International Return to Sender Markings

 Hi.

 

When a letter cannot be delivered to someone, provided the sender included a return address, it will of course usually get returned to that person. This can happen for many reasons, for example incorrect addresses or bad customs declarations. This can produce interesting items, especially when the shipment is international and goes through multiple postal services before being delivered.

I have a few interesting examples from my international eBay sales.

 

UK - Nigeria Return to Sender postal cover
UK - Nigeria returned cover - "Insufficiently Address"

On this one, the customer seemingly gave me an incorrect address. Postal services aren't used incredibly often in such parts of the world, so it's not entirely resprising. There are two unclear postmarks, from what seems to read "General Post _____" or "Federal Post ____". The last word may read "Office". There is also a blue return stamp, with multiple questionable examples of English grammar and "Insufficiently Address" ticked. I'm not sure what the point of stamping over the return (my) address instead of the incorrect address was, but so be it. The "R(f?)ss" and "IA" pen markings are not mine either. 

 

I first send the item in early November 2024, while the return arrived to me somewhere in February-March 2025. I find it incredible how far it has gone and then back, but still it managed to come back relatively intact (apart from the large knife slit on the top, perhaps from customs).

 

UK - Ireland Return to Sender cover customs
UK - Ireland customs return

 

 Perhaps a bit less exciting here, this one confused me with it's reasoning. The reason listed on the Irish An Post sticker is a failed customs clearance, but to me the declaration seems to be filled out perfectly fine. The pink sticker is a standard Royal Mail CN15(b) label.

 

UK - UAE Dubai postal cover Return to Sender Address Unavailable CN15
UK - UAE (Dubai) return  


Perhaps here the reason for the return is a bit more obvious, with "000000" being the postcode given to me by the buyer. I did try confirming this with them but they were unresponsive, and eBay warns against modifying addresses without good reason.
 
UK - UAE Dubai postal cover Return to Sender Address Unavailable CN15 reverse
The reverse, stuck over my customs declaration

 


 

 

 

 

 

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