Address field

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Address field in the lower left corner of the window envelope

The address field denotes a standardized area ( DIN 5008 ) on the first page of a business letter , which can be read from the outside through a window in the envelope .

The address field is a prerequisite for the electronic and machine processing of large volumes of letters in companies and authorities. It is reserved for public information that is required for the postal processing of the letter. These include information about the sender , recipient , postal service provider and postage . Information on special types of dispatch such as B. Registered mail or dispatch instructions on how the letter is to be processed by the recipient's post office, the sender can place in the mailing address , which is the central part of the address field. In addition, coded information about the structure of the document can be accommodated in the address field, e.g. B. the number and order of the letter pages, whether they should be printed on one or both sides or whether enclosures should be added to the letter.

The information in the address field is necessary for the sender's and recipient's post offices as well as for the postal service provider and his mail carrier in order to deliver the letter to the recipient in accordance with the sender's order and to maintain the confidentiality of the letter. The postal information is permanently linked to the document via the address field and thus enables the letter to be processed anywhere or the use of hybrid postal systems . They are archived with the document and thus increase the revision security of the process. The reply from the mail service provider as to when and by which of his mail carriers the letter was delivered can be added to the address field and rounds off the process.

The address field is placed on the first page of a letter and is at least 1.5 cm from the left and 4 cm from the upper edge of the letter. No information about the content of the letter should be put in this field, as the confidentiality of the letter cannot be guaranteed through the viewing window.