A method and system for authenticating the sender of a mailpiece is
described for identifying certain mailpieces as originating from known
trusted senders. In one configuration, biometric information and/or
biometric metadata is captured when a user writes on a mailpiece with a
digital pen. That data is then compared to reference data in a database.
Registrant data is then loaded into storage device on the mailpiece and
may be digitally signed and/or encrypted by the trusted third party. In
another configuration, a mailpiece includes the signature of a sender and
the biometric data includes authentication data obtained from the
signature that is compared to the biometric data related to the signature
obtained during a sender registration process.