Are postmarks applied to mail boxes

Postmarks are not typically applied directly to mailboxes. Instead, they are applied to the envelopes or packages as they pass through the postal processing system.

Here's what happens:

1. When you mail a letter or package, it is deposited into a mailbox or taken to a post office.
2. The mail is then collected by a postal carrier or taken to a processing facility.
3. At the processing facility, the mail is sorted and processed using automated machinery and human sorting.
4. As the mail is processed, a postmark is applied to the envelope or package using a machine that stamps the date and time of processing onto the mailpiece.
5. The postmarked mail is then sent to its final destination.

Mailboxes themselves do not receive postmarks because they are not designed to receive stamps or markings. Mailboxes are simply containers for holding mail until it is collected by a postal carrier.

It's worth noting that some special types of mail, such as certified mail or registered mail, may receive a postmark on the envelope or package as part of the tracking and verification process. However, this is not a standard practice for all mail.