A system and method is disclosed for providing confirmation relating to the distribution
of a mailpiece within an international mailing system. The invention includes a
determination of postal data required for performing value-added services desired
for the mailpiece. The value-added services data includes addressing information
for a return receipt from an intended mailpiece recipient through a final handling
postal authority and a first postal authority to the original mailer. A machine
readable mark is created which includes return data and value-added services data.
During the delivery process, the value-added service is captured by the final handling
postal authority, the mailpiece is delivered to the intended recipient, the value-added
service is performed, and the data related to the delivery is captured by the final
handling postal authority. The final handling postal authority then transmits this
information to the first handling postal authority who then communicates the information
to the original mailer. The invention is practiced such that the identity of the
mailer is disclosed only to the original postal authority and not to subsequent
handling postal authorities.