Registered Mail Codification

For the ease of universal mail tracking and tracing during shipping, in 1996 the Universal Postal Union (UPU) encouraged a universal use of S10 standard for mail identification coding. Cambodia, as a member of UPU, quickly adopted the new system and joined the revolution in registered identifier label format.


A 1988 cover from Phnom Penh with an old registered ID label.


S10 defines a system for assigning 13 character identifiers to postal items. The ID starts with a 2 letter service indicator code:


Most countries start their registered mail service indicator with "RR", then "RA", "RB", "RC" and so on. However, some countries do not follow the sequence. France starts with "RK", Britain and her dependencies use "RJ" for international mail, Portugal starts wtih RR, "RC", "RM" and some others.

After the sevice indicator is an 8 digit number and a check-digit, or an "X". The check digit is resulted from some calculation of the 8 digits. The numbers can be reused after 12 months of previous allocation.

Since all ID labels are preprinted and distributed to different post offices in lots, it should be noted that ID numbers may not be assigned in ascending order, all depends on the number lot held by the particular post office.

The very last 2 letters of the code is the ISO country code to identify the issuing postal administration.


This 1996 registered letter from Phnom Penh has the new S10 identifier, "RR 00 016 427 3KH":



RR indicates that the item is registered. Cambodia starts with RR, and RC is concurrent in use now. No RA and RB is found. 00 016 427 is the 8 digit numerical identity, 3 is the check digit, and KH is the ISO code for Cambodia.




The above is a sample of the new registered ID label in S10 standard. It is a long arrow sticker with the 13 character identifier and barcode.

Initially a red cachet in French was used at the Phnom Penh Central Post Office (CPO) with the registered ID labels. It features a large "R" which stands for "Recommandé", and "Phnom Penh R.P." that indicates the mail is sent from Phnom Penh CPO. The barcode sticker is scissored short so can accommodate within the cachet.



Later the red cachet is omitted, only the cut short ID label is used.


Recently a new type of ID label is used. The 13 digit identifier and barcode is larger on round corner rectangular stickers.



Cambodia does not use inward registered item identification.

Stamps Not at Face Value

I said this time it would be on registered mail codification. Now I change my mind because I found something interesting and can't wait to share with you. Rev. Charlie Dittmeier, a Maryknoller who now works for deaf welfare in Cambodia, has written about his experience at the Phnom Penh Central Post Office, with his kind permission I would like to quote it here for your amusement:

"Today I went to the post office to buy stamps. I would like to ask our office manager to get them for me when he goes to the post office every day to pick up the mail (there is no mail delivery in Cambodia), but the counter clerks always want to charge him more than the the actual costs of the stamps. I told the clerk that I wanted ten 2600 riel stamps. 2600 riel is the amount for a letter to the United States. She didn't have any 2600 riel stamps--they don't print that value -- so I was expecting some combination that would equal 2600 riel. But to my surprise she gave me ten 1000-riel stamps and ten 1800-riel stamps and said just to use them even though it was putting too much postage on the letters. I only paid 26,000 riel for them but got 28,000 riel worth of stamps. It's no matter to the clerk. As long as there's enough on the letter, it's OK.

In any developed country to deliberately sell the wrong value of stamps for the amount received would cause all kinds of problems! Not in Cambodia!"

These are the stamps Fr. Ditteier bought at last.
(photo by Fr. Ditteier)

Fr. Dittmeier has very interesting writings and photos on the society and politics of Cambodia through the eyes of an American. Please click here for the homepage of his enlightening website.

Hit here for Fr. Dittmeier's original 7th June 2005 entry.

In my 19th June 2009 blog entry I mentioned a Briton blogger, Michelle, has her story at the Phnom Penh CPO, please click here to read if you miss it.

2001 Train S/S Miscut

The blog entry revision work is almost done, a few entries are rewritten or with scans/photos added. In the next entry there will have a little peep at registered mail codification.

In the meantime let's have a little freak piece for entertainment.

Cambodia, just as all other countries, have errors, freaks and oddities. There are inverts, colour variations, colour missing, blind perforations, misperforations, miscuts, design errors and many others, although they don't flood, they are not hard to come by.



Above shown is a CTO S/S of the 2001 PhilaNippon'01 trains issue. The pictorial set keeps thematic collectors eyes open, Cambodia specialists just treat it as another wallpaper yawn.

Originally there is white margin on four sides of the S/S design, the single direction shift in cutting results in bottom and right margins missing while the top and left margins so wide that margin markings can clearly be seen.

This CTO S/S freak is not particularly scarce, but quite interesting to look at.