell@coral.cs.jcu.edu.au) replied: $3! We're looking at $40! (in Australia)

3. Custom printed - obtain some blank labels and print them using a computer. You will have to obtain labels on sheets which could be feed into a computer. These will contain larger print sizes depending on the computer print size. Unless you can obtain inexpensive labels this is the most costly option.

Company printed labels are geared to a USA (and in some cases Canadian) addresses - 3 lines. Line 1 - your name, line 2 - your street address, line 3 - your City and State (Province) along with Zip (Zone) code.

Kenneth B. Streeter writes: A fourth choice, available to US mail users, is to order pre-printed, pre-stamped envelopes from the USPS. Preprinted with up-to four lines, a box (50) of #6 3/4 envelopes are $17.20, and 50 #10 envelopes are $17.40. Remember that this includes the envelopes, printing, and first-class postage. (50 * $.29 = $14.50)

Bruce Werner writes: There are several companies selling pre-printed address labels, used mostly for return address (I also use them for the address on SASE). They have self-stick, lick- adhesive, and some even offer clear self-stick.

These companies are (among others): Current (selling all sorts of stationery supplies), Walter Drake and Harriet Carter (both selling trinkets and other stuff). Also check the back of home or women's magazines. They usually have ads for address labels. Most will offer a variety of styles and sizes, and with up to 5 (maybe even 6) lines of text.

## Section 20.3 Postal codes

### Section 20.3.1 Postal codes

Postal Code Formats of the World 14 November 1994

This is a general description of the postal code formats used in various countries of the world. This is not a worldwide listing of postal codes, but rather an idea as to general structure and format, plus the major code zones and special interest items.

This file may be obtained via the WWW

The country is listed, followed by the format (a # represents a number, an @ represents an alphabetic character), then other details on the format.

The format may have a preceding country code as indicated in thr format in brackets (such as [A-] for Austria). Within the CEPT (Communaute Europeenne des Postes et Telegraphes?) number-only postal codes may be prefixed with the country code as defined by the UN Convention on Road Traffic (1949, in force 1952) in lieu of the name of the country on the last line. See individual countries for an indicator of a country code preceding the postal code. (1)

Descriptions may contain "wild card" characters of # or @, representing digits or letters accordingly. Thus 3### means postal codes from 3000 to 3999. Such wild card designations are only an indication of format; not all of the possible numbers are necessarily assigned postal codes within a given country.

The [postfix] identifier after the format will indicate which countries have their postal code as a "postfix" after the city/town name. Otherwise, postal codes appear before the place name. (1)

The rest of the net is invited to pitch in and fix/embellish this listing so that more countries are represented and that those countries have their postal coding systems described in sufficient detail.

Updates: mail to djcl@io.org

    ........................................................................
    Algeria
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Argentina
    ####

    1000 Buenos Aires
    2000 Rosario
    3000 Santa Fe'
    9000 Comodoro Rivadavia

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Armenia
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Australia
    ####  [postfix]

    The first digit identifies the state. The four digits as a whole
    will identify a place or post office.

    First digits and States (a few exceptions exist):

    08## NT  2### NSW+ACT  3### Vic.  4### Qld.  5### SA  6### WA  7### Tas.

    Example exceptions include 0872 for Ernabella and Fregon in SA (rather
    than in NT), or 4825 Alexandria NT (rather than in Qld).

    (6)
    ........................................................................
    Austria
    [A-]####

    Vienna street address codes are 1##0, where ## is the Bezirk number
    (from 01 to 19).

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Azerbaijan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Bahrain
    ###
    ####

    Variable 3-4 digit codes apparently.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Bangladesh
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Belarus
    (unknown)

    Had former USSR post codes. UPU & ITU sources give addresses without codes.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Belgium
    [B-]####

    Code ranges:

    10## Brussels
    2000 Antwerpen
    3500 Hasselt
    5000 Namur
    6000
    6700 Arlon
    7000
    9000 Gent

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Bermuda
    @@ ##
    @@ @@ (for post box addresses)

    The first two letters indicate post office:

    BY Baileys Bay           CR Crawl               DD St David's
    DV Devonshire            FL Flatts              GE St George
    HM Hamilton              HS Harrington Sound    MA Mangrove Bay
    PG Paget                 SB Somerset Bridge     SN Southampton
    WK Warwick

    The last two characters are numbers indicating the route of delivery.
    If the address is a postal box, the last two characters are usually
    "BX" except in Hamilton where the code is "AX" to "JX" (last character
    is X) depending on box number. "GE CX" represents the Airport box numbers
    (under St George post office).

    The old postal code system format was #-##.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Bolivia
    ####

    Information on these codes doubtful.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Bosnia and Hercegovina
    #####

    Numbering ranges 7####, 80###, 88###

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Brazil
    #####-###

    Old code was just ##### (5 digit code). No word if the 5-digit format is
    still in use or still usable.

    Code Ranges:

    01000 Sao Paulo
    77000 Brasilia

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Brunei Darussalam
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Bulgaria
    [BG-]####

    BG country coding not generally used - appears very rarely in other
    countries lists of country codes.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Canada
    @#@ #@#  [postfix]

    The first letter of a Canadian Postal Code identifies a province, or
    part of a province:

    A = Newfoundland          B = Nova Scotia           C = Prince Edward Island
    E = New Brunswick         G = eastern Quebec        H = Metro Montreal, Quebec
    J = western Quebec        K = eastern Ontario       L = central Ontario
    M = Metro Toronto         N = southwestern Ontario  P = northern Ontario
    R = Manitoba              S = Saskatchewan          T = Alberta
    V = British Columbia      X = Northwest Territories Y = Yukon Territory

    In the second position (the first number), a 0 indicates that the postal
    code is for a whole post office, usually indicated for rural communities.
    The 6th character (last number) is also usually a 0 in such cases (as
    in L0M 1S0). All addresses for the community have that postal code,
    whether these are rural routes, postal boxes or in some cases, smaller
    towns with letter carrier routes.

    Other numbers for the 2nd position indicate the postal code is in a larger
    urban community with letter carrier service. The postal code is thus precise
    enough to identify street blocks, particular rural routes or groups of
    postal boxes.

    Postal Codes are always separated into two blocks of three characters.
    The first three characters are the Forward Sortation Area (FSA), an
    "area code" to identify a district. The last three characters thus
    identify the block, postal box set, or post office within the FSA.

    Some special FSAs: K1A is for federal government activities in Ottawa;
    M7A represents the Ontario provincial government, G1A represents the
    Quebec provincial government. One code document indicated that A9W,
    A9X and A9Z were used as test FSAs (these would not be for actual
    locations; likely to check equipment, etc).

    H0H 0H0 is a special code used to write to "Santa Claus". This is a
    special promotion prior to the Christmas holidays.

    The letters D, F, I, O, Q and U are never used in a Canadian Postal
    Code, due to potential conflicts with other letters or numbers.

    Canada Post Corporation announced plans to extend the Postal Code by
    adding extra numeric digits. This is intended to identify the exact
    street number on a block. or the particular postal box. As of this
    writing, none of these extended postal codes have been announced.

    ........................................................................
    Chad
    #####

    A country coding of 'E' was noted, though this conflicted with Spain's
    code, and was thus suspect.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Chile
    ########
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    China
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Christmas Island
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Cocos (Keeling) Island
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Colombia

    Colombia
    Definitely only a city code. Not a national system

    Single digit city codes for use within cities only. There is no
    known national postal code system yet.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Costa Rica
    ####

    1000 San Jose'

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Cote d'Ivoire

    Only a city code for Abidjan of format ##.
    No national system exists yet.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Croatia
    #####

    Codes found in 4#### and 5#### series.
    (No country code used for mailing purposes, although HR would
    be Croatia's country coding)

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Cuba
    #####

    A Havana town district code (format ##) may still be used.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Cyprus
    [CY-]####

    Cyprus adopted postcodes 1 Oct 1994.

    The number ranges for the administrative areas are:

    Nicosia:   1000-2999
    Limassol:  3000-4999
    Famagusta: 5000-5999
    Larnaka:   6000-7999
    Pafos:     8000-8999
    Keryneia:  9000-9999

    Note that the system covers the WHOLE island, including that area
    currently called North Cyprus. There are only a few numbers detailed for
    Famagusta and none at all for Keryneia.

    Note also that the address instructions for incoming foreign mail ask for
    the use of CY- preceding the postcode.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Czech Republic
    ### ##

    Not sure if country code used now (was CS-).

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Denmark (including Greenland)
    [DK-]####

    Denmark uses various town codes: C, F, J, L, M, N, NO0(N O slash), NV,
    O (O slash, Unicode 00D8), S, Sj, SO0(S O slash) SV, V. These apply in
    quite a number of towns - not just Copenhagen & Frederiksberg.

    39## is Greenland range of numbers

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Egypt
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    El Salvador
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Estonia
    [EE-]####

    ###### was the old USSR code format. Codes found in 2### and 3### series.

    Old USSR codes were in the 20#### series.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Faroe Islands
    [FR-]###
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    French Guiana
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Finland
    [FIN-]#####

    FIN-22###  Aland Islands

    Formerly SF-##### country code prefix format, until 1 January 1993 when
    the ISO-3 code of FIN came into effect.

    For example, the code FIN-80140 represents Joensuu, with the "14"
    in the 3rd and 4th digits representing the 14th zone, in this
    case being the suburb Noljakka.

    Practically all codes end in 0, except for P.O. Box addresses, which
    is that of the office, but ends in 1 instead of 0.

    (1,2,4)
    ........................................................................
    France
    [F-]#####

    The first two digits of the five digit code will identify the region,
    or "de'partement". This is the same de'partement numbering as used on
    car registration plates, and was originally based on an alphabetical
    sort of the names (as established in Napoleon's times). Later, some
    de'partements (90 and above) were added, and some names were changed.

    A Capital (pre'fecture) normally gets a code of the form xx000.

    Other main cities (including but not limited to the sous-pre'fectures)
    tend to get codes of the form xxx00.

    Some large cities have codes based on the "arrondissement" (neighbourhood)
    within the city (formats 750##, 6900#, 1300# for Paris, Lyon, Marseille
    respectively). Within Paris, the Northern half of the 16th arrondissement
    is 75116 instead of 75016.

    Known de'partement code ranges follow:

    01### Ain (Bourg-en-Bresse, Gex, Nantua)
    02### Aisne (Laon)
    03### Allier
    04### Alpes de Haute Provence
    05### Hautes Alpes (Gap, Briancon)
    06### Alpes Maritimes (Nice)
    07### Ardeche (Privas)
    08### Ardennes
    09### Ariege (Foix)
    10### Aube
    11### Aude
    12### Aveyron (Rodez)
    13### Bouches du Rhone (Marseille, Aix-en-Provence)
    14### Calvados (Caen)
    17### (Angouleme)
    20### Corse (Ajaccio, Bastia, Corte, Calvi)
    21### Cote d'Or (Dijon)
    22### Cotes du Nord
    23### Creuse (Gueret)
    25### Doubs (Besancon)
    26### Drome (Valence)
    29### Finistere (Brest, Quimper)
    30### Gard (Nimes)
    31### Haute-Garonne (Toulouse)
    32### Gers
    33### Gironde (Bordeaux)
    34### Herault (Montpellier, Nimes)
    35### Ille et Vilaine (Rennes)
    37### (Tours)
    38### Isere (Grenoble)
    39### Jura (Lons-le-Saunier)
    40### Landes (Mont-de-Marsan)
    41### Loir-et-Cher
    42### Loire (Roanne)
    44### Loire-Atlantique (Nantes)
    45### (Orleans)
    48### Lozere
    49### Maine
    50### Manche (St Malo, Cherbourg)
    54### (Nancy)
    57### (Metz)
    59### Nord (Lille, Valenciennes)
    63### Puy-de-Dome (Clermont-Ferrand)
    67### Bas Rhin (Strasbourg)
    68### Haut Rhin (Colmar, Mulhouse)
    69### Rhone (Lyon)
    72### Sarthe (Le Mans)
    73### Savoie (Chambery, Albertville, Aix-les-Bains)
    74### Haute-Savoie (Annecy, Annemasse, Thonon, Evian, Cluses)
    75### Paris
    78### Yvelines (St-Germain-en-Laye, Versailles)
    80### Somme (Amiens)
    83### Var (Toulon)
    84### Vaucluse (Avignon)
    88### Vosges (Epinal)
    90### Territoire de Belfort
    91### Essonne (Evry)
    92### Hauts de Seine (Boulonge, St-Cloud)
    93### Seine-St-Denis (Bobigny)
    94### Val de Marne (Creteil)
    95### Val d'Oise (Cergy-Pointoise)
    971## Guadeloupe
    972## Martinique
    973##
    974## Reunion
    975## St Pierre et Miquelon
    980## Principaute' de Monaco (uses MC-980##, not F-980##)

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Gaza Strip
    #####
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Georgia
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Germany
    [D-]#####

    New 5-digit scheme introduced 1 July 1993, following re-unification of
    Germany. Previously, the separate systems were in effect, with a letter
    to identify the West (W) and East (O = Ost) systems.

    The former West German system used 4-digit codes.

    The former East system also used 4-digit codes with DDR country code
    that could precede the post code.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Greece
    [GR-]### ##
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Guadeloupe
    #####

    Based on France system. Numbering range 971##.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Guatemala
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Guinea-Bissau
    ####

    Information doubtful/unconfirmed.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Hungary
    [H-]####
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Iceland
    [IS-]###
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    India
    ### ###  [postfix]

    110000 New Delhi
    190000 Srinagar
    400000 Bombay
    700000 Calcutta
    744000 Port Blair

    The PIN codes are an all-numeric code where the first digit identifies
    the general region. An example code is 400 001.

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Indonesia
    #####

    10000 Jakarta

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Iran
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Ireland

    # or #@ format city codes in Dublin, though this represents a zone system
    for use within Dublin rather than a national postal code system.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Israel
    #####

    91### Jerusalem
    94### Jerusalem

    Five digit scheme. Other details unknown. There was possibly an old
    ## ### format in use, or may be in use in limited areas. The present
    standard is not to use spacing within the post code number, likely to
    ensure consistent machine sorting.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Italy (including San Marino, Vatican)
    [I-]#####

    001## Roma
    00120 Vatican (use V-00120 with country code)
    061## Perugia
    091## Cagliari
    101## Torino
    111## Aosta
    131## Vercelli
    161## Genova
    201## Milano
    301## Venezia
    341## Trieste
    371## Trento
    391## Bolzano/Bozen
    401## Bologna
    471## Forli
    47031 San Marino (use RSM as country code: i.e. RSM-47031)
    501## Firenze
    601## Ancona
    701## Bari
    901## Palermo

    First two digits indicate a postal district. There are about 90 provinces,
    or postal districts. The main city of the province is usually ##1##.
    ##0## is reserved for smaller centres near that city.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Japan
    ###(-##)  [postfix]

    06# Sapporo
    1## Tokyo
    53# Osaka
    56# Osaka
    73# Hiroshima

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Kazakhstan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Korea (South)
    ###-###  [postfix]
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Kuwait
    #####

    13### code range found. 35002 is also a known Kuwait code (Marian Nelson
    example via Alan Pritchard).

    Possibly integrated with the Saudi Arabia scheme?

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Kyrgystan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Laos
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Latvia
    [LV-]####

    Latvia formerly had USSR six-digit codes, mostly of the form 22####
    (though other number ranges may have been used).

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Lesotho
    ###
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Liberia
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Liechtenstein
    [FL-]####

    See Switzerland.

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Lithuania
    ####

    Old Russian code with 1st 2 digits dropped. According to the postal
    authorities, the country code should NOT be used.

    (,12)
    ........................................................................
    Luxembourg
    [L-]####
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Macedonia
    #####

    Numbering range 9####

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Madagascar
    ###
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Malaysia
    #####
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Maldives
    ## ##
    ##-##
    ####

    Four numbers used; all formats given might be acceptable.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Malta
    @@@ ##
    @@@ ### (Gozo)

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Marshall Islands
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Martinique
    #####

    Based on France system. Numbering ranges 972##, 973##.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Mayotte
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Mexico
    #####
    #####-CR##### (bulk mail code)
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Micronesia (Federated States of)
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Moldova
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Monaco
    [MC-]#####

    Codes are 9803# - perhaps only a single code used throughout Monaco.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Montenegro
    #####

    Numbering ranges 81###, 84###, 85###

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Morocco
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Myanmar
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Namibia
    ####

    Namibia was once ruled by South Africa but became independent in 1990.
    Until then it used part of the South African system, but immediately
    dropped the codes (as well as the old ZAF administrative subdivisions)
    on independence. A new post code system may be developed in the future.

    Under the South African system, Namibia had codes in the 9### range.
    Again, such codes are no longer in effect.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Nepal
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Netherlands
    #### @@

    10## Amsterdam
    12## Hilversum
    23## Leiden
    62## Maastricht
    97## Groningen

    The letters provide granularity to about 15 houses (same as UK average).

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Netherlands Antilles
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    New Caledonia
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    New Zealand
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Norfolk Island
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Northern Mariana Islands
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Norway
    [N-]####

    0### Oslo
    10## Oslo
    11## Oslo
    12## Oslo
    4000 Stavanger
    5000 Bergen
    8099 Jan Mayen Island
    9000 Tromso
    917# Svalbard Islands

    Oslo codes range from 0100 to 1299. Until a few years ago, Oslo was
    divided into twelve areas.

    (1,2,5)
    ........................................................................
    Oman
    ###
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Pakistan
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Palau
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Panama

    # or ## town district format codes are used; this represents a zone system
    for use within urban areas rather than a national postal code system.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Peru

    # or ## format town district codes are used, though this may represent
    a zone system for use within urban areas rather than a national postal
    code system.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Philippines
    ####

    2800 Manila
    3000 Quezon City

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Poland
    [PL-]##-###

    00-### Warszawa

    Some contributions have suggested the presence of ##### format codes,
    possibly due to misprinting. In official codes, the dash is always used.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Portugal
    [P-]####

    1000 Lisboa
    9000 Madeira
    9500 Azores

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Puerto Rico
    #####

    A U.S. territory. Unknown if the Zip+4 extensions have been assigned here.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Reunion
    #####

    Based on France system. Numbering range 974##.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Romania
    ####  (excluding Bucharest)
    ##### (Bucharest)

    Codes in the range 7#### are in Bucharest. No other details about
    regions/numbering ranges.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Russia
    ### ###

    11#### Moskva
    12#### Moskva
    13#### Moskva
    183000 Murmansk
    191000 Sankt-Peterburg
    364000 Groznyj
    410000 Kazan
    460000 Orenburg

    The code then town/city is normally on the first line of the
    address, before by the specific (street, box, etc) address.

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
    #####

    Based on France system. Numbering range 975##.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    San Marino
    [RSM-]#####

    47031 is apparently the only code in use - based on Italy's system.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Saudi Arabia
    #####  [postfix]

    11### Ar Riyadh
    21### Jeddah

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Serbia
    #####

    Code ranges are 1####, 2####, 3####

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Singapore
    ####  [postfix]

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Slovakia
    ### ##

    (not sure if country code used now)

    Numbering ranges 0## ##, 8## ##, 9## ## are known. Codes were inherited
    from the former Czechoslovakian system after independence.

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Slovenia
    #####

    Codes in the 6#### range. Country code is SI.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    South Africa
    ####  [postfix]

    0001 Pretoria
    2000 Johannesburg
    4000 Durban

    Codes may be assigned to such pre-homeland areas of Bophuthatswana and
    Ciskei (TVBC states). Some uncertainty as to coding plans in adjoining
    territories such as Namibia. Changes to South African administration may
    result in renumbered postal codings in the near future.

    See also Namibia, which became independent of South Africa in 1990.

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Spain
    [E-]#####

    02000 Albacete
    03000 Alicante
    08000 Barcelona
    28000 Madrid
    29000 Malaga
    50000 Zaragoza

    Assignments done alphabetically.

    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
    ####

    See Norway.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Swaziland
    @###
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Sweden
    [S-]### ##
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Switzerland (and Principality of Liechtenstein)
    [CH-]#### (Switzerland)
    [FL-]#### (Liechtenstein)

    10## Lausanne            11## Vaud              12## Geneve (Geneva)
    20## Neuchatel           23## La Chaux-de-Fonds 25## Biel/Bienne
    30## Bern                36## Thun              40## Basel
    60## Luzern (Lucerne)    70## Chur              80## Zurich
    82## Schaffhausen
    84## Winterthur          90## St Gallen         97## Liechtenstein

    Four digit codes. The following are some general ranges of codes and
    the major centres and regions these correspond to:

    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Taiwan
    ###  [postfix]
    ##### (bulk mail)  [postfix]
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Tajikistan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Thailand
    #####  [postfix]
    (1,2)
    ........................................................................
    Tunisia
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Turkey
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Turkmenistan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Uganda
    ####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Ukraine
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    United Kingdom
    @# #@@    [postfix]
    @#@ #@@   [postfix]
    @## #@@   [postfix]
    @@# #@@   [postfix]
    @@@ #@@   [postfix]
    @@## #@@  [postfix]
    @@#@ #@@  [postfix]
    @@@ #@@   [postfix]
    (codings vary in length, depending on the first part of the code)

    The initial letters indicate the Postcode area. The Postcode area,
    followed by a number and possibly another letter, makes up the first
    part of the code called the outward code.

    The numeric portion in the outward code may be from 0 to 99. CR0 and WC99
    are two examples of this that are in use.

    The known initial outward codes of type @#@ or @@#@ are: EC#@, WC#@,
    SW1P, W1@.

    @@@ #@@ is a unique code GIR 0AA for the Post office Giro bank.

    The second portion of the postal code provides granularity at least
    down to individual streets. The digit in the second half may be 0.

    Initial letter(s) indicate the Postcode area of the UK. A variable set of
    letters and numbers follow.

    Postcode Areas (i.e. the initial letters of a postal code):

    AB     Aberdeen                    LN     Lincoln
    AL     St. Albans                  LS     Leeds
    B      Birmingham                  LU     Luton
    BA     Bath                        M      Manchester
    BB     Blackburn                   ME     Medway
    BD     Bradford                    MK     Milton Keynes
    BH     Bournemouth                 ML     Motherwell
    BL     Bolton                      N      London North
    BN     Brighton                    NE     Newcastle-upon-Tyne
    BR     Bromley                     NG     Nottingham
    BS     Bristol                     NN     Northampton
    BT     Belfast                     NP     Newport (Gwent)
    CA     Carlisle                    NR     Norwich
    CB     Cambridge                   NW     London North-West
    CF     Cardiff                     OL     Oldham
    CH     Chester                     OX     Oxford
    CM     Chelmsford                  PA     Paisley
    CO     Colchester                  PE     Peterborough
    CR     Croydon                     PH     Perth
    CT     Canterbury                  PL     Plymouth
    CV     Coventry                    PO     Portsmouth
    CW     Crewe                       PR     Preston
    DA     Dartford                    RG     Reading
    DD     Dundee                      RH     Redhill
    DE     Derby                       RM     Romford
    DG     Dumfries                    S      Sheffield
    DH     Durham                      SA     Swansea
    DL     Darlington                  SE     London South-East
    DN     Doncaster                   SG     Stevenage
    DT     Dorchester                  SK     Stockport
    DY     Dudley                      SL     Slough
    E      London East                 SM     Sutton
    EC     London East Central         SN     Swindon
    EH     Edinburgh                   SO     Southampton
    EN     Enfield                     SP     Salisbury
    EX     Exeter                      SR     Sunderland
    FK     Falkirk                     SS     Southend-on-Sea
    FY     Blackpool (Fylde)           ST     Stoke-on-Trent
    G      Glasgow                     SW     London South-West
    GL     Gloucester                  SY     Shrewsbury
    GU     Guildford                   TA     Taunton
    HA     Harrow                      TD     Galashiels
    HD     Huddersfield                TF     Telford
    HG     Harrogate                   TN     Tonbridge
    HP     Hemel Hempstead             TQ     Torquay
    HR     Hereford                    TR     Truro
    HU     Hull                        TS     Cleveland (Teesside)
    HX     Halifax                     TW     Twickenham
    IG     Ilford                      UB     Southall (Uxbridge)
    IP     Ipswich                     W      London West
    IV     Inverness                   WA     Warrington
    KA     Kilmarnock                  WC     London West Central
    KT     Kingston-upon-Thames        WD     Watford
    KW     Kirkwall (Orkney)           WF     Wakefield
    L      Liverpool                   WR     Worcester
    LA     Lancaster                   WS     Walsall
    LD     Llandridnod Wells           WV     Wolverhampton
    LE     Leicester                   YO     York
    LL     Llandudno                   ZE     Lerwick (Shetland)

    Special UK territories and Postcode area codes/formats:

    GY# #@@   Guernsey
    IM# #@@   Isle of Man
    IM## #@@  Isle of Man
    JE# #@@   Jersey

    (1,2,3)
    ........................................................................
    United States (including possessions)
    #####(-####)  [postfix]

    The Zip Code format was originally a 5-digit scheme as in "12345".
    The first digit represented a general region of the U.S. The first
    three digits identify a particular region. All 5 digits identify the
    post office or district of a community.

    A 5-digit scheme is not precise enough to indicate particular streets
    or houses. Thus the "Zip+4" was formed to provide a 9-digit scheme.
    The original 5-digit format had four digits appended (eg. 12345-6789).

    Some US-possessed territories (American Samoa, Guam, etc.) may not have
    the Zip+4 extended format, and may just have the 5 digit codes in effect.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Uruguay
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    USSR (old country)
    ######

    See listings for individual nations for current postal code formats.

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Uzbekistan
    ######
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Venezuela
    ####  [postfix]
    (1)
    ........................................................................
    Viet Nam
    #####

    VN-##### format is sometimes seen

    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Wallis and Futuna
    #####
    (2)
    ........................................................................
    Yugoslavia (old country)
    #####

    11000 Beograd
    21000 Novi Sad
    38000 Pris^tina
    81000 Titograd

    Yugoslavia codes have been inherited by the separate countries involved;
    there are no known plans to change the code systems.

    YU-##### form is no longer used for rum#, given that major governments
    no longer consider the existence of Yugoslavia as such.

    (1,2)

========================================================================

Contributors

Thanks to those who contributed or had additional data:

(1) Sergio Gelato

(2) Alan Pritchard

(3) Peter Moore (from a file prepared April 1988, from British Post Office information)

(4) Tommi Uschanov

(5) Ruben Sogaard

(6) David E A Wilson

### Section 20.3.2 German Postal codes

    From soc.culture.german:
    > According to Die Zeit of the 10th of July, the Bundespost will introduce the
    > new zip codes on July 1, 1993. The five-digit code will be divided as follows:
    > the first two are the region, the third the city, and the last two denote the
    > type of delivery (mailbox, large customer, etc.). This means that some streets
    > may have two or more zip codes.  Not only that, the cost of changing software
    > and entering data has been estimated by Wirtschaftswoche to be several hundred
    > million DM.  Sounds like fun!

          (From  hoffmann@URZDFN.KARTOGRAPHIE.TU-DRESDEN.DBP.DE on
                               19 March 1993 via the list 9NOV89-L)

    Keep tuned for the changing postcode system in Germany at July 1st, 1993 !!!

    ----------------------------(message included)-----------------------------

    GERMANY - NEW POSTAL CODES - IMI930311

    zsv

    ()()(-)

    SUMMARY

    This article is derived from a telegraphic report dated 11 March 1993,
    written for the U.S. Department of Commerce - Washington, DC.  It discusses
    new postal codes in Germany.  The article consists of 2 pages.

    ()()(-)
    11 MAR 93

    USDOC WASHDC

    SUBBECT: IMI:  NEW POSTAL CODES IN GERMANY

    3.  SUMMARY:  A NEW PLAN TO REVISE UNITED GERMANY'S POSTAL
    CODES PROMISES TO STREAMLINE POSTAL DELIVERIES AND SAVE
    DEUTSCH MARK (DM) 2 BILLION ANNUALLY.  BUT PRIVATE CITIZENS
    AND COMPANIES ALIKE ARE BRACING THEMSELVES FOR CHANGES THAT
    WILL BE BOTH COSTLY AND COMPLICATED.  END SUMMARY
    4.  BEGIN ARTICLE:  ONCE AGAIN. THE GERMAN PUBLIC IS
    FEELING THE GROWING PAINS OF UNIFICATION.  JUST AS EVERYONE
    WAS GETTING USED TO THE TWO-YEAR-OLD SYSTEM OF INSERTING A
    QUOTE W ENDQUOTE OR AN QUOTE O ENDQUOTE BEFORE THEIR OLD
    FAMILIAR POSTAL CODES TO INDICATE WEST OR EAST. THE FEDERAL
    POSTAL SERVICE HAS COME UP WITH A SCHEME TO REVAMP THE
    ENTIRE POSTAL CODE NETWORK LATER THIS YEAR.  THE MAIN
    REASON. THE POST OFFICE MAINTAINS. IS THAT 800 COMMUNITIES
    IN EASTERN AND WESTERN GERMANY SHARE A COMMON FOUR-DIGIT
    CODE AND CAN BE DISTINGUISHED ONLY BY USE OF THE LETTER
    DESIGNATIONS.  BUT MORE THAN THAT. POSTAL AUTHORITIES SAY
    THEIR PLAN WILL NOT ONLY ELIMINATE ANY REMAINING EAST-WEST
    OVERLAP, BUT WILL ALSO SPEED UP DELIVERIES.
    THE NEW POSTAL CODES WILL PERMIT AUTOMATED SORTING OF
    LETTERS AND PACKAGES AT 83 DIFFERENT LOGISTIC CENTRES TO BE
    SET UP AROUND THE COUNTRY.  ALTOGETHER. THE POSTAL SERVICE
    PLANS TO INVEST DM 4 BILLION IN THE DISTRIBUTION CENTRES.
    PLUS DM 120 MILLION TO PRINT THE NEW POSTAL CODE GUIDEBOOK.
    THE CHANGEOVER WILL SUPPOSEDLY SAVE THE POSTAL SERVICE DM
    1.8 BILLION ANNUALLY.  THE NEW SYSTEM WILL REPLACE THE
    CURRENT FOUR-DIGIT POSTAL CODES WITH FIVE-DIGIT CODES
    BEGINNING JULY 1.  AROUND TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION WILL
    KEEP THE FIRST DIGIT OF THEIR OLD CODE.  THE REST OF THE
    CODE. HOWEVER, IS ORIENTED TO A COMPLETELY NEW SYSTEM
    DEVISED BY THE POSTAL SERVICE.  THE FIRST TWO NUMBERS WILL
    SPECIFY ONE OF THE 83 REGIONS INTO WHICH THE SYSTEM DIVIDES
    THE COUNTRY. WHILE THE REMAINING DIGITS WILL ENABLE
    GERMANY'S MAILMEN TO ZERO IN ON INDIVIDUAL CITIES AND
    STREETS.
    BEYOND THE SWITCH TO FIVE DIGITS. THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS
    CREATED OTHER COMPLICATIONS.  THE OLD METHOD OF ATTACHING
    EXTRA NUMBERS AFTER THE NAMES OF LARGER CITIES TO DESIGNATE
    A PARTICULAR DISTRICT WILL BECOME OBSOLETE.  INSTEAD.
    AROUND 209 COMMUNITIES WILL SIMPLY HAVE MORE THAN ONE
    POSTAL CODE.  ANOTHER NEW FEATURE IS THAT COMPANIES THAT
    RECEIVE MORE THAN 2.000 PIECES OF MAIL EACH DAY WILL BE
    ISSUED THEIR OWN POSTAL CODE.  MEANWHILE, POSTAL CUSTOMERS
    IN MAJOR COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BOTH A STREET ADDRESS AND A
    P.O. BOX WILL BE ASSIGNED TWO DIFFERENT CODES.
    THE TRANSITION WILL BE ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE FOR MANY
    COMMUNITIES.  TAKE THE CASE OF THE TINY ISLAND OF HELGOLAND
    OFF THE COAST OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.  THE 1,800 RESIDENTS
    OF THE POPULAR TOURIST RESORT HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE
    ISLAND WILL BE ASSIGNED 13 SEPARATE POSTAL CODES.  THE
    REASON:  ALL OF THE ISLAND'S RESIDENT HAVE THEIR OWN POST
    BOX. AND EACH SET OF BOXES WILL GET ITS OWN CODE.
    THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CITIES WILL HAVE AN
    EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TIME.  GERMANY'S FINANCE AND BANKING
    CAPITAL. FRANKFURT AM MAIN. USED TO HAVE JUST ONE CODE -
    6000.  FRANKFURT WILL NOT BE DIVIDED INTO 400 POSTAL
    DISTRICTS IN TOW REGIONS. WITH A TOTAL OF AROUND 32
    DIFFERENT POSTAL CODES.  SEVERAL HUNDRED ADDITIONAL CODES
    WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE CITY'S MOST IMPORTANT CORPORATE
    ADDRESSES AND INDIVIDUAL POST BOXES.  OTHER LEADING
    BUSINESS CENTRES WILL BE SIMILARLY CHOPPED UP.  BERLIN IS
    TO HAVE AROUND 130 DIFFERENT POSTAL CODES. EXCLUDING THE
    SEPARATE CORPORATE CODES.  AND MUNICH. THE HOME OF BMW AND
    SIEMENS, WILL BE ASSIGNED A GRAND TOTAL OF AROUND 460
    INDIVIDUAL CODES, INCLUDING 110 SEPARATE CODES FOR
    COMPANIES.
    THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NEW POSTAL CODE SYSTEM HAS ALREADY
    LED TO PUBLIC OUTCRY.  EVEN MANY POLITICIANS IN BONN HAVE
    OPPOSED THE CHANGE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LITERALLY POWERLESS
    ON THIS ISSUE.  THE DECISION TO MAKE THE CHANGE WAS MADE
    SOLELY BY THE POSTAL SERVICE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CAN'T
    BE REVERSED -- EVEN BY NEW POSTAL MINISTER WOLFGANG
    BOETSCH.  IN FACT. THE BUNDESTAG (GERMAN PARLIAMENT) ITSELF
    TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST VICTIMS OF THE CONFUSION
    WHEN THE INITIAL GUIDEBOOK TO THE NEW POSTAL CODES ASSIGNED
    THE WRONG ONE TO THE PARLIAMENT'S OWN ADDRESS.  BOETSCH
    SHRUGGED OFF THE MISTAKE AS A TECHNICAL ERROR THAT WOULD BE
    CORRECTED BY THE TIME THE FINAL EDITION OF THE 1.000-PAGE
    GUIDEBOOK IS NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED IN EARLY MAY.  BUT FOR
    MANY. THE POSTAL SERVICES' BUNDESTAG BLUNDER WAS A BAD
    OMEN.
    MANY OF GERMANY'S LEADING CORPORATIONS -- ESPECIALLY ONES
    THAT CONDUCT MOST OF THEIR BUSINESS BY MAIL -- ARE ALREADY
    SHOULDERING A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN BECAUSE OF THE
    CHANGES.  ONE OF THE COUNRTY'S TOP MAIL ORDER COMPANIES,
    QUELLE, ESTIMATES IT WILL PAY DM 10 MILLION TO CONVERT ITS
    ADDRESS FILES.  DEUTSCHE BANK SAYS IT WILL SPEND AROUND DM
    5.5 MILLION TO CONVERT ITS FILES OF 13 MILLION ADDRESSES.
    IN FACT. MANY SKEPTICS HAVE SAID THAT THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE
    LIKELY TO PROFIT FROM THE CHANGE ARE SOFTWARE COMPANIES
    SELLING CONVERSION PROGRAMMES AND THE PRINTERS WHO WILL BE
    FACED WITH FLOODS OF ORDERS FOR NEW BUSINESS CARDS AND
    STATIONERY.  END ARTICLE.
    5.  FOR DISTRICT OFFICES' AND NTDB USERS' INFORMATION. THE
    ITA GERMANY DESK WILL RECEIVE THE NEW POSTAL CODE DIRECTORY
    WHEN IT IS DISTRIBUTED IN GERMANY IN MAY 1993.
                     (ORIGIN: 4212/IEP/EUR/OWE/FISHER  )

    ()()(-)

                   ---------- End included message ----------

# Chapter 20