Questions--Sending to the UK

[Lauren81492]

I will be sending requests to David Tennant and Kevin Spacey soon, both of whom are in the UK. I have the photos and everything, I just need to write the letters. I haven't sent any requests in a while, and I've never sent to the UK (at least not with an SASE--didn't really expect anything back anyway). So I thought I should ask a few questions first to make sure I'm doing this absolutely right.

1. Postage. I'm taking them to the post office, so getting them over there isn't an issue, but I'm worried about the return postage. I weighed an envelope, a photo, and a piece of cardboard I will be sending with the requests, which came to 59g. I put that into the price finder on the Royal Mail website as going to the USA. The price next to "Airmail Letters" says £1.98, is this the option I want? Or do I want "Airmail Printed Papers" or "Airmail Small Packets" at £1.82 each? My stamp arsenal consists of nine £1 stamps, nine 62p stamps, and nine 20p stamps. So if it's "Airmail Letters" I would put 2 £1 stamps on, and if it's either of the others I would put one of each, correct? Do I need any kind of special large letter stamps or anything, or are normal ones fine?

2. Air Mail Stickers. Whenever I've gotten mail from the UK, there have been blue stickers on the envelope that say "BY AIR MAIL par avion". Are these absolutely necessary? Do I have to procure these myself, or does the post office attach them? Can I procure these myself?

3. Return Address. I've never been entirely sure how to deal with this. In the upper left corner of the SASE, do I put nothing at all, my own address, or the fanmail address to which I sent my request? I've done both of the first two options and gotten replies, I just want to know the best possible way I can do this.

Thanks!

[dfreely]

1. It should go by "airmail letters", so two £1 stamps is fine. Do note though that Royal Mail has price increase coming next April, and the price for your SASE will bump up to £2.07

2. The stickers themselves aren't necessary, you can simply write "AIRMAIL / PAR AVION" yourself on the SASE.

3. I personally don't put anything, but others like to put their own address as a "just-in-case" so that it would still return to them if anything happens. Not sure how well that works internationally though.

[Lauren81492]

Okay, thanks! I might stick an extra 20p on each envelope just in case they take awhile to get back to me.

Anyone else have any input re: the return address thing? Is it okay for overseas mail?

[osiris]

Before I answer your questions, can I just say it's nice to see someone taking the initiative and finding out as much info as they can themselves before coming to us

1. Postage. I'm taking them to the post office, so getting them over there isn't an issue, but I'm worried about the return postage. I weighed an envelope, a photo, and a piece of cardboard I will be sending with the requests, which came to 59g. I put that into the price finder on the Royal Mail website as going to the USA. The price next to "Airmail Letters" says £1.98, is this the option I want? Or do I want "Airmail Printed Papers" or "Airmail Small Packets" at £1.82 each? My stamp arsenal consists of nine £1 stamps, nine 62p stamps, and nine 20p stamps. So if it's "Airmail Letters" I would put 2 £1 stamps on, and if it's either of the others I would put one of each, correct? Do I need any kind of special large letter stamps or anything, or are normal ones fine?

You'd use Airmail Letters (for reference, "Airmail Small Packet" are for gifts and "Airmail Printed Papers" are for magazines, books etc). You don't need any special large or small stamps (they're used for internal UK mail only - if you have them you can use them, but they'd just work on a monetary value to make up your £1.98).

2. Air Mail Stickers. Whenever I've gotten mail from the UK, there have been blue stickers on the envelope that say "BY AIR MAIL par avion". Are these absolutely necessary? Do I have to procure these myself, or does the post office attach them? Can I procure these myself?

In the UK we can actually get these for free from the post office, however most people do not (lots of companies do though, for ease). You can easily write "AIRMAIL/Par Avion" on the top left corner.

3. Return Address. I've never been entirely sure how to deal with this. In the upper left corner of the SASE, do I put nothing at all, my own address, or the fanmail address to which I sent my request? I've done both of the first two options and gotten replies, I just want to know the best possible way I can do this.

You can put your own address as the return address, just in case your postage doesnt cover the cost (as dfreely said, there'll be an increase soon). Please note however that in the UK, return addresses go on the back of the envelope.

[RobertaRight]

And I am glad somebody mentioned the price increase. I did not know thanks

[Lauren81492]

Thanks, osiris! A couple more follow-up questions--on the SASEs, I already put the "AIRMAIL/PAR AVION" in the space between the address and the bottom of the envelope. Is it completely wrong if I don't put it in the upper left-hand corner? Should I cross it out and move it or something? Also, this one's kind of silly, but again I just want to make sure I'm doing this right: For my 9x12 SASE, should I put the return address parallel to the closure flap? Or perpendicular, so that it matches the direction of the address on the front?

[osiris]

Thanks, osiris! A couple more follow-up questions--on the SASEs, I already put the "AIRMAIL/PAR AVION" in the space between the address and the bottom of the envelope. Is it completely wrong if I don't put it in the upper left-hand corner? Should I cross it out and move it or something? Also, this one's kind of silly, but again I just want to make sure I'm doing this right: For my 9x12 SASE, should I put the return address parallel to the closure flap? Or perpendicular, so that it matches the direction of the address on the front?

You can leave the AIRMAIL mark where it is. If you want, just add "AIRMAIL" to the top left corner (these dont have to be huge marks, just normal handwriting).

As for the return address, it doesnt really matter. Generally speaking when addressing a large envelope that's 9x12/A4 sized, one would write addresses with the longest side of the envelope at the top and bottom (closure flaps can be either longest or shortest side here so difficult to know which you are talking about) however some buisness style envelopes (the type with windows) have the address printed towards the top of the shortest side (i.e. where the address would be on a standard buisness letter). Either works, and you can put the return address either way too. Just make sure to write "Return address" above it. Conventionally you'd put it towards the corner of the envelope rather than the center.

[Lauren81492]

Okay, I think I'm all set! Thanks so much for your help. I'm finished my David Tennant letter, so that'll be going out today. I see you got him IP--so jealous! I just hope he signs my photo and I get an authentic dedication. EDIT: I just got back from the post office. I had to fill out a customs form because it counts as a package since you can't bend it. Will that stop my return envelope from getting back to me? Like, will the USPS confiscate it for some reason?